AP/CBS: Bill Clinton Rejects Criticism Over Race

[rodeodance]

About time this gets published.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/17/ap/politics/main3944841.shtml


Bill Clinton Rejects Criticism Over Race

NEW YORK, Mar. 17, 2008(AP) Former President Clinton is pushing back on criticism that he fanned racial tension while campaigning for his wife in South Carolina.

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" broadcast Monday, Clinton said he had gotten a "bum rap" from the news media after he compared Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's landslide victory in South Carolina's Jan. 26 primary to Jesse Jackson's wins in the state in 1984 and 1988. Clinton was widely criticized for appearing to cast Obama as little more than a black candidate popular in a state with a heavily black electorate.

"They made up a race story out of that," Clinton said of the news media, calling the story "a bizarre spin."

……….

He added, "Contrary to the myth, I went through South Carolina and never said a bad word about Senator Obama _ not one."

…………

"I never heard a word of public complaint when Mr. Obama said Hillary was not truthful," that she had "no character, was poll-driven," Bill Clinton said earlier this year. "He had more pollsters than she did. ... When he put out a hit job on me at the same time he called her the senator from Punjab, I never said a word."

He was referring to an Obama campaign memo from last summer that criticized Sen. Clinton's ties to India, referring to her as the "Democrat from Punjab." The former president's reference to a "hit job" evidently had to do with documents the Obama campaign once circulated questioning the former president's financial dealings.

………..

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/17/ap/politics/main3944841.shtml


Copyright 2008 The Associated Press

.....

***also see this Post--from yesterday--some History of Bill Clinton's work on race.

Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject How President Bill Clinton addressed the issue of race
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5145290#5145290
5145290, How President Bill Clinton addressed the issue of race
Posted by journalist3072 on Tue Mar-18-08 06:09 PM

I've seen a lot of disenguous posts today by the Obama-can-do-no-wrong crowd, basically saying they've never seen a politician confront the issue of race like this, yada yada yada.

Let's take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?

And let's examine, specifically, what President Bill Clinton said and did regarding the issue of race.

- One of my favorite stories about then Governor Bill Clinton is how, in 1992 just before the Democratic Convention, Bill Moyers asked him if there was any issue on which he would NEVER compromise. He responded "Racial injustice."

[Texas Hill Country]

1. Good for Bill.

[rodeodance]

4. yes.

[cali]

2. Of course he's denying it. What do you expect the race baiter in chief to do?

I never liked Bill Clinton, though I was glad he was President instead of a puke, and now I find him just repulsive. He gives me the creeps.

[rodeodance]

3. " race baiter"---Is demeaning name-calling your best?

[cali]

5. that is precisely what bill clinton did in SC

and he's up to his old tricks again by accusing Obama of having "mugged" him. Disgusting. Screw him.

[rodeodance]

6. We can not have a discussion when continuous name-calling gets injected.

[Zhade]

58. So tell the clintons to stop already.

NT!

[rodeodance]

19. What "preciesely" is it that you claim Bill did in SC?

that is precisely what bill clinton did in SC

[UALRBSofL]

11. These are the types of posts and bloggs

That Obama's Camp has told his supporters to spread all over the internet, the hate and false accusations. The MSM is just now picking up on it.

[PoliticalAmazon]

36. References, please, for your claim

Please provide evidence to support your claim.

[rodeodance]

44. common knowledge needs no Refs.

[Forkboy]

48. Yes it does or one looks like a liar.

It's news to me...the poster should prove it. He may be right, but with just his word there's no reason to believe it, just like the thread yesterday about Hillary supporters trolling the message boards. People who buy this stuff being fed to them with no proof are just political groupies who can't think for themselves. :shrug:

[Zhade]

59. *Every* allegation requires evidence. That's how it works.

Dismissing that fact because you can't back up the allegations doesn't eliminate the requirement.

[rodeodance]

61. too bad

[polpilot]

45. He gives me the 'Big Creep" I did not have 'race' with that man!

O.K.

[rodeodance]

46. immature comments to not lend them selves to a discussion

He gives me the 'Big Creep" I did not have 'race' with that man!
Posted by polpilot


O.K.

[joshcryer]

51. I find you repulsive.

Bill Clinton has done more for race than any other President in recent history.

[rodeodance]

7. **I have edited to add this link--Bill's speech on race during his presidency.

Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject How President Bill Clinton addressed the issue of race
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5145290#5145290
5145290, How President Bill Clinton addressed the issue of race
Posted by journalist3072 on Tue Mar-18-08 06:09 PM

I've seen a lot of disenguous posts today by the Obama-can-do-no-wrong crowd, basically saying they've never seen a politician confront the issue of race like this, yada yada yada.

Let's take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?

And let's examine, specifically, what President Bill Clinton said and did regarding the issue of race.

- One of my favorite stories about then Governor Bill Clinton is how, in 1992 just before the Democratic Convention, Bill Moyers asked him if there was any issue on which he would NEVER compromise. He responded "Racial injustice."

Source: POTUS Speaks: Finding the Words That Defined the Clinton Presidency (page 167)

[tridim]

8. Oh well, I thought Bill was smart enough to understand what Obama said yesterday

Apparently I was wrong. What happened Bill?

[rodeodance]

10. This was published Monday.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. This makes his apology very confusing.

Absurd.

[rodeodance]

13. Not to me.

[mattclearing]

12. A staffer called her the senator from Punjab.

And anyone who's seen the footage of Clinton making his comments about Jackson could see he was irritated with the guy who asked him, "What does it say about Barack Obama that it takes two of you to campaign against one of him?"

That was the set-up when Bill said, "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina twice." To his credit, he followed it up with something to the effect of they both ran good campaigns, but his implication was clear: it doesn't mean anything because he's black and they would have voted for him anyway.

The Bill and Hillary on display this year don't seem to be the same people I supported in the 90's. I don't recognize these people.

[rodeodance]

15. Jessie Jackson himself said there was nothing wrong with what Bill said.

[mattclearing]

64. Who is Jessie Jackson?

Jesse Jackson is a friend of Bill's, and knows that he will have an ear in the White House if Clinton wins. It doesn't change the fact that it was a fucked up comment, said in anger because a reporter pissed him off.

[indimuse]

14. K&R

!! thx...great post!

[LordJFT]

16. notice how Bill lies and says he (Obama) called her the senator from Punjab

This is funny because a) a campaign staffer said it not him and I guess if we can always attribute what a campaign staffer says to the candidate they work for then I guess I can say Hillary called Obama people's "imaginary hip black friend" and b) he completely ignores the fact that HILLARY FIRST CALLED HERSELF THE SENATOR FROM PUNJAB when she was talking to an Indian-American group about how she was going to outsource Americans jobs to India. So it was ok when she said it to pander to them, but when anyone else says it its racist.

[Submariner]

17. Of course he rejects it ...NOW

He planted the race-baiting seed in SC, watched it germinate into what we have been seeing in the news since, and NOW is trying to crab-walk away from what he said. The Clenis knew exactly what he was doing, and it sux.

When the kitchen sink approach needed traction, he threw in the garbage disposal, and now it's hurting Hilly because over 90% of the African American community back Obama.

[rodeodance]

18. "He planted the race-baiting seed in SC"--What exactly is this "seed"

[Submariner]

20. Go watch the tape of Clenis bringing up Jesse Jackson

to equate, in the eyes of the racist white folk, the very unlikable Jackson with the much more sophisticated Obama. It's subtle, but everyone saw it, and that's why Bill is now on defense. The Clinton's know that without the black vote they are screwed.

[rodeodance]

22. Link please. ---sorry but not "everyone saw it"--

Go watch the tape of Clenis bringing up Jesse Jackson
Posted by Submariner


to equate, in the eyes of the racist white folk, the very unlikable Jackson with the much more sophisticated Obama. It's subtle, but everyone saw it, and that's why Bill is now on defense. The Clinton's know that without the black vote they are screwed.

[Submariner]

25. Here's your link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqd2dfjl2pw

[rodeodance]

32. thanks

[TacticalPeek]

30. "the very unlikable Jackson with the much more sophisticated Obama"

Reflect on your own subtlety.

[Submariner]

41. A poor choice of words on my part TacticalPeek

Jesse has been in the news for decades, and the repukes from the Reagan administration on, have successfully belittled his character making him unacceptable to whitey as an elected official.

Obama does not have the long history in the public eye like Jackson, and excites me that whitey finally sees the light that an African American can indeed be well qualified to be president.

I should have used the word electable instead of sophisticated, my bad. I see your point clearly, but as a whitey I lowered myself for a moment to try and identify why some whiteys who in the past would reject Jackson, but now accept Obama. My apologies.

[Straight Shooter]

55. "The very unlikable Jackson"?

Jackson still has a lot of supporters and had even more so when he was running. It seems to me you're carrying some strange sort of baggage against JJ, that you reject any comparison between him and Obama. It wasn't Obama who was trying to get people to understand the stolen election of 2004. That was Jesse Jackson.

But you think JJ is not "sophisticated enough." Now I've heard it all.

[Skidmore]

21. Bill Clinton knew exactly what he was saying in SC.

As a southern man, he knows the subtleties of the language of race. And we also know how willing he is to parse the language. Bill Clinton has yet to apologize for language that was not just "unartful" but harmful and disrespectful.

[rodeodance]

24. And you are questioning him--as if knew for sure his motives.

Bill Clinton knew exactly what he was saying in SC.
Posted by Skidmore


As a southern man, he knows the subtleties of the language of race. And we also know how willing he is to parse the language. Bill Clinton has yet to apologize for language that was not just "unartful" but harmful and disrespectful.

[Skidmore]

26. Yes, I am questioning him and his motives.

I believe he was looking to create division.

[PoliticalAmazon]

37. Clearly, Clinton spoke the agenda of the HRC campaign

He is an experienced politician, especially when it comes to nuances and subtleties. He knows how to speak in a way that influences what people think, without actually coming out and saying what he wants them to think.

That he now blames others for the heat he experienced from his own words is tres Rovian.

Sweet baby in the manger, do we really want another four years of this divisive bullshit?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. I will never forget Obama 's ugly racist smear campaign on the Clintons

[cali]

27. I will neve forgive the Clintons for their disgusting and vile

use of the southern strategy. Ever.

[PoliticalAmazon]

38. I've also had it with the Clintons

That they would use racial divisiveness, and use Bush/Rove campaign tactics, makes me recoil from them in disgust.

I believe I am not alone in this. Democrats are fed up with 8 years of Bush/Rove, and certainly don't want four more years of the same thing from the Clintons.

[rodeodance]

40. Hillary is still in the race --despite your vile post.

PoliticalAmazon (23 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Wed Mar-19-08 11:58 AM
Response to Reply #27
38. I've also had it with the Clintons

That they would use racial divisiveness, and use Bush/Rove campaign tactics, makes me recoil from them in disgust.

I believe I am not alone in this. Democrats are fed up with 8 years of Bush/Rove, and certainly don't want four more years of the same thing from the Clintons.

[Iceburg]

34. Nor I /nt

[Eric Condon]

28. So because someone says they didn't race-bait, that MUST mean they didn't. Right?

After all, Ferraro claimed she didn't, and that's all it took to make it totally obvious to everyone that she didn't! Thanks for clearing all this up, Bill. :sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

33. Right. you are smart.

[SeaLyons]

29. For the Clintons to have ever been

painted as racist is just downright rediculous. Good for Bill. Put the race card where it belongs.

[rodeodance]

35. It was utterly ridiculous.---but look up stream---Obamafolk still duped.

[SeaLyons]

39. I think they are hopeless!!

[Eric Condon]

52. It's not a matter of the Clintons being "racist."

It's just a matter of them being so arrogant and so tone-deaf that they think it's okay for them say utterly offensive things.

As Obama said in one of the January debates, the goodwill engendered by Bill Clinton from the black community is well-earned. The problem is when he seems to begin to think, "I'm the 'first black president,' my cred with the African-American community is bulletproof, so I can just shoot my mouth off and say totally boneheaded, offensive things and they won't care."

The Clintons at this point remind me of that scene in Bulworth:

"Are you saying that the Democratic Party doesn't care about the black community?

"Isn't that obvious? And what are you gonna do? Vote Republican?"

Come to think of it, replace "black community" with "any coalition of progressive voters," and I think it's basically the same thing.

[formernaderite]

53. I'm not black but I always found it offensive

when Bill Clinton carried that moniker of being the first black president. I know Toni Morrison bestowed it on him as a manner of defense because of the bashing he was getting during the Lewinsky scandal...but when white pundits used it afterwards to defend him...I always felt creeped out. Since she's supporting Obama.... I think we should let that designation DIE.

[Eric Condon]

57. I agree.

I wasn't calling him that myself, I was just saying that I think in Bill's mind, having so much goodwill from the black community (symbolized by the "first black president" designation) kinda went to his head.

[Texas Hill Country]

31. I find it incredibly offensive that the Clintons are being called racists... incredible.

[rodeodance]

43. and it done just off the cuff. They do cause they can.

[rodeodance]

42. k

[sueragingroz]

47. you go big dawg!

:)

[rodeodance]

49. In the end he will prevail. People are waking up.

[meow mix]

50. Teflon Baby! Armor!! I dont need no fancy speechs i just bounce shit off my Teflon!!

:rofl:

[DemGa]

54. I'm glad to see Bill Clinton come out against this nonsense -- NT

[rodeodance]

62. yes, it will take a while--but many folk know his work with Blacks over the years

[AX10]

56. Obama played the race card to get the black vote

and rack up large wins. Why? Because Obama is a politician and nothing more.

And this: "never heard a word of public complaint when Mr. Obama said Hillary was not truthful," that she had "no character, was poll-driven," Bill Clinton said earlier this year. "He had more pollsters than she did. ... When he put out a hit job on me at the same time he called her the senator from Punjab, I never said a word."

Obama has been given a free pass. Hell, McCain has taken much more heat that Obama has.

and: "I've seen a lot of disenguous posts today by the Obama-can-do-no-wrong crowd, basically saying they've never seen a politician confront the issue of race like this, yada yada yada.

Let's take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?

And let's examine, specifically, what President Bill Clinton said and did regarding the issue of race.

- One of my favorite stories about then Governor Bill Clinton is how, in 1992 just before the Democratic Convention, Bill Moyers asked him if there was any issue on which he would NEVER compromise. He responded "Racial injustice."

I find it sickening that the pundit-whores are saying that Obama's speech is better than MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech.

[kdpeters]

60. Clinton: "Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes?"

[Bonobo]

63. Most people ADMIT they are being racist? Weird, never heard that one...

That's good enough for me.