Apr 15, 2008 10:44 am US/Pacific
Obama Returns To Talk Of Hope Amid Bitterness Flap
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
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Barack Obama attends the Building Trades Legislative Conference in Washington DC, April 15, 2008.
Emmanuel Dunand /Getty Images
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama said Tuesday that voters are justifiably angry over high gas prices, the loss of manufacturing jobs and other examples of economic insecurity, yet that is no reason to give up hope.
The presidential candidate largely steered clear of the days-old flap over his comments about bitter voters in small towns, returning to his signature theme of the "politics of hope" and criticizing Republican rival Sen. John McCain for backing President Bush's tax cuts after opposing them.
"Just because you're mad, just because it seems like nobody is listening to ordinary Americans, that's not a reason to give up hope," Obama told the Building Trades National Legislative Conference. "You get mad and then you decide you're going to change it. If you're not angry about something you're going to sit back and let it happen to you. If you're only angry, you don't feel hopeful, and you won't get the energy to change it. I'm mad, but I'm also hopeful."
The Illinois senator pointed out that McCain opposed the Bush tax cuts, "but somewhere along the way to the Republican nomination, I guess he figured that he had to stop speaking his mind and start towing the line — because now he wants to make those tax cuts permanent."
Obama didn't mention his chief Democratic rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. She has criticized Obama since Friday for telling donors at a private San Francisco fundraiser that blue-collar voters "cling to guns or religion" because of bitterness about their economic lot. Clinton also began airing an ad in Pennsylvania that shows a handful of voters saying they were insulted by what he said.
Obama has said he chose his words poorly. On Monday, he accused Clinton of leveling criticism straight from the Republican playbook.
Pennsylvania holds its primary next Tuesday and the outcome will determine the viability of Clinton's candidacy.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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