Obama Bitter Comment

Guide Note: April 11, 2008: Senator Barack Obama hit a bump in his presidential campaign after he made a comment about working class voters in Pennsylvania, calling them "bitter" Americans who "cling to guns or religion."

At a fund raising event in San Francisco, Obama said: "It's not surprising, then, they [working class voters] get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or anti-pathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Obama seemed to realize immediately that his phrasing could be criticized and said, "I didn't say it as well as I should have," to the mainly student audience at Ball State University.

The remark was seized upon by the Clinton Campaign and Clinton herself referred to the remarks as "elitist."

On April 12, Obama grasped the "Bittergate" nettle, acknowledging that he could have spoken with greater precision but continued to describe the response to his remarks as a “political flare-up because I said something that everyone knows is true."

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The Mahalo Top 7

1. Chicago Sun Times: Michelle wades into 'bitter' debate (April 16, 2008)
2. FOX News: Former Bush Adviser Karl Rove on Barack Obama's 'Bitter' Comments (April 15, 2008)
3. New York Times: Opponents Call Obama Remarks ‘Out of Touch’ (April 12, 2008)
4. The Trail (Washington Post): Clinton Met With Cries of 'No!' in Latest Bitter Speech (April 14, 2008)
5. RealClearPolitics: Panel on Obama's Small Town Comment (April 12, 2008)
6. The Moderate Voice: Democratic And Republican Critics Blast..."Small-Town" Comments (April 12, 2008)
7. YouTube: Barack Obama in Muncie, Indiana (Time: 2:44)

Obama Bitter Comment News

• Topix.net: Obama Bitter Comment
• Google News: Obama Bitter Comment
• Philly.com: Obama blames poor syntax for 'bitter'... (April 15, 2008)
• Reuters: Obama calls elitism attack political silly season (April 15, 2008)
• Guardian Unlimited: Clinton plays elitist card against Obama (April 14, 2008)
• Slate: Obama's "bitter" gaffe is just the miracle Clinton needed (April 14, 2008)
• CNN.com: Obama: 'I didn't say it as well as I should have' (April 13, 2008)
• New York Times: Obama Tries to Limit Fallout Over ‘Bitter’ Remark (April 12, 2008)
• Reuters: Clinton attacks Obama for small-town voter remarks (April 12, 2008)
• Al Jazeera: Obama Retracts 'Bitter' Remark (April 12, 2008)
• Fox News: Clinton Team Lunges at Obama...Small-Town America Remarks (April 12, 2008)
• The Trail (Washington Post): Obama Concedes He Misspoke (April 12, 2008)

Obama Bitter Comment Blogs and Commentaries

• Google Blog Search: Obama Bitter Comment
• Politics Blog (SFGate): How Obama's "Bitter" Comment Story Changes Media-Politics Relationship (April 16, 2008)
• Political Radar (ABC News): Bill Clinton on Obama's 'Bitter' Comment (April 13, 2008)
• Politico.com: Where Obama's "bitter" comments go from here (April 12, 2008)
• From the Road (CBS): Clinton to Hit Obama's "Bitter" Comments In Indiana Speech (April 12, 2008)
• Hot Air: Dems desperately focus on the “bitter” (April 12, 2008)
• RealClearPolitics: Panel on Obama's Small Town Comment (April 12, 2008)
• The Plank (New Republic): Obama's None-Too-Bright Remarks (April 11, 2008)
• Off The Bus (The Huffington Post): I'm a Bitter Middle Class American And Not Afraid To Say It (April 13, 2008)

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