The the pundits, the RCCC and the Clintons are going to keep pounding Obama on "bitter." Obama's response on Sunday was excellent, but he can do and say more.
Senator Obama is not backing down on the use of bitter. And we can absolutely vouch for its truthfulness, we can cite numerous personal examples and we can compile thousands of stories. All of these things are relevant and true.
But most winning candidates for President I remember attempted some positive message and Senator Obama is known for hope and change. So I don't think he should let this single word be linked and seared into our collective memory just by itself. Not now and not in the fall where Senate McCain was a POW for five years, what can he say about being bitter or not being bitter?
So I believe Senator Obama, should move forward and add another word. One comment that has reverberated in numerous personal discussions over the past few years is the statement "we deserve better."
You don't have to explain who is referred to when you say "we deserve better." Everybody gets it.
It is the economy, the war, health care, the corruption, right from the White House down... We deserve better, American deserves better. So if you mention the term bitter, end it with better. So here is my take on how we ought to use the word "better."
Pennsylvanians living in small towns deserve better. Sixty three years ago they fought side by side in the Battle of the Bulge with Obama's grandfather in Patton's 3rd Army. In Korea, Vietnam and in the Persian Gulf, they served, fought and gave their lives.
Yet, today the large rural manufacturing plants located near small towns have been moving overseas for the past few decades. Heating oil and propane, which provide a significant source of heating in small town Pennsylvania have hit record prices and health care is become more expensive and less available as small hospitals close their doors. College is getting more expensive every year and more and more homes are going up for sale or going into foreclosure.
They deserve better!!!
It is ok to describe the devestating impact of economic and social across this country. But, Senator Obama could also be saying that small town Pennsylvania "deserves better."
In fact, All of America "deserves better." This is not a right versus left or red versus blue argument. This is not an elitist viewpoint or a viewpoint that slights anyone. (current administration excepted.) "Deserves better" is a more direct way to merge the harsh reality of the present with the hope for change of Senator Obama.