CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - Barack Obama said Saturday that if he has offended people with comments he made almost a week ago where he labeled small town Pennsylvanians "bitter" and that they "cling to guns and religion" then he regrets it.
"Obviously, if I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that," Obama said in an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal, according to a transcript provided by his campaign.
"The underlying truth of what I said remains, which is simply that people who have seen their way of life upended because of economic distress are frustrated and rightfully so," he told the North Carolina newspaper. "And I hear it all the time when I visit these communities."
Earlier in the day, Obama told an audience at a town hall meeting in Muncie, Indiana that he didn't word his comments "as well as he should have," but did not go as far as using the word "regret."
Obama first made the comments Sunday at a closed-press fundraiser in San Francisco.
Update with statement from McCain spokesperson Tucker Bounds:
“Voters will reject his so-called truths that he still stands by. His remarks were false. The importance of our Second Amendment and our country’s longstanding history with faith and spirituality are born in history, not bitterness and frustration. His view is absolutely restricted by elitism.”
– CNN Political Producer Chris Welch
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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So Clinton and McCain jump on the attack and twist Obama's words to suit their political ambition because they don't have anything to offer on their own except for their flip-flops and lies. This is another perfect example why we need to elect someone like Obama.
This man is simply a breadth of fresh air. This man will be president. You can't fight destiny. He is destined and simply the chosen one. All this so called dirty politics will have no effect on this man.
No apology is necessary....Doesn't anyone recognize the truth any more?? I'm dizzy from the spin coming from the desperate Clinton camp and McCain is just as ridiculous. Thank God an honest man will be the next president. OBAMA 2008
What he said is true. Only Republicans and their ilk would say otherwise. A far cry from blatant lies about sniper fire...
With this addition, the last 8 ticker posts now have the word "bitter" in them. Surely there has been SOME talk today about the issues that really matter?
Apology not needed. All this has been brought up, by the Clinton Camp. as a (poor) attempt to distract everyone from Hillary's many recent blunders.
I bet Jack Cafferty can't wait to defend Obama tomorrow and say something ugly about Hillary. Jack may as well endorse Obama. To Jack Obama can do no wrong.
I honestly dont have anything against Obama while at the same time, i quite dont understand how he can get us out of the mess we are in. He is a orator there is no doubt about that but with Hilary i am sure power will change hands. Obama should agree to work hand in hand with Hilary if he truthfully love his country. He has made name and still making it.
This whole thing makes me really angry. What Obama said was perfectly fine. He is winning, Clinton is not and so she felt the need to attack him and twist his words completely out of context.
Hillary Clinton is a disgusting human being.
I think you all are making mountains out of mole hills here. The media just doesn't want this race to end, with it's record setting viewership. He was gaining fast in Pennsylvania, so lets see if we can stretch this thing out a bit more...hey cnn?
Liz to Hillary, "Knock it off".
Put a mirror on sterotypes...
Will your silver tongue get you out of this?...if I ever said annything that offended anyone, I deeply regret it. There...now I don't have to worry about any of my past behavior.
People don’t like to hear the Truth anymore. We all got used to be lied to. So when we actually hear the truth we get offended by it.
I think the media will do anything to turn this primary election around in hillary clintons favor.As soon as the Illinois senator starts to make up some ground,here comes another controversy.Clearly small town people are bitter.Maybe if President Clinton and his lovely wife did not orchestrate the NAFTA deal sending jobs to other countries we would not be having this debate.
It seems that Obama is the one who joined a church out of bitterness and frustration when one considers his choice of pastor and mentor. Perhaps he thinks that is the only reason someone would be interested in faith or joining a church, but I doubt that is the reason the people he was referring to have faith and guns.
Clinton News Network is in full effect. Eight "stories" about the singular topic when the Clinton Camp is pushing all of it's surrogates to push this story at all costs (hoping for a Dean Scream of their own) and CNN seemingly does what they are told.
Geez, he's just being honest!
Go obama
Great job CNN at attacking Sen.Obama and giving Sen. Clinton enormous "Live" positive coverage. No favortism there! You gave a "live Broadcast" of Hillary Clinton's rally speech. While you only gave a snip-it of Sen.Obama's purposely making him look demeaning. Please show his entire speech also. I am very dissappointed in you CNN. You are usually pretty fair.
We had to expect the Clintons to raise some issue to take attention away from President Clinton's gaff on Bosnia. No need to apologize. You said it right!
Obama is a media man. He has so much of money, he could buy any channel including CNN and MSNBC.
Once again the media and politicans have made a big deal out of nothing. Can we stick to the issue?
Hmmmm.... heremustbe some truth somewhere... but a man that is married to a woman worth over $100 milion can hardly talk about eltism..
How sad that in the greatest country in the world, with the greatest system of government, our politics have been lowered to candidates trying to capitalize on wording like this event. Does the Clinton campaign have anything going on other than constantly attacking others and trying to put negative spin on everything they do?
I think Clinton and McCain should be worrying as to what is going on with the war and the economy rather than following every thing Obama says and does, maybe they would be in the lead in most of the polls instead of him.