Defending this?
“It’s not surprising then that 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.”
So because people are frustrated they become gun nuts? Racist xenophobes? Fundamentalist xtians? Oppose NAFTA or other free-trade agreements?
As I mentioned before it's a bit odd that Obama sees all these are irrational feelings born out of frustration. This strongly suggests Obama believes peoples anti-NAFTA anti-free trade sentiments are based on something other than logical well reasoned responses to trade policies that hurt working people. Opposing free-trade agreements is like being a gun-nut, xenophobe, or religious fundamentalist in Obama's eyes according to this quote. I guess I don't see what's to defend in this position. Joining the Minutemen, waiting for the rapture, or opposing NAFTA are all born of the same economic bitterness? I will not defend that type of thinking.
John Thornton