What did Obama mean by talking about bitter "anti-trade" people (yes, YOU!)?

[jackson_dem]

Obamites focus on the "bitter" part, largely ignoring the offensive part of his campaign. If they do address it they focus on the guns and religion part, which is consistent with their existing prejudices. Yet, they have managed to almost completely delete the "anti-trade" part from memory. "Anti-trade". Sound familiar? That is Wall Street code for being opposed to "free" trade and desiring fair trade. You can fantasize about him being what you "hope" he is but "hoping" and fantasizing does not make it so. He is a "free" trader. Too bad so many people are so desperate to find a savior they ignore the reality of what Obama is, a good overall Democrat, but a corporate Democrat. Didn't someone warn us about "corporate Democrats"? Notice that. It was plural. He didn't say "corporate Democrat".

Obama on the stump in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania rails against NAFTA and the like. Yet when speaking at billionaire's row in San Franciso what does he say? He looks down upon the "bitter" people who espouse "anti-trade" views.

[redqueen]

1. Uh... how was that "looking down"?

He was sympathizing with them. They've lost jobs due to Bill & Hill's Excellent Free Trade Adventures.

They deserve something better this time... honesty. Not politicians who say one thing and do another.

[jackson_dem]

2. Condescension isn't sympathy.

You don't get it. Obama is another "free trader". You are one of the bitter people who are "anti-trade", in his corporate view, that he was referring to!!!!

Obama says one thing to voters, another thing to the Canadian government and billionaires at $2,300 a plate fund raisers...

[redqueen]

5. LOL

Okay.

:hi:

[jackson_dem]

7. Then answer the question. What did he mean by "anti-trade"?

You are so desperate for him to be Edwards. He isn't. That is why Edwards hasn't endorsed him.

[redqueen]

What's the context?

I'm not desperate for anything. Stop thinking you know me. I don't give a shit how "disappointed" you are in me... I don't wish to discuss this on a personal level, thanks.

[jackson_dem]

15. Context: he was speaking at billionaire's row about those bitter smalltown folk

I wonder how many other fund raisers he has made similar remarks at...

[redqueen]

16. That's not context.

Care to try again?

Full quote please.

[jackson_dem]

18. You tell me. There is a reason NO Obamite has come to grips with the "anti-trade" statement

They can't handle it. He is not what they want him to be on trade. That is too bad but that is what they deserve. We had Edwards, a true fair trader.

[redqueen]

20. Well he's gone now. So we are left with Hillary - a known liar

about free trade... and Obama, an unknown quantity.

I'll take the one who hasn't already stabbed us in the back, thanks. :hi:

[bowens43]

3. With each post you sink deeper into the shit........

so sad.

[BzaDem]

12. WWAAAAHHHH HE CRITICIZED MY CANDIDATE :( :( :(

[Moochy]

48. Have you read jackson dems' posts?

Stuck in funny MORAN-mode?

[CTyankee]

4. You misconstrue his remarks. He was saying that people in these small mill towns

have seen their lives turn to dust after having good jobs and good economies in which they bought homes and provided well for their families. He was saying that our federal government was not looking out for them, did nothing while their lives disintegrated.

He was right.

[jackson_dem]

6. WORM again. What did he mean when he used Wall Street code at billionaire's row?

[PVnRT]

8. Don't bother

jackson_dem believes what he wants to believe, and no amount of reasoned responses will change that.

[jackson_dem]

10. And you are a sucker who can't handle that Obama is a corporate "free trader"

You must be bitter and "anti-trade". :rofl:

[PVnRT]

19. Yes, as opposed to Hillary

Whatever, cochise. Get back to me when Hillary makes up her mind whether or not she was for or against NAFTA from the beginning.

[Bake]

38. Because there hasn't BEEN ONE yet.

No reasoned responses to JD's question. Just evasion and spin.

Bake

[jackson_dem]

41. There still hasn't been. It is obvious what he meant by "anti-trade" but they can't handle it

As you said down thread, they want "hope" and are willing to ignore anything that conflicts with their "hope" that he is what they want him to be.

[Cameron27]

9. I agree, (so does Canada)

"Anti-trade". Sound familiar? That is Wall Street code for being opposed to "free" trade and desiring fair trade."

[jackson_dem]

11. It is pretty simple. Imagine if Hill said it

This is why they are called a cult. Just like cult members can't see any flaws in the cult leader neither can most Obamites.

[Hawkeye-X]

14. Hillary supporters are currently a cult.

A strange weird cult, if you ask me. Obama's people are called supporters and backers.

Hawkeye-X

[SeaLyons]

13. Will Obama supporters ever see the light????

Great post Jackson_dem. Thanks.

:kick:

[jackson_dem]

17. Obama could shoot a random person and Obamites would say it was his fault for being in O's way!

[SeaLyons]

21. I hear you....so true.

[leftofcool]

22. Or blame it on Hillary

[Armstead]

23. I'm as anti "free trade" as anyone here and here's why it doesn't offend me

I have been against this scam of pro-corporate "free trade" since the early 90's.

Trade itself is not bad. It is the whole package of Conservative Policies that have been attached to trade agreements that is the problem.

I wish Obama were more against "free trade" than he is. But I also recognize that he has a balanced view of trade -- and that he is honest in his views.

I much prefer that to some hypocrite who helped her husband ram through awful trade scams in the 90's, but now pretends to be opposed to them when it has become more politically palatable.

Obama would be open to persuasion and would be honest. Hillary would put up the same facade that her husband and his corporate cohorts did when they were selling us this snake oil.

[Bake]

39. How do you know he'd be "open to persuasion?"

You HOPE he would be. You might be wrong.

Bake

[Armstead]

47. I might be wrong, but the odds are a lot better than with Hillary

[Bake]

58. And I'm asking, on what do you base that assumption?

Obama is every bit as corporatist as you claim Hillary is, as evidenced by his "anti-trade" remark to the Billionaire Boys' Club. We only had one true populist candidate, Edwards, and he dropped out early. So there's really no foundation for your claim that Obama would be open to persuasion - particularly once he gets in office (assuming he does actually beat McCain, which is not a given at this point).

Bake

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. So? What's the matter with trade?

People have been doing it since some guy in a cave swapped his fur coat for a basket of clams with some guy from another tribe.

I believe that Obama was referring to the kneejerk xenophobes who see everything foreign as tainted by the devil.

[jackson_dem]

25. He used Wall Street code in a private event at billionaire's row. You tell me...

[AX10]

26. True.

It is most likely that Mr. Obama was looking to curry favor with these people.

[jackson_dem]

34. Hey he did get $2,300 from them and they don't want to have the gravy train upset

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

27. So YOU say.

But, you haven't answered the question. What's wrong with trade?

[jackson_dem]

31. So I say? Wall Street and rethugs have used "anti-trade" as code for years

Long before the messiah arrived. I am for trade but I am for fair trade, not "free" trade which benefits corporations.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. How does he differ on trade from Clinton?

As I recall, her husband was a pretty staunch "free" trader and I haven't heard anything substantial that makes her any different.

As for trade that doesn't benefit corporations, how do you expect to do that?

From what I've seen, both candidates have scant differences in their "moderate" agendas and certainly pose no threat to the capitalist, and political, establishment.

That both are pandering to the big money guys, and the "moderate" populace is deserving of a shrug, not shock.

Obama dared to step away from the usual baby kissing and flag waving and point out some obvious realities about rural voters in general, much to the dismay of much of the public who prefer their politics to be spoon fed red-white-and blue mythology about small town America.

[Dutch]

62. Ah, elitism laced with vicious contempt...the vanguardist speaks...

I suspect this is the kind of support Obama can do without. I guess you think it's about time some politician had the guts to denounce squirrel eating, too. Who do these damn dirty stinking peasants think they are?

[Bake]

40. He's either lying to the billionaires, or lying on his website.

Specifically, the Trade section of his policy page, which I saw quoted by an Obaman earlier today on DU.

He's either a free trader or he's not. He's lying to SOMEBODY. I wonder who?

Bake

[Hippo_Tron]

44. Yup, Obama was referring to right wing anti-trade sentiment

Which is far different from left wing anti-trade sentiment in that right wing anti-trade sentiment is xenophobia. People like Dennis Kucinich oppose free trade because of legitimate concerns over conditions of workers overseas, environmental issues, and other real concerns.

People like Ron Paul and Pat Buchanan oppose free trade because it means that white peoples' jobs go to non white people. Republicans have been the party of xenophobia for almost all of the 20th century. Ron Paul and Pat Buchanan are hangovers of the Father Coughlin types. Of course back then the business wing of the party also supported protectionism (see Smoot-Hawley).

[anonymous171]

28. You have forever stained the image of Jackson in my mind.

[sniffa]

30. Could Jackson get any more stained?

He left a Trail of Tears.

[jackson_dem]

32. $20 bills=a reminder to vote Clinton

:D

[TomClash]

29. This is such bullshit

Obama didn't look down on anyone. Listen to the audio of the speech. He was explaining why working people don't trust government and don't trust politicians, including him. Obama explained that working people are anti-trade because they don't think they get any of the benefits. Do you disagree with that statement?

Everyone supports trade. Free trade is a general philosophy, honored mostly in the breach. The only question is what kind of trading regime are we going to have. Many of us are fair traders and would like to see greater balance but the difference is one of degree.

And by the way, Andrew Jackson wasn't exactly anti-trade. In fact, his position on trade was a lot like a guy running for President today - Barack Obama.

[jackson_dem]

35. Yes, you are a fair trader but Obama considers you to be bitter, naively "anti-trade"

Just like Wall Street types.

That was 200 years ago, different times. Besides Jackson didn't run as one thing on trade while he was another. Obama poses as a fair trader when he is a corporate "free" trader.

[TomClash]

59. I disagree entirely

What Jackson ran on and what he actually did were two different things.

I am bitter - I sit and watch people carve up the world. I'm bitter for exactly the reasons Barack gave - people have been left out and I don't like it. Neither does he - that's the point Hillary misses.

[madfloridian]

33. This is all you do here at DU...Attack Obama. Over and over

Time to push the magic button again. Guess it did not work last time.

[Vattel]

37. don't you agree Jackson Dem

that the whole bittergate thing is a bit silly? Why not look at Obama's position on trade, compare it to Clinton's, and make a case that his is worse or better?

[jackson_dem]

42. I did 2-3 lengthy trade posts 3 months ago. Obama supporters don't like to discuss policy

She is slightly better on trade. Instead of discussing their positions, which would lead one to the conclusion I reached, they go on and on about Bill Clinton's NAFTA. They aren't interested in policy but venting against Hillary because of her last name. All that said, both are "free" traders. Edwards was the fair trader in the race...

[Moochy]

49. There you go trying to engage a propagandist in conversation

[JoFerret]

43. And then there's immigration

and voting for the fence. Not to mention the betrayal of the last democratic administration. Shame.

Not worth all this sturm und drang. But crap anyway.

[Swamp Rat]

45. Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter Bitter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D

[Ellipsis]

46. perfect

[Moochy]

50. Elite DUer Jackson Dem is Bitter that his lousy candidate is losing

[Bonobo]

57. I love how he believes, that by not having a Hillary avatar, he can convince people

he is not the most partisan and shrill supporter of Shillary.

[LSK]

51. ok, what is your BASIS for saying this?????

Do you have anything of SUBSTANCE to back this up?????

[Bonobo]

52. He's baaaaack. Hope you spent some quality time in front of the mirror!

[Moochy]

54. Was there a well-deserved time out?

Or are you just referring to his nightly maintenance / tune-up?

[Bonobo]

55. He posted a video that he knew was horribly racist -he just didn't know it was from a freeper.

He deleted it when he found out it was from a freeper, but he was totally fine with the Anti-Muslim content. It was nauseating. He spent the rest of the thread calling everyone else scumbags for pointing out what he did. He'll probably try to get this deleted.

[Moochy]

56. sounds par for the course

Jackson dem, like his namesake, knows the importance of activating the racist base.

[uponit7771]

53. I'm open to trade but not giving everyone the shirts off Americans backs

[JoFerret]

60. Why is he blathering about trade deals

when the real thing people already know is at the root is technological change?

[Dutch]

61. Excellent question...