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Obama Draws Fire for Comments on Small-Town America
 Hillary Clinton and John McCain both ripped into Barack Obama Friday for reportedly saying residents of small-town America cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who arent like them out of bitterness over lost jobs, a remark his opponents interpreted as arrogant.The Huffington Post reported that Obama made the comments while speaking to a group of wealthy California donors in San Francisco over the weekend. The Post quotes him specifically singling out towns in Pennsylvania, where hes trying to woo voters and overcome Clintons lead in the polls before the states April 22 primary. The comments, which can also be heard in an audio recording later posted on the Huffington Web site, immediately became fodder for the campaigns of Clinton, Obamas rival for the Democratic nomination, and McCain, his potential Republican challenger. Pennsylvanians dont need a president who looks down on them. They need a president who stands up for them, who fights for them, Clinton said Friday afternoon at a campaign stop in Philadelphia. She said the Pennsylvanians shes met arent bitter, but resilient and positive. McCain adviser Steve Schmidt called Obamas statement remarkable and extremely revealing. It shows an elitism and condescension towards hardworking Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking, Schmidt said. It is hard to imagine someone running for president of the United States who is more out of touch with average Americans. Schmidt also said it shows Obama views the people hes trying to relate to with contempt. Posted by: Fred 2008-04-12 |
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