Bill Clinton Loses it in W. Va - Obama Supporters Think They are Better Than "Us" [View All]

[K Gardner]

I had to include this video, which has absolutely nothing to do with the OP

Bill Clinton Loses It in West Virginia - Video - Screaming at Questioner




Bill Clinton to W. Va: Obama's Voters Think They Are Better Than "Us"

Absolutely stunning in its hypocrisy. On the stump in W. Va., former President Bill Clinton said the following:

"The great divide in this country is not by race or even income, it's by those who think they are better than everyone else and think they should play by a different set of rules," he said in Clarksburg. "In West Virginia and Arkansas, we know that when we see it."

Clinton said his wife's primary challenger has "got so much money and it's a different electorate. It's a little more upscale and modern ... than those poor people in Texas and Ohio." In Clarksburg, Clinton contrasted his wife's appeal to working-class people with the elitists he says support Obama. He made the same comparison two months when he last campaigned in West Virginia, calling his wife's critics in the party "glitterati" and "elites."

Exactly WHO is playing by a different set of rules, President Clinton? Take a look in the mirror and those ever-changing rules, standards and goalposts. Who loaned their campaign 11.4 million in spare change and who is "elite"? And exactly what about the "poor people" in Tx and Ohio?

Hillary, her appearances under close scrutiny at present, does not seem to be overtly pushing the "us v them" theme (except in her unfortunate "I get the white vote" statement) as much as her husband, who is stumping in small, rural communities across W. Va and appealing to the Appalachian heritage. I do not say this in a discriminatory way, as I live in Appalachia and come from a family strongly rooted in this heritage. It is, however, a different mindset - one they are taking advantage of and exploiting. This tactic does nothing but further the racial and economic divides in this country and blatantly plays to ignorance.

Bill Pushing the Great Divide Across Rural West Virginia

Us v. Them

Published: May 09, 2008 12:22 am

Clinton shows strength in Appalachia

Gaining support of working-class whites remains Obama’s challenge

By Bill Byrd
Times West Virginian


The “largely working class Democrats of central Appalachia have a long history of empathy for unions, cultural conservatism (including patriotism, loyalty, fairness and concern for security) and economic issues facing families.”

“In that regard, the Clintons — and one can not separate the appeal of Bill from that of Hillary — represent familiar cultural values,” he said.

“The Clintons have also been better than Obama in identifying with the ‘us vs. them’ perspective of class that is a very powerful value in Appalachia.”

A SAMPLE OF CLINTON COVERAGE IN W VA

RIPLEY — Former President Bill Clinton will stop in Ripley tonight to campaign for his wife and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

The “Solutions for America” event, featuring Bill Clinton, will take place at 7:30 p.m. today at the Ripley Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station at 337 West Main St., said Jessica Santillo, West Virginia communications director for the Clinton campaign. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, Santillo said.

Ripley is the final stop today for Bill Clinton, who will also make West Virginia appearances in Madison, Williamson, Wayne and St. Albans.

Clinton made campaign stops in Fayetteville, Fairlea and Athens on Thursday as the Democratic presidential candidates worked toward the West Virginia primary on Tuesday. Before arriving in Jackson County tonight, Clinton is scheduled to stop in Madison at 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m. in Williamson, 3 p.m. in Wayne and 5:30 p.m. in St. Albans.

Meanwhile, several hundred West Virginians waited more than an hour Thursday to urge Hillary Clinton to continue her Democratic presidential bid. Driven inside by rain, supporters packed the state Capitol’s Rotunda to see the New York senator during her three-state blitz in the waning weeks of the primary season. Gary Johngrass drove up from Lincoln County to join the rally. The Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War cited two botched knee surgeries at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals among his reasons for supporting Clinton.

‘‘It’s mainly been because of her support for the VA, and for getting more benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans,’’ said Johngrass, 57. ‘‘They’re going to need help as they start coming back home.’’ Her arrival delayed by more than an hour, the former first lady touted her energy proposals during her half-hour speech. She also promised the crowd that their state’s leading export, coal, ‘‘is not going anywhere’’ when it comes to future U.S. policy.

Clinton is expected to fare well in West Virginia’s primary on Tuesday. She has consistently outperformed Barack Obama among white, older and working-class voters in competitive primaries. With the nation’s third-highest percentage of seniors, West Virginia’s median family income is roughly $12,500 below the national median of about $58,000.

Obama is planning to return to West Virginia, though his campaign said Thursday that the details of his visit were still being worked out. He last visited the state in March.

They are not finished - not by a long shot. Although they are becoming noticeably more shrill and desperate.