Clinton, Obama clash over race issue

[GaryC 7]

LAS VEGAS - Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have become embroiled in racially tinged disputes as large numbers of black voters prepare to get their first say in the Democratic presidential campaign.

The candidates and their surrogates are heating up their rhetoric, and it could prove to be combustible beyond South Carolina's Jan. 26 primary.

Clinton, on defense over comments that she and her husband made regarding Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and Obama's fitness for the White House, tried to turn the tables on her top primary rival. She accused his campaign of looking to score political points by distorting their words.

Hillary Clinton had said King's dream of racial equality was realized only when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, while Bill Clinton said Illinois Sen. Obama was telling a "fairy tale" about his opposition to the Iraq war. Black leaders have criticized their comments, and Obama said Sunday her comment about King was "ill-advised."

"I think it offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King's role in bringing about the Civil Rights Act," he told reporters on a conference call. "She is free to explain that, but the notion that somehow this is our doing is ludicrous."

As evidence the Obama campaign had pushed the story, Clinton advisers pointed to a memo written by an Obama staffer compiling examples of comments by Clinton and her surrogates that could be construed as racially insensitive. The memo later surfaced on some political Web sites.

"This is an unfortunate story line the Obama campaign has pushed very successfully," the former first lady said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "I don't think this campaign is about gender, and I sure hope it's not about race."

Clinton taped the show before appearances in South Carolina, where at least half the primary voters are expected to be black. On Monday, she planned to attend a union event honoring King's legacy in New York City.

But no sooner had Clinton said she hoped the campaign would not be about race than it got even more heated. A prominent black Clinton supporter, Black Entertainment Television founder Bob Johnson, criticized Obama and seemed to refer to his acknowledged teenage drug use while introducing Clinton at her next event.

"To me, as an African-American, I am frankly insulted 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; I won't say what he was doing, but he said it in his book — when they have been involved," Johnson said.

Obama wrote about his youthful drug use — marijuana, alcohol and sometimes cocaine — in his memoir, "Dreams from My Father."

Johnson later said in a statement released by the Clinton campaign that his comments referred to Obama's work as a community organizer in Chicago "and nothing else. Any other suggestion is simply irresponsible and incorrect."

Another Clinton campaign official, Bill Shaheen, resigned last month after suggesting Democrats should be wary of nominating Obama because his past drug use could be used against him in the campaign.

Obama, campaigning in Las Vegas, declined to respond to Johnson.

"I'm not going to spend all my time running down the other candidates, which seems to be what Senator Clinton has been obsessed with for the last month," Obama said.

His strategist, however, didn't spare Johnson or Clinton.

"I don't see why this is so much different from what Billy Shaheen did in New Hampshire," David Axelrod said. "Senator Clinton apologized for that. It's bewildering why, since she was standing there, she had nothing to say about this."

Clinton was not yet on stage when Johnson made his statements and she did not mention them when she emerged.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Obama's wife rose to his defense over Bill Clinton's "fairy tale" comment. Michelle Obama said some blacks might be skeptical that white America will elect her husband, but advised them to look to his win in Iowa.

"Ain't no black people in Iowa," she said during a speech at the Trumpet Awards, an event celebrating black achievement. "Something big, something new is happening. Let's build the future we all know is possible. Let's show our kids that America is ready for Barack Obama right now."

John Edwards, a third candidate in the Democratic primary, waded into the dispute Sunday.

"I must say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real change came not through the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King but through a Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that," Edwards told more than 200 people gathered at a predominantly black Baptist church in Sumter, S.C.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080114/ap_on_.../democrats_race

[MrsBruce5 0]

Hi Gary-

This is completely off the subject, but I was wondering-how's it going with the non-smoking?

I recently quit myself, and was thinking about how you were doing.

It's only been a week, and I feel better already !

Be Well,

Rose

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

I've gone 15 days and tempted myself several times, but never caved. I think I'm going to make it last.

[GaryC 7]

Hi Gary-

This is completely off the subject, but I was wondering-how's it going with the non-smoking?

I recently quit myself, and was thinking about how you were doing.

It's only been a week, and I feel better already !

Be Well,

Rose

I am now totally smoke free. For the first time in 30 years I am free!!!

[chispas 0]

Both Hilary and Obama should leave the race and gender ####### out of this race.

[GaryC 7]

Both Hilary and Obama should leave the race and gender ####### out of this race.

They can't help themselves. It's part of their nature to throw mud. (as it is with almost any politician) When it's just white men going at it they find other things to use as ammo. But this does prove that the dems are not as "open minded" as they make themselves out to be.

[no name 1]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/...e-with-clinton/

----

"How race got into this thing is because Obama said ‘race,’” New York Rep. Charlie Rangel, one of the highest-ranking African-Americans in Congress, said in an interview on NY1.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/...olutely-stupid/

Seems you are a bit behind in your quoting.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Both Hilary and Obama should leave the race and gender ####### out of this race.

They can't help themselves. It's part of their nature to throw mud. (as it is with almost any politician) When it's just white men going at it they find other things to use as ammo. But this does prove that the dems are not as "open minded" as they make themselves out to be.

Cultural diversity has gone by the wayside and their true colors are being flown. Its just great! Love it.

[GaryC 7]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/...e-with-clinton/

----

"How race got into this thing is because Obama said ‘race,’” New York Rep. Charlie Rangel, one of the highest-ranking African-Americans in Congress, said in an interview on NY1.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/...olutely-stupid/

Seems you are a bit behind in your quoting.

I think the headline explains your story.

"Major Clinton supporter calls Obama remark 'absolutely stupid'"

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Rangel is a nut.

[GaryC 7]

Rangel is a nut.

Yeah, his opinion means very little to most people. I wouldn't use him as a source to be sure.

[no name 1]

Rangel is a nut.

Yeah, his opinion means very little to most people. I wouldn't use him as a source to be sure.

Yeah, right Gary. Cuz you know all about him.

When you decide to live in NY, get back to me on that.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

Rangel is a nut.

Yeah, his opinion means very little to most people. I wouldn't use him as a source to be sure.

Yeah, right Gary. Cuz you know all about him.

When you decide to live in NY, get back to me on that.

Why would he want to live in NY?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The NYC media covers him a lot since he's a local congressman.. i believe that's her point. He is very smart about some things, has a lot of insight but through it all makes sporadic nutty comments. He's like a smart but slightly wacko old man.

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

Why would he want to live in NY?

dayum good question.