Comments on: What Obama should have said about small town Pennyslvanians

By: George Washington

George Washington — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:48:26 +0000

Menlo Bob, excellent analysis! [Though methinks you slightly underestimate the impact of the global economy.] Chuckles, any thoughts? Or is Menlo Bob just another close minded guy from the red states?

By: Menlo Bob

Menlo Bob — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:57:15 +0000

Chuck, I’m re-reading your rephrasing of Obama’s off the cuff remarks that got him some bad press and it would seem to have a distorted vision of the problems of rural workers. All one has to do is look at where the jobs in Rockford have gone. For the most part they’ve been lured away to other states with more favorable tax policies–not to other countries. Obama’s tax policies, if anything, don’t encourage competition for jobs. As for the inability to export products all you have to look at is Obama’s statements opposing trade agreements to know where he stands. Even the recently rejected Columbian agreement that had broad bi-partisan support, but not from the petit Marxist. On balance trade has been very good for this country. Much as the decline of the dollar as been derided in the press and the senator, a weaker dollar allows for more US exports. Obama likes to describe the situation without providing solutions.

By: Menlo Park

Menlo Park — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:49:37 +0000

Hey Chuckles, I am not sure if I’m reading your comment correctly or not (#10) but one possible interpretation is you are invoking the “race card.” If so, I think you are doing George Washington a disservice. His issue is not so much with what Sen. Obama said, but with your analysis….that somehow, since (according to you) he meant something different than what he said, it makes it OK. Your take could easily have been lifted directly from the script of the Saturday Night Live debate skit a few weeks back…you know, the one where Obama got asked “can we get you a pillow” while Hillary got all the zingers.

By: John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:59:38 +0000

Chuckles, if Obama is the Democratic nominee, I will vote for him.

Great analysis on your part. He or she did it, so I can do it. Last time I heard that, my mom said something along the lines of, “If he jumped off a bridge, woudl you jump off a bridge?”

By: Chuck Sweeny

Chuck Sweeny — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:49:36 +0000

My hunch is that none of you would vote for Obama regardless of anything he said or did not say. All three of the main candidates have said ridiculous things. Heck, we’ve had a president who’s been saying ridiculous things for 7 years, and had ridiculous policies to boot. Even started a ridiculous war his dad’s advisers waned him against.

By: John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:11:24 +0000

I agree with George, Chuckles. You are too easy on Obama. Don’t give him a free pass on everything. I am neither an Obama supporter or detractor…just someone interested in seeing everyone treated fairly.

By: George Washington

George Washington — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:29:12 +0000

Chuckles,
I think perhaps the difference is people knew Reagan wanted to dismantle communism and hated the Soviet Union. So, what he said (reckless as it was) fit with who he was — or at least the image he wanted to convey. Sen. Obama’s remark seems at odds with the message of his campaign. I think that is also the reason why the comments of his wife and pastor have also gained so much attention.

Admittedly, it is unreasonable to expect every word a president utters to be perfect. I am just suggesting that it’s a piece of the puzzle and the “he didn’t mean it” defense can only be used so many times.

By: Chuck Sweeny

Chuck Sweeny — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:03:36 +0000

Menlo Bob, you’ve already corrected the spelling of my name, so I don’t have to do it!

“George Washington:” A lot of folks thought Ronald Reagan’s supposedly off-air (but not really) comment about the USSR — “the bombing begins in 5 minutes” — was provocative and dangerous.
He was also accused of provocation when he called the USSR an evil empire, and when he stood on the Berlin Wall (remember that?) and said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

Today we remember Reagan as the winner of the Cold War, and we remember the USSR, or CCCP if you wish, as a t-shirt.

By: Menlo Bob

Menlo Bob — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 05:11:36 +0000

Mr. Sweeny,

Why don’t YOU correct my spelling—you have no problem rewriting Barack Obama’s speeches.

By: Chuck Sweeny

Chuck Sweeny — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:35:35 +0000

Menlo Bob, please spell my name correctly.
.
Edward, I think you mean loser, not looser.

Boudy, Thanks for the Talking Points video I watched it and I think Obama should have given the 2004 explanation last week in SF. He could have avoided a lot of sniper fire from Mrs. Bill Clinton.