Obama Tries to Turn Anger Into "Hope"
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Barack Obama today linked his message of "hope" to his new message of anger and frustration, arguing that the two are interrelated. At the Builders Trade Conference here, Obama told union members that they need to be angry in order to bring about change.
"You get mad, and then you decide you're going to change it," Obama said. "If you're not angry about something, then you're going to sit back and let it happen to you. But if you're only angry, and you don't feel hopeful, then you're not going to get the energy to change it," Obama said.
Since the "bitter" controversy erupted four days ago, Obama's campaign message has taken on a new tone. Those who introduce him talk about George W. Bush and the economy with passion and anger. Today, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told the crowd that she wanted to use "un-lady like" words to express her frustration with Bush.
"Our president has messed this country up," McCaskill said. "Our president, in every way imaginable, from record high oil prices recorded yesterday to our standing in the world, has messed this up."
McCaskill also poked fun at Hillary Clinton for drinking beer on the campaign trail and used it as another jab at Bush. "We drink a lot of beer in St. Louis and not just for the TV cameras, we drink a lot of beer in St. Louis," she said. "But I'll tell you, this beer that we've had with George Bush has been the most expensive beer in the world's history. This is a beer we can't afford to drink anymore."
Obama told the crowd that despite the recent anger that he has expressed, he remains hopeful. "Being hopeful doesn't mean being naïve," he said. "I know how hard it's going to be to reverse some of these job trends." He also continued to defend his comments about the bitterness he's talked about in small town Americans. "If anybody denies that people are frustrated and angry, and yes, sometimes bitter, then they are out of touch," he said. "They're ignoring the truth of what's been happening in our communities for far too long."