WaPo: Clinton Faces Questions Over Supporter's Comments

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton demanded that Sen. Barack Obama reject support from the Rev. Louis Farrakahn during a debate on Tuesday night. But what, a Dallas television interviewer asked Clinton on Wednesday, about Adelfa Callejo, an 84-year-old Latina backer of Clinton's in Texas?

Callejo was reported as saying that black politicians hadn't done anything to help Latinos. Did Clinton, the interviewer asked, reject and denounce Callejo for saying such a thing?

Clinton was equivocal. "People have every reason to express their opinions," she said.

"You know, this is a free country," Clinton said, laughing, when asked whether she still wanted Callejo's support. She went on to say that she did not know the facts of the situation."

<snip>

"The Clinton campaign initially reacted with bewilderment to a question about Callejo. Clinton adviser Doug Hattaway said the campaign had not located the exact remarks in question, but that Clinton firmly rejects any racist sentiments. After the KTVT interview, Hattaway said: "She had never heard of any of this. And if it was actually said, of course, she would denounce and reject it. She opposes this kind of politics in any way, shape or form."

Late Wednesday night, the campaign released a statement, according to Dallas's CBS 11 TV, saying: "Senator Clinton was unaware of these remarks until this afternoon when she was asked about them on a local newscast. After confirming that they were accurately portrayed, Senator Clinton of course denounces and rejects them."

Callejo, a Dallas Democrat, was quoted in a 1997 New York Times interview about conflict in the city's school system as saying that "the black American is the racist against the Hispanics and whites," and blacks wanted power only for themselves. In 2006, a Dallas Morning News opinion piece quoted Callejo complaining about a "black agenda" in the city."

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/28/clinton_faces_questions_over_s.html

[Barack_America]

1. Bad sign...

Even the Clinton campaign is now using the "denounce and reject" line. :P

"She had never heard of any of this. And if it was actually said, of course, she would denounce and reject it. She opposes this kind of politics in any way, shape or form."

[leftofcool]

2. Not quite the same thing

Espousing a view that "blacks have never done anything to help Latinos" or to espouse a personal view that you believe "Blacks are racist against you," is not the same thing as being endosed by a "man of the cloth" who said "Judaism is a gutter religon" and has made many vile comments about Jews in the past.

Left of Cool

[NashVegas]

5. It Doesn't Matter

Haven't you accepted by now that different standards apply?

[NorthernSpy]

17. well, what "different standard" are ~you~ pushing, Crisco?

One where ranting about "the black agenda" gets you maybe a polite demurral or two, while ranting about "the Jewish agenda" gets you keelhauled?

[ellacott]

9. Not "technically" the same but still bad

Those were insensitive racist remarks and they should be some consistency in the response.

[cali]

13. how many angels on that pin of yours?

saying there is a "black agenda" is no different from saying there is a "gay agenda". Both are examples of ugly bigotry.

[Thrill]

3. Amazing how ignorant some people are

[dkf]

4. Can of worms.

She is rather unlucky in how these things bite back at her.

[godai]

6. Another backfire on Hillary..."the black American is the racist against the Hispanics and whites"

She needs to reject, denounce Callejo's support, then Obama can bob his head furiously, just like she did to him.

"Callejo, a Dallas Democrat, was quoted in a 1997 New York Times interview about conflict in the city's school system as saying that "the black American is the racist against the Hispanics and whites," and blacks wanted power only for themselves. In 2006, a Dallas Morning News opinion piece quoted Callejo complaining about a "black agenda" in the city."

[Renew Deal]

7. I have a feeling this person is posting at DU.

Reminds me of journalism.

[thereismore]

8. "she would denounce and reject" - a new phrase has been born! nt

[Marie26]

10. Is this just some random person?

Dear Lord. The Farrakan thing was stupid, but this is ridiculous.

[godai]

11. No, she's a longtime activist:

http://womenslegalhistory.stanford.edu/papers/AdelfaBCallejo.pdf

[Colobo]

12. And, from what it seems, a racist.

[Marie26]

14. 84 years old

She's not a politician, & not a national figure. She was a lawyer. IMO this is totally ridiculous. I'm sure HRC will "reject & denounce" her statement, after she figures out who this person is. But this is a "gotcha" IMO, w/reporters trying to do a similar gotcha to the one Russert used w/Obama. Except this is even sillier, because this isn't a national celebrity, or a church leader, but a retired old lady. It's the silly season for sure.

[elixir]

15. I'd rather have a direct quote of CAllejo instead of paraphrasing..

[yellowcanine]

16. It does have a certain goose/gander feel. This is blow back for the Clinton campaign and

Hillary herself trying to make such a mountain out of the Nation of Islam molehill. Karma is a bitch.

[powergirl]

18. I know Adelfa

She's an attorney in Dallas - as am I. When I worked for Legal Aid, I encountered her from time to time. She is very passionate about her activism for the Latino community and she does mouth off like that. She has been quoted in the Dallas Morning News many times and I am surprised the Clinton Campaign did not know about her comments. Everyone in the legal community knows who she is.

I will disclose that I am an Obama supporter.

[TexasObserver]

19. Politicians are responsible for what they and their campaign and surrogates do. Not for voters.

Hillary presents a treasure trove of easy, legit targets. Why drag some 84 year old woman into the mix? It's unseemly.

Obama supporter here! But come on, folks! The Farrakan thing was much ado about nothing. This is much doodoo about nothing.