Obama says Americans are angry; take it out when voting

What do you guys think? Could this be true?

Clinton campaign calls Obama an elitist.
Oh Please.
Obama's right on the money. We're m'f'n angry.

Of course we are angry!!

As I read somewhere around here (... excuse my memory)

IF YOU'RE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!!

From the same speech in Tere Haute:

"Out of touch? Out of touch? I mean, John McCain--it took him three tries to finally figure out that the home foreclosure crisis was a problem and to come up with a plan for it, and he's saying I'm out of touch? Senator Clinton voted for a credit card-sponsored bankruptcy bill that made it harder for people to get out of debt after taking money from the financial services companies, and she says I'm out of touch? No, I'm in touch. I know exactly what's going on. I know what's going on in Pennsylvania. I know what's going on in Indiana. I know what's going on in Illinois. People are fed-up. They're angry and they're frustrated and they're bitter. And they want to see a change in Washington and that's why I'm running for President of the United States of America."

I'd say that's about right.

Absolutely we're angry. McCain and Clinton's spin using phony righteous indignation is typical of politics as usual.

Obama is not afraid to tell the truth which is why he is winning. McCain & Clinton follow the winds of change pathetically. Always there to criticize yet a day late a dollar short with fresh ideas.

Clinton & McCain are Stale regurgitated pathetic hopeless followers.

OBAMA is Awesome. Obama is more than awesome. He is not just another Mental case politician waving around his credentials and worn out medals of honor. McCains medals mean that he suffered a lot for our country. They do not make him a good leader. He is actually kind of a cranky distempered elitist brat.

Voters came to the polls in 2006 voting for Democrats to end this war which he and his associates in Congress have FAILED to do, besides upholding their oaths on *both* sides of the aisle which is directly related to the economy. So how can he say we don't vote on that? Inpeaching these bastards would have been FANTASTIC for the economy and our world standing, nevermind the fact that it is mandated by our Constitution. We aren't STUPID, Obama, even though we are angry. It is as if he is saying we don't have the capacity to think outside our small little worlds. Kind of insulting.

And please, they are all political players and he is an elitist just like the rest of them. You don't get endorsements from Rockefellers and the like and not be considered elitist. His billionaire bundlers and old guard supporters are also raising hundreds of thousands of dollars into the millions for his campaign and are the same as the ones raising money for Clinton. People are angry because they want this war over, yet people like him intend on taking troops out of Iraq and putting them elsewhere in the Middle East to keep up this bogus "war on terror" as he enlarges the military (which is probably why he is all of a sudden is saying we should repeal "don't ask don't tell" because the military is so stripped now they need more bodies) and votes on bills to give MORE federal subsidies to the very companies that KEEP US POOR.

So If he truly believes that the economy is not something people vote on perhaps he should then go over his own 'present' votes, and his vote against credit card interest limits, and for funding war, and subsidies for nuclear power as just a few to see why he is no different. It is one thing to say you are for 'change,' but to try to give the illusion that you haven't been part of all of this when you have is just downright disingenuous. Give back the EXELON donations and the donations from oil companies and Goldman Sachs that they "bundle" and then maybe he will look credible.

Until then yes, realize people in this country are angry at this system as a WHOLE and a Congress that would give any credence to an UNelected president which he has been a part of already, and that some of us will have no choice but to perhaps place a vote by his name AGAINST the other not for him or anyone else because of that anger even though we now do not even believe it counts... which of course is another source of our anger but a subject NONE of these candidates even attempts to talk about..

Now Jan, you have a lot of anger. Obama is not a warmongerer. McCain surely is.
Obama's idea was very sound. Pull out of Iraq. He says we should talk with Iran OF Course GREAT IDEA. McCain wants us to stay in IRAQ & Put troops in IRAN. HELLO MENTAL HOSPITAL.

Obama wants to negotiate back to peace with the Iranians. With Pakastan he never said we should attack Pakastan. he was very specific when pushed for a hypothetical war he said we should consider eliminating the extreme terrorists who are residing in the Pakastan/Afghan border. These are pretty die hard groups who rape people and string human beings to street lights with signs on there rotting corpses. Go watch the FRONTLINE documentary

"They all suck", is a pretty easy position to take. But somebody has to be president. Are any of them perfect? No. But you can't bring about change if you don't get elected (ask Mr. Gore...though I should amend that to say "don't take office").

So you have to look at who is the least imperfect. I think it's a pretty easy choice. You could vote McCain who seems think as long as we can continue the war the whole economy thing will just work itself out. Or Clinton who is offering a return to the divide and conquer politics of the past. Her cynical seizing of one word "bitter" as a way to paint Obama as an elitist is just one of a lifetime of examples (with a nice side dish of irony given her bank account). Or you can vote for Obama. Who is the son of a single mother. Who grew up far from the lap of luxury in Indonesia. And who is offering change. Is it a perfect change? No...but I'll take his imperfect change over politics as usual any day.

And yes Jan he has employed "bundlers". And they have helped him to legally raise money. They all do it and Obama has done it without the help of lobbyists (the other two candidates not only take their money...but have them on their staffs). Obama has also raised more money from more individual donors then anyone else in history. Why do you think that is? Because he's an insulting elitist? Or because he's speaking the truth?

Right ON. Again. As I said OBAMA is The BEST.

The rest of the candidates are ugly used carsalesmen

Obama is accurately describing the situation in America. Clinton continues to be dishonest and trite. She is trying to capitalize on uninformed people, by taking Obama's words out of context and twisting them. Thus, exposing her attitude that she thinks the American public is dumb. Her character is less than polished, quite dirty actually. I certainly would prefer not to have her as the next executive. People pin McCain as Bush 2.0, but I think that Hillary's personality and way of thinking is actually much closer to W's.

Because people equate MONEY with having qualifications which only validates how this BS system is set up. And really... speaking TRUTH? If he were speaking TRUTH he wouldn't be covering for the very people in Washington Dc he is covering for by not calling for their impeachments and REAL accountability. And apart from where the money comes from it is OBSCENE in the amounts. You shouldn't need to raise 150 MILLION dollars to be president of this country, and regardless of where it comes from you are then bought and sold.

And as I stated I will vote AGAINST McCain and never stated anything differently. However, I am not voting *for* anyone this time out it would appear, so they will have to take what they get. Hopefully, since the Sequoia electronic voting machines my state uses were just subpoenaed, perhaps we can get rid of them before November as there is a huge question regarding their accuracy but I won't hold my breath. After 2000 our voting system was corporatized to make the coup complete. Why isn't Obama speaking out about that in his quest to bring "change?" Does he have to be told to do so before he will?

Honestly, if there were a third candidate out there who I believed could beat BOTH of these elitist parties that have done nothing to benefit the American people these last eight years I would more than likely fight for them. Party allegiance has served no purpose on either side of the aisle and has only brought us to the abyss we are looking into today by putting it above this country. People want real change from what I have heard, and it doesn't include the same old party politics wrapped in shiny paper to pull the wool over our eyes. And that is exactly what Obama is to me.

Um...okay Jan. Who you vote for or against is up to you. But I'm pretty sure I've read posts where you've said you weren't going to vote for anyone. But if you've changed you mind...that's great. No matter who you vote for. Glad to hear it.

And I agree with you about party allegiance. I hope the next president can break down the partisanship. And I think Obama has the best chance of making that happen.

Thanks for you opinions on this.

Obama is describing America precisely. Many people have lost faith because we're going through a economic ditch. Washington doesn't really care about working people because the rich and wealthy have the money and they love money. I think instead of fighting this war and spending trillions of dollars on war supplies and etc, we should be spending it on education...And adults wonder why us kids aren't getting a decent education anymore.

Obama's use of the word "bitter" has become the focus.
Imagine if he'd said "resentful". The abuse of political correctness rears it's ugly head once more as a weapon.
It's nauseating and tells me more about those who rant and rave in overly-dramatic response than the person being attacked.
I'm sticking with Obama.

" It's up to the rest of us to stop joining one side or the other of an argument just to avoid having to continue thinking. "

Tell that to the ones running.

I can understand Hillary Clinton with a lead dissipating in PA desperately trying to capitalize on an Obama flub. What I find disconcerting is her attempt to appropriate Obama's "mojo" as a unifier speaking to America's best attributes and higher angels.

Once again Clinton changes course. She has tried to steal the best parts from Edward's campaign. Now she seeks to steal Barack's thunder. Why can't she seem to find a voice of her own?

Hillary, you should be better than this. Find a message and stick to it.

And Krag: I don't thnk you have any idea how much it will hurt me to put my vote next to a name that touts nuclear energy when I was supporting a man who spoke out against it before he was pushed out by the status quo more than likely for stating he was against it and stating we needed to stand up to corporations that buy policy instead of giving them a seat at the table as Obama and Clinton will do based on their answers in debates. Funny how the debates between the three of them are now forgotten.The expulsion of John Edwards from this race validated the status quo even more to me, and I am sorry, but Obama has not spoken up as forcefully against the true status quo as Edwards did. Seems he only makes statements like this now when prodded by someone else or some other event that forces him to.

Goolkasian: I am not the only one who stated I was angry in this thread, so why point me out? Because my anger is towards Obama as well? He has played along with this system since he took his oath in 2005. He is only now coming out like he is because he wants votes. Consider the title of this post. That is how politics works.

Jan. No one should be angry at Obama for holding up a mirror and telling the truth. I am here to stop people from using the "they are all the same" cop out.

I am ecstatic about Obama I feel he is dramatically fresh & inspiring. There is no candidate ever who will be perfect for everybody. Obama is the closest our country has in eons.

Take a long look at Obama. There is reason that people LOVE him. It is because he is listening and trying to be truthful and heartfelt.

McCain is mentally unstable. Not a good thing for a president.

Yes, Obama is right. American's know that predator's like Busheney and the Ripusoffican's are all for themselves - American's are just their meal ticket.

The Busheney administration will go down in history as one of the nastiest America ever had.

But, Obama could take it a step further realistically and say virtually no aspect of government is for the people - and he'd be right.

Well...you are entitled to your opinions and to speculate as to Obama's motives. As long as you recognize that you don't actually know what the man is thinking. I completely disagree with your assessment that Obama represents the status quo. But maybe that's not what you meant. And believe me, I would be much happier if Edwards were the one still in this race with Obama.

Jan, I'm with you. Everyone is saying Obama isn't as bad as the other two numbskulls, but the thing is- he's still bad. I'm not raising my hand to vote for someone who I think is a lesser of two evils. Or three evils.

I'm angry too. But it isn't necessarily at Obama, it's at this set-up that generations before me have laid before me as set in stone. I think we need to start thinking about the monstrous system we're letting run our lives. Like some deity that we all created.

And Krag, you said someone HAS to be president.
I disagree.

ha ha

of course we are voting for the lesser of evils, it's politics, what did you expect?

At least Obama is trying to be different and make a change...

"Jan. No one should be angry at Obama for holding up a mirror and telling the truth. I am here to stop people from using the "they are all the same" cop out."

And just how do you intend to stop people from posting their honest opinions here? Sounds kind of like what the Republicans did to their own who dissented against Bush, and what they did to Americans with their "You are either with us or against us" rhetoric. You don't know Obama anymore than any of us do, do you? You are only going by your perceptions based on his words in a political campaign where *all* candidates put their best foot forward if not in their mouths, the media soundbites, and contrived polls. Therefore, you will not "stop" me from expressing my opinion in regards to him based on his votes and the fact that they do not in many instances mesh with his words. I hope that is clear to you now.

Why do we want to perpetuate a system where the only choice is evil?

Dude I am bitter that I am 28 year old and will never live to see the American middle class dream that my parents gave to me. I cant give it to my child now and it sucks. Hey, im not talking about "things". I m talking about a full fridge of groceries, gas , and bills paid in the same month. Plus see both of his parents on the weekend. But now it takes two full time workers to barely get the bills paid. H@$l yes I am bitter!!!

Well, try and destroy it. It will be good for ya.

Meanwhile we'll do what we can.....
vote for Obama, that is!!

:-D

Maybe, if I'm understanding correctly, what you guys don't like very much is politics (and/or goverment), but that is not gonna evolve in just one generation, (not this one).
Voting now is just our choice and solution --part of it at least--for the short run.

You are free to do what you think is best.

Personally, My vote for Obama makes me happy cause that means I am not allowing McCain or Hillary to step in the white house.

I firmly believe that most of the 'angry' people are individuals that never voted. As an election judge I could not be more frustrated with the apathy that the American public shows toward their ability to change what they complain about. Out of 15,000 registered voters in the district I worked at, only 300 people voted- and we were busy compared to the other polling places. How incredibly sad and frustrating. It has been said that true change will only come about when EVERY American citizen votes. Take charge America! Stop complaining and take action!

Here is what Obama said last weekend:

“So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or antitrade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

They?
Cling?
Sentiment?
Frustrations?

Guys, this does come across as a bit elitist. However, that is not the same thing as "untrue." Of course it's true. He was certainly not talking about any of us - the fact that we are posting comments to a website pretty much guarantees we are not the "they" Obama was talking about, okay?

He was answering a donor's question about why his campaign has had some difficulty in Pennsylvania connecting with blue collar voters. And, guess what, compared to those folks, Obama is an elitist and so are Hillary and McCain. And I'll bet most of us, too.

But there is a very real question here - can Obama win the votes of this "they" in the general election? I am not running for president, so I will just go ahead and be elitist and say that I think the reason these people vote against their own economic interests and for the candidate who seems to be interested in "their" social cause is because these people are unsophisticated, uneducated and uninformed. Now that's me being an elitist. No politician could say such things, however, and a big part of the game - maybe the biggest part - is not saying the "wrong" thing.

In politics, it DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE RIGHT. It only matters if you get the votes. If you really want Obama to win, than you should only care that he does what it takes to get the votes. If you would like to be more idealistic than that, be my guest, but get ready for a lot of disappointment. Time and time again.

Does Obama support gay marriage? What does he think about the average American owning guns? These aren't the most pressing issues at this moment, but neither are economic issues.

The real question is, why does anyone about these things when the end of the oil age is upon us and there is no real progress being made to ensure our way of life continues into the future?

I think he is in touch, I live in Indiana. I lived in a small Indiana town. I think he is simply reflecting the political reality of the region. You want to see a town made bitter of the economics of the region than feel free to visit a burnt out dustbelt town, bitter is one of few words to describe how people feel towards government. When you live in a town with almost as many churches as people, like I did in martinsville you find that people generaly reserve their faith for other regions than washington.

Yes he sounded like an elitist but Hillary already said that states like Indiana don't matter to her. Her top campaign aid, simply scoffed at the idea with what has been dubbed the insult forty states strategy and she has suggested that only swing states should matter in primaries or states with large populations and therefore large electoral college votes. Those coments have cast much deeper asperision on small town america than Obama's statements. I think it's disengenuous of her to criticize his remarks, they were impassioned hers seem inauthentic and reactionary now after hearing those words from campaign surrogates including our states former governor and current senator Evan Bayh.

Let's face the facts here there are a lot of Americans who are as stupid. Stupid people in general vote republican. I am not being biased. I am just looking at the facts honestly.

cheyroze,

no, those other issues are not the most important - but economic issues are absolutely paramount, and are going to be even more important in the fall, so you are way off there. we are entering a recession, people are losing their homes and jobs - you bet it's important. the worst hit are precisely the people at the center of these talks.

sure, long term environmental issues may matter more, but not to most voters - and that's what we're talking about. most people do not give a shit about that stuff - they care about the here and now, their families and their livelihoods.

Obama, like the rest of them, does what he needs to do to get the votes. That's politics. Obama is a politician.

Obama is also a man with a big heart. I can see it. I'm not being swept up in Obamania. I wasn't swept up in patriotism post-911. I can tell the good guys from the bad guys.

Obama can't talk about global warming right now. Most voters are more concerned with their pocketbooks. But when he steps into office, I'm confident he will address the crisis.

You make take issue with Obama because of his profession, and because you generally condemn politics and the system. And you can say the system needs to change. I would agree with you.

BUT - you cant stand back and say "fuck the system", "fuck Obama", "fuck Hillary", "fuck em all" - to change it you have to play it. Obama's not only a good player, but he's bringing to it the real heart that will make the difference and embody the change.