Clinton backer: Superdelegates need to consider 'bitter' remark
Watch Sen. Bayh talk with reporters Saturday.
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (CNN) -– Sen. Evan Bayh, Hillary Clinton’s top backer in the May 6 primary state of Indiana, argued Saturday that superdelegates need to evaluate Barack Obama’s “bitter” remarks when deciding who to back for the Democratic nomination.
“I think it’s a real potential political problem and it’s something for superdelegates and voters to think about,” said Bayh, who was made available to reporters by the Clinton campaign to speak about the controversy.
“The far right wing has a very good track record of using things like this relentlessly against our candidates, whether its Al Gore or John Kerry,” Bayh said, “I’m afraid this is the kind of fodder they might use to harm him.”
The popular Indiana senator said Republicans were able to tarnish Kerry’s war record and turn Gore into a “serial fibber,” and predicted they will “use this to damage Barack, the Democratic party, and ultimately frustrate the change that we need in this country.”
Asked if there was some truth to Obama’s remarks, made at a San Francisco fundraiser last Sunday, Bayh acknowledged there is “frustration and some justifiable anger” in America because of economic hard times.
But Bayh disagreed with Obama’s depiction of economically downtrodden Pennsylvanians, a characterization Clinton called “elitist and out of touch" in her own remarks earlier in the day.
“I think you’re on dangerous ground when you morph that into suggesting that people’s cultural values, whether its religion or hunting and fishing or concerns about trade, are premised solely upon those of kind of anxieties and don’t have a legitimate foundation independent of them,” Bayh said.
- CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
Too litlle too late. Most of the superdelegates are just waiting to get some more states to vote in order to back Obama. They just did not want to appear as if they did not listen to the will of the voters. Once again, Clinton, instead of elevating the debate and talking about workers' frustration, sinks to the lowest level available. Ready for cheap shots on day one.
Clinton/Bayh '08...period!
Well they must consider her Bosnia LIE!
Sen. Bayh, I think BOSNIA, NAFTA, COLOMBIA, and other issues that I will not mention (you know them) are worse fodder for the Republican party to use if Clinton is the nominee. She's already termed "serial fibber" and Reps are relishing a Clinton win in the Dem primary.
Absolutely. Obama will never win in November. The superdelegates must finally stop rallying behind this sham of a candidate. He has insulted so many people with his comments. Hillary is the only democrat that can win in Nov. She can win the vital swing states that Democrats need (Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, MI, NH, NM, PA...) in Nov.
Please superdelegates pick the candidate who can actually win in Nov - Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Sounds like the middle schoolers are not happy again and are striking out. Grow up Clinton.
This is just the first of many dumb things Obama will say. The Republicans will eat him alive. He doesn't have enough experience. All he's good at is speeches that are planned ahead of time.
If you want a Democrat in the WH, you better vote for Hillary!
Puerto Rico for Hillary! Latinos for Hillary!
OH MY GOD!
These Clinton people are INSANE & UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!
I'd love to hear what Senator Evan Bayh thinks the Republicans will do with Hillary's Bosnia flap, Hillary's Colombia flap, HIllary's NAFTA flap, HIllary's Iraq War Vote flap....and the drama of the Bill Clinton Administration flaps??
I'd love to hear what he thinks the Superdelegates should do about all of Hillary's blunders??
Senator Bayh is such a blow-hard!
Senator Bayh is afraid the Republicans would portray Senator Obama as a "serial fibber"? What about Senator Clinton, sir? She puts all fibbers to shame!!!
If Bayh is talking to supers about Barack, Obama supporters should let supers know how concerned we are that a SERIAL LIAR LIKE HRC get the nomination.
Senator Bayh better get with the program. It's people like him who have ruined this country. Obama speaks the truth. I am bitter that our tax money continues to go to this unwinnable war while our own country is falling apart. I am bitter that this government does nothing to stop the flow of illegal immigrants. I am bitter that illegals are treated better than we Americans. I have no bitter feelings toward immigrants that come into this country legally, so don't say I'm racist. I want better schools, better health care etc. and I won't have any of this,nor will my grandchildren until this government wakes up.
I think we need to get back to issues here. I will say that Hillary does have some real solutions for the country on all fronts. Alot of people have a personal thing against her claiming she is a liar, or sneaky, etc. Who in politics is free from how politics work in this country??? She has a proven track record and any mud there is on her has been public knowledge for some time.
She will be the strong leader this country needs!
There are still unanswered questions on Obama-people keep getting upset that the Rev Wright issue is raised but we never really got strong answers on why Obama would stay with that pastor when his views are so anti-American and racially divisive. I think Obama would be a good president in say 2016 after Hillary has a run, but he needs more time in the public eye and more experience handling all the issues we are faced with as a country.
Hillary08
Right on!!!
OMG!!!!!!!! I feel like I am in twilight zone!!!!!!!!!!!
So "the rigt wing" won`t use Clitons persistent lying against her? This is patethic and desperat from the Clinton campaign.
Superdelegates needs to consider many things either than just one remark word "bitter". It is true many of us are bitter especially about the war which Sen. Hillary voted for which utimately gave president Bush the right to invade Iraq for not good reason. NAFA which President Clinton signed for and she supported it,. Most importantly, creditability, trust which is a big issue with the Clintons.
She needs to make a big deal about bigger issues concerning the common peopole not about some stupid word which is how some of us are actually feeling at this point.
...but it is not a 'real potential problem' that Senator Bayh is promoting as the Democratic nominee a candidate who is behind in pledged delegates, states won, popular vote, and the polls? Is it not a 'potential problem' that Senator Bayh's candidate has lied (oh, sorry – misstated) repeatedly, and has changed her public positions on issues depending on how they will play politically?
Nice try.Again. I admire Senator Clinton's tenacity. In proving to Americans that her goal is not about what is best for America, or the Democratic party, but her self, she has made Barack Obama a better canddiate for the general election.
oh please this is so crazy i think the republicans will even use the bosnia story worse than this one oh please stop right there clintons can do anything to win this nomination the lies she said about the bosnia story are even worse she better be carefull this might even backfire to her obama is telling the truth we are bitter about the way this country is going so carefull hillary, superdelegates should know what they are doing because clinton cant win against mccain she has a lot of bagage behind her those superdalegates are smart enough to know that this story she is coming up with wont work no matter what she says she can do anything to destroy the party stop stop stop her now you superdelegates what are you waiting for
I'm a bit more than bitter. Can Hillary find better reasoning? Does she really need to put us in a situation where we are to comment on this cheap thing. I think she could try to be a little creative to find out a few burning issues that are going through our minds. She cannot do it, because Clintons are out of touch.
I think the super delegates should also consider, White Water, Travel Gate, Bill's Sex Scandal, How Vince Foster Died, and why Bill Clinton is being sued for fraud. The super delegates should also remember how the Clinton's scandalize the white house. But it will be the American people who decides we don't want them, and show them the door one last final time.
Hilary "mis-speaks" so often-- that I don't see why this comment by Obama is even an issue. Have you nothing better to report on? I don't want my time wasted with this dribble. There are too many REAL important issues to consider.
The Superdelegates do need to consider every "bitter" remark....................from the Clintons.
Shes right. They should consider the fact that alot of americans are bitter with the way things are going and the fact that Sen. Obama addressed this head on instead of going out and lying about sniper fire and someone dying because of lack of health care just to get votes.
If Republicans were able to turn Gore into a "Serial Fibber", what are they going to do to Hillary? I don't buy his argument. I honestly think that people who have lost jobs, lost homes, and feel the government has lost touch are indeed bitter. To not think so seems more elitist to me.
And superdelegates need to consider the reccurring Bosnia lie.
What Obama said was true, people ARE bitter. Who wouldn't be?
wow evan baye, you dont' admit that the common man is bitter because the economy has fail him, he has no health care, he works 9 to 5,40 hours a week for the last 23 years and now his house is being forclosed. You don't think that is bitter? Wake up Mr. You are a fraud