Yes, he’s having a hard week. But I think laughing at the firestorm he created by insulting a whole state is not the best way for Barack Obama to get out of his jam. Addressing a group of veterans today he declared: “I am amused about this notion of elitist.” He then went on to recount his modest background, topping it off with this:

We lived for the first 13 years in our marriage, up until three years ago, in a one-bedroom condo without a garage which means, if you live in Chicago, you are scraping ice from your windshield.

First tip: don’t bring up your housing situation if you live in Chicago (h/t Instapundit). Next tip: many (or most, I dare say) people don’t think a one-bedroom condo in Chicago, garage or no, is roughing it. And finally: Democratic establishment types probably don’t think this is funny at all. A little less snickering and a little more abject apologizing might go a long way towards reassuring them that you regret giving John McCain a cudgel to whack the entire party with come November.