San Francisco Speech Might Haunt Obama

The New Republic: Senator's Remarks On Guns And Religion Could Cost Him Votes, Nomination

(The New Republic)  This column was written by John B. Judis.

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Some liberal commentators have downplayed the effect of Barack Obama's fundraising speech at a San Francisco fundraiser last week. But that's wishful thinking. Along with the revelations about Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright, his remarks in San Francisco will haunt him not only in the upcoming primaries in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, but also in the general election against John McCain, assuming he gets the Democratic nomination.

To win in November, a Democratic presidential candidate has to carry most of the industrial heartland states that stretch from Pennsylvania to Missouri. That becomes even more imperative if a Democrat can't carry Florida - and because of his relative weakness in South Florida, Obama is unlikely to do so against McCain. Ruy Teixeira and I have calculated that in the heartland states, a Democratic presidential candidate has to win from 45 to 48 percent of the white working class vote. In some states, like West Virginia and Kentucky, the percentage is well over a majority.

Some Democrats insist that Obama need not worry about these states because he will be able to make up for a defeat in Ohio or even Pennsylvania with a victory in Virginia or Colorado. But in Virginia, McCain will be able to draw upon coastal suburbanites closely tied to the military. These voters backed Democrats like Chuck Robb and Jim Webb, who are both veterans, but they may not go for Obama. And in the Southwest, McCain will be able to challenge Obama among Hispanics. So to win in November, Obama will have to win almost all of these heartland states. Which is a problem, because even before he uttered his infamous words about these voters "clinging" to guns, religion, abortion, and fears about free trade, Obama looked vulnerable in the region. A look at the white working class's relationship with earlier Democratic candidates underscores the various reasons why.

Many white working class voters in these states used to be loyal Democrats. The last two successful Democratic presidential candidates, Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, swept Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. Many of these voters have always been highly patriotic, church-going hunters who were skeptical about the benefits of trade and immigration and - what Obama did not mention - black political assertiveness. But they still distrust Republicans as the defenders of business and look up to Democrats (or at least some Democrats) as being more in tune with average Americans like themselves.

Democrats have won over these voters when their advantage on the economy has come to the fore. And they've lost these voters when their positions on the economy - or national security - were not sufficiently compelling to overcome the Republican advantage on social issues like abortion, gay marriage, or gun control. Why? Because with the exception of a few rabid single-issue voters, the white working class hasn't simply displaced its economic anxiety, or bitterness, onto God, guns, and gay marriage; they're actually quite concerned about the economy.

Historically, there are three circumstances in which Democrats have been able to win over these voters:

The Unacceptable Republican: Republicans have run candidates with whom white working class voters have not been able to identity - either because of their backgrounds, beliefs, or actions. In 2006 that was obviously true of Ohio gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell - an African American and a far right zealot - and Montana Senator Conrad Burns, who was linked to former super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The Acceptable Democrat: The Democrats have sometimes run candidates in these states who are sufficiently moderate on guns, abortion, and religion to neutralize the Republican appeal on these issues. That was the case with Pennsylvania pro-life Democratic Senate candidate Bob Casey, who defeated incumbent Rick Santorum in 2006.

The Empathetic Democrat: The Democrats have run a candidate who can connect with these voters in spite of his or her beliefs on abortion and guns. Pollsters try to get at this by asking voters whether a candidate "cares about people like me." Sometimes, voters will think a candidate cares about them because they think he is "one of them." Bill Clinton, of course, was a genius at this. He could be the candidate of Hope, Arkansas, and Yale Law School. Other Democrats have succeeded because they have come off as a father (or mother) figure, who, although from the upper class, still cares about the average American.

If you look at the upcoming presidential election in this light, the Democratic prospects do not appear to be good. McCain is an acceptable Republican - a war hero and a reputed moderate. (His greatest inherent liability, which could make him unacceptable regardless of his ideas or background, is his age.) Both Democratic candidates, whatever their protestations, are seen as coming out of the party's liberal wing on guns and abortion.

That leaves the possibility that these voters will see the Democratic candidate as either "one of them," or as a father or mother figure who understands their plight. Both candidates clearly have problems on these scores, but Obama's may be even more severe than Hillary Clinton's. As an African American, he has one strike against him, as has become apparent even in the Democratic primary exit polls. He has tried to appear above race, but he will continually be reminded of his ties to Jeremiah Wright (and his not wearing a flag on his lapel, and his wife's statements about not being "proud" of America) during a general election.

Obama comes from a modest background and has tried to appeal as a candidate of both Harvard Law School and Chicago's Back-of-the-Yards, where he organized laid-off steel workers, but he hasn't been able to pull it off. His manner, his tenor, and his diction are Harvard Law, and when he starts dropping his 'g's," he sounds strained. And Obama is too young, and lacks the stature, to appear as a Franklin Roosevelt-style father figure.

Obama does have an astounding eloquence, and an ability to put a position across, but that eloquence has been reserved largely for anti-war and good-government positions. His stance against the war may resonate (though that will depend on whether McCain's qualification as commander-in-chief trumps his unpopular stance on the war). But where McCain is most vulnerable and where voters are most likely to smile on a Democrat - on everyday economic issues - Obama's heart doesn't appear to be in it.

These difficulties were clear before Obama spoke in San Francisco, but they're much more glaring now. In the speech, Obama appeared to say that Pennsylvania voters' opposition to gun control or abortion or immigration or free trade was pathological - a product of what Marxist philosopher Herbert Marcuse once called "false consciousness." On the other hand, he implied that when he voiced opposition to an issue like free trade - Obama has consistently hammered Clinton on her support for the North American Free Trade Agreement - he was simply pandering to these voters' displaced anxieties. He was saying to these upscale San Francisco Democrats, "I am really one of you, and I am not one of them."

There is even a slight chance that Obama's words in San Francisco could cost him the nomination. Obama is almost certain to have more elected delegates in June than Hillary Clinton, but if he loses Pennsylvania by 15 percentage points (which is not out of the question), that could start a media firestorm around his candidacy that could contribute to other primary defeats and to superdelegate support for Clinton. It's not likely to happen, but after Obama spoke his mind, and, perhaps, lost small-town voters' hearts, in San Francisco, it has suddenly become conceivable.

[robrob791]

I would likely cast my vote for a black, either gender, but like many blacks I will not vote for a breed.

In the small, desert community in CA where I live, every other home is a foreclosure. Roving gangs with weapons rob homes of anything that is sellable, breaking occupied homes with guns for money, jewelry and electronics. Young adults roam streets because they cannot afford college, can''t find jobs and don''t want to enlist in the military to fight an illegal war and come home in a body bag.

Gas is $5 a gallon, food has skyrocketed, and economists say this is only the beginning. The Iraq War is costing us $12 billion each month. Now that Bush ruined our economy, trashed and burned Iraq and murdered over a million innocent Iraqis and displaced 4 million more, America has blood on its hands.

I too am bitter, clinging to my guns and praying for a leader with integrity, courage, wisdom, cares about humanity, is a true patriot of America, is willing to talk first before attacking others, and provides hope in this hopeless situation many Americans now find themselves in.

Instead of picking apart truthful words spoken by Obama, we should be focusing on the lies of Clinton: NAFTA, Basra, support for Iraq War and other lies.

History will judge America harshly for lying to ourselves...and believing the lies of others.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/23726367#23726367

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8ee_1205521504&c=1

[noloyalisti]

Let''s see, we have Hillary, who had $109 million dollars in income and McCain, who only cares about the rich, calling Obama an elite. By the way, what is wrong with someone smart running the country. Look at what a dumb blind conservative and his GOP friends have done to our country.

Anyone who can vote for a moderate Republican like Hillary or an extremist war-monger like McBush really needs some counseling.

[joecoolswat]

No, let me translate for you. He opened his big mouth and showed his Democrat, Rural-people-distain, Constitution-Hating, anti-gun, anti-religion, Liberal tendencies. We are laughing because he will SWIFT-BOAT himself and let Republicans right back into the White House.

[samthetvcat]

---"SamTheTVC it is hard for you libs to swallow what Obama said isn''''t it? The quote speaks for itself, and you can''''t deny it, Ha! Ha! Ha! We conservatives are laughing our way all the way to the White House in November!!!!!!"---
Posted by commonsence1

Translation: you just think Barack''s being uppity - there''s no other way to rationalize the arrogance of your hypocrisy . . .

[old300d]

Hi andor3 ,

Both of their speaking styles are straight out of church ! ! !

Bush was all about hope and change too. We got what we voted for ! ! !

One is a big city lawyer the other a big city oil man ! Both talked like they are the change we need and both not wise in the ways of Washington ! ! !

Much in common.

[andor3]

"We already hired a rookie and look what we got. Whose fault is it ! ! !"

You are trying to compare Barack to Bush?! Too funny--yeah you go with that, I want to see how that unfolds. Start with their public speaking... that should be fun. Or how about their background and path to power...

[andor3]

"That is not what I read. And he is not smart, he is also a liar."

yep you are consistent in denying every fact! Obama moving up on Clinton is on the front page of the big papers. Sen. Obama is obviously more than smart--brilliant and yet not out of touch. As for your "liar" label, you would need some proof beyond your strange dislike.

[shutupnvote]

Sticks and stones,,,,,,whahahahahaha oh the ObamAcolyte called me a name blames me whooooooooaaaaawhaaaaaaaa............I must be a bitter clingy dumb stupid gun totting bible thumping racist like grandmama so scarred by the Government stealing my job that I am not longer capable of worshipping the GREATNESS OF THE HOPE THAT IS THE OBAMA ....


WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH




The question is how bad, he will never be President because he spoke from his heart and displayed his pathology of Entitled Paranoid Victim logy that he learned over the twenty years at Rev Wrights knee against the Evil Empire or the whatever bogeyman needed to create fear so he can be the imagine remedy. POOF all gone.

[shirk3-2009]

"just like i thought... headlines today are Clinton losing lead in Penn, lost it in Indiana. Like I said, this was a brilliant political strategy by Sen. Obama."

That''s not what I read. And he''s not smart, he''s also a liar.