Obama Sharpens Clinton Attacks

Democratic Candidate Questions Her On Trade, Mocks Visit To An Indiana Bar

(CBS/AP)  Democratic Sen. Barack Obama on Monday questioned rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's opposition to free trade agreements that some voters contend have eliminated thousands of U.S. jobs and mocked her weekend visit to an Indiana bar as pandering to the working class.

"Around election time, the candidates can't do enough for you. They'll promise you anything, give you a long list of proposals and even come around, with TV crews in tow, to throw back a shot and a beer," Obama told a meeting of the Alliance for American Manufacturing.

Clinton did just that at a stop Saturday at Bronko's restaurant in Crown Point, Ind. (Read more about the visit in From The Road)

The two presidential candidates continued to hammer each other Monday after a weekend of criticism stemming from Obama's comment that some small-town voters are bitter over their economic circumstances and "cling to guns and religion" as a result. Obama uttered the words at a private fundraiser in San Francisco last week and Clinton has seized on them in seeking the edge in Pennsylvania, which holds its primary April 22.

Obama also chided Clinton over NAFTA and the Colombian trade deal. Clinton has criticized NAFTA, which was passed under her husband's watch. She opposes the Colombian trade deal even though former President Clinton supports it and her top campaign strategist, Mark Penn, met with Colombian officials to help push for its passage. Penn has since been demoted.

"Here's what you can't do. You can't spend the better part of two decades campaigning for NAFTA and PNTR for China, and then come here to Pennsylvania, and tell the steelworkers you've been with them all along," Obama said. "You can't say you are opposed to the Colombia Trade deal, while your key strategist is working for the Colombian government to get the deal passed."

In response, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said, "Senator Obama's speeches won't hide his condescending views of Americans living in small towns."

Addressing the gathering later Monday, Clinton said her husband made mistakes related to NAFTA but that she planned to fix them. Clinton said she would either address the NAFTA problems leading to job losses, or would tell Canada and Mexico that the United States is pulling out of the agreement.

Both candidates are hoping to secure the endorsement of the influential United Steelworkers union, which backed Democrat John Edwards before he dropped out of the race. Steelworkers president Leo Gerard introduced Obama to the crowd, saying, "We're tired, we're frustrated, we're angry and we need somebody who's going to stand up for fair trade."

Campaigning Sunday in Pennsylvania, Clinton derided Obama's comments about small-town voters as "elitist and divisive" and suggested they could doom Democrats' chances for recapturing the White House in November if Obama were the nominee.

The Clinton campaign will continue this week to push the message that Obama is "out of touch" with middle class voters, reports CBS News reporter Fernando Suarez. A source close to the campaign tells CBS News that "after a weekend of political craze, Clinton will ask voters to step back, and really look at and reflect on the actual comments made by Obama." (Read more)

"That Clinton and Obama are battling over middle-class, blue-collar voters isn't surprising given the upcoming contests," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia and Kentucky are rich with voters concerned both cultural and trade issues. We are sure to hear more in coming weeks."

At a union hall outside Harrisburg, Obama said he'd expected blowback from GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain but said he'd been "a little disappointed" to be criticized by Clinton. "Shame on her," he said.

Laughing, the Illinois senator noted Clinton seemed much more interested in guns since he made his comments than she had been in the past. On Saturday, the former first lady reminisced about learning to shoot on summer vacations in Scranton, where her father grew up.

"She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment. She's talking like she's Annie Oakley," Obama said.

Clinton has told campaign audiences that she supports the rights of hunters. She's also said she once shot a duck in Arkansas, where she served as first lady.

Clinton, who is trailing Obama in the popular vote and pledged delegates, has pounded Obama since audio from his San Francisco appearance was posted on The Huffington Post Web site. She hoped the comments might give her a new opening to court working-class Democrats less than 10 days before the Pennsylvania primary, which she needs win to keep her campaign going.

At the San Francisco fundraiser, Obama tried to explain his troubles in winning over some blue-collar voters, saying they have become frustrated with economic conditions: "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."

In Scranton on Sunday, Clinton said Obama's words would probably alienate voters in Pennsylvania and other states holding primaries in the coming weeks. Indiana and North Carolina vote on May 6.

"How does he see people here in this neighborhood, throughout Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, other places in our country?" she asked during an informal news conference. "I think that's what people are looking for, some explanation, and he has simply not provided one."

[frankj79]

The ironic thing about the Obama "Bitter" comments is they serve to distract the American Voter (by way of the press) from very important issues i.e. the economy, trade, healthcare, education, and even the WAR has taken a back seat to this silliness.

The Country is going to hell in a hand basket... and all the press and Hillary wants us to focus on is Obama''s choice of words?? I lost respect for Washington several administrations ago...

This "New Press" don''t seem to get it. Walter, Dan, Tom, and other creditable newsmen would never have considered this a "Top Story" or "Front Page News". We need to be informed about the positions these politician hold on the serious issues confronting America.

[omaar-101]

www.pittsburghlive.com

Chalk Pittsburg as a Win for Obama !!

Pittsburgh Steelers Owner Dan Rooney today Endorsed Sen. Barack Obama in this open letter..

Dear Fellow Pennsylvanian,
Based on the experiences that I have had in my seventy-five years and my assessment of what I think our nation needs to MAKE REAL CHANGE that is SO NEEDED, I am proud and now feel compelled to endorse Senator Barack Obama.

This is not something that I do Regularly but as I listen to the candidates in this race, I am struck that we continue to hear about the problems and the same challenges that we have been talking about for decades.

Protecting jobs here in Pennsylvania, breaking our dangerous and costly addiction to foreign oil, making health care accessible and affordable " these are neither new issues nor new ideas. And yet we have failed to make real progress.

As a grandfather and a citizen of this community I think Barack Obama''''s, thoughtful, strategic approach is important for America. When I hear how excited young people seem to be when they talk about this man, I believe he will do what is BEST for them which is to INSPIRE them to be Great Americans.


True sports fans know that you support your team even when they are the UnderDogs.

Barack Obama is the Underdog Here but it is with Great Pride that I join His team.

When I think of Barack Obama''''s America I have Great Hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency

Sincerely,

[popstom1]

Obama won''t see his candy A$S takeing any kind of shots.

[jockh]

John McCain Should Go on Vacation, Hillary Clinton is Doing His Job for Him
By cynically twisting Obama''s comments about small town voters in a way that confirms every right-wing demagogic caricature of her own Party, Hillary Clinton has adopted the frames, lies, stereotypes and destructive clichis long embraced by the likes of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove. She has clearly decided that the road to victory runs through scorched earth. The question is, if she succeeds, what kind of Party will she be left to lead? She''s burning down the village to save it -- or to prove that she would make the best fire chief. But the village won''t be saved; only one house will be left standing. A house with room for just two occupants: Hill and Bill.

[jockh]

Hillary is grasping at any and every straw, because of the depth of her desperation.
I have this vision of Hillary tumbling down a cliff and grabbing the little tree stumps on her way down, hoping that one of them will stop the fall, and keep her from crashing%u2026.can you smell the desperation wafting from Camp Clinton?

They know they have to beat Obama by over 20 points to give themselves even the most remote chance of catching him in the rest of the few remaining primary states. So they mount another desperate ploy from their hanging by a fingernail campaign, but ultimately this is much ado about nothing. ? It may cost Obama a few votes in Pennsylvania and it looks likely that Clinton will have her last hurrah by winning that state, but unless the superdelegates have a death wish for their party, he will still win the nomination; and finally Hillary will go home and take her terrible pant suits with her.

[jockh]

As a gun owner and hunter, I have trouble welcoming pistol packing mama Hillary Clinton into the gun fraternity.

And, as someone who used to toss down more than his share of shots, I have even more trouble imagining an evening at the local bar tossing back shots and beer with the Democratic Presidential pretender.

Yet claims of a hunting heritage and downing shots of Crown Royal and chasing it with a beer is part of Clinton''s pathetic attempt to prove she''s just one of us.

Memo to Hillary: You ain''t one of us, especially not with 109 million dollars in the pockets of your solid gold pant suits; so drop the charade, you are looking like a fool. We''re not looking for one of us. We''re looking for a leader.

Besides, if the phone rings at the White House at 3 a.m. and Hillary is spreadeagled across the bed, passed out in an alcohol-induced stupor, no one is available to answer the phone.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by jockh at 10:55 AM : Apr 15, 2008

Her campaign is running fine. She''s out there just fighting this battle like a pro. And the good she''s trying to do for this country way transcends all the gossipy trash Obama honkers try to hit her with.

With superdelegate help, Hlllary Clinton can win just the same as Obama can win with superdelegate help.

There''s not a reason in the world to ask her to step down until her opponent gets the delegates he needs to win. Otherwise he gets a free ride, which is why he''s trying to push the free ride whining baby cart.

[jack3213]

The idea that Obama is the elitist and Bill and Hillary Clinton are practically a mom-and-pop restaurant is the dumbest thing to happen yet in a campaign that gets dumber, meaner and more of a slog by the day. Bill and Hillary Clinton are the royalty of American life. They got rich off the White House, rich beyond what anyone knew until they were dragged kicking and screaming into releasing their tax returns.The other day, Hillary Clinton was talking about the last two presidential elections, looking around for reasons why she thinks Al Gore and John Kerry lost. "Large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand or relate to or frankly respect their ways of life," she said. Now she is saying that Obama is no better. She says that in every possible way on the campaign trail. It is her constant message to the superdelegates and maybe to the boys in the bar when she is throwing back shots with them - Obama is the worst kind of snob and can''t win. This coming from someone married to a man who thinks he is the greatest, smartest politician who ever lived, smarter than everybody, but more desperate, occasionally in a grubby way, to get back to the White House.

[jockh]

Sen. Clinton has run an incompetent campaign, half truths, outright lies, imaginary flights, take-no prisoners politics, a presidential spouse given to wallowing in anger and self-pity, and a succession of aides and surrogates pushed under the bus when things don%u2019t go right. Her campaign has failed spectacularly despite being the Partys obvious favorite from the beginning.

She cannot win the pledged delegates so she is simply hanging around with a begging bowl asking for the nomination in case Obama makes a fatal mistake.

What kind of a leader would prefer to win a Presidential Election on account of her opponents mistakes. How can Sen. Clinton manage the United States when she can%u2019t even run her own campaign.

[rowdytexan2]

Obama honkers even come out and tell krap that Al Gore and Jimmy Carter are fixing to tell HIllary to get out of the race! For one thing, they can''t do that, period.

And the other thing is that Carter has said he won''t endorse until the convention, and Gore has said he''s not interested in brokering this thing for the DNC.

But the Obama honkers will present you with this krap like it''s gospel!

[rowdytexan2]

It''s simply amazing what all the Obama honkers will tell you! Obama has gotten 9 superdelegates since April 1st and Clinton has gotten 9 now.

Yet to hear the Obama honkers, he''s outstripping her in superdelegates three to one!

I can''t figure out why people don''t check these things out themselves instead of just believing what everyone tells them.

[obama8years]

The Tide is Turning, a Montana Super Delegate Pledged for Hillary. And some politicians are starting to persuade the other super delegates.

[antonn2]

Another Obama lie exposed. Here from the New York Times:

At Developer%u2019s Trial, Witness Recalls Seeing Obamas at 2004 Party for Investor

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By CHRISTOPHER DREW
Published: April 15, 2008

A government witness testified on Monday at the trial of the Chicago businessman Antoin Rezko that Senator Barack Obama attended a party in 2004 that Mr. Rezko held to court a controversial Iraqi-born investor for a large real estate project.
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Darren Staples/Reuters

Nadhmi Auchi, a controversial investor, in London in 2003. A party for him was the focus of testimony Monday.
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Mr. Obama%u2019s presidential campaign has long said that the senator does not recall meeting the investor, Nadhmi Auchi, a billionaire who has been convicted on fraud charges in Europe. Mr. Obama%u2019s spokesman, Bill Burton, said again Monday that the senator had no recollection of attending any such event.

Questions about the senator%u2019s ties to Mr. Rezko, a

[obama8years]

cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/11/ opinion/main4009369.shtml

or click on opinion and then the "bad barack"

Put down your Coffee and read the above CBS article
"Bad Obama" OBAMA is Finished when CBS decides to let it Jounalists write the truth.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by jockh at 05:54 AM : Apr 15, 2008

I have this vision of Obama when he loses in front of the camera on his plane fulla beer and screaming at the top of his voice...you bunch of racist ignorant rural fools, you can''t see past your guns and religion and support NAFTA like I have, and I think the illegal immigrants are the best thing since sliced bread! You are just a bitter bunch of bouguoise fools that won''t let me do your thinking for you with my superior elitist Harvard Review popularity contest intellect. Farrahken, Ayers, Malcolm X were all right, you people are to be hated!

[jockh]

As a gun owner and hunter, I have trouble welcoming pistol packing mama Hillary Clinton into the gun fraternity.

And, as someone who used to toss down more than his share of shots, I have even more trouble imagining an evening at the local bar tossing back shots and beer with the Democratic Presidential pretender.

Yet claims of a hunting heritage and downing shots of Crown Royal and chasing it with a beer is part of Clinton''s pathetic attempt to prove she''s just one of us.

Memo to Hillary: You ain''t one of us, especially not with 109 million dollars in the pockets of your solid gold pant suits; so drop the charade, you are looking like a fool. We''re not looking for one of us. We''re looking for a leader.

Besides, if the phone rings at the White House at 3 a.m. and the Hillary is spreadeagled across the bed, passed out in an alcohol-induced stupor, no one is available to answer the phone.

[jack3213]

OBAMA MIGHT KEEP BAD COMPANY BUT MY FRIENDS, SO DOES CLINTON. THE BOTH OF THEM ARE NOT CREDIBLE NOR TRUSTWORTHY. YOU THINK A REPUBLICAN IS A BAD WORD, THE TWO OF THESE LYING DEMOCRATS ARE EVEN WORSE.

[brianbwb-2009]

"It tells the truth about where barrack and michelle really stand and who they are associated with. This is a must read." Posted by ranger1948

Now Ranger, you are a better person than that. "Where people stand" is an answer that can only come from the people themselves, not from some agenda driven pundits drawing inferences from irrelevant minutiae.

Of a truth, the same crooked money is behind all three candidates, all have an equal share of unsavory characters donating money to their cause, and all these people expect a profit on their "investment,"
none of the candidates is any dirtier or cleaner than the other.

The important point is who at least talks about solutions to America''s real problems, and the general picture is that Mr. McCain denies that there are any problems, Mrs. Clinton thinks that changing the lipstick on the pig will make it more attractive, and Mr. Obama at least has hinted that problems exist, and they might be serious.

Now whether the entrenched corruption would allow Mr. Obama to solve any of the problems is a different story, but at least he sees that America is not happy with the status quo, and of all the candidates, a resounding victory by Mr. Obama would be the strongest repudiation of "trickle down corruption".

[closethippy1]

Senator Obama has once again shown that any one who attacks him does so at his/her own peril. He really is the best orator of this generation. Like his father, whose ability to speak and talk won him a place at Harvard.
Posted by hoamh at 03:34 AM : Apr 15, 2008

I like to compare Obama to a chess master whose opponents know they cannot beat. The best they can hope for is a draw.
There''s no way to pin Obama down and that has to be extremely frustrating for Clinton.

[brianbwb-2009]

Instead of a shot and a beer at the remaining town bar, perhaps Mrs. Clinton could have gone to any of the closed down buildings that used to be a jazz club, or a blues club, and spoke about how the decimation of the middle class eliminated the all too few avenues for performing artists to make a living. Maybe she could go to LA, where she could visit the legendary Parisian Room (now a post office) the Lighthouse (gone forever), or to New York''s Seventh Ave. South (closed).