Local politicians are giving Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama the benefit of the doubt after he made some controversial comments about Pennsylvanians last week.
During a fundraiser in San Francisco, Obama tried to explain the trouble he’s had winning over working-class voters in the Keystone State, saying they’ve become frustrated with economic conditions.
“It’s not surprising, then, they get bitter,” he said. “They cling to guns or religion or antipathy, to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
Several people, including his opponent Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee John McCain, have criticized Obama for his remarks, labeling him an “elitist.”
But officials in the Susquehanna Valley think the Illinois senator’s words are being misinterpreted.
Sunbury Mayor Jesse Woodring said Obama “probably misspoke ... It appears in these campaigns they get caught up in these things and it’s easy to bet taken out of context.
“He’s a bright man. He would not say those things.”
Though he wasn’t personally offended by Obama’s remarks, Woodring said they do make him sound like an elitist.
“But I think people are frustrated,” the mayor said. “There’s something to that. But not everyone’s gun-toting rednecks.”
Milton Mayor Ed Nelson said he really didn’t know enough about the controversy over Obama’s statement to comment.
“I want to reserve judgment until I can read the entire speech,” he said. “I think it was taken out of context.
“This bickering back and forth is really disheartening to me. They both have said things that are off the mark.”
East Buffalo Township supervisors Henry M. Baylor Jr. and Lawson Fetterman also think Obama simply used a poor choice of words.
“He was trying to make a point and missed his mark,” Baylor said. “I believe he was misrepresented improperly by trying to draw parallels that did not quite make it.”
“The only part that is true is that working-class voters are frustrated with economic conditions,” said Fetterman.
Regarding Obama’s remarks, U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-of Dimock, said Monday, “As a father of five, I understand the tough times facing Pennsylvania families. This election should focus on doing more for our working families — including permanent middle class tax cuts and better access to health care.”
Carney, who is up for re-election in the fall, is an undeclared superdelegate who said he will support the presidential candidate who receives the Democratic nod from Pennsylvanians on April 22.
“I have not made an endorsement in the primary because I feel this is an opportunity for both candidates to show their strength under pressure,” he said. “The people of Pennsylvania will make their choice on April 22, and I look forward to working with whomever takes the White House this fall.”
n The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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