January 23, 2008
The Clintons, MLK and Obama (Ron Christie)
I have found myself more and more troubled as the Clinton Machine seeks to derail the candidacy of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Sure, politics is a vicious game and the Clintons are well seasoned in the art of hand-to-hand combat.
No, what disturbs me most about the Clintons is the manner in which they have targeted the senator and initiated a disingenuous campaign where they claim they would never focus on race — all the while focusing on race in the campaign.
I first took stock of this when the husband of former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen alluded to Obama’s drug use and then noted it would be the Republicans who would make an issue of it, not the Democrats. Hmm … I wonder who brought that up in the first place? Team Clinton.
Then we had the former president’s comments regarding Obama’s stance on the Iraq war as being nothing more than a fairy tale. Was Bill really talking about the war, or was he alluding to the fact that a black junior senator’s candidacy was nothing more than a fairy tale?
And the most recent flap, of course, was over the assertion by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) that it took a president (white, Southern LBJ) to actualize the dream that Martin Luther King was seeking to achieve by signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. The implicit question being, Do voters want a junior black senator in the Oval Office when they could have the seasoned, white Clintons calling the shots? All this, mind you, came during the week in which we take time to reflect on the contributions and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I’m sick of this — and I’m sick of the Clintons doing one thing and claiming, till they’re blue (or in his case, red) in the face, that they haven’t done what they just did. For the supposed “first black president” to throw everything including the kitchen sink at a candidate is one thing. For the Clintons to play the race card against Sen. Obama is sick, in my opinion.
I’ve only met Obama once that I can recall and I found him to be quite likable and clearly off-the-charts bright. I might not agree with him philosophically or ideologically, but I will defend him to the end against the Clinton war machine that seeks to judge him by the color of his skin rather than the content of his character.
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Don't take this the wrong way, but thanks to the Mafia running the Democratic party combined with the superdelegates ability to affect about 40% of the vote at the convention, the fix was in from the beginning. Read my blog on the subject.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — January 23, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
Ron;
It is not often that we agree on anything but on this point, I am with you. If the differences are concerning policy and positions taken, I can agree that that is a point to be made but the not so subtle attacks by the Clintons and their minion make me mad. after this is all over and Hillary is the nominee, I may have to think twice about voting for her.
Comment by Mike Coleman — January 23, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
As an African-American woman with a doctoral degree I am offended to the insult to my intelligence. Unless I am missing something, I am yet to see the Clintons playing the race card. It is a sad day in America when an African-American runs for office that any criticism amounts to racism.
Sen. Obama mentioned his drug use in his book. While I will agree that Mark Penn could have phrased his comment better, it is not racism just as it was not racism when Judge Bork's nomination was derailed because of his alleged drug use.
When President Bush was asked about his alleged drug use, he refused to answer, and rightly so, it was not racist.
Equal opportunity means that all candidates should be treated in the same way.
In the South Carolina debate Sen. Obama brought the fight to Sen. Clinton and she responded. All is fair game.
As long as I can remember, spouses were allowed on the campaign trail. The fact that Sen. Clinton's spouse is the former President should makeno difference. Sen. Obama has Oprah and she has President Clinton.
I would prefer if we listened to the candidates on the issues and make informed decisions rather than choose according to personality.
My preference for a presidential nominee would have been Biden, Dodd or Richardson. However, we as Americans are sometimes a bit shallow; we choose rhetoric over substance.
Having said all that I think Sen. Obama will make a great president some day, but in this post 9/11 world, we really need someone with experience.
Comment by Pauline — January 23, 2008 @ 7:11 pm
Come on Ron, you couldn't care less. You worked for Cheney, remember? With those kinds of credentials we know the only thing you care about is your stock portfolio, period.
When did you get off on being concerned with fair treatment? Cheney has almost distroyed this country and your trying to portrait 'concern with fairness'? Get real Ron.
Comment by Lester — January 23, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
Rosie, I'll pass on your silly blog. So the Mafia runs the Democratic Party. Based on Feehery's last post, it's time for anyone with an ounce of intelligence to exit this blog. Even Igor, on their side did because of the ignorance of Rosie et al. He no longer wanted to be associated with such morons.
Comment by Chris Calbi — January 23, 2008 @ 10:55 pm
I'm a lifelong Democrat. More liberal than moderate. And considered voting for Hillary if Obama did not win. But after her lies, race baiting and her overall dirty race, that will not happen. It's already been seven years too many worth of lies to and deception of the American people (me). If Hillary is elected, we will be subjected not only to Team Clinton's manipulation, but another 4-8 years of the Clinton-Republican war (not worth the price of admission if the candidate I'm voting for won't be straight with me).
It's time for a fresh start, a new era. Obama. Barring that, I will do my part to hand the White House to the Republicans in the hope that the Democratic congress keeps them in check until 2012. I would rather wait four years in hope than vote in a team that is willing to run a campaign which would risk the entire Democratic Party for the same of their own ambition.
I will never view the Clintons the same way again. And that's a shame, because I did think the world of them.
Comment by Rowland — January 23, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
During the Myrtle Beach debate, Obama commented that he was sometimes confused as to which Clinton was running for president. Both of them, obviously. What I have been unable to ascertain is the "35 years of experience" which Hillary is described as having. If being married to an elected official qualifies one for office, why did we not elect Eleanor Roosevelt or Lady Bird Johnson? Their husbands certainly served longer. How long are Bill Clinton's coattails and how far back in history do they reach?
Comment by John Simpson — January 24, 2008 @ 12:36 am
Obama is trying to be a blank slate with no history, and the media and other Democrats are letting him get away with it. The Clintons are trying to set the record straight. And Obama purposely talks in vague terms, so that different groups can read their own wants and needs into what he says–a Rovian tactic that also needs to be exposed.
If Obama, whose only previous political experience has been in Chicago, can't defend himself against the Clintons, then he surely won't be able to defend himself against the vicious attacks he'll face from Republicans if he's the Democratic nominee.
As we say here in Chicago, politics ain't beanbag.
Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com
Comment by Carolyn Kay — January 24, 2008 @ 2:47 am
This disgusting display by the Clinton Swat Team is a well planned,and financed attack in order to establish a third term for Bill Clinton. Why does the country not wise up to this obvious fact.Clinton did a great job of disgracing the Office of the Presidency,
and the United States,when he was in office.I thought that a
'third' term was not within the
Constitution.
It is quite obvious that he will be deeply involved in everything that Hillary does or
says,if she is elected.
We may need change but the mere
thought of the Clintons in the
White House,one more time,is
really very sickening.
Comment by Raymond Parker — January 24, 2008 @ 4:47 am
Once again, Ron, you manage to step in with the language of hate and unnecessary cynicism and vitriol.
Hillary Clinton has not, at all, even once, made race an issue. Rather, it is the shouting hysterics of self-appellated "pundits" such as yourself that try to read race into places where it simply does not exist.
Comment by chris j. — January 24, 2008 @ 7:50 am
Why do media types like you try to read more into the Clinton Obama flap thn what is really there? I heard what Bill Clinton said and it was clear to me that he meant that Obama statement on his position on the war was a fairy tale, nothing more. As to the bringing up of Obama's drug use, that is a fact. Obama admitted to using pot and cocaine. Why hot bring it up? The Democrats haveno problem calling Bush an alcoholic (which may be true), so why not call Obama a former drug user, which is also true.
But speaking of fairy tales, I wonder why no one has called Obama on his statement that the civil rights march in Selma, Alabama caused his parents to get together. Now, THAT'S a fairy tale, since the march took place in 1965 and Obama was born in 1961.
Comment by John Simmons — January 24, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Personally I am sick of black people like you running the same fairy tale that you self propelled civil rights with no assistance from whites who fought by your side.This goes back to the white abolistionists in the civil war regarding slavery .Whites have died for the cause of racial justice and they were the race in sole power when other whites were keeping blacks down .That is reality and it is time blacks in America who do not want to acknowledge those of us who did fight by your side to step back and think how much that hurts us as well.I was at Attica ,New Brunswick,and Rochester scared out of my mind with a group of white high school students whose parents paid for us to take a Greyhound bus to stand with our fellow Americans that were black and suppressed.I have never stopped.I have supported the Southern Poverty Law Center my entire life.I have worked with Julian Bond in the 1960's in New Haven.We cared and it is very disappointing when someone like you refuses to ackowledge that LBJ was one white man who did as well.
I want no thank you for doing what was right in the eyes of God and my fellow Americans of color.I do resent the fact that if anyone dares to acknowledge the fact that some White Americans wanted civil rights as fiercely as our fellow Black American citizens it is somehw using the race card or is a game.Beleive me it was no game sitting on a hot bus for 11 hours going from one protest to another in upstate New York from New Jersey.We never knew what to expect but we did know it would not always be pretty.Burning bags of dog manure to walk in when we marched.Rocks thrown when we got off the buses.Threats,signs and taunts of the worst imaginable ugly words were used but we stayed because it was right.I was 15 years old and I look back and smile because I was a part of something so good and Yes I am proud .I have seldom spoke of this over the years but now as I see the dialogue that has sprung out of a true statement and the reaction by those like you I think it is time someone remembers that people like me were there.We were scared too but not scared away .I would never pretend to know what it was like to go through what I did a couple of dozen times for a lifetime like my fellow black citizens did everyday of their lifes as a white female I did not.I also do not want thank you from anyone.What I would like is at least the fact that we were there acknowledged and respected without it being politically raped as a wedge issue.Nothing more ,nothing less and perhaps LBJ deserves the same.Nothing more ,nothing less.
Comment by Linda M — January 24, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Chris Calbi: It's amazing how many people you claim to represent and speak for. Yes, no one can have a different opinion from you, because liberalism hates diversity. In the meantime when you start speaking in tongues and join the carnival, let us know so we can come see you.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — January 24, 2008 @ 10:43 am
This is a perfect example of partisanship by use of smears à la cheney, and a betrayal of reeason by way of prostituting one's intelligence. We do not care to have your personal prejudices against Sen. Clinton exposed as anything ressembling accurate or true. Go away.
Comment by Robert T. Neely — January 24, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
Obama's mother is white. He is "mixed" NOT black. Why doesn't he acknowledge this? Personally, I don't care what his background is. I want to know what he will do for all American citizens! So far, I don't know. He talks of change but can't guarantee anything.
Comment by Jay — February 13, 2008 @ 4:15 pm