This posting, and the comments, fairly deliberately misread the statement. They’re part of the political game: Obama was in San Francisco (!) talking about people in rural Pennsylvania and responding to a question about why he could be having a tough time there.

The economy in this state is hurting. The jobs have disappeared. And for two decades – if not more – people have come through and blamed “others” for it, promised to do something, and done nothing. This wasn’t about actual belief in God, or support of the 2nd Amendment (the only one that conservatives seem to care for), or cultural biases. It was about the exploitation of xenophobia – politicians coming to town and telling them they shouldn’t trust anyone who drinks a different brand of beer.

It’s been a staple of Republican politics for 30 years to label opponents as elitists. It’s become so easy a pose to strike that a bow tie wearing pampered blogger can do it, and conduct an echo chamber orchestra of commenters to wag their fingers in unison.

Hacktacular.