Senator Hillary Clinton has recently campaigned using key terms such as "blue-collar" and "white working class" to mobilize and gain white vote support. This strategy has been manipulated following the remarks of Senator Barack Obama whom while campaigning in Pennsylvania suggested that voters there "cling to guns or religion" because of bitterness about their economic situation. Is Senator Obama practicing elitist politics?
Clinton addressed the Obama comments stating:
"Well, that is not my experience," she said. "As I travel around Pennsylvania I meet people who are resilient, optimistic, positive, who are rolling up their sleeves. They are working hard every day for a better future for themselves and their children."
McCain spokesman Steve Schmidt addressed the Obama remarks:
"It shows an elitism and condescension towards hardworking Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking," Schmidt said. "It is hard to imagine someone running for for president who is more out of touch with average Americans."
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Al Sharpton of White People
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3 comments:
Hillary should drop out of the race!
Clinton's recent 'hard-working white Americans' comments are insulting to all of us. I wish I could go to the polls and vote for Obama on Tuesday -- I'd enjoy saying No Thanks to Hillary this week. West Virginians, you have the golden opportunity. Lucky folks. I hope lots of you have a great time voting for Barack. With a smile.
Someone needs to address the larger issue: is it really necessary that presidential candidates present themselves to the working class as "one of us"? and, if so, why? Has anyone taken a poll, specifically asking Americans if they consider this kind of role playing essential in a president? All but a couple presidents - at most - have come from at least somewhat privileged backgrounds. Yet every candidate seems to feel this pressing need to possess "the common touch." But you know what? No matter how privileged your background, there's one absolutely foolproof way to show the people you're one of them: by genuinely caring what happens to them. Granted, it's probably as difficult as the biblical camel's passage through the eye of a needle for a child of privilege to care about others in anything but the most superficial way - but it is possible. And if they do care about ordinary citizens, then they don't have to go hunting, or bowling, or drinking - or any other mindless activity - just to prove they've got "the common touch."
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