Obama and the blue-collar vote

http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1080942,CST-EDT-Carol30.article

'A few hours after leaving the "Women for Obama" luncheon, I ran into Sarah, not her real name. I've known her for a few years. A single mom, she free-lances, working as many jobs as she can to support two growing boys. She dreams of a permanent gig with benefits, but it's still just a dream.

A 37-year-old Democrat, she is also a college grad and a news junkie who has watched this campaign like a hawk. She surprised me with her anger Tuesday, saying she's voting for McCain.

To Sarah, Barack Obama is like the organic chicken at lunch. Sleek, elegant, beautifully prepared. Too cool.

Though both Obamas have spoken often and in great personal detail of their own humble beginnings, of Michelle's hardworking blue-collar dad and Barack's struggling single mom on food stamps, it somehow hasn't sold Sarah. You might ask if she was a die-hard Clinton supporter. The answer is yes, a supporter, but die-hard? Not really.'

My feeling about the whole Victory Tour of Europe episode was that it would reinforce certain aspects of the Obama phenomenon that would not help him. The one that strikes me the most is the strong smell of entitlement coming from both Obamas. For millions and millions of Americans like the woman above, the arrogant sashaying around is a real smack in the face for people whose daily existence is a grind, and who are never the beneficiary of minority entitlements, or indeed any kind of entitlements. Both Obamas have cushy jobs that are very generously paid, but they don't seem even a bit grateful, nor conscious of just how lucky and rare their good fortune is. Bill Clinton always managed to persuade working class Americans that he fundamentally understood what made them tick, and in what ways their lives were both tough and rewarding.

Obama, with his musing about 'God, Guns and xenophobia' shows that his understanding of blue-collar America is theoretical at best. Bill Clinton vibrated at the same tonal levels as many millions of working class Americans, a fact they recognised subliminally and voted accordingly. Obama just doesn't. Going to Europe and poncing around reinforced that perception amongst an essential tranche of the US electorate- the regular joe (and joelene) in the low-paying job.