I missed the debate on Wednesday. However, I got to review the transcript yesterday. This portion from Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) about the remarks he made regarding small-town bitter folks further exposed his elitist attitude and consequently provoked a rant from yours truly.

From the NY Times transcript [emphasis mine]:

And so the point I was making was that when people feel like Washington's not listening to them, when they're promised year after year, decade after decade, that their economic situation is going to change, and it doesn't, then politically they end up focusing on those things that are constant, like religion.

They end up feeling "This is a place where I can find some refuge. This is something that I can count on." They end up being much more concerned about votes around things like guns, where traditions have been passed on from generation to generation. And those are incredibly important to them.

And yes, what is also true is that wedge issues, hot-button issues, end up taking prominence in our -- in our politics. And part of the problem is that when those issues are exploited, we never get to solve the issues that people really have to get some relief on, whether it's health care or education or jobs.

So this i something that I've said before. It is something that I will repeat again. And yes, people are frustrated and angry about it, but what we're seeing in this election is the opportunity to break through that frustration. And that's what our campaign has been about, saying that if the American people get involved and engaged, then we are going to start seeing change. And that's what makes this election unique.

Alrighty. Let me break this down - point by point.

1. "Washington's not listening to them" - Translation: We elite in the Beltway don't think the little people matter. We know how to run things better than they do. We are special and they are just - well, they are just peons.

The truth is Washington doesn't listen to us very often. I'll get to that point a little later.

2."end up focusing on those things that are constant, like religion" - Yes, of course. That religion thing is a crutch to which we always fall back. Good thing religion is always there for us weak-minded people who have some strange need for faith.

3."a place where I can find some refuge" - Yes, when the chips are down we desperately seek protection from the danger of um, life. We don't use our brains. We only have feelings - feelings of fear and the need for shelter.

4."something that I can count on" - True. We can't count on Washington or our own personal responsibility, so let's count on a higher power. Wow. What a concept!

5."more concerned about votes around things like guns" - Does Senator Obama read polls? When asked repeatedly what their major concerns are, voters indicate they are most concerned about the economy, national security, the War on Terror and health care. I would love Senator Obama to provide a poll, even from 'small-town bitter Pennsylvanians', which indicated voters were more concerned about gun ownership than any other issue.

6."those are incredibly important to them" - Gun owners cherish their guns and traditions. Sure. That's not a new concept. But it is doubtful that gun owners cherish their guns and traditions more than the roof over their head or their families. He's missing the point, but I'll get to the real point at the end of this list.

7."wedge issues, hot-button issues, end up taking prominence in our -- in our politics"; "those issues are exploited" - Again - prominence? Is his campaign staff even bothering to brief him about the issues? Does he even know? Or is his elitism so prominent that he sees the need to exploit pander about 'wedge issues' when on the campaign trail, but then speak his real thoughts at fund-raisers?

8."the issues that people really have to get some relief on" - I managed to catch an audio clip of this on the radio yesterday. At the part 'the issues that people really', Senator Obama paused and rephrased. I listened carefully and he started to say 'the issues that people really care.' He started that word and realized quickly that it would demonstrate his elitism again (it is so well-hidden, after all). Whew! He dodged that bullet. (pun intended)

9.the opportunity to break through that frustration" - Okay. Now we can get down to the heart of this whole thing. Senator Obama erroneously assumes that voters are passionate about 'hot-button issues' but he really doesn't understand at all. Voters are passionate about the Constitution and their constitutionally protected rights. We have the freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. We have the right to bear arms, not the right to bear arms if city governments SAY we can. We have freedom of speech and heaven forbid we use it like Senator Obama's former pastor does. These are not wedge issues, they are constitutionally protected freedoms which governments and elected officials continually try to trample upon and strip.

Voters see the federal government expanding their control and regulation over issues involving the economy, energy policies, businesses, taxes, bureaucratic growth, national security and foreign policies. But Senator Obama believes that voters have given up fighting or caring about these issues and therefore, we need our crutches - you know, the First and Second Amendments, those little insignificant things.

Obama's snobbery continues to rebuff voters as he demonstrates the far left ideology. And that ideology is that conservatives are irrational, emotionally-driven rednecks who live in a constant state of fear of the bogyman and cling to our invisible sky friend and guns. Those poor Republicans are brainwashed and they NEED critical-thinking, pseudo-intellectuals to rescue them.

It would never occur to Senator Obama that we believe in things about which the Founding Fathers were passionate too. That, my friends, is the epitome of elitism.