Or, Not Condescending: Ur Doing It Rong.
OBAMA SPEAKS to the ruling class (donors!) about the people they see out their car windows; and said a very bad thing, meaning he used the B-word. (No, not that B-word; “bitter.”):
“You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them, and they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And 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.”
Your Montag will assume that the focus groups indicate that the key Pensylvania Democratic primary voters:
- have guns
- are religious
- are antipathetic to people who aren’t like them
- possess anti-immigrant sentiment
- aren’t sure about all of these international trade deals
Why else would Obama have to try and explain them to his donors?
So, yeah, Obama was condescending. And I’m pretty sure he’s wrong that more than one or two of these five traits are symptoms of economic-related “bitterness.” (And that people who are religious or value the 2nd Amendment may object to the idea that “bitterness” has fuck-all to do with it.) And I’m pretty sure “anti-trade,” is more disingenuous rhetorical turn than, you know, accurate description of the rubes’ position on trade deals. But the guy’s gotta get money, right?
Hillary Clinton speaks to the political class (voters!) about how great they truly are, but isn’t condescending at all. Not a bit:
“I’ve spent a lot of time traveling around this beautiful, historic state… I have a great deal of affection for the state and for the people and this campaign has been a privilege and a joy. It’s being reported that my opponent said that the people of Pennsylvania who’ve faced hard times are bitter. Well, that’s not my experience. As I travel around Pennsylvania, I meet people who are resilient, who are optimistic, who are positive who are rolling up their sleeves. They’re working hard every day for a better future for themselves and their children. Pennsylvanians don’t need a president who looks down on them. They need a president who stands up for them, who fights for them.”
Vote for me because I like you, and I would never, ever call you something horrible like “bitter.” No I wouldn’t. You’re so sweet and good! I won’t mention international trade deals if you don’t.
The McCain campaign speaks to no one in particular Politico, and says nothing at all of import, and barely condescends enough to be condescending:
“[Obama’s statement] shows an elitism and condescension towards hardworking Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking. It is hard to imagine someone running for president who is more out of touch with average Americans.”
“More out of touch” than what?
Stump Lane 