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OBAMA'S HALF-HEARTED APOLOGY

                                                                                                                                                         CONTACT: Hector M. Baraja

                                                                                                                                                                     (916) 448-9496 

OBAMA'S HALF-HEARTED APOLOGY

"Barack Obama's recent comments that traditions of faith and family are somehow symptoms of ‘bitter' and frustrated' people who live in small towns, run directly counter to the central roles of Californian's Latino working class who wake-up every morning to go to work to try to do right by their family.  

"While every family is unique and the cultural differences between any group of immigrants has its own characteristics, it is through our immediate and extended family that our children learn about the traditions we value in our culture.  Yes, this includes the religion of our mothers and fathers, but it is also how the values of hard work, honesty, and the desire to obtain the American dream are passed from one generation to another. 

"The central themes of honoring, respecting, and being compassionate to our neighbors and caring for those who are less fortune in our society are themes taught by our families and passed down to those that would become the steelworker in Pennsylvania, the autoworker in Michigan, or like my father, the produce worker in Los Angeles.  

"Unlike Obama's comments that people cling to religion or tradition because of ‘bitter[ness]' or ‘frustration', our Latino culture and traditions teach us the value in helping those around us and engaging our community in a positive way; it is what gives us hope of a better future for our family and community. 

"Obama will need to offer more than just his half-hearted apology and explain his underlying belief about the values shared by many Latinos if he is going to try to convince our communities that he is ready to lead this nation as a uniter and not a divider."  

Hector M. Barajas, Communications Director, California Republican Party

At A Closed Door Fundraiser In San Francisco, Obama Commented: 

"‘It's not surprising then they get getter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations,' he said." (Victor Morton and Stephen Dinan, "Obama's Remarks Slammed By Rivals," Washington Times, 4/12/08)

Obama Tries To Counter His Own "Elitist" And "Out Of Touch" Comments: 

"‘No, I'm in touch.' Mr. Obama said.  ‘I know exactly what's going on.  I know what's going on in Pennsylvania, I know what's going one in Indiana, I know what's going on in Illinois.  People are fed up, they're angry, they're frustrated, they're bitter and they want to see change in Washington....'" (Jeff Zeleny, "Opponents Call Obama ‘Out Of Touch,'" New York Times, 4/12/08)

Obama's Half-Hearted Apology: 

"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 their 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...." (Chris Welch, "Obama: If I Offended, I deeply Regret That," CNN Political Ticker Blog, 4/12/08)

"Obama told the paper ‘if I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that.'" (Aaron Bruns, "‘Deeply Regrets' Words -- If They Offended," Fox News, 4/12/08)

"Well look, if there  --  obviously, if I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that, he said an interview this after in Muncie, Ind., with the Winston-Salem Journal."  ("Obama Says He Deeply Regrets Offending People," ABC News' Political Radar Blog, 4/12/08) 

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