Democratic And Republican Critics Blast Obama's “Small-Town” Comments Calling It Presidential Disqualifier  —  If someone wanted to see how early 21st century American politics operates, they need look no further than the current (growing) flap over politically flat-footed comments Senator Barack Obama …

Hillary hits Obama on faith, guns  —  Yesterday, Clinton hit Obama for calling Pennsylvanians “bitter,” ground on which he fairly ably engaged.  —  Today, she's onto the other half of his San Francisco remarks, in which he linked economic frustration to clinging to religion and guns …

Obama Tries to Limit Fallout Over ‘Bitter’ Remark  —  MUNCIE, Ind. — Senator Barack Obama on Saturday rebutted criticism that has enveloped his campaign over a comment he made last Sunday that many working-class voters are angry and bitter over economic conditions in America …

Obama concedes remarks were ill chosen  —  MUNCIE, Ind. - Democrat Barack Obama on Saturday conceded that comments he made about bitter working class voters who “cling to guns or religion” were ill chosen, as he tried to stem a burst of complaints that he is condescending.

Clinton backer: Superdelegates need to consider ‘bitter’ remark  —  INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (CNN) — Sen. Evan Bayh, Hillary Clinton's top backer in the May 6 primary state of Indiana, argued Saturday that superdelegates need to evaluate Barack Obama's “bitter” remarks when deciding who to back for the Democratic nomination.

The McGovernization of Obama  —  I still believe that by August, Obama, the half-term rookie Senator, will have become the second George McGovern.  Cf. his latest declaration to the Marin County faithful (coming on the heels of the crazy anti-Semitic rant of Rev. Eric Lee, a prominent LA Obama supporter):

Obama Explains ‘Bitter’ Comments, but Rivals Pile On  —  ABC News' Sunlen Miller and Eloise Harper report: Barack Obama, D-Ill., went further than he has before in admitting that he did not express himself as well as he could have in his initial comments at a San Francisco fundraiser this week about …

Hicks nix clique's shticks  —  I'm about done with Obama over this mill-closures-drive-small-town-losers- to-guns-and-God business.  If you're running as a glamorous blank slate on which people project their own utopian fantasies, you've got to be very careful not to give the game away …

“A Typical Sort Of Political Flare-Up”  —  As the “Hey Rubes, Back Barack” tour swung through Indiana Obama was in another town meeting defending himself again from his small town disaster [More at the Times and WaPo].  The candidate was insightful - “I didn't say it as well as I should have” …