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Clinton's no Annie Oakley, says Obama as she shoots down his attack on 'bitter' Americans
Last updated at 20:37pm on 14.04.08Barack Obama today compared Hillary Clinton to wild west sharpshooter Annie Oakley after she sparked a row over his remarks about "bitter" Americans.
The war of words erupted after Mr Obama said people in Pennsylvania were bitter and “cling to guns or religion” over their economic circumstances.
Mrs Clinton said the remarks were “demeaning” and showed that her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination was out of touch.
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Row: Clinton has launched a series of attacks on her 'elitist and out of touch' opponent Obama
The political temperature is rising steadily before the next primary, in Pennsylvania on 22 April, where defeat for Mrs Clinton could spell the end of her campaign.
In Indiana, she told plant workers in Indianapolis that Mr Obama's comments were “elitist and out of touch”, and capitalised on his blunder to press home her credentials with the working class.
“The people of faith I know don't 'cling' to religion because they're bitter,” she said.
“People embrace faith not because they are materially poor, but because they are spiritually rich,” she said.
“I also disagree with Senator Obama's assertion that people in this country 'cling to guns' and have certain attitudes about immigration or trade simply out of frustration.
"People don't need a president who looks down on them. They need a president who stands up for them.”
After a weekend of criticism Mr Obama finally let rip at Mrs Clinton, saying: “Shame on her. Shame on her, she knows better.”
On Mrs Clinton's recent assertion that she was a hunter, he said: “She's running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment, she's talking like she's Annie Oakley. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton.”
His comments came as the Democratic rivals took part in a live TV forum on faith staged by cable channel CNN in Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania.
Mr Obama said he regretted that his comments on “bitter” Americans had been misinterpreted. He made them privately at a fundraiser in San Francisco last week to explain his problems in winning over working class voters.
Nevertheless, Mrs Clinton aides felt Obama had given them a big opening, pulling the spotlight away from troublesome stories such as her tax returns and income, with her husband Bill, of more than £50 million.
At a campaign rally in Wilson, North Carolina, former state Democratic Party chairman and current Clinton adviser Tom Hendrickson said rural voters don't need “liberal elites” telling them what to believe.
Mr Clinton was the featured speaker of the rally but avoided commenting on Mr Obama's remarks. When asked about it afterward, he said simply: “I agree with what Hillary said.”
Reader views (16)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Excuse those of us whose urban communities are plagued by weapons fire and dead children to be too busy grieving over their loss than to grieve over the gun rights of a minority of persons which might be lost through more efficient gun control.
That is a truth which is, yes, bitter.
- Robert Campbell, Long Beach, California (
Obama is an ignorant jerk when it comes to guns. You use a shotgun on ducks or your go to federal prison.
- Jane In Silver Spring Md, Silver Spring, md USA
As the first female hunter safety instructor appointed by the state of Maryland, let me enlighten you. You better not have a six shooter in a duck blind. It had better be a shotgun. What a putz! He is disdainful of everyone but himself.
- Jane In Silver Spring Md, silver spring, md USA
Not only is small town America bitter about the loss of their jobs - there are many more. Hurricane Katrina exposed a vast hidden underclass in New Orleans and a silent depression residing in the USA for years. Hillary wasn't home baking cookies during these times.
A current debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama about small town America being bitter about the lost of jobs should be a core debate. It tells the real stories behind the news.
In her statements, Hillary Clinton demonstrates she is in denial about the long lasting economic storm in our times. Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans exposed a silent depression residing in our land for a long time. Hillary and her husband were part of the cause and effect and the 1990s probably represent the highest point in the most massive dislocation of jobs in the history of the USA.
Prior to the Free Trade era, workers were like paper clips. They held things together in their companies: interconnected with others in society in balanced local value added economies. However, Free Trade discounted the value of labour. Workers became commodities traded. They were put on a world trading block to compete with one another for the same jobs. Workers became an expense in doing business that could be discounted. And Hillary wasn't home baking cookies.
- Tapsearch Editor, Cleveland Ohio USA
"Can we have some coverage of real news rather than this expensive soap opera?"
As a middle-class, Christian American, I was offended by Obama's comments, but I can hardly expect a Londoner to care. I certainly don't care about the overpriced soap opera that is the British royal family, lol.
- Beverly, Covington, GA, USA
In her life, Annie overcame poverty, mistreatment and physical injury with her determination and strength of character. She played a role in breaking barriers for women with her talent and accomplishments in her sport. She showed great compassion and generosity to orphans, widows and other young women.
So Bo wants to say who does she think she is Annie Oakly?
Who does he think he is with his attempt at comedy sheriff Bart from blazing saddles?
His arrogance has come through loud and clear in the last few days
He is as conceited as his wife MO.
- Betty, st,paul,mn
Can you see her code words for divisiveness?
A woman who duped the Ohio voters with her lies about NAFTA should have been enough to awaken them with Bosnia and Ireland. All she is capable of is twisting issues for sensationalism to address her practice of emphasizing the most piercing, shocking, and sensitive aspects of her quick-tempered, tricky, quest for power by skewing the real agenda; which is the economy. What should be under discussion or investigation, especially by the media, where are the 200,000 jobs that were never gotten? Bill reinforced the Bosnia LIE, with a new version (another lie).
Obama worked very assiduously on the streets of Chicago with the poor as well as with steel workers who lost their jobs.
Interpretation: Obama is not an elitist people are angry, bitter, and there is much social pathology in our society. Why, if she did not agree, is she proposing to put 100,000 new police officers on America’s streets as part of her anti-crime agenda?
The obvious is unemployment, healthcare, foreclosure and homelessness.
The only elitists I can see are McCain and $109 million elitist Hillary. ESP. she sent jobs away.
- Beverly, Chicago IL, USA
Has Obama shot himself in the foot, or is it one of the bitter people who have done that. He regretted the comments he made, as he made them privately, or does he regret that he was overheard. But he still meant what he said he hasn't said that he didn't mean what was said. If this was any other politician they would be crucified. But it is OK he was only talking about white people mainly.
- Peter Sparkling, London, UK
Americans get the best president that money can buy. (And it was an American commentator who said that).
Can we have some coverage of real news rather than this expensive soap opera?
- Nigel, London
The irony is, Bill Clinton made similar remarks to Obama, back in 1991:
“You know, he [Bush Snr.] wants to divide us over race. I’m from the South. I understand this. This quota deal they’re gonna pull in the next election is the same old scam they’ve been pulling on us for decade after decade after decade. When their economic policies fail, when the country’s coming apart rather than coming together, what do they do? They find the most economically insecure white men and scare the living daylights out of them. They know if they can keep us looking at each other across a racial divide, if I can look at Bobby Rush and think, Bobby wants my job, my promotion, then neither of us can look at George Bush and say, ‘What happened to everybody’s job? What happened to everybody’s income? What … have … you … done … to … our … country?’”
- Richard Mcguire, Cambridge, England
Hillary for president - Obama would be a disaster and ensure a McCain (the Oven Chip) presidency.
- Georgie Porge, London
I'm sorry, I realise that whoever leads the US, leads the world and I should be paying attention, but who in the UK, after 4 months of electioneering, is even remotely interested in what is going on in the American election? It is more drawn out than Golden Gordon's demise. And there's still seven months to go.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, UK
Go Obama! Clinton - there are some who remember WhitewaterGate.
- Annabelle, london
Confused Americans-twisted politics by two confused candidates. Obama is by no means a practical leader.
- George Liebermann, M.D., Irvine California USA
Clinton shares responsibility for the loss of those jobs overseas as she actively supported her husband with the passage of NAFTA.
As she sympathizes with the "bitter" unemployed, Hillary now claims to have always been against NAFTA to protect the working class jobs. Now, along with the Bosnian sniper fire and Irish peacemaking this woman who makes $12,000,000.00 a year (not including offshore accounts) and is among the most corrupt of Washington establishment is accusing her opponent of being "elitist". Hillary is shamelessly unethical. I couldn't imagine a more repugnant candidate for any office.
- Lola, Los Gatos, Ca. USA
Small towns are the back bone of this nation so it is surprising that people like Mr Obama would say that they never come here to campaign, hey Bill Clinton did.
- Darrell, bay,arkansas
