Barack Obama: "Another Layer of Skepticism" When 46-Year-Old Black Man Tells PA About Hope

[Bolo Boffin]

If Barack Obama has blown it, he did so here when he told a fundraiser in San Fransisco that people in Pennsylvania would be MORE skeptical of a message of hope coming from a black man.

It's at the Politico, and it's on video.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Video_from_San_Francisco.html

Here's how it is: in a lot of these communities in big industrial states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, people have been beaten down so long, and they feel so betrayed by government, and when they hear a pitch that is premised on not being cynical about government, then a part of them just doesn't buy it. And when it's delivered by -- it's true that when it's delivered by a 46-year-old black man named Barack Obama (laugher), then that adds another layer of skepticism.

This means that the whole talk is on video. This means that whoever is releasing this KNEW about this quote before releasing the one they did, the one that comes later. The first was chum in the water and THIS is the bombshell.

And this may be the end for Barack. I hate like hell to say it, but it just may be. He is alluding to the people of small-town Pennsylvania being racists, and he is PLAYING IT FOR LAUGHS AND MONEY IN SAN FRANSISCO.

What's worse is that it's a gold mine for whoever is releasing it. It doesn't matter how sneaky and underhanded they may be perceived to be here, Barack said what he said. There is no other way to take that "another layer of skepticism" comment.

I mean, damn. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn.

[Pirate Smile]

1. We already knew that. It was part of the extended quote.

[Bolo Boffin]

3. Then you don't understand.

"Bitter" is not the issue, and it really never was.

If Barack survives this, he's invincible. I hope that he does.

But I doubt it now.

[scheming daemons]

48. The only people offended by his remarks are people that were overwhelmingly Repug anyway...

No Democrats (true ones, anyway) or Independents were offended by it, because they recognize his comments as the truth.

Likewise.... Repukes with IQs over 100 weren't offended by it either.



Obama said what we all know.... You still have the mindset that that is a BAD thing.

It's not.

[BeatleBoot]

2. Not ready for prime time

that's a given, now.

[Bolo Boffin]

5. Sadly, I have to agree. n/t

[Drunken Irishman]

68. So, my good friend BeatleBoot, who is?

Sen. Clinton, who lied about her trip to Bosnia, even though she had to have known there would be evidence to suggest her story was an utter fabrication? Was Sen. Clinton ready for prime time when she talked about being against NAFTA since the 90s, only to have her White House papers come out with evidence she was pushing it on the behalf of the White House throughout the 90s? Was she ready for prime time when she talked about being against the war in Iraq before Obama? Or that she was against driver licenses for illegals, then for 'em and against 'em again?

[Orrex]

4. He should have had the sense not to be a 46 year old black man

I think that you're reading into it more than is there.

If it spun against him, I'm confident that the spin will once again backfire on the spinners.

[Bolo Boffin]

7. He should have had the sense never to have said such a thing.

Explain exactly how the voters of Pennsylvania would have "another layer of skepticism" listening to a message of hope from a 46-year-old black man that isn't relying on assuming that they are racists.

Now would be good.

[Orrex]

16. If only I knew a voter in Pennsylvania...

Here's how it is: in a lot of these communities in big industrial states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, people have been beaten down so long, and they feel so betrayed by government, and when they hear a pitch that is premised on not being cynical about government, then a part of them just doesn't buy it. And when it's delivered by -- it's true that when it's delivered by a 46-year-old black man named Barack Obama (laugher), then that adds another layer of skepticism.

Here's how I parse that:

When they hear a pitch that is premised on not being cynical about government--especially when delivered by a member of the demographic that has been systematically beaten down by government for centuries and might therefore be perceived as over-eager to voice such cynicism--it is understandable that people will be even more skeptical than usual about optimism.

Sounds pretty reasonable to me: based in history and in present-day reality. I don't see the accusation of racism.

Not even as a life-long Pennsylvanian.

[Bolo Boffin]

20. Parse away. It's a huge stretch from the clear meaning of the words. n/t

[Orrex]

40. Perhaps

If you're trying to infer racism, that is.


Give the voters of PA a little credit.

[Bolo Boffin]

43. That was your second chance to explain what I asked you to explain.

Your third was down below.

Can you? Can you explain exactly how saying the people of Pennsylvania would have "another layer of skepticism" for a black man isn't implying that they are racist?

If you could, you would have done it by now.

[Chulanowa]

47. There's a difference between racism

and acknowledging the fact that, in pretty much every way possible, he's an "outsider" in Pennsylvania. It's not exactly the brownest state in the union, nor is it the youngest, nor is it the wealthiest, and Obama happens to meet all those. Like it or not, a lot of people are skeptical of someone they perceive as being "outside" their communities.

This is why candidates tour the country, heating two-foot hot dogs, milking cows, and making general asses out of themselves to look like "one of us" (even if I would never eat a two-foot hot dog or even touch a cow's tits...)

[Bolo Boffin]

52. You just said what he meant a lot better than he did on video.

And on video, he said there was "another layer of skepticism" about a black man with an African-sounding name. That's an allusion to racism, said in front of a San Fransisco fundraiser. It was not said to Pennsylvania and Ohio voters, but about them, as behind their backs as possible.

[Chulanowa]

61. Is he wrong, though?

If a black guy from Chicago (or worse, Washington DC) named, say, Zawi Abdul Wangai came to a majority white rural community, what do you suppose the first reaction would be? Same if some Pennsylvanian white guy named Jack Franklin Foddsworth showed up to talk politics in Pritchard, Alabama.

"What the hell does someone like him know about us?"

Unfortunately for the pundits, it seems a majority of the people Obama was talking to and about agree with his statements.

[babylonsister]

46. You're reading way too much into this. Has a black man EVER been

elected, or run for prez, in this country? He probably meant that, not that people are racist. Think about it.

[Bolo Boffin]

54. I am listening to the words come out of his mouth. n/t

[babylonsister]

62. And you're interpreting what he said as something that isn't there.

Nice try.

[DemGa]

6. Yes, Obama is alluding to them being racists -- very damaging indeed --NT

[jackson_dem]

He basically called Pennsylvanians a bunch of racists

The question was why is he losing PA? This was his response: they are racists and fools who cling to religion and hunting.

[Pirate Smile]

8. He actually had just defended them against claims that they wont vote for him because of his

race.

[Bolo Boffin]

10. The two statements are not incompatible. Not at all. n/t

[malik flavors]

9. He always jokes about a black guy named Obama be an unlikely candidate.

[MadBadger]

12. The whole bit about a skinny kid with a funny name.

[Bolo Boffin]

14. But there, the implied racism is vague and not assignable to any particular group.

This is him on video applying this to specific groups of voters.

[flor de jasmim]

15. Malik, I'm with you on this, because

he mentioned his name. If he had just said "a black man", it would have put the thing on race. I think it was a way of saying an outsider to the community.

Listen, when all is said and done, the people who were going to vote for him before he said this, probably will still, and if he continues to GOTV, it should not be a problem.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WINNING 100% OF THE VOTES.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

11. 2 of the wealthiest senators accuse Obama of elitism - Hillaryious

cackle cackle.

And Hillary expressed her care with such realistic emotion. NOT.

She sounds so fake, she may have improved her tone a little so it doesn't sound
so scratchy like fingernails on a black board, but she doesn't have a
sincere bone in her body.

[rodeodance]

58. you equate elite with $$.--your premise is wrong. Elitist is Obama-who talks down to groups!!

[Bolo Boffin]

60. I completely disagree that Barack is elitist. 100% disagree.

He made a huge mistake in saying what he did the way that he did. That doesn't make him elitist, but it does leave him open to being accused of being so by the unscrupulous.

And there are a lot of unscrupulous people in politics.

[Nedsdag]

69. If Obama talks down to groups.

Then Hillary LOOKS down to groups.

She doesn't give a shit about anyone except herself.

[John Q. Citizen]

13. I don't see the problem. Of course I didn't see the problem with handshake gate,

plageism-gate, Wright-gate, monster-gate, etc. None of those supposedly "campaign ending" comments or actions in fact were.

When Hill said McCain was patriotic and qualified and implied and expressly said the Dem front runner wasn't quailfied, and wasn't patriotic, she disqualified herself from the Democratic nomination. Period.

Learn to hold your water man.

[Bolo Boffin]

18. You don't see the problem with openly implying that a specific group of people are racists...

...especially when that group of people are about to vote in a primary with your name on the ballot?

Stop making personal attacks on me, John Q.

[crankychatter]

22. sounds like YOU are having second thoughts about YOUR candidate

I made my mind up

I ain't Pollyanna

don't YOU be chicken little

[Bolo Boffin]

24. Which is allowed in America.

I voted for him in Texas, and I caucused for him as well.

I still think he'd be better than Hillary.

But this was a huge mistake, and we don't do ourselves any favors by making excuses for it. Obama has already said that he could have said it better. Well, yeah.

Stranger things have happened, yes, indeed. But the way things usually work, this is it.

[spoony]

56. That's how I feel about it

A lot of people are in this sand trap of trying to rationalise his error, when it doesn't even accurately portray his attitude (at least I don't THINK it does) and is inescapably bad PR.

[John Q. Citizen]

28. If you percieve some free advice, "learn to hold your water,' as a personal attack, then it becomes

clear how you could equate the remarks in the OP as "accusing PA voters of being racists."

I think you are over reacting.

[Bolo Boffin]

29. John Q., you and I have gone round and round before. It is history that makes that

a personal attack.

Pretending otherwise is insulting.

[thevoiceofreason]

17. What in the hell are you babbling about?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

19. He was just following Ed Rendell's lead:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23134717/

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton's most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black.

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in Tuesday's paper.

[Bolo Boffin]

21. Rendell saying it is not Obama saying it.

Mark my words. If he loses, he lost it right there on videotape.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[crankychatter]

23. OMG we lost the assault weapon owning, fundamentalist, xenophobe VOTE

the sky is falling, the sky is falling

[Bolo Boffin]

30. The media have a hammer to pound him with now, and it's made out of his own words.

It doesn't really matter what he meant at all. It fits into the narrative.

[crankychatter]

34. they will hammer him regardless

ya big goof

calm down

get a grip

or just go vote for Clinton

I'm sure they believe HER PRO-GUN crap, eh?

you must think people in PA are stupid.

[butterfly77]

25. I wonder why people always try to pretend...

they don't know what they know. Some in America really hate to hear the truth this is why we are in the situation we are in now, because some wanted to have a beer with bush...Its better to talk about it now the media,the rightwing and Hillary want racism to hurt him and they say he is using his race but they are always using it against him and then when he responds they try to say he is using his race.


He has really kept away from using race but they keep bringing it up especially hillary. They keep saying he doesn't know real america and is this because he isn't white.

[Bolo Boffin]

27. Me, too.

But as long as people pretend that they don't know what they know, they won't put up with a politician that tells them the truth.

I agree with every word you said.

[melody]

31. And suddenly all the putative Obama supporters appear to supposedly denounce him

This is the third one in the last half-hour. You guys tag team well, I'll give you that. LOL!

[crankychatter]

33. you're a smarty

I like you

[Bolo Boffin]

36. The True Scotsman fallacy? Really?

I am and have been an Obama supporter. I voted for him and caucused for him.

Maybe you should consider that this really is damaging to him.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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

[John Q. Citizen]

50. If you say it is damaging, then of course, in your mind, it is. However, you have presented

an hypothisis without any evidence or data to back it up.

Yet you declare absolutly that it's either 1. All over for Obama, or 2. That if it's not all over for Obama, that he is invincible.

Both of these conclusions, in my opinion, are highly unlikely.

Either way, you present no data at all to justify your alternate conclusions. I think you are over reacting.

[Beregond2]

32. Oh, balls.

And I repeat: balls.

[jefferson_dem]

35. Bullshit. Are you ready for the truth? He was talking about the Media Narrative.

Check out what preceded the material in the video --

OBAMA: So, it depends on where you are, but I think it's fair to say that the places where we are going to have to do the most work are the places where people feel most cynical about government. The people are mis-appre...I think they're misunderstanding why the demographics in our, in this contest have broken out as they are. Because everybody just ascribes it to 'white working-class don't wanna work -- don't wanna vote for the black guy.' That's...there were intimations of that in an article in the Sunday New York Times today - kind of implies that it's sort of a race thing. Here's how it is: in a lot of these communities in big industrial states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, people have been beaten down so long, and they feel so betrayed by government, and when they hear a pitch that is premised on not being cynical about government, then a part of them just doesn't buy it. And when it's delivered by -- it's true that when it's delivered by a 46-year-old black man named Barack Obama (laugher), then that adds another layer of skepticism (laughter).

[Bolo Boffin]

38. No bullshit. He gave a nod to racism.

It is right there. Yes, he's saying the real problem is cynicism, but he gives a nod to racism, "another layer of skepticism."

[Orrex]

41. S-T-R-E-T-C-H

Don't strain yourself!


:eyes:

[babylonsister]

63. You are SO delusional. He gave a nod to racism-can I have some

of what you're smoking? He acknowledged he's a black man running for prez and that's never happened before. How you can even equate that to racism is beyond me. Maybe you need to investigate your own feelings on this topic. :eyes:

[MercutioATC]

39. Hi there, boloboffin!

I have to disagree with you on this one, but it's good to see you again.

[Bolo Boffin]

42. Hey, MercutioATC!

You are still around here, :)

I want to be wrong here, believe me. I want to pull that lever for Barack in November and watch him take the oath in January. But they couldn't roll tape on Gore "inventing the Internet."

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[TacticalPeek]

44. I thought there was no video of his fundraiser remarks - is there a complete video/ transcript?

CROWLEY: Now, the Obama campaign said it didn't have a tape recorder in this fundraiser in California where he said these remarks.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0804/11/sitroom.03.html

[Bolo Boffin]

51. A portion of the video is at Politico. n/t

[rug]

45. If his words don't sink him, their laughter will.

[Eurobabe]

49. And it's taken out of context. THE SKY IS FALLING!!

:hi: I remember you from another forum, time to say goodbye.

[Bolo Boffin]

55. No, it is not being taken out of context. Context (the San Fransisco fundraiser) is half the damage.

Goodbye.

[Neshanic]

53. Oh to be gay, carefree and stupid in SF in front of millionaires.

[ecstatic]

57. So a desperate Clintonite troll is attending Obama's fundraisers

and breaking the rules by taping out of context sound bites that s/he can sell to the highest bidder and at the same time undermine our presumptive nominee's campaign?

[Bolo Boffin]

59. That doesn't change Barack Obama on tape saying what he said.

And the video doesn't look like hidden camera footage to me.

[JoFerret]

66. Crikey.

...that's a bit of a stretcher.

[BeyondGeography]

64. Bullshit...everyone knows that's true

:eyes:

[truebrit71]

65. Oh cry me a river...if it is taken out of context it can be made to say ANYTHING...

...he was telling the truth AND being self-deprecating at the same time...

[Cali_Democrat]

67. Ya, because a 46 year-old black man should shut up and know his place

:sarcasm: