P
PissingOffTheLeft@excite.com
Guest
The Rat race is a mess.
"Racial tensions roil Democratic race"
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7845.html
Comments from the Clintons and Clinton supporters are spurring a
racial backlash.
A series of comments from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, her husband,
and her supporters are spurring a racial backlash and adding a
divisive edge to the presidential primary as the candidates head south
to heavily African-American South Carolina.
The comments, which ranged from the New York senator appearing to
diminish the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights
movement -- an aide later said she misspoke -- to Bill Clinton
dismissing Sen. Barack Obama's image in the media as a "fairy tale" --
generated outrage on black radio, black blogs and cable television.
And now they've drawn the attention of prominent African-American
politicians.
"A cross-section of voters are alarmed at the tenor of some of these
statements," said Obama spokeswoman Candice Tolliver, who said that
Clinton would have to decide whether she owed anyone an apology.
McCain emerges unscathed
Dems offer olive branch to Bush on economic package
Clinton econ plan aimed at struggling Dems
"There's a groundswell of reaction to these comments -- and not just
these latest comments but really a pattern, or a series of comments
that we've heard for several months," she said. "Folks are beginning
to wonder: Is this really an isolated situation or is there something
bigger behind all of this?"
Clinton supporters responded to that suggestion with their own
outrage.
"To say that there is a pattern of racist comments coming out of the
Hillary campaign is ridiculous," said Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
"All of the world knows the commitment of President Clinton and Sen.
Clinton to civil rights issues -- and not only the commitment in terms
of words but in terms of deeds."
Referring to the King quote, Sheila Jackson Lee, another Clinton
supporter, said Clinton was trying to contrast King and Obama, not to
diminish King: "It really is a question of focusing on the suggestion
that you can inspire without deeds -- what is well known to the child
who studies Dr. King in school is that yes, he spoke, but he also
moved people to action."
But other black Clinton supporters found themselves wincing at the
Clintons' words, if not questioning their intent.
A Harlem-based consultant to the Clinton campaign, Bill Lynch, called
the former president's comments "a mistake," and said his own phone
had been ringing with friends around the country voicing their
concern.
"I've been concerned about some of those comments -- and that there
might be a backlash," he said.
Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones, a prominent Obama
supporter, echoed those sentiments.
"It's very unfortunate that the president would make a statement like
that," he said of Bill Clinton's criticism of Obama's experience,
adding that the African-American community had "saved his presidency"
after the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
"They owe the African-American community -- not the reverse," he said.
"Maybe Hillary and Bill should get behind Sen. Barack Obama."
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., through a spokesman, used even stronger
language. "Following Barack Obama's victory in Iowa and historic voter
turnout in New Hampshire, the cynics unfortunately have stepped up
their efforts to decry his uplifting message of hope and fundamental
change. "Regrettably, they have resorted to distasteful and
condescending language that appeals to our fears rather than our
hopes. I sincerely hope that they'll turn away from such reactionary,
disparaging rhetoric.
Many analysts think Clinton won New Hampshire on the back of a
feminist backlash against criticism from her rivals and the media, and
now, after his own defeat, it's Obama's turn. Race is particularly
complicated turf this year, however, in a contest that features two
towering figures who pride themselves for breaking racial barriers in
American politics.
The first is Bill Clinton, sometimes referred to as "the first black
president," who now finds himself on the same uncertain ground as any
other white politician speaking dismissively of an African-American
rival.
He was expected to call into the Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show, which
airs in South Carolina, Friday afternoon, to explain his "fairy tale"
comment.
"Racial tensions roil Democratic race"
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7845.html
Comments from the Clintons and Clinton supporters are spurring a
racial backlash.
A series of comments from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, her husband,
and her supporters are spurring a racial backlash and adding a
divisive edge to the presidential primary as the candidates head south
to heavily African-American South Carolina.
The comments, which ranged from the New York senator appearing to
diminish the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights
movement -- an aide later said she misspoke -- to Bill Clinton
dismissing Sen. Barack Obama's image in the media as a "fairy tale" --
generated outrage on black radio, black blogs and cable television.
And now they've drawn the attention of prominent African-American
politicians.
"A cross-section of voters are alarmed at the tenor of some of these
statements," said Obama spokeswoman Candice Tolliver, who said that
Clinton would have to decide whether she owed anyone an apology.
McCain emerges unscathed
Dems offer olive branch to Bush on economic package
Clinton econ plan aimed at struggling Dems
"There's a groundswell of reaction to these comments -- and not just
these latest comments but really a pattern, or a series of comments
that we've heard for several months," she said. "Folks are beginning
to wonder: Is this really an isolated situation or is there something
bigger behind all of this?"
Clinton supporters responded to that suggestion with their own
outrage.
"To say that there is a pattern of racist comments coming out of the
Hillary campaign is ridiculous," said Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
"All of the world knows the commitment of President Clinton and Sen.
Clinton to civil rights issues -- and not only the commitment in terms
of words but in terms of deeds."
Referring to the King quote, Sheila Jackson Lee, another Clinton
supporter, said Clinton was trying to contrast King and Obama, not to
diminish King: "It really is a question of focusing on the suggestion
that you can inspire without deeds -- what is well known to the child
who studies Dr. King in school is that yes, he spoke, but he also
moved people to action."
But other black Clinton supporters found themselves wincing at the
Clintons' words, if not questioning their intent.
A Harlem-based consultant to the Clinton campaign, Bill Lynch, called
the former president's comments "a mistake," and said his own phone
had been ringing with friends around the country voicing their
concern.
"I've been concerned about some of those comments -- and that there
might be a backlash," he said.
Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones, a prominent Obama
supporter, echoed those sentiments.
"It's very unfortunate that the president would make a statement like
that," he said of Bill Clinton's criticism of Obama's experience,
adding that the African-American community had "saved his presidency"
after the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
"They owe the African-American community -- not the reverse," he said.
"Maybe Hillary and Bill should get behind Sen. Barack Obama."
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., through a spokesman, used even stronger
language. "Following Barack Obama's victory in Iowa and historic voter
turnout in New Hampshire, the cynics unfortunately have stepped up
their efforts to decry his uplifting message of hope and fundamental
change. "Regrettably, they have resorted to distasteful and
condescending language that appeals to our fears rather than our
hopes. I sincerely hope that they'll turn away from such reactionary,
disparaging rhetoric.
Many analysts think Clinton won New Hampshire on the back of a
feminist backlash against criticism from her rivals and the media, and
now, after his own defeat, it's Obama's turn. Race is particularly
complicated turf this year, however, in a contest that features two
towering figures who pride themselves for breaking racial barriers in
American politics.
The first is Bill Clinton, sometimes referred to as "the first black
president," who now finds himself on the same uncertain ground as any
other white politician speaking dismissively of an African-American
rival.
He was expected to call into the Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show, which
airs in South Carolina, Friday afternoon, to explain his "fairy tale"
comment.