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Clinton, Obama Rhetoric Heats Up in Controversy Over MLK's Role in Race
Rights Fight
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton bashed rival Barack Obama
on Sunday, suggesting that the black senator from Illinois was trying to
prolong a race controversy that bubbled up after Clinton last week said it
took a president like Lyndon Johnson to enact the vision presented by race
rights fighter Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed
the Civil Rights Act of 1964," Clinton told FOX News last week in remarks
that sparked the current conflict. "It took a president to get it done."
On Sunday, Clinton complained that Obama has been misrepresenting her words
and their meaning. She said Obama has been comparing himself to King and
President John F. Kennedy, who began the process that led to landmark civil
rights legislation. But unlike King, who Clinton noted had marched,
organized, protested, and was gassed, beaten and jailed, Obama is merely
giving speeches about his commitment to racial equality.
"(King) understood he had to move the political process and bring in those
who were in political power," Clinton told NBC's "Meet the Press."
"And he campaigned for political leaders, including Lyndon Johnson, because
he wanted somebody in the White House who would act on what he had devoted
his life to achieving . So I think it's important to set the record
straight. Clearly, we know from media reports that the Obama campaign (is)
deliberately distorting this."
Clinton added that King deserves "the lion share of the credit" for moving
the country and political process forward, but he couldn't have done it
without "partners who were in the political system."
"I think it is such an unfair and unwarranted attempt to misrepresent and
mischaracterize what I've said," Clinton added.
In response, Obama held a conference call with reporters to say that he's
fascinated with the way the controversy is playing out, and it helps to
explain why Americans are tired of Washington games. But, he added, Clinton
"made an unfortunate remark, an ill-advised remark" about King and Johnson,
and then wrongly blamed Obama when she was called on it.
"I didn't make the statement. I haven't remarked on it and she, I think,
offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King's role in bringing
about the Civil Rights Act. She is free to explain that, but the notion that
somehow this is our doing is ludicrous. I have to point out that instead of
telling the American people about her positive vision for America, Senator
Clinton spent an hour talking about me and my record in a way that was
flat-out wrong," Obama said.
"I have to say that she started this campaign saying that she wanted to make
history and lately she has been spending a lot of time rewriting it. I know
that in Washington it is acceptable to say or do anything it takes to get
elected, but I really don't think that is the kind of politics that is good
for our party, and I don't think it is good for our country and I think that
the American people will reject it in this election," he continued.
Who is using the race issue most in the Democratic presidential race?
Hillary Clinton (59%)
Barack Obama (39%)
Dennis Kucinich (1%)
John Edwards (1%)
Sen. John Kerry, who endorsed Obama last week, also spoke Sunday about the
argument that played out this week, saying everyone knows it was people like
King, who demonstrated and took action on the ground before the outlook
changed in Washington. He added that Obama is better poised than Clinton -
because of his race - to speak with marginalized African Americans.
"Who better than Barack Obama to talk about - and just by his person signify
to the world the difference that it means to get an open door to a good
school? Who better than Barack Obama to talk to young blacks in America or
disaffected young people or - anybody, and sort of say, you see what happens
if you have a dream and you pursue it and you work at it? . . I personally
believe, having been 20 years, 24 years on the Foreign Relations Committee,
that . Barack Obama can say things to African-American leaders that a white
president just can't say."
Obama leads Clinton by 13 points in polling for South Carolina, where
Clinton campaigned Sunday ahead of the Jan. 26 Democratic primary there. The
African American vote is a 50 percent majority of the Democratic vote in the
Palmetto State. After Clinton's original comments, House Majority Whip
James Clyburn, the South Carolina representative who is the third-ranking
Democrat and the top African American in the House, admonished all the
candidates to choose their words carefully when talking about the fights of
the 1960s.
Following her appearance bashing Obama on Sunday, Clinton went to church,
and praised him repeatedly as a barrier breaker. She also credited her own
efforts for breaking through the glass ceiling that had prevented other
women from becoming serious contenders for the U.S. presidency.
"For many of us, this place is a refuge, sanctuary from the storms that
buffet us," Clinton told the congregation at the Northminster Presbyterian
Church in Columbia, S.C.
"In the noise (of the campaign), we stand at a historic moment worthy of
celebration. Many of our grandparents never thought we'd see the day when an
African American and a woman were competing for the presidency. . I'm so
proud of my party, country, Senator Barack Obama. Together we've presented
our cases to the people. . As we prepare to mark Dr. King's birthday, let's
step back and marvel at the place we're in and the progress we've made," she
said.
While the speech was controversy-free, many of the congregants who spoke
with FOX News said that they are still undecided on a candidate. Hoping to
break through that indecision, Clinton got help at her second campaign stop
of the day from Robert Johnson, the billionaire founder of Black
Entertainment Television.
Johnson scolded Obama for allowing people in his campaign to twist Clinton's
words, and said Obama is winning the polling in South Carolina because black
voters are proud in their hearts. But when they think about the choice to be
made, Clinton would be the best president, he said.
Johnson also used another rhetorical device that went badly for the Clinton
campaign - seemingly referencing Obama's past drug use - and compared Obama
to a character in a breakthrough film that brought to the surface the
discussion on interracial relationships.
"To me, as an African American, I am frankly insulted that the Obama
campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and
Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues
when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won't say
he was doing that he said he was doing in his book. . To say these two
people would denigrate the accomplishments of civil rights marchers, who
bled and some died, and to expect us to now say they are attacking a black
man? I mean, that kind of campaign behavior does not resonate with me, for a
guy who says I want to be a reasonable, likable Sidney Portier (in) "Guess
Who's Coming to Dinner?"
Afterward, Obama supporter and former South Carolina state Rep. "I.S." Leevy
Johnson said it was "offensive" for Senator Clinton to stand silently by
while Robert Johsnon launched a divisive and personal attack against Senator
Obama.
"It's offensive that Senator Clinton literally stood by and said nothing as
another one of her campaign's top supporters launched a personal, divisive
attack on Barack Obama," said Johnson, noting that former Clinton aide Billy
Shaheen was released from the campaign for commenting on Obama's drug use.
"For someone who decries the politics of personal destruction, she should've
immediately denounced these attacks on the spot."
But Robert Johnson responded by issuing a statement saying it was flat wrong
to suggest he was referring to Obama's drug use.
"My comments today were referring to Barack Obama's time spent as a
community organizer, and nothing else. Any other suggestion is simply
irresponsible and incorrect," he said.
While Clinton attended a Presbyterian church before her rally with Johnson,
John Edwards attended Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter, S.C.
There, he celebrated with the predominantly African American congregation
the 24th anniversary of Rev. James Bassingame's service as pastor there.
Edwards, who was born in Seneca, S.C., the same town as Bassingame, said
much has changed since the two were boys.
"When we were in Seneca, we weren't allowed to go to school together," the
54-year-old candidate said, adding that "as someone who grew up in the
segregated South, I feel an enormous amount of pride when I see the success
that Senator Barack Obama is having in this campaign.
"And some days, I need to be honest, I wish he were having a little less
success," he said to laughter.
Edwards, who has been arguing the same message as Obama - one of change over
experience - said he too was "troubled" by Clinton's remarks.
"I'm going to say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real
change came not through the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, but through a
Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that. Those who believe
that real change starts with Washington politicians have been in Washington
too long and are living in a fairytale. Real change has never started in
Washington. Real change came from those who fought in the trenches . those
who shed their blood, sweat, and tears . and those who suffered broken
bones," Edwards said.
Clinton, Obama Rhetoric Heats Up in Controversy Over MLK's Role in Race
Rights Fight
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton bashed rival Barack Obama
on Sunday, suggesting that the black senator from Illinois was trying to
prolong a race controversy that bubbled up after Clinton last week said it
took a president like Lyndon Johnson to enact the vision presented by race
rights fighter Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed
the Civil Rights Act of 1964," Clinton told FOX News last week in remarks
that sparked the current conflict. "It took a president to get it done."
On Sunday, Clinton complained that Obama has been misrepresenting her words
and their meaning. She said Obama has been comparing himself to King and
President John F. Kennedy, who began the process that led to landmark civil
rights legislation. But unlike King, who Clinton noted had marched,
organized, protested, and was gassed, beaten and jailed, Obama is merely
giving speeches about his commitment to racial equality.
"(King) understood he had to move the political process and bring in those
who were in political power," Clinton told NBC's "Meet the Press."
"And he campaigned for political leaders, including Lyndon Johnson, because
he wanted somebody in the White House who would act on what he had devoted
his life to achieving . So I think it's important to set the record
straight. Clearly, we know from media reports that the Obama campaign (is)
deliberately distorting this."
Clinton added that King deserves "the lion share of the credit" for moving
the country and political process forward, but he couldn't have done it
without "partners who were in the political system."
"I think it is such an unfair and unwarranted attempt to misrepresent and
mischaracterize what I've said," Clinton added.
In response, Obama held a conference call with reporters to say that he's
fascinated with the way the controversy is playing out, and it helps to
explain why Americans are tired of Washington games. But, he added, Clinton
"made an unfortunate remark, an ill-advised remark" about King and Johnson,
and then wrongly blamed Obama when she was called on it.
"I didn't make the statement. I haven't remarked on it and she, I think,
offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King's role in bringing
about the Civil Rights Act. She is free to explain that, but the notion that
somehow this is our doing is ludicrous. I have to point out that instead of
telling the American people about her positive vision for America, Senator
Clinton spent an hour talking about me and my record in a way that was
flat-out wrong," Obama said.
"I have to say that she started this campaign saying that she wanted to make
history and lately she has been spending a lot of time rewriting it. I know
that in Washington it is acceptable to say or do anything it takes to get
elected, but I really don't think that is the kind of politics that is good
for our party, and I don't think it is good for our country and I think that
the American people will reject it in this election," he continued.
Who is using the race issue most in the Democratic presidential race?
Hillary Clinton (59%)
Barack Obama (39%)
Dennis Kucinich (1%)
John Edwards (1%)
Sen. John Kerry, who endorsed Obama last week, also spoke Sunday about the
argument that played out this week, saying everyone knows it was people like
King, who demonstrated and took action on the ground before the outlook
changed in Washington. He added that Obama is better poised than Clinton -
because of his race - to speak with marginalized African Americans.
"Who better than Barack Obama to talk about - and just by his person signify
to the world the difference that it means to get an open door to a good
school? Who better than Barack Obama to talk to young blacks in America or
disaffected young people or - anybody, and sort of say, you see what happens
if you have a dream and you pursue it and you work at it? . . I personally
believe, having been 20 years, 24 years on the Foreign Relations Committee,
that . Barack Obama can say things to African-American leaders that a white
president just can't say."
Obama leads Clinton by 13 points in polling for South Carolina, where
Clinton campaigned Sunday ahead of the Jan. 26 Democratic primary there. The
African American vote is a 50 percent majority of the Democratic vote in the
Palmetto State. After Clinton's original comments, House Majority Whip
James Clyburn, the South Carolina representative who is the third-ranking
Democrat and the top African American in the House, admonished all the
candidates to choose their words carefully when talking about the fights of
the 1960s.
Following her appearance bashing Obama on Sunday, Clinton went to church,
and praised him repeatedly as a barrier breaker. She also credited her own
efforts for breaking through the glass ceiling that had prevented other
women from becoming serious contenders for the U.S. presidency.
"For many of us, this place is a refuge, sanctuary from the storms that
buffet us," Clinton told the congregation at the Northminster Presbyterian
Church in Columbia, S.C.
"In the noise (of the campaign), we stand at a historic moment worthy of
celebration. Many of our grandparents never thought we'd see the day when an
African American and a woman were competing for the presidency. . I'm so
proud of my party, country, Senator Barack Obama. Together we've presented
our cases to the people. . As we prepare to mark Dr. King's birthday, let's
step back and marvel at the place we're in and the progress we've made," she
said.
While the speech was controversy-free, many of the congregants who spoke
with FOX News said that they are still undecided on a candidate. Hoping to
break through that indecision, Clinton got help at her second campaign stop
of the day from Robert Johnson, the billionaire founder of Black
Entertainment Television.
Johnson scolded Obama for allowing people in his campaign to twist Clinton's
words, and said Obama is winning the polling in South Carolina because black
voters are proud in their hearts. But when they think about the choice to be
made, Clinton would be the best president, he said.
Johnson also used another rhetorical device that went badly for the Clinton
campaign - seemingly referencing Obama's past drug use - and compared Obama
to a character in a breakthrough film that brought to the surface the
discussion on interracial relationships.
"To me, as an African American, I am frankly insulted that the Obama
campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and
Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues
when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won't say
he was doing that he said he was doing in his book. . To say these two
people would denigrate the accomplishments of civil rights marchers, who
bled and some died, and to expect us to now say they are attacking a black
man? I mean, that kind of campaign behavior does not resonate with me, for a
guy who says I want to be a reasonable, likable Sidney Portier (in) "Guess
Who's Coming to Dinner?"
Afterward, Obama supporter and former South Carolina state Rep. "I.S." Leevy
Johnson said it was "offensive" for Senator Clinton to stand silently by
while Robert Johsnon launched a divisive and personal attack against Senator
Obama.
"It's offensive that Senator Clinton literally stood by and said nothing as
another one of her campaign's top supporters launched a personal, divisive
attack on Barack Obama," said Johnson, noting that former Clinton aide Billy
Shaheen was released from the campaign for commenting on Obama's drug use.
"For someone who decries the politics of personal destruction, she should've
immediately denounced these attacks on the spot."
But Robert Johnson responded by issuing a statement saying it was flat wrong
to suggest he was referring to Obama's drug use.
"My comments today were referring to Barack Obama's time spent as a
community organizer, and nothing else. Any other suggestion is simply
irresponsible and incorrect," he said.
While Clinton attended a Presbyterian church before her rally with Johnson,
John Edwards attended Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter, S.C.
There, he celebrated with the predominantly African American congregation
the 24th anniversary of Rev. James Bassingame's service as pastor there.
Edwards, who was born in Seneca, S.C., the same town as Bassingame, said
much has changed since the two were boys.
"When we were in Seneca, we weren't allowed to go to school together," the
54-year-old candidate said, adding that "as someone who grew up in the
segregated South, I feel an enormous amount of pride when I see the success
that Senator Barack Obama is having in this campaign.
"And some days, I need to be honest, I wish he were having a little less
success," he said to laughter.
Edwards, who has been arguing the same message as Obama - one of change over
experience - said he too was "troubled" by Clinton's remarks.
"I'm going to say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real
change came not through the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, but through a
Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that. Those who believe
that real change starts with Washington politicians have been in Washington
too long and are living in a fairytale. Real change has never started in
Washington. Real change came from those who fought in the trenches . those
who shed their blood, sweat, and tears . and those who suffered broken
bones," Edwards said.
