Multiple mea culpas for Clinton
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.
An unusually contrite Hillary Clinton apologized Wednesday night to leaders of 200 black community newspapers for any offense caused by her husband's comments comparing Barack Obama's victory in the South Carolina primary to Jesse Jackson's in 1984 and 1988 -- remarks widely criticized as belittling Obama's accomplishments.
Clinton told the National Newspaper Publishers Association that "I certainly do repudiate it and I regret deeply" remarks by Geraldine Ferraro, who caused an uproar by suggesting that Obama would not be where he is in the Democratic presidential race if he were a white man or a woman of any color. Ferraro, the first woman on a major party presidential ticket when she was the 1984 vice presidential nominee, stepped down from Clinton's national finance committee on Wednesday, but not before angrily accusing the Obama campaign of calling her racist.
And Clinton said she was sorry, on behalf of the entire federal government, for the mishandling of Hurricane Katrina. "I've said it publicly, and I say it privately: I apologize, and I am embarrassed that our government so mistreated our fellow citizens ... It was a national disgrace," she said, according to the Associated Press account of the meeting in Washington.
The black community newspapers are influential among African-American voters, a core constituency in the Democratic Party. Clinton enjoyed strong support from black voters in early polls last year, but after Obama won the Iowa caucuses in January and emerged as a serious contender, the vast majority of African-American voters have supported Obama in primaries and caucuses. In Mississippi on Tuesday, more than 90 percent voted for him, according to exit polls.
More great foresight, control, and leadership from the experience candidate. I wonder what she'll have to apologize for if she's at the helm. Er, wait, she wouldn't--the election would be over.
Change we can believe in!
Is the evident lack of widespread incredulity at Barack Obama's ridiculous claim of being "change we can believe in" not indicative of poor judgment among a large segment of America’s Democratic voters? While some Democrats may wish to ignore the fact that Obama is a political neophyte, who has spent fully half of the first half of his first term in the Senate running for the Presidency, by doing they may foist another amateur on the nation. This would be especially bizarre coming from the Left, after eight years of slamming Bush for being ill-equipped for the Presidency. In the wake of Bush's ineptitude America needs the competency that comes from experience. That is where our nation should find its “hope”. Anyway, far from the transformational figure he conjures, Obama has revealed himself to be an all-too-familiar breed of political animal while on the campaign trail.
The most disconcerting aspect of this has been the sophisticated race-baiting Obama has engaged in since January, when he unreasonably criticized Clinton's innocuous LBJ/MLK comment. The “Afro-Saxon” candidate correctly gambled that he is just black enough to get away with it unchallenged. Now the Democratic Party is threatened with coming apart over the divisions this contest for the nomination has exacerbated. Forget health-care reform or Iraq: race and gender are the defining and most troublesome issues of this campaign. Both candidates are reluctant to directly confront the subjects and the pusillanimity of the media and Party establishment intensifies their aversion. Yet by speaking surreptitiously to the issue of race, Obama has proven himself to be a great and shameless manipulator. He has underhandedly used racial politics and expectations of prejudice in a pandering fashion to indirectly attack his opponent. Geraldine Ferraro was exactly right about the otherwise unremarkable soothsayer from Chicago; feigned outrage to deflect the public from the merit of her observations (among many other valid criticisms) via appeals to alleged racial “insensitivity” demonstrate Obama’s cynical methods. In this context it should be noted that Obama has not condemned the plainly misogynistic “Billary” aspersions regularly directed at his opponent. This, very likely (and however counter-intuitively), is because as a mixed-race man misogyny and racial prejudice both work in his favor. Obama can essentially have it both ways, hypocritically ignoring the vicious chauvinism of his opponent’s enemies while inaccurately attributing any criticisms directed at him to racial prejudice in order to “rise above” such alleged abuse. It isn’t ironic then that if he gets the nomination this year it will be for winning the votes of upper middle-class, educated whites who don’t care about his race along with the votes of blacks, who, caring about little else, have voted for him as a block. Whence then, the racism in this race?
The freshman Senator from Illinois would have done better for the Party and America by waiting to run for the Presidency in 2016. Neither the fact that he has support or that money is in ample supply can diminish what a charlatan he is for running now with no record to stand on. Rather, his decision to do so chiefly serves to expose his conceited drive for power and highlights what a conventional politician he actually is. Like it or not the Democrats need a candidate of Hillary’s caliber. America would be inestimably better off with her, too. Better one who is smart and experienced in the White House than yet another charismatic fraud. Whatever her faults Hillary, at the very least, is all that for which she stands. To Obama’s glib “yes we can”, will Democrats be judicious enough to answer “But we won’t”? We will find out this summer. Whither America if misplaced hope, misogyny and racial posturing prevail over reason?
So who cares what their stupid aides say -- let's hear what the CANDIDATES say -- an with specificity and detail ! The Presidency is so important a position that every minute candidates speak should be rich in important information about their core beliefs -- in detail -- and their ways of approaching problem-solving --in detail -- and about how they will coalesce a hyperpartisan congress -- and they should say that in detail.
But we get nothing but vague platitudes about "change" and "experience". How said the media are complicit in this theft of information from the public.
Not very intelligent. What are African-Africans? What did Bill Clinton say exactly? Not very informative either. Get on the ball!
Can't we at least pretend to believe "We are all created equal?"
White middle class Obama supporter.
So, has she publicly apologized to Barack-a full apology?
Wasn't Hillary an influential part of the government, during and after Katrina? There is only one thing Hillary cares about-herself. The Hispanic/Latino/Mexican peoples should read the history of the Clinton administration dumping of the black community when their race for the White House was challenged.
Remember the only reason!! she was apologizing was because the campaign told her to,not because that's how she really feels!.It's another tactic to snowball voters....
Looks like clinton is now cadging for votes from african-american population. If there was a new synonym coined for stooping low it would be clinton. they tried to play the 'white' card trick seeing this misfire(South carolina), tried obama as VP , and now this!! this is exactly why obama insists we should move away from old style politics. i am not american but ferverently wish i was so i could vote for obama and see clinton lose!
Since when is it a crime to speak the truth?? And like it or not, the race card is being and will continue to be played to the very end, by both white and blacks.
Simply Amazing! Every word uttered and every move made by Hillary is political and she will not stop at anything to get a vote. It will be amazing if anyone, of any race, creed, ethnicity or gender takes this as a sincere or genuine sentiment.
How condesending can she get? Black editors are neither ignorant or stupid. Apologizing for the treatment of Katrina victims. The Lousiana and New Orleans governments collapsed....hard for the feds to plan for that. The 'People" black and white in Mississippi and Alabama did get relief....under terrible circumstances...because their state and local officials were competent.
When Chris Matthews said Clinton wouldn't be where she is today were it not for her husband's filandering he was pressured to apologize. I don't see any difference in having Ferraro apologize for her remark.
good-bye hillary - good riddance
CLINTON IS A RACIST - IT SHOWS SHAPLY NOW - HUSBAND & FRIENDS/ADVISORS. YOU CAN TELL ALOT ABOUT A PERSON BY THE PEOPLE WHO SUROUND THAT PERSON. BIRD OF A FEATHER....
The only person running or involved in the campain for Dem. Pres. that is a racist is Obama. HE is the only one STILL spouting racism. Everyone else is talking about the issues and how hey will make a great Pres and he is sitting in his little cornor crying because someone said that he is where he is today do to his color, and you know what....IT IS TRUE. everyone is going to be afraid to say the word black for the next 9 years if he is the Pres. as far as i am concerned the next time that someone says that word white to me i am going to call them a racist and demand that they quit their job and make a public apology.
Let's see....the comments in South Carolina were months ago, Katrina was years ago....and NOW she is apologizing. Hmm, does that sound regretful or political given she desperate current position.
Are African-Africans allowed to vote?
I don't think she is sincere; It's another Clinton ploy to attract voters after her failed campaign strategy. They thought they got all big fish in their pocket. They have big name endorsements!
Hilary is playing with campaign psychology of the voters.
Clinton thinks everyone is stupid " but her".
I'm so sick and tired of her and the election is not even here yet.
I'm a life-long Democrat and she is the worst thing that has happened t our party.
She does not bring people together she divides them. She lies, she covers-up, she pulls dirty tricks, she breaks laws. I wish she would just take all her money and go away.
To think that this woman would be president of our country is just crazy. Look what happens in New York when you elect someone like Spitzer. Well Hillary Clinton is 10,000 time worse than him.
Black and white, men and women voters should put the right person in the white house....
Political Corruption has hit an all time high in our country, we need to get rid of the Clintons and bring back what the Democratic Party used to stend for.
Its OK skating the issues and the past in order to do or say anything to get elected but sometimes the ice gets real thin.
America is a raceless society and no individual should take advantage because it will lead you nowhere. I am surprised that even the most respectable personalities in the World like Clinton can make such an embarrassing statement not when the wife is campaigning. If they thought this would work for them then they are doomed, let all Americans come out and prove that racist ploys belonged in 18th century. This is a reason enough for the population to vote for change.
"I want to put that in context. You know I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive, We can be proud of both Jesse Jackson and Senator Obama" - is not an apology.
"obviously she doesn't speak for the campaign" is not an apology.
especially when paired with "i'm sorry our government is so evil". what does that say about her?
The media should stop putting words in her mouth.
Hilary,
If your stupid husbands remarks really bothered you why did you wait so long to apoligize...maybe it was because Obama got what, 90% of the Mississippi black vote and now your really getting worried? And why didn't you "repudiate" and "regret deeply" remarks by your racist friend Geraldine Ferraro when she made them and not a week later?
You and Bill are two of a kind willing to do anything, say anything and kiss whomevers ass you have to inorder to regain the White House. Why don't you show some class and drop out of the race which must be obvious even to you that you cannot win.
Your true character will come out after you lose the nomination and leave your husband because he will no longer be of any use to you...I'm guessing by the end of 2009.
Oh Lord. I know it's early, I know most of this will be forgotten by the time the Dems officially have their nominee, whoever it ends up being... but why do I get the feeling that the Democrats are already doing their best to shoot themselves in the foot? We're coming off one of the most inept presidential administrations in any linving person's lifetime which happened to be led by a Republican, as well as a scandal-riddled GOP congress that got ridden out of town on a rail.
This election is their to lose, and they seem to be trying their hardest to do just that... by the time these two get done with each other, the Republicans will have to deal with either an inexperienced man who was given his status solely because of his race, or a racist, establishment-backing woman who was given her status merely because of her connections (and, of course, her sex... but don't tell Ms. Ferraro).
Hell, I'm a Democrat, and if McCain didn't sound so disturbing or look like a skeleton draped in skin, I'd consider voting for him instead of whichever idiot we put forward.
I understand apologizing for her husband 's and Ferraro's comments, but to bring up Katrina seems to be shining a spotlight on the issue. Oh yeah, Hillary, you WERE a part of government when that happened. So I can pin responsibility for that fiasco on you too? Great, thanks for letting us know.
GObama '08!!
As a minority member myslef, I don't understand why certain people are so easily offended. Clinton and Ferraro were telling truth, but some people are scared of truth.
Obama does benefit from his skin color and he certainly should be proud of that.
Do you really think that by saying : "I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive. We can be proud of both Jesse Jackson and Senator Obama." she was indulging in a mea culpa for her husband's comments? On the contrary, I think they eerily echo exactly what he said -- in effect putting both Jesse Jackson's and Barack Obama's campaign in the same trashbin of history with the statement: "well, Jesse Jackson won South Carolin, too, in 1984."
How does it feel to be the victim of political correctness Hillary? You deserve all of it.
Correction:
After Obama won the Iowa caucuses...and after the Clinton campaign marginalized Obama as appealing only to the ever-unimportant Black voters...the vast majority of African-American voters have supported Obama.
You have conveniently omitted one step in the development of the story:
After Obama won the Iowa caucuses and blacks began to get excited about his candidacy, and when the polls were predicting he would get a huge black vote in South carolina, the Clintons decided to marginalize him him as 'the black candidate' and began their campaign to diminish him.
All this while Barack attends a church whose pastor says God Damn America. Time for Mr. Smith to go to Washigton.
The clintons are like plantation owers,they pat the blacks on the head until they
get what they want.Then they go about thier business like they don`t exist.
The mishandling of Katrina STILL IS a National Disgrace. Many parts of New Orleans are still sitting and rotting. Don't let this continue!
What no tears along with the apology? Billary cannot be trusted ever. they will appear contrite only when it is to their political advantage. I give her credit for figuring out that she was burining a necessary bridge. Too little too late. First she tries to divide the latinos and the african-americans and now she attempts to drive a wedge between whites and african-americans all the while attempting to look innocent. Your foul kitchen sink strategy is in the light of day now madam queen of all your survey and it is not doing anything but bringing down your party and your personal reputation. The high road is probably not on the Clinton GPS system at all. Her vote for the war will not be forgiven by me a mother who lost her son in Tikrit Iraq. His life and those of his comrades in arms lost for what is now obvious was no ggod reason and she does not aplologize for the lack of judgment. Appearing tough now just looks dumb.
BARACK AND ROLL IN 2008.
Hillary Clinton is beginning - sadly - to remind of a fighter who keeps hitting his opponent below the belt, then, when reprimanded, raises his gloves, says he's sorry, and immediately aims for the groin again, with repeated apologies to follow every damaging and vicious blow below the belt. As a lifelong Democrat and previous supporter of Hillary and Bill, I am now prepared to vote for John McCain if she somehow manages to wrest the nomination from Obama. And if she raises the race issue just before the Pennsylvania primary again, where race seems to be an issue, I think the Democratic party should severely reprimand her for the kind of tactics that in the past we've only seen from the likes of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove.
Of course, Geraldine Ferraro merely spoke the truth (albeit an inconvenient one).
Hillary's apology comes at a politically expediant time for her, not when it was due. Also, in her apology, she is still trying to put Jessie Jackson and Barack Obama into the same category -sorry Hillary, I just do not see the similarity, perhaps you could clarify? Always with plausible deniability...
I find that curios, Shouldn't she first apologize to Barak Obama? Instead, she chose to apologize to blacks as a group when insults were thrown to Obama? Divisive? SURE. Trust worthy? NO!
Madeline Albright when asked about the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children because of USA sanctions said she thought it was worth the price. Does Clinton agree with her advisor?
If you don't vote for Obama you are racist. If you don't vote for Hillary you are sexist. Can it just be over? PLEASE? I don't care any more.
I get so sick of both sides accusing the other of being worst than they are. They are proving that politics is the best of two evils.
Scandals abound.... We continue to vote for these people when honest, hard working, americans like Ron Paul are constantly ignored by the main stream media.
Nagle should apologize for the handling of N.O.
Most of the people who got stuck in Katrina are those who expect the government to provide from cradle to grave and do little to help themselves. Never heard Florida whine about it like this.
Ferraro is correct is her assessment. Obama is getting treated with kid gloves because any criticism of him is viewed as racist. He hasn't accomplished a thing..never voted yes or no on important bills.
Oh, he is good...just like a snake oil saleman. Sell snow to Eskimos but will he do?
GIVE IT UP ALREADY! You are embarassing yourself and your supporters.
But she never asked Ferraro to resign.
Why she apologizes to African Americans alone? She sould apologize to the rest of the society too. The offensive comments affect all, who are offended by uncalled for remarks.
Thus, Senator Clinton's apology sounds like mending the fence with African Americans for November elections if she becomes the nominee.
Hillary cannot win the general election anymore. I will not be voting for her if she steals this nomination, and I believe many other Obama supporters are feeling the same way after the last few weeks.
Life-long democrat and Obama supporter.
What an eye opener this primary has been. I liked the Clintons when Bill was president. Now the name Clinton brings to mind the word "slimmy!
Saying, 'I'm sorry if...' is not an apology, and speaking for the Government is consistent with Clinton's pattern of dragging others into her guilt so as to not look entirely and individually guilty.
Sorry - this is no 'sorry.'
Please fix this error:
"the vast majority of African-African voters have supported Obama in primaries and caucuses."
Thanks
Let's face it and be honest people, Geraldine Ferraro is/was right.
Geraldine Ferraro is not a racist she just plays one on TV, on Radio & in The Press
Those of us who live in urban areas know that racism works both ways. The fact that the black community has turned against Hillary, whose husband once was called the "first black President" due to his support of that comunity . is clear proof of this fact. And it will do the DNC no good in the general election because the large majority of blacks have always supported the Democratic candidate. Incidently, I`m not a Clinton supporter but one who knows enough about Obama, living in Chicago, that I fear for the country if he should be its leader.
Suggest she also apologizes for accepting Wall-Mart benefits and lobbyists' money, supporting the Irak war, rendition (invented when the Clintons were at the White House), not preventing 9/11, a nasty campaign against her opponent, lies about her role in Ireland etc..., other lies, not disclosing her tax returns, the fact that Arkansas is one of the three most racially divided States in the US, suggesting that Obama is not ready to be Commander-in-chief then suggesting she might invite him to be her Vice-President, implying that Obama might be a Muslim after all (then what ?), embarrassing the Canadian government with a NAFTA story which eventually shows that HER people did contact the Canadians to reassure them about NAFTA, Whitewater, ...
Should I continue ?
Abroad they laught about her!
How about apologizing for the racist "3 a.m." ad?
Prof. Orlando Patterson wrote an on-point Op-Ed regarding that ad that everyone should read. Here it is for those who have not. Think about it long and hard ...
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March 11, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
The Red Phone in Black and White
By ORLANDO PATTERSON
Cambridge, Mass.
ON first watching Hillary Clinton’s recent “It’s 3 a.m.” advertisement, I was left with an uneasy feeling that something was not quite right — something that went beyond my disappointment that she had decided to go negative. Repeated watching of the ad on YouTube increased my unease. I realized that I had only too often in my study of America’s racial history seen images much like these, and the sentiments to which they allude.
I am not referring to the fact that the ad is unoriginal; as several others have noted, it mimics a similar ad made for Walter Mondale in his 1984 campaign for the Democratic nomination. What bothers me is the difference between this and the Mondale ad. The Mondale ad directly and unequivocally played on the issue of experience. The danger was that the red telephone might be answered by someone who was “unsure, unsteady, untested.” Why do I believe this? Because the phone and Mr. Mondale are the only images in the ad. Fair game in the normal politics of fear.
Not so this Clinton ad. To be sure, it states that something is “happening in the world” — although it never says what this is — and that Mrs. Clinton is better able to handle such danger because of her experience with foreign leaders. But every ad-maker, like every social linguist, knows that words are often the least important aspect of a message and are easily muted by powerful images.
I have spent my life studying the pictures and symbols of racism and slavery, and when I saw the Clinton ad’s central image — innocent sleeping children and a mother in the middle of the night at risk of mortal danger — it brought to my mind scenes from the past. I couldn’t help but think of D. W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation,” the racist movie epic that helped revive the Ku Klux Klan, with its portrayal of black men lurking in the bushes around white society. The danger implicit in the phone ad — as I see it — is that the person answering the phone might be a black man, someone who could not be trusted to protect us from this threat.
The ad could easily have removed its racist sub-message by including images of a black child, mother or father — or by stating that the danger was external terrorism. Instead, the child on whom the camera first focuses is blond. Two other sleeping children, presumably in another bed, are not blond, but they are dimly lighted, leaving them ambiguous. Still it is obvious that they are not black — both, in fact, seem vaguely Latino.
Finally, Hillary Clinton appears, wearing a business suit at 3 a.m., answering the phone. The message: our loved ones are in grave danger and only Mrs. Clinton can save them. An Obama presidency would be dangerous — and not just because of his lack of experience. In my reading, the ad, in the insidious language of symbolism, says that Mr. Obama is himself the danger, the outsider within.
Did the message get through? Well, consider this: people who voted early went overwhelmingly for Mr. Obama; those who made up their minds during the three days after the ad was broadcast voted heavily for Mrs. Clinton.
For more than a century, American politicians have played on racial fears to divide the electorate and mobilize xenophobic parties. Blacks have been the “domestic enemy,” the eternal outsider within, who could always inspire unity among “we whites.” Richard Nixon’s Southern strategy was built on this premise, using coded language — “law and order,” “silent majority” — to destroy the alliance between blacks and white labor that had been the foundation of the Democratic Party, and to bring about the Republican ascendancy of the past several decades. The Willie Horton ad that George H. W. Bush used against Michael Dukakis in 1988 was a crude manifestation of this strategy — as was the racist attack used against John McCain’s daughter, who was adopted from Bangladesh, in the South Carolina Republican primary in 2000.
It is significant that the Clinton campaign used its telephone ad in Texas, where a Fox poll conducted Feb. 26 to 28 showed that whites favored Mr. Obama over Mrs. Clinton 47 percent to 44 percent, and not in Ohio, where she held a comfortable 16-point lead among whites. Exit polls on March 4 showed the ad’s effect in Texas: a 12-point swing to 56 percent of white votes toward Mrs. Clinton. It is striking, too, that during the same weekend the ad was broadcast, Mrs. Clinton refused to state unambiguously that Mr. Obama is a Christian and has never been a Muslim.
It is possible that what I saw in the ad is different from what Mrs. Clinton and her operatives saw and intended. But as I watched it again and again I could not help but think of the sorry pass to which we may have come — that someone could be trading on the darkened memories of a twisted past that Mr. Obama has struggled to transcend.
Orlando Patterson is a professor of sociology at Harvard and the author of “The Ordeal of Integration: Progress and Resentment in America’s ‘Racial’ Crisis.”
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Hillary is kissing up to the African American community. She should have apologized to the AA months ago when Bill degraded Senator Obama!! She is apologizing months later to try to pull the AA votes into her column. She now apologizes for Geraldine Ferraro's racist comments; again, she should have "denounced and rejected" her and her comments at the time she made them. Hillary might have sounded contrite but, rest assured, she is only doing it for her political gain. I am so ashamed of Hillary, she keeps on giving the gentler gender a bad name. But then, there's nothing "gentle" about Hillary.
Senator Obama has gotten to where he is at because of his hard work and dedication, he has reached his political success on his own merit.
Hillary has ridden her husband's coat tails to where she is at. She is NOT a self-made woman. Heck she even uses Bill's Presidential experiences as her own. The way she talks, you would think she was the President instead of Bill. She is not Presidential material. If she cannot manage a 700-person, $170 million budget, how in the world does she think she can manage the country with much more complex and immediate issues? Oh, yes, that's right, she's got Bill to do it for her.
I want a President of good character, honor, integrity, honesty, stability, great leadership and managerial skills. I want a President who believes in "a government by the people, for the people, and of the people. I do not want a President who tells us what she thinks we want to hear, I do not want a President who lies to us - and Hillary has been doing plenty of that. She has NO credability and is sorely lacking in the above characteristics. I want a President I can trust!
Senator Obama, so far, has done a great job of overcoming the "MIghty Clintonian Political Machine. Anyone who can do that gets my vote!!
Hillary is just spinning again. Not one shred of honesty in her remarks.
I only wonder if Senator Clinton's remorse for the government response during Katrina includes the many private home owners deprived of their private firearms by the government in the midst of dangerous riots. If so, I'd appreciate her saying so. So likely would the elderly black lady knocked down by and disarmed by Feds.
Despite the fact that Geraldine Ferraro did not intend her comment to be "racist", the effect on the voting public results in another stone to throw at Barack Obama. I believe that her comment was just a realistic observation but revealed her pain as being rejected as the first woman candidate for vice president. The reality is that there exists an extreme discrimination against both women and blacks in this culture. Both candidates have positive attributes to contribute, however voting for or against one or the other just because of gender or race is a grave mistake. The issues in this election are too important to allow this denegration into discrimination. The Democratic party has all too often allowed salient issues to divide and result in loss of an election. One or the other should step down at the appropriate time and work for true unity based on principles. Thank you!
And I don’t suppose that Hillary understands that by apologizing to a “black audience” she will be perceived as pandering to the African American community, which in some people’s minds will only underscore Ferraro’s comments. Why couldn’t’ she have made her comments while campaigning to a larger mixed audience in Pennsylvania, that would have appeared more sincere, or could it be that she did not want to be perceived by her white supporters as making concessions to the black community..
By speaking to a specific audience she has provided additional fodder to those who already agree with Ferraro’s despicable remarks and also provided me with an additional reason I would never in good conscience vote for anyone as calculating as Hillary Clinton..
How are we as a nation going to get back where we should be when our Candidates for Commander In Chief refuse to take responsibility for anything
but Master the Art of Finger pointing without any remedy but derision?
Is Hillary apologizing because people in New Orleans were too lazy or for whatever reason didn't evacuate in the face of a hurricane for which they had ample warning of? I am tired of the Clintons running around the world apologizing for America. When did we become so weak that a "sorry" becomes a "get out of hotwater card"?
I certainly find humor in the continuous "oops I'm sorry..." coming out of the Clinton campaign on a regular basis. What I find totally unacceptable is the fact that the Clinton campaign people make the racial statements in the first place, based upon political reasoning that lies somewhere BETWEEN truth and a "fairy tale". The result is that I am then asked to vote for the candidate who, through the apology for whoever told the tale, infers that she is the victim since she is not the one who initially made the statement(s). I am an intelligent person so my decision is easy because I know the Clinton team is clutching at straws. However, for those who do not make the connection between racial slurs, spin amd self-victimization, now those people have and onerous decision to make.
Too little, too late. You've run your campaign in a dishonest and repugnant manner. You have not earned the privilege to be the Democratic nominee.
Barack will be our president, thank God! We need this man.
When will she give it up? She's trying to destroy and divide her own party.
She has been called "a good VP for McCain", which speaks volumes.
Wear your vote, check out my awesome Obama tees at barackstar08.com!
Acts of Contrition often follow bad breaks or bad news.In Hillary's case she is beginning to see the handwriting on the wall and want's to salvage whatever she can for future endeavors!
So now Senator Clinton has decided to pander to African American voters by pretending to care? I hope people are not fooled. She intentionally used her campaign surrogates over the past several months to play the race card in an effort to solidify her white constituency, and she now repudiates those comments and pretends she cares about Katrina victims in an effort to swing some black support her way. Every move, by her or her surrogates, is calculated for maximum political advantage. That was the key to the Clinton's success all along. With Hillary in particular, after nearly 20 years in the public eye, I have still not been able to discern what she might really believe in, other than her own ambitions.
We all know Senator Clinton would not be where she is if she were a man or a black woman. The people are caught up in the concept and do not call me a sexist for telling the truth. What would Senator Clinton say if, oh, Rev. Jesse Jackson made that statement? White people would be screaming that Jackson played the race card. Funny is it not, Ferraro insults millions of white people who voted for Senator Obama, oh, let us vote for the black guy, a novelty and the press turns it around and says Senator Obama is playing the race card. What kind of adults do we have in this country? Clinton should have denounced Ferraro immediately the way she denounced Powers. Ferraro it is "a slip of the tongue"; Powers it is "fire her". There is a double standard going on. From Clintons campaign.
Apology accepted.
Now step aside before you do any more damage to the party and the nominating process.
When will Obama be apologizing to the Clinton for his preacher's racist, over-the-top, x-rated comments (from the pulpit no less)?
Have ya'll seen that video... This is a church? This is Obama's religion? This is the man that Obama based his "Audacity of Hope" book on? This is the man who married the Oabmas? This is the man who baptized the Obama children?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM
Those who deny a thing most vehemently, are usually trying to hide the truth, Mizz Ferraro.
And apologies well after the fact are too little, too late, Hillary.
As a person that helped grass root Deval Patrick into office, I believe this type of campaigning does work. As for Clinton and Obama, the deeper issue for all Americans is female gender bias running the course of history, and not the color of ones skin.
What a disgusting political campaign! She makes Karl Rove proud. She is trying to tell him that he is an amateur.
How generous of her! Apologizing for someone else in order to appear contrite.
Just more pandering by another typical pol. Nothing special about her
I have a hard time in believing in the sincerity if anything Hillary says. Her surrogates publicly deliver her campaigns latest message critical of her opponent. When the message creates a firestorm, the messenger is promptly denounced. Her apologies ring hollow. She is simply pandering. Typical traditional Clinton campaign tactics.
It is too little too LATE!
http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://OsiSpeaks.org
Hillary,s apology comes way to late for me to take her serious. It appears to me
that she wants our vote now so she feel like it was necessary. She said, when it happened, that a spouse would support the other and she said it with the same expression that she now apologize with. She is not serious. I don't accept it, I refuse to be used by her devious tactics.
Clinton's do not really apologize. Behind every public speech they have a game plan -- if anyone thinks it is genuine they are being fooled once again!
She might as well have apologized for being white while she was at it.
Mrs. Clinton regrets and repudiates the remarks made by her spouse and by Geraldine Ferrara. But going back to the debate where she quibbled over Obama's wording about "denouncing Farrakhan's support," does she also REJECT it? Odd that she didn't parse the language so explicitly since she was such a stickler for the need to "reject" the unsought support when she thought she had an advantage in this debate.
Boy Clintons will even bow to you for some votes at this stage. The pinnacle of vulgarity. Sure they have no sense of integrity!! Look at Hillary filled with personal ambition, greed. Sure she and her husband are made for each other.
Really it’s high time we need well balanced, well read, well opined leaders. Leaders with right attitude, to who people will look up to. Leaders who have guts to stand up to say what they feel are right for the country.
When we will be tired of apologizing?
Everything to the Black community is racist to them and they are the biggist cuplrits of racism.
I keep waiting for the Whites to get tired of walking on eggs and of this constant foolishness.
This campaign is nothing in comparison to those in the past.
THIS IS NO LESS IGNORANT THAN PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYING "MOST WHITE PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE THIS COMFORTABLE IN A BLACK CHURCH."
I don't know about you, but this quote from Senator Clinton, last night, does not sound contrite to me (in response to a question about whether she could regain the confidence of the African American community after Bill Clinton's remarks in South Carolina):
"I am sorry is anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive. We can be proud of both Jesse Jackson and Senator Obams."
The first paragraph states that she was going to apologize for her "husbands" comments. Then the article goes into how Geraldine Ferraro made the comments. Poorly written article unless we can believe that Hillary and Geraldine are married. While we are at it, why do we continually have to apologize to some group for absolutely "nothing". Making the statements that Ferraro made is nothing to apologize for. This mentality of feigning hurt feelings over a third party, personal observation, is nonsense. It is getting boring and is being used to shut down personal opinion. If Ferraro, or anyone else, compares Obama to Jackson, what is the harm? If their feelings get hurt, perhaps they should get out of the political arena.
It is time for Mrs. Clinton to acknowledge the obvious and abandon her campaign and support Barack Obama in every way possible lest we wind up with George Bush on steroids aka John Mc cain.
I totally agree with Geraldine Ferraro. Obama's position has been built on the race card, first by his supporters and also by those who are afraid of the "racist" label on any negative comment on him. This is shameful for America!
I just don't want to hear it from her or her camp ... she has been involved in one too many underhanded tricks this campaign. Even her apologies seem to be strategic and insincere.
Yes, she regrets and apologizes; but never-the-less this is all too little and definitely too late! The handwriting is already on the wall, and with the amount of racist comments and campaigning from the Clinton camp...no one can truly believe that NONE of this was un-planned, that this ALL was unintentionally on all THEIR parts!
This whole race uproar is another Clinton ploy to keep stirring it up and keeping it before the public eye. Clintons will do anything, say anything to try and win.
Im sorry but apologizing for Katrina? When we people actually educate themselves . The federal government is not responsible for what happened with Katrina. That was entirely the fault of the local governments. It is not the federal governments job to be everything to everyone. The primary responsibility was first with the individuals to take care of themselves. Next it was local governments to provide help to those that could not help themselves. The local govt should have requested support from the state if needed. Then, only if the state requested help, which they did not til after the fact, does the federal government get involved. This is just ridiculous pandering by Clinton, in blantant attempt to seem like she actually cares about african-americans.
I think Foon Rhee meant to be sarcastic with the "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa, but as an older Catholic voter who is observing the penitential season of lent, some mea culpas on the part of press including Foon Rhee wouldn't hurt. Wipe your snotty nose and get down on your knees and hope the Almighty hears you!
She has no control over her campaign. How is she supposed to lead the country - issue apologies? At one point I thought a Obama/Clinton ticket would be the way to go. Now I want to keep her away entirely.
Hillary will do or say anything to retain the black vote in the general election The problem is to win the nomination, she will have to convince the super delegates that she can win the white vote in the general election and Obama can't. Sadly, there is evidence this is true, but how is she going to sell this to blacks and other Obama supporters if she is nominated? In other words, she is going to have to play the "race card" to win he party's endorsement. If that is what it takes, how is she ever going to explain this not just to blacks, but Obama supporters. She and the Democrat party have made a total mess of this campaign.
How about we worry about something REAL. Like voter suppression, instead of this petty, stupid drama. Do Carter and Gore need to nead down to florida?
----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear President Carter and Vice President Gore:
This following is an email I sent to the DNC. I sincerely urge each of you would get involved in this situation.
[QUOTE]If the democratic party doesn’t understand why votes count, in Florida no less, then we are truly, truly lost. Do we need Jimmy Carter to come and oversee elections in THIS country now? What the hell!?!
I don’t care what Florida’s republican politicians did to tick off the DNC. I don't care what any politicians did to tick off the DNC. Voters deserve to have their votes counted. Voters in Florida went out in record numbers and VOTED in good faith. Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. And what a pathetic way to rationalize giving Obama an advantage - not counting votes in Florida. Where have I heard this before?!?
This is voter suppression, and I don't care who is suppressing it or what their excuses are - IT IS WRONG, and we all know it.
I wish Al Gore would jump in and take charge of this issue. He may be the only person with the credibility and neutrality to resolve this situation.
Besides, do you think voters in Florida and Michigan are going to be fine with being disenfranchised and vote for either democrat in November? Can we PLEASE stop shooting ourselves in the foot and savaging our own party and principles?!?
When democrats start playing fast and loose with votes so openly, something has gone very wrong. I think Howard Dean is being a complete ass about this. He should be more concerned with making sure voters are heard than shutting them out with stupid gamesmanship and "rules." It's NOT the voters fault all this BS went down the way it did. They showed up in good faith and VOTED.
I’m starting to think McCain deserves to win if Democrats are this hopelessly stupid and lost.
Respectfully,
Teri B . . .[/QUOTE]
[B]You can email Carter and Gore at: [email]carterweb@emory.edu[/email] and [email]info@carthagegroup.com[/email] [/B]
No matter which side you're on in the battle, if you're a Democrat, you know better than this, because we know what it's like to suffer because votes were suppressed and dirty-butterfly-ballot-tricks were used.
Seriously, have we completely lost our souls?
Obama is Black and what she said is correct. If he were a white male or a female of any background or race he would have much stronger scrutiny. Stop the race card playing and get him to actually answer a question with a solution rather than "we want change"............yes we want change.........Bush brought change too............for the WORSE!
The way an informed citizen knows when a clinton is lieing is when they see their lips moving. All self centered self serving individuals have developed the art "of how can we fool them today" in which they will say as convenceing as humanly possible whatever it takes to gain the support and confidence of any and every person wihtin the sound of their voice. They are master of deceit. The only allegience is to self. Bill Clinton defined himself when given the opportunity to explain to his fellow citizens why he disgraced our Whitehouse and himselft by his outragious behavior of having a young woman, the approximate age of his own daughter perfoom oral sex on him while on her knees between his knees under the presidential desk in our Whitehouse, simply explained his abhorant behavior
by stating "BECAUSE I COULD." The only experience Hillary can in reality claim is
as performing as an "ENABLER" for her sexual predator of vunrable women who
unfortunately fell within his realm. This hopeless pair from Hope, Ark. are
absolutely HOPELSS as members of the human race.
This is disquesting everyone has to apologize but Obama can be a member of a church which spues black segregation , white hate , farakon love ...,he is a member, he chose this church because of this paster, he is what is represented from this pastor...this is lunitic racism and he chose this pastor ,,,,you start apologizing Obama
It should be and will be the African-American community apologizing to Hillary Clinton for abandoning this person of true Loyalty and support to the African-American cause and the Nation. The African-Americans deserted her in droves to back an Arab-American POSER that has (with all his shadowy Arab connections) possible-malicious intent towards the African-American cause, the U.S.A. and the Western world. As a true African-American, I can not name one good thing this POSER has done for ME, my people or my Nation.
Everything that Barack Obama has not done so far but says he wants to do for us can be done from the position of Vice President; it would also allow him an opportunity to demonstrate his Loyalty and Devotion, which is in question, to the African-American community and the NATION as a whole, rather than that sleazy-ball crowd he encircles himself with in Chicago. Yet the Vice Presidency is not within this unvetted man's aspirations. With this said, Why, then, is it so important to him to have complete control of our NUCLEAR WEAPONS and DEFENSE CAPABILITIES?
I, for one, would not sleep as well at night, having risked our NATION'S future so foolishly! Would YOU sleep better than men like Antoin Rezko, NADHMI AUCHI, Osama Bin Laden, knowing that Barack Obama is heading up our DEFENSE?
In Mississippi on Tuesday, more than 90 percent voted for him, according to exit polls. ------------------------------------no country for any men in this race. Woman too?
If not because of the overwhelming support from African Americans, Obama would not have led in delegate counts and won more states. I would call this a an act of perfidy by black America to detach themselves from the Clintons who have done so much for their causes while embrace Obama because he happens to be half-black. What has he done to advance the black cause except to be the first viable black presidential candidate?I don't think Hillary's apology will sway any of this perfidious block of voters as they clearly voted along racial lines. If history is of any lesson, African Americans will find themselves being used as pawns and deserted like garbage by one of the most shameless political opportunists of our time. Obama does have a dream except that it's not the same dream as Dr. Martin Luther King. His dream is to capture the White House by spreading false hope and identity theft (MLK, JFK etc.). He must be very satisfied with his masterful act and mendacity that fooled millions of disgruntled Americans.
If not because of the overwhelming support from African Americans, Obama would not have led in delegate counts and won more states. I would call this a an act of perfidy by black America to detach themselves from the Clintons who have done so much for their causes while embrace Obama because he happens to be half-black. What has he done to advance the black cause except to be the first viable black presidential candidate?I don't think Hillary's apology will sway any of this perfidious block of voters as they clearly voted along racial lines. If history is of any lesson, African Americans will find themselves being used as pawns and deserted like garbage by one of the most shameless political opportunists of our time. Obama does have a dream except that it's not the same dream as Dr. Martin Luther King. His dream is to capture the White House by spreading false hope and identity theft (MLK, JFK etc.). He must be very satisfied with his masterful act and mendacity that fooled millions of disgruntled Americans.
It seems that all of the accomplishments of Obama have been belittled by the Clinton campaign, the blacks, the smaller states, the overall voters of Obama by saying he gives speeches and we'll all come together and a cloud will open up etc., etc. Who will now vote for her should she win the nominee???
isn't it sad that when we have to pick a president of our country we cannot just look at the person and what they stand for and what they will do for our country?
When the political party they represent, or what gender they are, or age or when such issues as race is involved it scues the whole picture.
I have been able to vote for 54 years and always cast my vote whether it be a local election or national but as this year rolls around I can tell you I don't who to vote for because each candidate (and who they bring aboard as the vp) do not seem to have the qualifications I want and after Bush we need someone strong to lead our country.
Clinton's comment is ridiculous
Too late, too self-absorbed, and too ungainly. She who hesitates, fails. She is not contrite, only greedy for support. No way: too much delay!
You know, I am trying to cut through all the media spin, the off-handed comments and the accusations and just focus on two people and their two resumes. Afterall, we are trying to hire someone to be the CEO of our country. Someone with experience, someone with fortitude, intelligence and whom will work really, really hard for every American out there. For anyone to say that race and gender are not factors in this campaign or in the US is to be, well, out of touch. So, that said, how do we look at these two people fairly (without filters for race or gender) and pick the best candidate to beat McCain and win back the White house? Race is a factor, as is evident when prior to Senator Obama's arrival on the scene, African Americans, showed a strong support for Senator Clinton. Then, almost immediately, 80+% of African Americans threw their support behind a candidate with less experience, and did so why? Hmmm. Also, there are many men (and women, oddly enough) who, when asked flat out if they would ever vote for a woman for President, say no. No reason, even if she had a better resume. So, that's gender bias. Ok, that said, we still need to cut through the clutter and the crap being flung by both sides and really figure out who we want to get things right and on track for our country. Just electing someone "likeable" who will "be a uniter not a divider" may just get us what we got last time someone said that (ie - Bush, for all you really young folks) - and is that worth the risk? Only each one of us can answer that for ourselves, after honestly researching the candidates' resumes. This decision and election is too important not to.
I don't buy that she is sincere about this. This is just another attempt by her to get votes, turn around and forget about these people she met. She is now talking about Katrina because she needs black votes. Don't buy it.
If she seeks to reunite the party, this is the tone she will have to strike from this point forward.
Hillary Clinton is a wonderful person. I was googling her name and came across her commencement speech from when she graduated from Wellsley. For those who say riding Bill's coat tails etc....I encourage you to read that. Her positions within that are very similar to what they are today. Hillary will make us proud as President.
THE CLINTONS EXCESSES: THE POLITCS OF RACISM AND THE WAY FORWARD
Retrospectively Iowa was a turning point in the current political dispensation, especially among Democrats and other observers to have seen the emergence of Obama as the win in that caucus. Sequel to this development, there was a remarkable atmosphere of relieve and at the same time exhilaration about the significance of the win and what it might ultimately portend to America and then the world at large.
Well, Obama has gone ahead with the people’s movement for hope and change in winning the whitest and blackest States in the country. On the whole, I can concretely surmise that majority of Americans want to go beyond the nasty and detrimental politics of negativism, character assassination, discrimination of any kind, the inclination to the argument that favors hegemony and finally racism.
There is not doubt about the fact that racism is still in play, however in order to move the country forward, the essential argument should not be about the presence or absence of racism, but what do Americans want done with such a natural habit? Even in our various homes, there is the obvious reality of nepotism by parents towards their children and yet, the families still have to stay together as an entity, defending themselves from themselves and at the same time from external aggressors.
In the Democratic Party nomination process, no any other factions of the presidential candidate team have sort to use divisive and discriminatory tactics the way the Clintons have envisaged and utilized such a nefarious and melancholic tool for political gain.
There tenacity in using racism and other forms of discrimination against Obama have gone mostly unquestioned by the Democratic National Committee, as have been so many other excesses and unrestrained behavior from the Clintons.
Bill and Hilary have relentlessly tried to visual render Obama as black, a minority and even in some cases a nonentity and yet the DNC feel there was no need to call them to order. The idea that the Clintons felt the presidency of the country is their prerogative rather than those of the people of American and furthermore their attitude of taking the people’s mandate for granted and just assuming that they are the best thing that can ever happen to the country, again went unchallenged by the DNC.
All these precedence’s does not reflect the kind of leadership and readiness the Clintons think the American people are going to buy into, and also the DNC cannot continue to watch the situation go out of hand.
I honestly think it is about time, the DNC, Obama, Hilary and Bill Clinton are quickly call to a round table and severely warm and caution never to attempt to divide the country along racial line or foment sentiments that is too retrogressive and does not represent a 21st century kind of politicking. It is not in my place to repeat Hilary’s commonly used words such as “shame on you”, however in a time like this, you are more than tempted to say shame on you the Clintons for perpetuating, encouraging and stimulating the politics of division and exploitation of the American people’s sacredness and inherited heritage.
The best way forward is very obvious, it is not enough for the Clintons to publicly apologize to the African- American community, but this time around they must say what the mean and mean what they say! For once, let them make the people of America to believe in their nationalistic posture, even it meant they are pretending.
In conclusion, we have seen that the people of America are very anxious to leave behind the darkest era in their lives, those periods where slavery abounds, lynching is a common and legal thing to do, and all kinds of discriminatory actions are greatly encouraged and tailored against minorities with the African- American have their share of the pain and depression that comes from it. If as we have so far seen Americans from all kinds of ethnicity and race are voting for Obama and want him to lead, the Clintons must be ready to support such open-mindedness on the part of the people, rather than incites whites against blacks and vice versa.
Thank you.
God bless USA
God bless Obama
Does anyone believe that the Clinton campaign has not engineered this racist innuendo? I live in Tennessee and we have a real appreciation of how the game is played. It is a shame! Keith Olbermann said it well last night; this is political suicide.
Too little too late
First, her husband or a loyal supporter drops a bomb and then Hillary apologizes with well accomplished insincerity. The media covers both the bomb dropping and the mea culpa. This ploy gives the Hillary twice the divisive power. This woman is the Great Divider.
Hillary is being smashed by the MEDIA
Obama and his minister are playing the race card, and nobody does a thing.
All the Media are putting him in the Dem. spot.
I don't understand whay a black person can get away with saying anything they want. What is going on in our America?
They seem to hate America and it's people.
Also I am from Michigan and I have and deserve the right to vote as will as you,
I don't care what anybody says THAT IS MY RIGHT.
STOP PUNISHING THE INNOCENT, AND BLAME THE ONE CAUSEING ALL THE PROBLEM. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
First, her husband or a loyal supporter drops a bomb and then Hillary apologizes with well accomplished insincerity. The media covers both the bomb dropping and the mea culpa. This ploy gives the Hillary twice the divisive power. This woman is the Great Divider.
Hillary Clinton's apology is totally disengenous. The racial comments made by both her husband and Geraldine Farraro were calculated to incite a 'white' backlash against Barack Obama. After they realized that they had 'lost' the African American vote they resorted to tactics that they hoped would alienate white and Hisapnic voters against Senator Obama. Racism is alive and well in America, and unfortunately many American's need only to be coaxed into listening to their inherent tendencies, even though they would claim that they are not bigots, on a subconscious level they are being manipulated by the Clintons who rely on the ignorance of the American public. The Clinton's will do anything to win, even if it means destroying the Democratic party base. They incorrectly believe that after they get what they want, winning the White House, that they can patch things up and repair the damage. This time, if they succeed in stealing the nomination away from Senator Obama, the African American community will not support Hillary Clinton; they will not turn out to vote, or they may even vote for the Republican nominee and Senator McCain will win the election.
There was no reason to apologize. Ferraro said nothing wrong. In fact what she said was right on target. Obama has no qualifications to be in this position today. It's very sad that we can't speak the truth in this country anymore for fear that it "might" offend someone. Get over it!
Ferraro's comments were correct and factual. How can anyone disbelieve those comments, and at the same time, read about the 90-plus percent of black support for Obama. Do they think it is totally because he is the best candidate for the job? i don't believe an apology is necessary, unless it comes from the people who are really being racist by voting solidly for a president without regard to qualifications. Of course, he is very qualified academically, but he lacks experience. He has never served on the armed forces committee, nor has he held any senior positions of real national importance.
I applaud Hillary for apologizing, but she's always been such a supporter of the black community... just because she's running against a black person, all of a sudden any mention of race gets totally blown out of proportion... I wish she didn't have to walk such a razor thin line on the race issue.. it just goes to show that these issues are still incredibly sensitive in America today. I hope the black community remembers how much Bill and Hillary support them.
Maybe she should also apologize for the CONTINUED mistreatment and neglect of Hurricane Katrina survivors.
It ain't over yet.
More pandering...don't believe it...she always "apologizes" after the damage is done...she is just realizing that she NEEDS the AA vote that left her in droves...so NOW she apologizes?!?!?
EVERYTHING Hillary does is to get Hillary elected...