"at best simplistic"

Why yes I agree, which is why I'm basing my real opinion on the full context of the quote as well as various interviews and even his first book -- in which he pretty much justifies resentment to the powers that be because of their unreliability in regards to economic issues and praises the community that the church and other community-based institutions structure the lives of people in the absence of coherent political organization. This is the same line of reasoning he presented in his speech on race, decrying both black and white anger on identity issues based on competition for resources.

As for the "voting", Penn hasn't voted yet. He was answering a question about "messaging" --at which point he is merely repeating points that have been mentioned ad infinitum since the 2004 elections revealed that people were voting on "values" -- namely, values defined by conservatives. Gay marriage amendments were struck down in eleven states that year, following that we've had people try and pass laws drastically limiting abortion rights like in South Dakota, we had the whole Terry Schaivo fiasco, and most recently the conflict over the latest attempt at immigration reform. We have 24 hour news asking "will conservative voters like this? will the religious right support this?" AND NOT "does this address the concerns of the working class?" "What are the concerns of the working class?"

[And you know what, liberals played right along, talking about redneck this and bigoted people that, and blah blah blah blah instead of trying to understand the sources of those opinions or even offering much of a counter-narrative. These forums are chock-full of that.]

So suddenly a politician makes a half-assed attempt to try and analyze the source of these stereotypes -- based on the way electoral politics has been conducted/messages used by both parties over recent years and he's to be pilloried? When have the msm ever contributed evidence that "conservatives" or "liberals" have opinions that they do because of more than just random positioning for an upcoming election. When do they analyze the causes of opinions?

Or are you just angry that someone dared publicly imply that there's no such thing as ideological purity? That we often base our opinions on outside sources and not our own enlightened choices? That, in fact, one's most cherished values are being manipulated by those in power to provide support for policies that end up being detrimental to our well being?

I'm not even saying that he's completely right. I am saying however, that it was an entirely fair point to make based on recent history and based on the language that both the media and the two parties use to speak about voters. Regardless of what Obama really thinks about "working class people" or the reality thereof, his statement was reflection of the messaging that has been used by both parties to appeal to them.