It’s stunning to view the different reactions on the right and left to Obama’s comments about rural voters. While it’s natural for religious voters, gun-rights voters, and opponents of illegal immigration to be offended at Obama’s statement, it’s amazing how many on the left fail to see what’s wrong with it, even in a political sense. Brilliant at Breakfast captures this superbly:
When Howard Dean talked about “God, guns, and gays” in 2004, this is precisely what he was talking about. Guns give people a sense of control over their lives when everything around them is going to s***. Turning to religion gives them a framework in which to try to make sense of it all — and make them think that there has to be a reason why their economic lives and emotional well-being are falling apart. Demonizing other groups — black people, Latinos, gays, women, anyone different from them — helps them feel not quite so downtrodden.
Booman Tribune:
Underemployed people that vote Republican because of abortion or gay marriage or fear of gun control ought to consider voting Democratic for economic reasons. They keep voting for what they want the government not to do rather than voting for what they want from the government.
Middle Earth Journal:
Of course he’s right but it’s not something you say on the campaign trail. This is what always worried me about Obama – he had never really been tested on the campaign trail.
If Democrats really believe that Obama’s sentiments are accurate, and if they’re going to keep running candidates who believe it as well, maybe they ought to take the time to educate people on it. Explain to them how guns and religion are crutches that they carry because of fear. Imagine the lasting majority they’ll build when they bring those people over to their side. But more importantly, imagine the good they’ll do in teaching a whole class of people the real nature of their problems.
