PA Columnist: Hillary voted for confiscating guns in a national emergency...Obama voted against.

By Dick Polman
Inquirer National Political Columnist

The American Debate: 'Elitist' is as 'elitist' does

If you want to enjoy a belly laugh, here are three reliable suggestions: (1) rent an old Woody Allen movie, especially Bananas, (2) rent Borat, or (3) listen to Hillary Clinton, of all people, attack Barack Obama as "elitist."

This is the same woman who during the last seven years, as evidenced by her tax returns with Bill, has become a millionaire 109 times over; whose husband has long supported the Colombian free-trade deal (deemed hurtful to American workers); who long defended his signing of NAFTA; . . . who, during her Senate career, voted in favor of confiscating guns during a national emergency (one of only 16 senators to do so; Obama voted against confiscation); and who, during the Democratic debates, has refused to shed any light on why the Clintons are safeguarding the identities of the global heavy hitters who are bankrolling the Clinton Library.

. . . The Republicans are also trying to paint Obama as elitist, but that's the standard GOP template (twice used successfully by George W. Bush - a graduate of Phillips Academy Andover, Yale University, and Harvard Business School, son of a former president and grandson of a former U.S. senator). It's particularly amusing to hear that elitist label being thrown around by John McCain, given the fact that McCain is married to a multimillionaire heiress, and that McCain wants to extend the Bush tax cuts that help the rich.

. . . But I digress. Hillary was more fun to watch this weekend, as she went into blue-collar overdrive - waxing nostalgic about how as a youngster she was taught to shoot a gun; walking into a bar and drinking from a shot glass; telling a faith forum how she always feels "the enveloping support and love of God" . . . I half expect to see her marching in the Lehigh Valley, clad in a bowling shirt, with a 12-gauge in one hand and the New Testament in the other.

But that's politics. If she can successfully brand as elitist a guy who was raised by a single mother far from the comfortable suburban trappings that she enjoyed as a child . . . well, to the victor go the spoils.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080416_The_American_Debate___Elitist__is_as__elitist__does.html

everybody in the "Alabama" section of PA reads this.

she'd be history like yesterday.

With a week left, I hope this gets some more coverage in PA.

New plan for Obama:

Win the nomination through inaction.

This goes right along with Obama's inexperience.

is so difficult for you to understand? That's not doing nothing. Hillary was only one of 16 Senators to vote for this crap. He should run this as an ad. she's so hypocritical. And he's winning because he's run a competent campaign, and she's run and epically shit one. Yeah, her experience is just sooo valuable. Gun grabber and pro-war.

Allen Boyd of Florida (my congressman) is opposed to gun control.

I have seen too many times a politician, irrespective of party affiliation, claims to be in favor of gun ownership while campaigning and then endorses gun control legislation when in office.

Short answer: I do not believe Obama is in favor of the private ownership of guns.

in the country. And it works fine for us. But that's neither here nor there. What is germane, is that Hillary voted for this gun grabbing and Obama voted against it. You can try all the live long day to spin that- I'll just continue laughing at you.

If gun control was my top issue for selecting a candidate, I would not be a Democrat. I am a realist the knows that politicians will say things to get elected, the do the opposite when in office. Case in point: the rightwingnuts favorite guy 'ronnie raygun' signed the 1986 gun control bill.

I would bet a small sum of money that when we elect the next Democratic President in November, there will be more gun control in our future. I will be right in there voting for who ever our nominee is; I just hope it is Hillary.

ugh. she's the gun grabber.

A lot of them see the purpose of having a gun is to protect yourself in a national emergency.

I notice ABC news picked up this article in their political summary.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=3105288&page=1

I think we would see Hillary back peddling all the way back to the senate, where she cast her vote in favor of taking away our guns during a national emergency.

D'oh:dunce:

In an emergency people need the means to defend themselves. And is beyond the point!

Its a measure allowing gun grabbing! Which goes against everything we have worked for. We are at our worst when we are in fear. And taking away guns is a reactionary measure that reeks of patroit act like bullshit that has politically taken our constitution and torn it into shreds.

letting the gov't decide that because their's a "national emergency" Americans no longer have their 2nd Amendment rights? It's clear you don't give a shit about the Constitution.

Cost Al Gore the election.

since she is now a right winger who loves "Wedge" issues so much!

Awe Man! :(

Hillary's contradictions on gun rights. This is great fodder.

Juicy too! :)

I feel an Oped coming over me.

:popcorn: Just waiting for the balloon to pop!!!!

IN fact, we should all think about doing that.

Also progressive blogs.

:hi:

Have a great day Frenchie!!!

this very reason.

Thank you for posting this. I hope DUers send the article to journalists so that it gets increased play. We should also be calling PA talk radio shows.

:kick: K/R

I don't always agree with him,
but he makes me think.

We met him during the '04 election at a Kerry rally,
and the man has the brains and the experience
to have some street cred in this arena.

Seriously, what is the plan there? Go door to door and search people's homes? I mean the fact that it takes away people's 2nd amendment rights is bad enough, but honestly, how did she expect to accomplish this? It sounds fairly delusional to me, but maybe I just don't have the whole story?

she decided to become Annie Oakley.

Frightened to death that the people may decide to take matters into their own hands. The world bank is currently terrified that hungry people are going to start revolutions and topple governments, or so the headline said. It's why Obama presents such a conundrum. The kitchen sink hasn't worked and all the manufactured outrage can't find traction. His populace message is a real threat.