Respected Black Leader in House Denounces Bill Clinton’s Remarks
Who would have thought that The Clintons would be the sole cause of a mass migration of Black people returning to the Republican Party.
While pundits continue to ask "What Can't Obama Close The Deal", they are overlooking an extremely important issue. Hillary "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar" Clinton can not win without African Americans and right now, her and Bill are definitely persona non grata.
The third-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives and one of the country’s most influential African-American leaders sharply criticized former President Bill Clinton for his “bizarre” conduct during the Democratic primary campaign.
South Carolina Representative James E. Clyburn, a superdelegate serving as the Democratic whip in the House, said that “black people are incensed over all of this,” referring to statements that Mr. Clinton had made in the course of the heated race between his wife, and the biracial senator from Illinois.
Mr. Clinton was widely criticized by Black leaders after he equated the eventual victory of Barack Obama in South Carolina in January to that of the Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1988 – a parallel that many took as an attempt to diminish Mr. Obama’s success in the campaign. In a radio interview in Philadelphia on Monday, Mr. Clinton defended his remarks and said the Obama campaign had “played the race card on me” by making an issue of those comments.
Clyburn said Mr. Clinton’s conduct in this campaign had caused what might be an irreparable breach between Mr. Clinton and a loyal constituency that once revered him.“When he was going through his impeachment problems, it was the black community that bellied up to the bar,” Mr. Clyburn said. “I think black folks feel strongly that that this is a strange way for President Clinton to show his appreciation.”
Still officially uncommitted with no immediate plans to endorse either candidate, Clyburn added that there appeared to be nonetheless an almost “unanimous” view among African-Americans that Mr. and Mrs. Clinton were “committed to doing everything they possibly can to damage Obama to a point that he could never win.”
At one point before the South Carolina primary, Mr. Clyburn publicly urged Mr. Clinton to “chill a little bit.” He obviously didn't follow that advice.
“Look, President Clinton has an impeccable record on race, civil rights and issues that matter to the African-American community, the strongest of any president in our time,” Clinton campaign spokesman Jay Carson said. He added that in making his radio remarks on Monday, the former president was “simply reacting to a deeply offensive accusation that runs counter to principles he’s held and worked for his entire life." [NY Times]