Update: The blogger in question doesn't see the difference. The reader who emailed me, Sarah Deats, has a strong grip on that:
He quotes the woman as saying she won't have to "work on" filling her gas tank or paying her mortgage if Obama is elected, whereas what she actually said is that she won't have to "worry about" doing those things. That changes the implication from one of expecting a handout to one of expecting change that will benefit ordinary people -- a hope many of us share.
I also think there's a racial subtext here, not so different from the welfare queen image, that makes this particularly distasteful.
I've got a couple of low blows for you, actually. The first has to do with a misquote of an Obama supporter by a conservative blogger. It's just two words, but see if you can detect the subtle change in the message. Here's the video.
In the conservative blogger's article, he quotes the woman as saying this:
VOTER: It was the most memorable time of my life...it was a touching moment Because I never thought this day would ever happen. I won't have to work on putting gas in my car, I won't have to work on paying my mortgage. You know, if I help him, he's going to help me.
The emphasis is the conservative blogger's. An alert reader emailed me, after her correction in the comments of the article went unanswered. The woman actually said she wouldn't have to "worry about" putting gas in her car or paying her mortgage.
Therefore, the implication that this supporter is "looking for a handout" is false. Her assessment of Obama's energy and economic plans may seem overly optimistic, but it doesn't make her some kind of welfare case.
Low blow number two comes from the other side, my side. To my friend, Caleb Howe, I can only apologize, abjectly and profusely, for this:
Tommy Christopher co-hosts "Unusable Signal",on BlogTalkRadio, Tues through Thurs at 10pm, and Fri, and Sat at 11pm. (Eastern) Click here for the Unusable Signal homepage.
Wow, surprise, another republican needs to lie to deflect attention away from their partys abysmal failures and corruption. Republicans are disgusting and the only good thing bush did was turn republican into a dirty word. Obama 08 for some sanity.
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Diana
12:31PM Nov 2nd 2008
Nice catch, sweetie! Desperate measures, I guess. Also, it was so apt to post a video of words straight from the GOP's own messiah's mouth. Priceless.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
P.S. Sorry, but the Bills are SO ready to kick some Jets butt today ;-) Wearing my Steve Tasker jersey in enemy territory. LOL.
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Rias10
12:32PM Nov 2nd 2008
Caleb Howe is like a Bubba when it comes to Senator Obama. On Nov 5th 2008 the best revenge will be when Senator Obama becomes President-elect Obama and Bubbas and Bubbarinas like him will not be able to do anything about it. His articles will be more cynical and disdainful toward Senator Obama than they are now.
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kunzsp
12:35PM Nov 2nd 2008
I do not think the grandoise socialist agenda of Obama is needed in AMERICA as it will destroy democracy. Phyllis Kunz
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oldlady USA
12:36PM Nov 2nd 2008
Tommy - I'm not sure about the profusely part :>)
Hang in Celeb...
You guys are doing great on the air. I'm on slow stream and download, but when I can listen I just chuckle at the image of you two in Denver.
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BJames1033
12:47PM Nov 2nd 2008
She said she does not have to worry about putting gas in her car or worry about paying her mortgage???????
That is what I heard when I first heard this.
Then she says "if I help him, he is gonna help me"
So she is saying she will not have to worry about putting gas in her car or paying her mortgage if Obama is elected, WHY????????
I can hear where he might have thought she said "work", but that does not change what she was implying.
She is like most Obama supporters, has NO idea what he stands for. Howard Stern went to Harlem and asked Obama supporters if they liked Obama, then he told them of McCain stances and asked if they agreed with them (inferring that they were Obama stances.) They agreed with every one of them.
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Diana
12:48PM Nov 2nd 2008
Hello, Old Lady USA!
Rias 10....that referenced article was posted by Mark Impomeni, not our friend Caleb Howe....this time ;-)
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Tommy Christopher
12:53PM Nov 2nd 2008
Old Lady, Hi!
You should call in to the show! Tell Philly John, et al, to call in too, I miss you guys.
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mbrewer87
12:59PM Nov 2nd 2008
Obama in '08 for some sanity? Are you nuts? Anybody who supports a man who wants to "spread the wealth around(which is code for Socialism)" is insane. Oblah blah can't even get the number of states right in the US. Since when are there 57 states in the USA? And he also said that he went to that church he went to for 20 years but didn't hear any of his sermona. Yeah right. Sounds like that time when they asked Clinton if he had ever smoked pot and he said he did but didn't inhale. Sounds like Oblah just keeps on gettin' more stupid
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Rias10
1:00PM Nov 2nd 2008
Diana12:48PMNov 2nd 2008
Hello, Old Lady USA!
Rias 10....that referenced article was posted by Mark Impomeni, not our friend Caleb Howe....this time ;-) ------------------------------------------------------ Diana-Thanks
Mark Impomeni and Caleb Howe are like Bubbas when it comes to Senator Obama. On Nov 5th 2008 the best revenge will be when Senator Obama becomes President-elect Obama and Bubbas and Bubbarinas like them will not be able to do anything about it. Their articles will be more cynical and disdainful toward Senator Obama than they are now.
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lulu
1:07PM Nov 2nd 2008
So let me get this straight...the lady in the video, if Obama is elected, proclaims she won't have to "worry" about paying for her gas and mortgage? Just how long does she think her $500 rebate check will last in any given year? Or perhaps she feels that reparations are heading her way.
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Huh???
1:08PM Nov 2nd 2008
Sorry, I fail to see the semantic difference between what the blogger said and what she said. The end result is the same either way --- she has a very heightened belief in exactly how her life will change after the election. It still comes across as "Obama will take care of me and I won't have to be responsible for my own actions." Bigger Government is the answer, personal responsibility is no longer required. Let the nanny state begin, lets's see who else we can portray as a robber baron in our class warfare scheme.
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Glenda
1:10PM Nov 2nd 2008
I watched and listened to that video several times and it defiantly sounds like she is saying wont have to work to put gas in her car or pay a mortgage. Sorry, but I think this is another Democrat way of covering up the facts. The sad thing about this is all the ppl that feel that way and if Obama does get in they will have a rude awakening. If he don't take care of his own family, he will not help the ppl of America.
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Christy
1:15PM Nov 2nd 2008
The republicans have "spread the wealth around" for 8 years...only it's gone from the middle class to the very wealthy. The corruption on Wall Street can be directly linked to John McCain's push for deregulation (even as late as March of this year), beginning in the 80's with his convicted felon "buddy" Charles Keating in Arizona and the Lincoln Savings Scam that cost Americans billions of dollars. He doesn't have a clue about the economy. Just ask him...he'll tell you. He's told the world.
I'm disgusted with John McCain's dirty tactics after promising a clean campaign. He's desperate, changes his stance on the issues, and is doing exactly what he promised not to do. I will never vote republican again. Thanks to them, our country is in the toilet. The republicans have created the worst economy since the depression, and the rest of world hates us.
Oh, and Palin? My friends, she's a joke, and if elected, the joke will be on us.
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Glenda
1:19PM Nov 2nd 2008
I listened to the video several times and it sounds like she is saying 'work'. It looks to me the Demo are covering up again. But it don't matter if she is saying work or worry, just how is Obama going to keep the work or the worry out of her life? It is sad because if he is elected, these ppl are in for a very rude awaken.
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KS in MN
1:21PM Nov 2nd 2008
Please! Whether the quote was "don't need to worry" or "don't need to work" the meaning is basically the same. Obama is making everyone believe that he & the big government (that will only get bigger) is going to take care of the.
But as Biden said "mark my words" you will pay in the end. If taxes go up on small businesses & corporations it means prices for the products & services that these companies provide will go up. So your lousy $500 tax credit will go toward higher repair costs for your car, higher grocery prices, higher costs at the salon, higher costs to hire Joe the Plumber. Your wages will not increase, your employee portion of your company benefits will increase. Heck the dems even want to tax your 401k contribution now.
So you will pay under Obama & the ecomony will fail over the next 4 years with him in Office.
Lord help us all!!!!!
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Glenda
1:23PM Nov 2nd 2008
I listened to the video several times and it sounds like she is saying 'work'. It looks to me the Demo are covering up again. But it don't matter if she is saying work or worry, just how is Obama going to keep the work or the worry out of her life? It is sad because if he is elected, these ppl are in for a very rude awaken.
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Marsha
1:54PM Nov 2nd 2008
LULU and KSinMN, thank you! I couldn't have said it better! These poor people actually believe 'The One's' empty promises. Sadly, they will remain poor, and if Obama is allowed to screw up the economy even worse with higher taxes and expanded government and increased welfare spending, this country will dive into a deep depression, and we will ALL pay dearly.
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MMonty
1:54PM Nov 2nd 2008
kunzsp12:35PMNov 2nd 2008
I do not think the grandoise socialist agenda of Obama is needed in AMERICA as it will destroy democracy. Phyllis Kunz ----------------------------------------- The socialists with their $850 billion bailout for big corporations, and their hidden agenda to hoist American version of Hitler on us to start a 100 year war, are the ones ponting finger.
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Lori
1:55PM Nov 2nd 2008
Regardless if she said "work" or "worry", it still shows how uninformed these Obama people are. I have read & listened to everything Obama has said throughout his campaign and I have not come to the conclusion that I will no longer be responsible to support myself by my own means. Why do these people think everything is going to become so easy. Even if this person's taxes go down, your talking a few extra dollars a week. Many people are in for a very rude awakeing if Obama is elected President.