Hillary Clinton apologizes to African Americans for Bill's comments

File this under "Better late than never." The AP reports that Hillary Clinton apologized Wednesday night for Bill Clinton's comments during the South Carolina Democratic primary showdown with Barack Obama.

At a forum sponsored by an association of African American community newspapers, Clinton was asked about her husband's comments after Obama walked away with the South Carolina win in January. At the time, Bill Clinton pointed out that Rev. Jesse Jackson had won South Carolina in 1984 and 1988 -- campaigns that went nowhere. The comments were perceived as dismissing Obama's win, and many African Americans took umbrage.

"I want to put that in context," Hillary Clinton said Wednesday night. "You know I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive." She went on to say that "we can be proud of both Jesse Jackson and Senator Obama." And: "Anyone who has followed my husband's public life or my public life know very well where we have stood and what we have stood for and who we have stood with."

Coming just hours after Geraldine Ferraro quit as a Clinton fundraiser over her own race-tinged remarks, you have to wonder how much of Clinton's apology was sincere and how much was an attempt to smooth over a rift with a key part of the Democratic base.

And as our colleague Peter Wallsten points out in today's Times, race has become a persistent issue in the Democratic campaign despite Clinton and Obama's stated desires that the nomination fight be over issues. "This is a virtual race war, politically," the Rev. Eugene Rivers of Boston's Azusa Christian Community church told Wallsten. And depending on how the nomination fight ends, many African American voters could stay home in the fall.

--Scott Martelle

Comments

[aryan]

I'm a democrat, but if hillary wins the nomination, i hope mccain wins the general election. Hillary is a monster.

[CMN]

The pot doesn't fall from the kettle. Your husband has been accused of rape and you still stand behind him. Shame on you and any woman that votes for you because they also will turn a blind eye to rape victims.

[John Sullivan]

Move on from racial politics but not the facts. It is true, is it not ,that more than 80% of african-americans who have voted in the democratic primaries have voted for Obama. Makes one wonder who the racists are.

[Wayne]

To paraphrase Hillary: "Yeah, let's be proud of Obama -- he's doing real good ... for a black man."

[Gary Gerrard]

Anyone think Geraldine Ferraro would have been Mondale's VP running mate in 84 if she were not a woman? Anyone think Hillary would be NY Senator if she were not Ms. POTUS?

[alee21]

Give Clinton-bashing a break. Ferraro is entitled to her comments. She was on a volunteer committee for Hillary and not an advisor in any capacity. Hillary has said she did not agree with the comments and apologized. What more do you want? The racial undercurrents of this campaign have been fanned by the Obama camp, abetted by the media and it is near hysterical levels. If you want to vote for Obama that’s your prerogative. But don’t denigrate Hillary Clinton and blame her for every comment about Obama that is not as effusive as you would like, just to rationalize your vote. You won’t convince any one.

[Lily]

I'm very concerned for the Democratic party. When it's time to vote in November, we will have chosen one of these people. If this trashing of each other continues, the confidence in the party will be lowered, and we will have a much harder time winning the general election. I would really like for each candidate to focus on why we *should* vote for them, rather than what is wrong with the other candidate. If they must speak negatively about someone, why not McCain? That is the real person they are running against, the election that will matter most to the entire country. Obama has done a much better job of staying away from negative politics, and I hope he continues to do so. Some of Hillary's tactics have been shameful.

[anne]

She went on to say that "we can be proud of both Jesse Jackson and Senator Obama."

This is an "apology" for her husband having disparagingly compared Obama's campaign to Jesse Jackson's 1984 campaign???? You're kidding, right?

[pete]

The problem with this "race" issue is that one camp can't resist the temptation to introduce it and the other camp is overly sensitive about it. What is wrong about discussing race? It is as though by merely mentioning it is the greatest sin of the land. Democracy cannot advance if people are not allowed to openly debate the race issue. Bill was intentional to bring the race issue up in a negative way while Ferraro's comments were perfectly legidiment and Obama's camp was trying to take advantage of it. Both were dirty tricks of course.

[robinia]

One knows how to settle if this were an apology or not. We'll have an Los Angeles Times colleague take off all her make-up and if she's not a natural beauty, than Hillary Clinton is a fake...Elizabeth Snead, start takin' the paint off your house honey...goodness, what's that smell?

[m.s]

It's the news that keeps reporting how separate groups support different candidates. They reported at one point that half of women support Clinton, while 80-90% of blacks support Obama. Some groups consider race as more of an important factor in their decisions than others. Certain groups support certain candidates because they relate or identify themselves somehow with the candidate. Pointing that out doesn't make you a racist, and pointing that out didn't make Bill Clinton a racist either.

[ohgosh]

Just a thought...

Did the debate over affirmative action never happen!? How about a reappraisal of the Clintons' philosophical leanings on affirmative action in the context of this presidential race.

PRESIDENT CLINTON'S REMARKS
ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
"Let me make this clear: Affirmative action is good
for America... Let's mend, not end it... When affirmative action
is done right, it is flexible, it is fair, and it works."

National Archives, Washington D.C., 1995

Why should the office of president be held to any different standard than the rest of the nation. This is one case where there most certainly exists a substantial chasm in "equality of opportunity" for the job at stake! Hillary ought to step aside and allow the "less-qualified" candidate the job. Talk about a double-standard. Politicians NEVER practice what they preach!

[NinaK]

Posted by: Nicholas Lefevre | March 13, 2008 at 08:31

AM I would file it under - "Way too little and way too late." Keith Olbermann put it forcefully in his "Special Comment" last night. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBXD2zizIY This has gone on far too long and far to consistently to be written off with a "sorry if anyone was offended" response.
-------------------------------
Nicholas, thank you so very much for sharing. Finally, someone in the media tells it like it is! I applaud Keith Olbermann!

The Clintons have shown time and time again they are the deviders of this great country.

1) Playing the racism card
2) Pitting Hispanics against African Americans
3) Pitting Whites against African Americans
4) Stating ONLY the BIG states with BIG delegates are important
5) Degrading the smaller states as not important or that they do not matter
6) Degrading the causes as undemocratic and not part of the election process
7) Constantly personally attacking Senator Obama's character and merits
8) Allows and, I am sure encourages her campaign team and supporters to make incidious racial and religious comments regarding Senator Obama
9) Outright lies about and slanders Senator Obama
10) Hillary is destroying the democratic party, our democracy, and our natoin.

I am ashamed Hillary lives in this country and I am even more ashamed she is running for the most critical office in our land. I am ashamed so many people choose to overlook Hillary's incidious character and horrid slash-and-burn tactics. I am ashamed Hillary is a member of my gender. I am ashamed of Hillary and Bill!

The world is watching and I am sure their thoughts and opinions of the Clintons has reached new levels of disdain. How can anyone admire such a vicious, hypcrital, and self-serving woman? How can Bill Clinton allow his statesmanship to reach the lowest levels of hypocracy? The Clintons have fallen to the lowest levels of hell, all because Hillary believes she is the "invetable nominee" and is so hungry for power at any cost! The Clintons will be remembered for their horrific negitives and will find themselves in a world where they are dispised and shunned.

America deserves much better than what the Clintons have to offer!!

[Chuck]

What I finding offending when Bill says that Jesse won South Carolina and went nowhere is the fact that since and before Jesse, other candidates Democrats and Republicans have won South Carolina and gone nowhere. The choice of Jesse as an illustration for what Obama's win in South Carolina means is what is interesting - smells racist to me.

[thoroughly disappointed]

Bottom line: America is NOT ready to vote for non-white, male OR female candidate. And that's the sad truth.

[m.s]

It's the news that keeps reporting how separate groups support different candidates. They reported at one point that half of women support Clinton, while 80-90% of blacks support Obama. They also said that some groups currently consider race as more of an important factor in their decisions than others. Certain groups support certain candidates, and sometimes it's because they relate or identify themselves somehow with the candidate. Pointing that out doesn't make you a racist, and pointing that out didn't make Bill Clinton a racist either.

[robinia]

To alee21,

Please, this is politics and every comment, whether in context or taken out of context, is part of the game.

Wake-up Toto, you're not in Kansas anymore !

[adams]

BLACKS ARE VOTING OBAMA AT 90% WHO IS RACIST? SORRY GUYS DO THE MATH.
AT THIS RATE WE MAY NEED TO HAVE A WHITE M.L.K.

[pete]

It is not the race issue that people is bashing Hillary. It is her double standard regarding Power's monster remark. Power's comments should be left alone so did Ferraro's. If Hillary wants to jump on Power, then the other side will jump on Ferraro. Too bad, both camps are also using the media to fan the fiasco. They both got back what they deserve--away from the main issues. This is a grand mess of the Democrats.

[NinaK]

Posted by: sheb | March 13, 2008 at 08:35 AM

As a Black American I don't believe that president Clinton meant anything racist behind what he said. I agree with him that if Obama thinks he's just going to waltz into the white house and everybody is going to love him and agree with what he says and do what he wants is a fairy tale. I don't care who likes you, no one is going to agree with you on everything. The fact is that he has nothing solid to show in his political career except that he is able to raise money because he's likable, I'm sorry but that is not a good enough reason for me to vote for him. And I believe the only reason he has the backing of so many politicians is probably because he called in his favors they owe him for money he has raised for their interest.
--------------------------------------------------
Sheb, you really ought to inform yourself on realty and facts before making your comments.

"Senator Clinton has based her campaign on an erroneous claim to greater legislative and administrative experience. Former President Clinton talks up her role in his administration on the campaign trail but pointedly refuses to release any documents that would provide greater details on her actual activities there. It is broadly understood that Hillary spearheaded the response team that staved off Republican attacks and spun the many scandals of the Clinton years. As to her Senate record, no one in the press has had the diligence to lay out her record for the public to assess.

Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.
These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.

Only five of Clinton's bills are more substantive.

16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it, the facts straight from the Senate Record.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize. During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced

233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included:
**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.

In all since enter the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096. An impressive record for someone who supposedly has no record according to the spin meisters and mindless twits. I challenge Clinton supporters to name a single legislative accomplishment that demonstrates her superior experience."

Posted by: Mark | F

[Sean]

John Smith - you are as stupid as you are naive. Blacks make up 15% of the electorate and over 20% of the Dem electorate. So if they stay home, the Dems are in *big* trouble. They are a key 'swing' population, especially in states with large Electoral College votes and can determine if a state goes Blue or Red.

That's why HillBilly is going after the Hispanic vote, with its similar population demographics. It hasn't worked out -quite- the way she hoped, cynically dumping the black population and assuming they'll vote Blue in the fall. True, polls indicate only 1% of blacks will vote Republican if Obama doesn't win, but many also state they won’t vote at all! If 90% stay away in protest you may see black districts go Red for the first time since Reconstruction. Many blacks say they feel betrayed by the Clintons. Thus this fallacy that blacks are voting for Obama out of some brainless racial pride is ridiculous and offensive - it has much more to do with Clinton's gaffes. Why is it that whites think ideological choice and voter outrage is only be reserved for them?

[KM]

Obama has 90% of the black vote because black people see him as the best candidate and are voting as such. Perhaps he doesn't have 90% of the white vote because, although many white people might see him as the best candidate, they will not vote for him because he is black. Obama is not where he is because he is black, he is where he is despite the fact he is black.

[Michael J. McNeal]

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?

[Tufree]

Funny how headlines like these dont appear more frequently instead: Obama Tax Plan Focuses on Income Inequality, Clinton's on Behavior Changes from Bloomberg.

Google for the link.

[mike k]

"I am sorry if..." isn't an apology - "I am sorry." is. The Clintons don't know how to do two things: 1. They don't know how to be gracious in defeat, and 2. They don't know how to take complete responsibility for their actions or non-actions. Either they apologize and then point out the bad things others do, or they say, 'I am sorry if..."

Sorry - That isn't a sorry...