Link to article: http://articles.latimes.com/print/2008/apr/15/nation/na-bitter15
The article explains how a citizen journalist named Mayhill Fowler; writing for the Huffington Post at the time, wrote an article about Barack Obama in which he makes a comment on Midwesterners and how they are dissatisfied by the government's work.
Obama's quote is as follows, "And it's not surprising, then, they get bitter, 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." as part of a lengthy response.
The story was used by right wing media and supporters to denounce Obama by calling him elitist and and condescending towards middle class Westerners and small town people. The article explains how this report brought a lot of backlash towards Obama and towards citizen journalists such as Mayhill Fowler.
A big question that can be asked is, whether something said in a 'closed press' event, that Fowler managed to attend with help from an Obama official she knew by asking for an invitation, should be considered information that can be used by her even though she is not a journalist.
In similar terms, the audio clip that surfaced recently in which Trump can be heard saying very disgraceful and sexist remarks against women was also made in a private location. I believe that anything said by a celebrity or politician (especially during election period) can and should be used to inform the public because a candidate such as Trump may present himself as something publicly and be different when seen or heard behind closed doors.
Such information must be made public so that voters can have a better understanding of the candidate they hope to vote for and elect.
The article explains how a citizen journalist named Mayhill Fowler; writing for the Huffington Post at the time, wrote an article about Barack Obama in which he makes a comment on Midwesterners and how they are dissatisfied by the government's work.
Obama's quote is as follows, "And it's not surprising, then, they get bitter, 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." as part of a lengthy response.
The story was used by right wing media and supporters to denounce Obama by calling him elitist and and condescending towards middle class Westerners and small town people. The article explains how this report brought a lot of backlash towards Obama and towards citizen journalists such as Mayhill Fowler.
A big question that can be asked is, whether something said in a 'closed press' event, that Fowler managed to attend with help from an Obama official she knew by asking for an invitation, should be considered information that can be used by her even though she is not a journalist.
In similar terms, the audio clip that surfaced recently in which Trump can be heard saying very disgraceful and sexist remarks against women was also made in a private location. I believe that anything said by a celebrity or politician (especially during election period) can and should be used to inform the public because a candidate such as Trump may present himself as something publicly and be different when seen or heard behind closed doors.
Such information must be made public so that voters can have a better understanding of the candidate they hope to vote for and elect.
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