Denounce and/or reject? Clinton opts for neither
Less than 24 hours after Hillary Clinton skillfully maneuvered Barack Obama into denouncing and rejecting the unwanted embrace he recently received from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, she was asked to similarly distance herself from inflammatory remarks she was told were made by one of her prominent Texas supporters.
Clinton took a pass, in part because, as she noted, she knew nothing of the incident other than what a television reporter had just told her. Still, it will be interesting to see if this evolves into any sort of sustained flap as Tuesday's big vote in the Lone Star State approaches.
Today, during satellite interviews with a handful of TV stations, a reporter from station KTVT in Dallas asked Clinton about comments purportedly made by Adelfa Callejo, a trail-blazing Latina lawyer in Texas. According to the reporter, Callejo "recently told us that African Americans never help Hispanics when they gain power and influence and that she would never vote for Sen. Obama. And now, quoting here, she said, 'Obama's problem is that he happens to be black.' "
Clinton was asked to react. ...
The Times' Michael Finnegan relates that Clinton responded: “Well, obviously I want us judged on our merits. I believe strongly that the fact that we have an African American and a woman running for the Democratic nomination is historical and I’m very very proud of that."
Pressed on whether she would reject and denounce such remarks, she said: "People have every reason to express their opinions. I just don’t agree with that. I think that we should be looking at the individuals who are running.”
She continued: “You know, this is a free country. People get to express their opinions. A lot of folks have said really unpleasant things about me over the course of this campaign. You can’t take any of that as anything other than an individual opinion.”
She also discounted the suggestion that she was shying away from the position she had insisted Obama should take on Farrakhan.
“I don’t see any comparison at all with what you’re referring to and I don’t know the facts of what you’re telling me over the TV," she said. "So I’m just going to repeat that I want people to judge us on the merits.”
-- Don Frederick
[UPDATE: Clinton's campaign, after confirming that Callejo's comments were accurately conveyed, issued a statement saying that she "of course, denounces and rejects them."
Hillary is a flaming hypocrite and so are many of her supporters. She - like many poeple - is OK with racism as long as she benefits. If someone said that about women politicians she'd go into "shame on you" anger mode.
Posted by: MLE | February 27, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Why wasn't this post named:
Clinton's Adelfa Callejo rejects and denounces Obama.
Similar to how Obama's Farrakhan rant down below was titled by Don Fredrick.
Give Clinton ownership of the person making statements on her behalf. It's silly to do that right?
PETA won't like her at all. Days ago this happened.
Dallas lawyer and longtime civil-rights activist Adelfa Callejo, 84, stood in the chilling wind, dressed in a fur coat amid many who came in jeans and sneakers. Mrs. Clinton "has the track record with Hispanics," Mrs. Callejo said. "Obama doesn't."
Mrs. Callejo said she hoped that Mrs. Clinton would do as well among Latinos in Texas as she did in California, where she beat Mr. Obama 2-to-1 among the fast-growing demographic.
From her background, it explains,
She holds workshops in the community to help new residents learn U.S. laws and understand their rights. She also works to educate the non-Hispanic community about the plight of immigrants and the need to change attitudes toward immigration.
She teaches the right of Immigrants to speak their mind, regardless of their illegal status. Shows them how to be biased and justify it apparently. How many black politicians in Texas caused her problems in past years?
Immigrants have to learn what she knows!
She can defend herself in fur coats or backtrack apologizing in coming days.
She maybe so old and doesn't care what was said. What's going to happen because she only spoke her mind.
Hillary is only one who could feel pressure about it.
No one is going to change Callejo's mind at all.
Posted by: Marks | February 27, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Give me a break. That individual is nothing like Farrakhan, who is a well known leader in the Black and Muslim community. Should Hillary spend her time denouncing & rejecting every person who says something racist in Texas? That could take a long time.
Posted by: Jenna | February 27, 2008 at 08:43 PM
She's using the race-card again. C'mon Hill, the people of color and those who aren't that loathe you know your tricks. She is simply pathetic. Hillary and her supporters don't get it. Between Hillary and Obama, perhaps Ms. Clinton is the lesser of two evils, but people are supporting Obama simply because they simply are sick and tired of HER, despite of her sincerity. Obama is fresh. Keep on treading Hill, you are slowly sinking.
Posted by: winer | February 27, 2008 at 09:46 PM
i agree. i think that more and more americans are starting to see through her hypocritical charade now too. what a pathetic, empty shell of a human being.
Posted by: caligirl | February 27, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Hillary Clinton is hypocritical. She scolded Barack Obama for not harshly condemning, the Honorable Minister louis Farrakhan Muhammad. Who never endorsed Obama, he simply said he was good for the nation. Her husband Bill Clinton supported Farrakhan during the tenth anniversary of the Million Man March, the 2005 Million More March. This is because it was politically expedient to do so. Bill Clinton set up business in Harlem to gain better inroads towards Blacks. The Clintons were planning for this 2008 presidency run at that moment.
Posted by: GofOfComments | February 27, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Gee another "opinionated" senorita- wow what a rarity. Perhaps this old coot can provide insight on why 'her people' are flocking into this country in droves-usually llegal. I thought they "loved" mehico??
Posted by: Siknspann | February 28, 2008 at 01:27 AM
Adelfa Callejo please stay in your little part of the world. You DO NOT speak for all of us of latin/ Hispanic decent. It is not about race Hello!!! I can go on and on but i am so upset and have too much respect for Senator Obama. He is what our world needs ( hope) and I strongly believe he will and can help ALL OF US.
I am OUTRAGED!
Posted by: Yolanda J. Zamora | February 28, 2008 at 10:29 AM
She also works to educate the non-Hispanic community about the plight of immigrants and the need to change attitudes toward immigration.
Educating us on using racial sterotypes for political gain?
The right-wing border nuts are doing just fine in that area, ms. clinton supporter...
Posted by: theproblemwithcaring | February 28, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Okay, Hillary wants us to judge her on "merits?" Does Bill judge Hillary's merits? Apparently, Gennifer Flowers and Monica Lewinsky are examples (that we know about) of how her own husband judged Mrs. Clilnton's "merits" where it counts.
Posted by: flo | February 28, 2008 at 09:35 PM