North Carolinians Decry Senator Obama's Comments on Small Town America in an Open Letter

[UALRBSofL]

North Carolinians Decry Senator Obama's Comments on Small Town America in an Open Letter

In response to comments made by Senator Obama this week at a fundraiser in San Francisco, North Carolinians from across the Tar Heel State lent their names to an open letter decrying his characterization of those living in small towns.

BACKGROUND: At a fundraiser in San Francisco this week, Senator Obama shared his views of Americans from small towns: “it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Dear Senator Obama:

This week at a fundraiser in San Francisco you denigrated people who live in small town America saying that "they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiments or anti-trade sentiments as a way to explain their frustrations."

We are from small town America – we are the people you are talking about, the people you say are leading "bitter" lives. Well, Senator Obama, nothing could be further from the truth. Here in small town America we lead productive lives full of belief in God and country. We live in communities where we go to church because we are hopeful, not because we are bitter. We believe that our passion for fair trade is born out of the principle of fair play, not frustration. We believe that the future of our country is bright and reflected every day in the stars and stripes of our country's flag.

We need a leader who will stand up for small town North Carolina and all Americans. Someone who understands that we are a resilient and hopeful people who are proud of our values and our communities. That, Senator Obama, is what this country needs.


Signed,

Ellen Lyon, Artist and Gallery Owner, Asheville
Francella Poston, Writer, Asheville
Kathy Skerl, Writer, Asheville
Betty Church, Community Leader, Boone
Baker Edmisten, Community Leader, Boone
Toni Murray, Community Leader, Burlington
Paul Edmisten, Community Leader, Concord
Amanda Duberman, College Student, Elon
Kate McCarthy, College Student, Elon
Hillary Waugh, College Student, Elon
John Rainey, Sr., Attorney, Enfield
Andy Foreman, Community Leader, Greenville
C.B. Parks, Community Leader, Greenville
Allen Thomas, Community Leader, Greenville
Beth Ward, Pitt County Commissioner, Greenville
Beth Hawkins, Businesswoman, Gibsonville
Jim Hawkins, Structural Engineer, Gibsonville
Joe Buntington, Community Leader, Graham
Jerry Coble, Facilitator, Graham
Tyler Cook, Student, Graham
Elizabeth Cooper, Student, Graham
Carrie Thompson, Retired Community Leader, Graham
Denny Wise, Retired Community Leader, Graham
Judy Wise, Retired Community Leader, Graham
Debbie Silverman, Community Leader, Hendersonville
Karl Silverman, Community Leader, Hendersonville
Scott White, Retired Federal Employee, Hendersonville
Amy McAbee, Community Leader, Hubert
Garland Provost, Community Leader, Hubert
Johnnie Provost, Community Leader, Hubert
Bryan Salmons, Community Leader, Hubert
Earl T. Eller, Community Leader, N. Wilksboro
Pattie P. Cox , Community Leader, Manteo
Dr. Joe Allen Edmisten, Montezuma
Allen Johnston, Activist, Purlear
Dawn Johnston, Activist, Purlear
Allen Wellons, Farmer, Attorney and Former State Senator, Smithfield
Ginger Robles, Businesswoman, Swansboro
Dawn Schulte, Businesswoman, Swansboro
Baker Street, Community Leader, Swansboro
Beckie Street, Businesswoman, Swansboro
Jackie Thompson, Family Farmer, Wake Forest
Betty Chamberlain, Community Leader, Weaverville
Mary Hourihan, Businesswoman, Weaverville
Betty McCain, Former North Carolina Secretary of Natural Resources, Wilson
Chris Jackson, Community Leader, Winterville
Tom Hendrickson, Former North Carolina Democratic Party Chair, Zebulon

http://bluenc.com/big-names-small-towns

[AX10]

1. It seems that Obama's simple generalization...

is not being bought by the populace.
:thumbsup:

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[2rth2pwr]

52. At least you're honest about how you feel about rural Americans.

[LiberalZrule]

68. No it is not

and if he was ever justified in saying what he did he would not need to apologize. That is a long list of names isn't it. Be sure those people have friends and family and guess who they will vote for? That list of names grows and grows and grows

[Usrename]

70. Those folks with their passion for fair trade are all Republicans.

:rofl:

[Exilednight]

92. Friends and family rarely vote for the same candidate. n/t

[ElsewheresDaughter]

101. wearing our mucking boots when the Oshit gets deep

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. right out of the rightwing playbook, how rovian....or should I say

"Clintonian"?

[dchill]

7. At this point...

either one will do.

[Tarheel_Dem]

42. I know, they're all the same these days....

I remember a time on DU these kinds of tactics would have been repudiated, but now they're embraced. Wedge issues have now become common place on DU, I never thought I'd see the day. Divide people with "God, Guns & Gays"? Absolutely deplorable.

[TML]

3. I'll believe this when...

...someone from Kannapolis signs this letter. The Cannon factory shut down a few years ago, and they were the city's biggest employer.

[MercutioATC]

4. What the hell is a "Community Leader"?

...for that matter, what is a "Retired Community Leader"?

[rug]

6. What the hell is a community organizer?

[zalinda]

47. Ah, that was Obama a few years ago, remember? n/t

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

76. they aren't "community leaders" - theyre old clinton supporters dug up

its bull shit.

Some folks at www.bluenc.com looked it up, these are some old Clinton supporters
who do favors for them or "speak up" when asked to do so.

I live in NC, and this is not a Clinton state.

Remember, we are a military state. Lots of people have suffered over
her selfish vote.

[KoKo]

88. But the Military contributes to the NC Economy....BlackWater is here...

along with that outfit "Triangle Center" (spy operation) and our bases.

[livetohike]

96. Something you put on your resume to explain why you were

out of work so long.

[AllentownJake]

5. Wow that was fast

I used to live in NC and those areas are pretty far apart.

I wonder how you could circulate a letter to so many people in so many different areas of NC and get them to sign it....possibly because they were on a Senator Clinton volunteer mailing list to begin with...

[QC]

11. Perhaps they used them there internet tubes. n/t

[Adelante]

13. It's the Clinton campaign organizing it, it looks like

Earlier today the Clinton NC Campaign held a conference call. Former NC Secretary of Cultural Resources Betty Ray McCain, former State Senator Allen Wellons, and North Carolina State Director Ace Smith participated in discussing Barack Obama's "small town" comments. Later an NC "open letter" was released and is reproduced in its entirety:

http://bluenc.com/big-names-small-towns

[AllentownJake]

17. They are so stupid

Maybe if they would have grabbed one of the towns in NC like Boone or Blowing Rock and got 100 people to sign this it might carry weight but they blanket the entire state.

[gateley]

26. Brava, WesDem -- good find!! nt

[otohara]

35. Bitter Buster

way to go WesDem, you're fast.

[bellasgrams]

31. You think it might be the internet?

[AllentownJake]

34. The what now

Isn't 1996 and everyone's on dial up AOL?

I swear she thinks its 1996 with the way she runs her campaign that people won't catch things.

[Tarheel_Dem]

45. Not to worry, Obama has an incredible machine. I can guarantee

that there's an answer to this "spontaneous" open letter in the wings. And I'll bet it's a doozy.

[rodeodance]

73. glad to see that they are organized and on the ball.

[DemGa]

8. Wow, just wow....and REC

[DJ13]

9. Any bets each of those people are on Clintons donor list?

[AllentownJake]

14. or community leader

really means volunteer coordinator for their little swath of area in NC.

[Adelante]

20. A similar name on the list

For Immediate Release May 24, 1994

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES BECKY JANE WALLACE AND
WALTER BAKER EDMISTEN AS U. S. MARSHALS

The President today announced his intention to nominate Becky Jane Wallace as U. S. Marshal for the Middle District of North Carolina and Walter Baker Edmisten as U. S. Marshal for the Western District of North Carolina.

http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/legacy/052494-president-names-wallace-and-edmisten-us-marshals.htm

[jaysunb]

10. Dear All

Can you also explain to me why you vote against your self interest more often than not ? Where has Liddy Dole, Jesse Helms et al gotten you ? Those black hands that were stealing YOUR jobs when Harvey Gnatt tried to lead the way still fresh in your mind ?

Shame on you.

[acrosstheuniverse]

12. LMAO That is not really a lot of people

I was expecting at least well over a hundred signatures on this silly petition. :rofl:

[smalll]

15. In other words, Dear All -- explain why you're all such bone-headed self-destructive racists?

Oh yeah, we'll get 270 electoral votes in November with that kind of talking point, for sure. :eyes:

[dsc]

22. Do you have any evidence that any of them voted for Helms

[kwenu]

16. More Clinton charlatan trickery. Disgraceful.

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. Neo-Con operatives and DLC Goering Democrats

“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
santiz

Hermann Goering



“Education is dangerous - Every educated person is a future enemy”

Hermann Goering


“Whenever I hear the word culture, I reach for my Browning!”

Hermann Goering

[wisteria]

19. To bad they didn't take the time to really listen to what he said in it's entirety.

Instead, they were to quick to believe the spin and jump to conclusions. My though is these people weren't going to vote for Senator Obama anyway and were looking for an excuse.

[AllentownJake]

21. These were Clinton supporters

They could be handed anything please say you agree this will help our campaign and they would attach their name to it.

[bellasgrams]

37. How do you know they were Clinton supporters? I think he just

P O'd a bunch of people. I can understand why. You should too. He himself is thinks it was wrong. Don't worry he's a big boy, by tomorrow he'll be saying it's all Clinton's fault.

[AllentownJake]

46. NC

Big state. Towns accross NC. 24 hours after controversy. Members on the list have been confirmed Hillary supporters or relatives by people down on this thread.

Do the math.

[bellasgrams]

59. People have mailing lists, When you send something like this or

even a joke to a friend or relative you don't know who will be getting it down the line. I know I have friends and family and some of the names that pass by me I've never heard of but I send along to the next guy whether it's FL, OH, TN, or KY, I have relatives all over.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

77. cause those are well off retired Clinton supporters, NOT BITTER

wealthy retired lawyers etc who aren't having their kids or their jobs outsourced.

[JoFerret]

102. Best ignore them then

...they cannot matter.

[jefferson_dem]

23. ZOMG! Some NC college students, community leaders, and businesswomen are offended!

Context for Obama's remarks, if you're interested - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x117848

[Garbo 2004]

24. So first there's a Clinton campaign conference call in which NC pols participate & then the letter

signed by at least one of the conference call participants is "released."

From your link: "Earlier today the Clinton NC Campaign held a conference call. Former NC Secretary of Cultural Resources Betty Ray McCain, former State Senator Allen Wellons, and North Carolina State Director Ace Smith participated in discussing Barack Obama's "small town" comments. Later an NC "open letter" was released...

Yeah, sounds like a true "grassroots" effort.

A couple comments from the blog:

Community leaders?
Submitted by LiberalNC on Sat, 04/12/2008 - 9:49pm.

I decided to look into the one guy that signed this who's from my town, Concord.

Paul Edmisten, Community Leader, Concord

I'd like to know what the Clinton campaign understands under "community leader".

I know every single active Democrat in the county and have never heard of this guy. I have never seen this guy at any Democratic meeting, function or event.

Some snooping around learns me he's a 76 year old hunter. After asking several former Party chairs of My county, it seems like the only claim to fame this guy has is that he's the brother of Rufus Edmisten, who's an attorney in Raleigh and used to be Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the 80's.

Once again, the Clinton campaign goes back to the future to find a guy who used to be a leader in the 80's, then calls his brother to sign a nasty letter and calls him a "community leader".

I'm sure Paul Edmisten is a nice old guy, but he's not a leader of anything, certainly not in Concord.
Login or register to post comments Email this page


Rufus
Submitted by gregflynn on Sat, 04/12/2008 - 10:20pm.

The are three Edmistens on the list. Rufus, not on the list, is currently a state and federal lobbyist. His federal client is Altria aka Philip Morris. He is recovering from an illness and he is a supporter of Democrats but he will represent anyone and will tell you why. Rufus has a long history in NC politics. He has been going around the state with Bill Clinton. He and his wife are members of the NC for Hillary Leadership Council.

http://bluenc.com/big-names-small-towns

[AllentownJake]

27. Asshats

Not the people...the Clinton campaign for pulling this nonsense.

I swear these people think its 1996 and people can't see through horse shit with a few clicks of google.

Awesome find.

[gateley]

29. Even their innocuous little

letters of protest are misleading. They could have just put "resident" for 'ol Paul, but no, have to make him a Community Leader. :eyes: Being a citizen isn't "important" enough, apparently. Sounds kind of elitist to me.

[anonymous171]

44. ^^^^^ LOOK HERE!

[gateley]

25. I'm from a small town in NC, and I'm VERY bitter.

I know there are many others who feel as angry as I do.

So don't believe these North Carolinians speak for us all.

[kmsarvis]

32. ME TOO!!

Where are you from ?

[gateley]

43. Clayton --

SE of Raleigh. And not nearly as pretty as Wilmington! :7

[rodeodance]

85. bitter away.

[melody]

28. Old Karl drummed this up n/t

[bellasgrams]

40. BO's the one that drummed it up and spit it out. and he's

stuck with it.

[Tarheel_Dem]

58. and we all know that Obama has a tendency to make lemonade

from the lemons he's dealt. Not true of the Clintons. This buried the reemergence of "sniper-gate"; "Colombia-gate"; "NAFTA-gate" for the moment, but many in the media know this, and have said so. Don't celebrate just yet.

:hi:

[bellasgrams]

61. Whose celebrating I'm just entertaining myself till I go to bed

[melody]

74. Keep on dreaming n/t

[rodeodance]

86. yes, Karl whispered into Obama's ear.

[kmsarvis]

30. I live in N.C. and .....

Most of those towns represented are areas that were pro Clinton . I see nobody from Wilmington, FortBragg,NewBern,Jacksonville,Elizabeth,City,Kinston,Maysville,Pollocksville,Burgaw,BrunswickTown,Chapel Hill,Morehead City,Gastonia,Southport,Buxton,Kitty Hawk,Kill Devil HIlls,Nags Head,Chocowinnitty,Lumberton,Leland,Goldsboro,Bath,Aurora,Belhaven,Vanceboro or even Clinton. :rofl:

p.s. I didn't mention Greensboro,Winston Salem,Fayetteville ,Raleigh,Durham or Charlotte because they are not really small towns, although 3 of the people in the op are from Asheville which has a population of over 100,000.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

78. and Asseville, I mean Asheville is an odd sort of place

one of the few places in the state where you have either really hard core
liberals,

or hard core right wingers and not alot in between.

But I know plenty of Obama supporters live in that area.

Some who ARE community organizers for real.

[Jamastiene]

33. Might as well add my name to the list as well. n/t

I live in a small town and I'm a lifelong Democrat who ALWAYS votes for the Democratic Party. I'm voting for Hillary. At least she doesn't ridicule me and try to make me feel like dirt. Thanks for nothing, Obama. You won't be getting my vote with a stinky snobbish attitude like that.

[kmsarvis]

38. I have to disagree.

I've been a lifelong resident of N.C and I dont feel insulted by Obama at all. If anything I feel insulted by Clinton for assuming that I am dumb enough to fall for her spin!!!!
What town do you live in ? Its always nice to meet another democrat!:hi:

[Blondbostonian]

39. I'm glad you're voting for Hillary

There's a reason why college graduates are voting for Obama by a overwhelming majority. We are smart enough to recognize partisian crap.

Will you vote for Obama in the GE? If not, I look forward to your banning after Obama wins the nomination when you self-implode.

[zalinda]

49. Wow, you just called every Clinton supporter stupid

And, then asked for their vote for Obama, and then threatened them with banning if they don't want your guy. Some supporter you are, unity anyone?

zalinda

[AllentownJake]

50. Your not stupid

We disagree. We have stupid people on both sides.

I haven't seen anything stupid from you...but don't worry if I do I'll let you know...you let me know if I'm being stupid as well.

[AllentownJake]

51. 80 post

Looking to ban people here. Pretty presumptive are we?

[Jamastiene]

55. I am at the point where I don't care if I get banned from here.

It's all about the company I prefer to keep. I really do not see the point in being at a place where I am not welcomed, especially by the trolls and hate mongers who have taken over this place.

There might have been a time where I would have voted for him in the GE, but not now. This seals it.

[AllentownJake]

57. So

Someone who is obviously a GOP troll insults you and you now aren't voting? Kind of what they are trying to do isn't it?

[Jamastiene]

62. Look around.

You are the only one disagreeing with the troll besides me. The rest are fine with it. The place is overrun.

[cali]

90. who cares? no one would ever confuse the likes of YOU with

a liberal.

[Jamastiene]

53. This college graduate is voting for Hillary. You are damn right about that.

See what you get for making assumptions based on your prejudice against people in small towns? No, you don't, because you are too busy looking down your nose.

I'm really beginning to hate you people as much, if not more, than the Bush snobs. I see no damn difference at all at this point.

No, I will not be voting for Obama in the GE. I will not vote at all this time in the presidential race because I do not vote for snobs. Enjoy the fall...after you have alienated so many Democrats and have to kiss more and more Republican ass to get votes. Which really means more to you? This country? Or seeing me banned from DU? Talk about true colors.

[AllentownJake]

54. I don't agree with you being called stupid

But you can take your ball and go home mentality makes me want to head but the wall. The guy has 80 post and is saying divisive things and hurling insults...what do you think he might be?

[Jamastiene]

56. I support Hillary all the way.

Nothing is changing that. I won't be called names by a snobbish candidate and still vote for him. He should think about that. He is a grown man who should be held responsible for his own words and actions. He makes assumptions about me based on where I live? He can kiss my ass.

[AllentownJake]

60. I'm sorry you were offended

However I think the statement was taken out of context and he spoke poorly on what he meant. Your kind of cutting your nose of to spite your face.

[Tarheel_Dem]

63. Jamastiene...you can bury your head in the sand, and act as if the

people Obama talked about don't exist, but you're coming from a place of bias to begin with. I won't ask that you open your mind. I don't think that's possible, but your faux poutrage is pretty over-the-top, even for you. Hillary's not going to be the nominee, and I say follow your heart and vote for whomever you choose. In doing so, I hope for your sake that you don't have young children or grandchildren.

In your zeal to discredit Sen. Obama, have you given any consideration to where the warm bodies will come from to fight McCain's next war(s)? Any consideration at all to the makeup of the USSC? You guys have taken Karl's playbook, and perfected it, and now turned it against a fellow Dem. And if that weren't disgraceful enough, you're now trying to divide the party along "God, Guns & Gays" lines? How proud you must be. Not sure where you got your degree, but I think you're owed a refund.

[moondust]

36. Ask John Edwards about those small towns.

The mills and everything. Or have you forgotten your native son and his famous small-town story?

He's probably around there someplace right now...

[jackson_dem]

69. It is sad to see how many former Edwards supporters have "changed" since three months ago

Many of them have no recollection of the pre-Obamaessiah world. :( Edwards is appalled at Obama's elitism.

[rodeodance]

87. I have noticed that also

[Joe the Revelator]

48. I am SHOCKED at this letter using the same language that the Clinton campaign has been pushing

for the last 48 hours. Shocked I tell you.

[struggle4progress]

64. Betty McCain is on Clinton's NC steering committee

Clinton names N.C. steering committee
... former state party chairman Betty McCain of Wilson County ...
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/clinton_names_steering_committee

[rocktivity]

65. All "elitists"

What NC's community FOLLOWERS have to say?

:headbang:
rocknation

[struggle4progress]

66. Clinton Campaign Announces List of NC Supporters

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina for Hillary Campaign Wednessday announced its statewide “Leadership Council,” a list of 160 elected officials who support Clinton ...

Johnston County
Allen Wellons, Former State Senator - Smithfield ...

Pitt County ...
Allen Thomas, Land Developer and Technology Entrepreneur - Greenville ...

Wake County ...
Tom Hendrickson, Business Leader and Former State Democratic Party Chair - Zebulon ...
Jackie Thompson, Family Farmer - Wake Forest ...

Wilson County
Betty Ray McCain, Former North Carolina Secretary of Cultural Resources - Wilson ...

http://blogs.wncn.info/politics/2008/04/09/clinton-campaign-announces-list-of-nc-supporters/

[EFerrari]

84. Exactly.

[stevenleser]

67. *plonk*

[rodeodance]

72. it that the new let it sink??

[rodeodance]

71. REC

[Neshanic]

75. Well looks like this was a non-issue like the Obamists said as FOX descends.

[Justitia]

79. Glad to hear life is JUST PEACHY for these tarheel-staters. You'd never know it from their economy.

I recently lived in NC for 2 yrs, financially the state is freaking DOA.
I moved away as the place was cratering.

But I'm so glad these delusional folks are just luuuuuving it!

[benEzra]

82. Well, insulting us is hardly the way to get us to vote for your candidate. (n/t)

[kmsarvis]

94. Justitia is refering to the North Carolinians dumb enough to fall for the BULLSHIT!!!

Im a North Carolinian and I dont feel insulted bt her post.I agree with it.

[hfojvt]

80. maybe I am getting pissed off about trivialities, but

Asheville - 70,400
Boone - 13,286
Burlington - 46,645
Concord - 59,960
Enfield - 2,308
Greenville - 68,387
Gibsonville - 4,526
Graham - 13,494 (contiguous with Burlington)
Hendersonville - 11,232
North Wilkesboro - 4,115
Manteo - 1,263
Smithfield - 11,702
Swansboro - 1,397
Wake Forest - 17,390
Weaverville - 2,455
Wilson - 46,507
Weaverville - 2,455
Zebulon - 4,135

Places like Asheville, Burlington, Concord, Greenville, Graham, and Wilson do not fit my definition of a SMALL town. If Enfield is a small town, and Wake Forest is a town, then Wilson is a city and Greenville a big city. Asheville a small town? Give me a break.

[benEzra]

81. I'm in Craven County, NC (near New Bern), was leaning strongly Obama until this week...

may end up still voting for him in the primary, but yes, that was indeed offensive. Not the statement that some people in small-town America are bitter, though; some are. The offensive implication was that those of us who attend religious services, or those of us who own guns and wish to keep them, do so out of "bitterness" instead of free choice, and if we had more economic opportunities then we would come to our senses and eschew those things. And equating religion and gun ownership with racism and xenophobia is not going to help him among those religious people and/or gun-owners who despise racism in all its forms.

My wife and I own guns because we choose to. We attend religious services because we choose to. And slamming those choices as the unconscious and irrational fruit of "bitterness" is not endearing.


-----------------------
Thoughts on Gun Ownership

Dems and the Gun Issue - Now What? (written in '04, largely vindicated in '06, IMO)

The Conservative Roots of U.S. Gun Control

[EFerrari]

83. But he didn't say that.

He didn't say gun owners and church goers are irrational.

Have you read his remarks or did you get this straight from the Clinton/McCain campaign? Because you're offended over something that no one said.

[benEzra]

89. I read his remarks here on DU.

And I am no fan of HRC and definitely not McCain; I will probably still vote for Obama. His subsequent remarks suggest that he either didn't mean it the way he said it, or he has reconsidered the initial characterization. Either way is progress.

FWIW, as much as HRC might like to use this to gain some traction, she isn't exactly positioned to take advantage of it, as she just this week promised to outlaw the most popular target rifles in America. She's certainly not going to pick up the rural vote that way.

But to the original point, one can most definitely view guns or religion as very important, or weight gun rights more heavily than economic issues, without doing so as some sort of coping mechanism.

There is a lot of misunderstanding of the gun issue, religion, and rural issues among many urban Dems, and maybe this incident will help bridge those gaps. Better that this come up now, and be addressed now, than in the general election, anyway.

[cali]

91. I'm a rural dem

and a supporter of 2nd amendment rights, and I didn't take any offence. I understood what he was saying- though he's right, he should have said it better.

[UALRBSofL]

93. This is a test to see if my image works

:)

[EFerrari]

98. The thing is, human beings use just about everything as a coping

mechanism. Obama identified issues that people might grab for to feel a little less alone in their communities.

No churchgoer or gun owner was dissed in those comments. He's a churchgoer, for pete's sake, and his voting record on gun ownership is more respectful of gun owners than Clinton's is.

The irony is, he wasn't talkng about gun rights or churchgoing. He was talking about how people in smaller communities come not to trust the government and how justified they are in feeling that way. :(

[benEzra]

103. That is true. However, to ascribe someone's life choices to emotion or psychological factors

as opposed to, say, rational thought, is generally considered demeaning.

If I tell you that you are a Dem because you are a thinking person, that is a compliment. If I tell you that you are a Dem because you are compensating for something or need an emotional crutch, it's an insult.

Perhaps that's not what he meant, but that's the way it came out--that people for whom guns or religion are voting issues are acting out of emotional impulse, not rational thought. For a minority of voters, that may be true, but it came across as saying that everyone who places guns or religion over economic well-being is doing so in order to emotionally cope.

As I said, I'll probably still vote for Obama (HRC reiterated her promise just this week to outlaw the most popular target rifles in America, so she's hardly an alternative on the gun issue), and am hopeful that this incident leads him to greater understanding of those two issues, and enhances dialog all around.

[livetohike]

95. So many community leaders on this list

Wow! How impressive. :sarcasm:

[JoFerret]

97. The small town elite strikes back

Good for them - fighting stereotypes from NC.

The world is changing folks.

[NC_Nurse]

99. "Community Leader" = Hillary campaign worker/volunteer/shill

Lotta those on the list. She's gonna get her ass kicked here.

[mmonk]

100. Scratch the word North Carolinians please.

They are political partisans.