The Democratic Divide
Barack Obama's comments about bitter working class voters are creating a typically overblown issue for the talking heads to rage about, even eclipsing whether Bill Clinton should zip his lip to avoid damaging his wife's campaign.
But the comments do point out the split that has damaged the Democrats in presidential elections since 1968. Obama was speaking to a group of wealthy, liberal supporters in San Fran, not to a working class crowd, and he apparently said something off the cuff that he never would have said in Pittsburgh or Gary, Ind. The real problem for the party this year, and every election year, is how to unite the working class Dems and the so-called latte Dems that Hillary and Bill have always been able to attract while apparently putting off the liberal wing of the party --- Ted Kennedy, etc.
My advice: They have to team up and win or McCain could grab those working class Dems and the party will be looking at 1972 or 1980 all over again. One of them might win on their own, given the economy, but as Dirty Harry said, "Do you want to take a chance? Well, do you?"