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Bill Clinton Claims Obama Camp Played the Race Card Against Him

April 22, 2008 7:58 AM

In his inimitable fashion, former President Bill Clinton told Philadelphia's WHYY radio that his South Carolina-primary comparison of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, to Rev. Jesse Jackson is an example of HIS being the victim of ugly racial politics.

Listen to the interview HERE.

“I think that they played the race card on me," Clinton said. "We now know, from memos from the campaign that they planned to do it along."

It's unclear what "memos" he was referring to.

Clinton had been asked by WHYY’s Susan Phillips about a local official who switched her support to Obama after Clinton’s "Jesse Jackson" comments, which she saw as his marginalizing Obama as “the black candidate.”

The microphone also picked up Clinton saying to someone with him, after the interview, “I don’t think I should take any s--- from anybody on that, do you?

Plenty of African-American officials, including Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC, the House Majority Whip, assuredly disagree with Clinton's interpretation of that controversy. Clyburn told me a few weeks ago that African-Americans, especially those from the South, "know the code words when we hear them."

UPDATE: Obama and Clinton elaborated on this interview today, which you can read about HERE.

- jpt

April 22, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (69)

User Comments

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"know the code words when we hear them."
PERSONALLY, I HAVE NEVER FELT THAT HE DID ANY SUCH THING! COULD YOU POSSIBLY FORWARD A LIST OF THOSE "CODE WORDS" MR. CLYBURN SPEAKS ABOUT AND THEN MAYBE I'D UNDERSTAND HOW BILL CLINTON PLAYED THE "RACE CARD."

Posted by: Nan | Apr 25, 2008 7:15:05 PM

William J... just shutup and let the women run her campaign for a change! Your buddy Penn and the RNC machine are the reason she has had such a hard time. She has taken the reins again and proved she is the President we want - your time was great but it is done now.

I am so proud of all the voters in this country. We are making our voices heard loud and clear! I am especially proud of Senator Hillary Clinton for standing up for all of us in the face of such uncertainty. Yes, "together we will turn promises into action, words will become solutions, hope will become reality."

Oh and by the way, Clinton won PA, double digits, overtook Obama in the popular vote, and cut into demographics previously considered Obama strongholds. Examine the exit polls and see for yourself just how significant this win is in terms of electability!

Posted by: DCVoter | Apr 23, 2008 2:26:13 AM

The Obama campaign has shamelessly played the race card throughout the campaign and the record shows they planned to do it all along. Clinton is telling the truth. However, the corporate media is determined to twist whatever Clinton says about the matter to smear Hillary. This is the only reason Bill should drop the matter for now.

Posted by: Andrew Austin | Apr 22, 2008 7:03:30 PM

pam:

Blacks have been voting for whites since 1870 so what's wrong if they choose to vote for a qualified black today?

Posted by: rhbate | Apr 22, 2008 4:04:42 PM

hillary is not losing black votes b.cos
of what bill said in sc. the blacks will vote for their brudha no matter
what. blacks would even vote for oj if he was running.

Posted by: pam | Apr 22, 2008 3:50:54 PM

Thanks for the link to Snopes...at least those military men in Korea can take responsibility for flipping the bird....unlike the cowardly Obama.

And I highly doubt that soldier was 'forced' to shake her hand.

He just enjoyed ripping on her like Obama did.

Posted by: Cali girl | Apr 22, 2008 12:55:45 PM

And Obama can't take responsibility for his actions either.

The difference is...the Clintons have proved they work for America rising incomes $7000 for the middle class.

And Obama has proved he works for Rezko, Auchi, Ayers, etc. While helping Rezko keep 11 slums without hot water or heat, and turning on the same community he help organize the minute he got real power.

Posted by: Cali girl | Apr 22, 2008 12:49:39 PM

I used to be concerned that the vicious Republican machine would eat up Obama if he were the Democratic candidate, causing the Dems. to lose the general election. No more. Obama has shown himself to be exceptionally competent in employing the dirtiest of political strategies. The questions are: if we win this way, will Obama take the win as a "mandate" to continue to behave in such a matter, and who will lose what if he does?

Posted by: freethinker | Apr 22, 2008 11:59:33 AM

We all believe what we want to,Toby. Obama's campaign anticipated what Clinton's campaign would do and they responded. They outmaneuver the Clinton's. Had Bill kept his mouth shut there was nothing that Obama could have done.

Clinton's off the air comment said to me that he did not genuinely believe his response but he was just trying to preserve his legacy. Bill Clinton to me was someone who would say or do anything to get elected or his wife elected. He was more about symbols than content. He was a well liked president who in the fullness of time will be viewed as a man of personal political expediency, an average leader and a mediocre but not a poor president.


Posted by: Ron M | Apr 22, 2008 11:56:17 AM

We all believe what we want to,Toby. Obama's campaign anticipated what Clinton's campaign would do and they responded. They outmaneuver the Clinton's. Had Bill kept his mouth shut there was nothing that Obama could have done.

Clinton's off the air comment said to me that he did not genuinely believe his response but he was just trying to preserve his legacy. Bill Clinton to me was someone who would say or do anything to get elected or his wife elected. He was more about symbols than content. He was a well liked president who in the fullness of time will be viewed as a man of personal political expediency, an average leader and a mediocre but not poor president.


Posted by: Ron M | Apr 22, 2008 11:55:59 AM

Obama seems to be more of an elitist then any other Candidate we ever had.

He meets behind closed doors with White Billionaires and terrorists then goes to a preacher to preach his hatred for the white man.

Anyhow on to Bill, what Minority did he have in any meaningful position in the white House.

President Bush is the First president to make a Black man and then a Black Woman Secretary of State, First black lady Presidential Advisor ., first Hispanic Attorney general First Black Secretary of Education, Do I need to go on?

See Republicans respect the individual, there actions are shown, the Libs speak a good game (well not soo good) but they show only racism!

Lets see they attack Rice, They attacked Gonzales So who are the racists again?

Posted by: spock | Apr 22, 2008 11:48:25 AM

All those people who called Bill Clinton "the first black president" have a lot to answer for! The man took it seriously.

Posted by: Carol Anne | Apr 22, 2008 11:46:25 AM

Doug,

Let's be honest here.

How many of those women wanted jobs and a push up the ladder?

They knew who he was and they wanted something in return.

Posted by: Cali girl | Apr 22, 2008 11:33:18 AM

He is right. The Obama campaign has play the race card over and over again. When someone in his campaign would make a comment, the press would run over the Clintons and ask the question about the comment. And then cut the response out of context to make it racist.

When Clinton was taking about 'fairy tale', it was in reference to Obama's 'I am against the war' before I had to vote for it. But the press and Obama pretended it was about race, playing the exact political games he claims he is upbove.

I will not support Obama lying and branding innocent people racists. Both my husband and I will write in our votes if Obama is the in the general.

He is lazy intellectually and has stolen all of his 'policy' from everyone else. He takes credit for other people's work. He come into committees and pretends to add something to the debate. Sen Kennedy even had to chastize him for such actions within a committee. He has no political courage to actually do his job and vote within the US Senate. Choosing to vote present, on big business items, to try and hide his true intent. He turned his back on the community he was organizing the minute he got any real power within Illinois. He has had to sue other Dems off the rolls to win, and has never been seriously challenged. His energy policy is stuffed with Cheney people and that is supposed to be change!?

To the DNC, both my husband and myself will not support Obama in the general. He has a glass chin, stolen ideas, and a plays the race card constantly when he thinks he is going to lose. Not only that he insults all of America and Colin Powell when he claims that small town PA or other American won't vote for a black man.

Gen Powell is a Republican has been begged by America to run several times. Even on that subject he is a divisive, race card playing, liar.

Stole MLKs tone....JFKs words...and Ceasar Chavez battle cry....and that is supposed to be impressive? LOL

Posted by: Cali girl | Apr 22, 2008 11:09:50 AM

For god sakes Bill, Let it be! Why can't you just keep your mouth quiet? I read your book and loved you as a president, but this is too much. You're killing your legacy!

Posted by: Tiffany | Apr 22, 2008 10:35:44 AM

MM, you mean that Madeilne Albright is a black woman, as far as I know that is not the reality. My positon remains, fro Bill and Hill, a good black man is the one on the backseat keeping quiet. MM, you have not been able to name any higher office held by a black person in the Clinton administration or US Army compared to Reagan or HBush or WBush. Hill the Bosnian General is unelecatble and out of control, she wants to bomb Iran, what a flip-flop, Hill will say anything and everything to get your vote, but anybody who has seen how she managed her campaign you will not trust her to manage a rumshop in Kingston, Jamaica. God bless America and God bless Obama.OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | Apr 22, 2008 10:33:07 AM

And they say Obama whines.....?? For cryin out loud. ha ha ah

Posted by: Indiana voter | Apr 22, 2008 10:13:40 AM

I love people still trying to paint Obama as the elitist still lol

this from people who are supporting Hillary Clinton...Ivy league multi-millionaire-ex first-lady of the United states...who hasn't has to drive herself anywhere in 30 years. Haha...but she can do a shot and badmouth Obama with an accent for whatever state she is in. How many women have not had to budget their home finances, worry about healthcare in their own families, had as much help raising a child, don't understand that people who are worrying about paying their rent and choosing not to pay for insurance because they can't don't understand how a possible $800 removed from your paycheck a year but will be paid back in a tax break ...doesn't work for them...

It is all spin...

One candidate lived in a one room condo without a garage with two kids in the past 8 years. One candidate left their ivy league jobs for a non-profit helping people in communities with closed factories. One candidate just finished paying off student loans.

Their are two candidates that could be called elitist in this election Obama is not one of them.

Posted by: dl | Apr 22, 2008 10:04:03 AM

OH Billy shoe is on the other foot ...YAHOOOOOOOO.Who is crying now???????Gads I will be so glad when you go back to New York.Sick of you and your so called wife and the crying and then blame it on another...You two are meant for each other not a nice a couple can be found...

Posted by: h | Apr 22, 2008 9:59:09 AM

Rick

you love this being the topic of discussion. It takes it away from the fact that Obama is just planely the better candidate on almost every single issue for our country right now.

I am banking on the fact that this time...Obama has enough money and support that people won't be overridden by the power machine and old politics...spinnning away from the things we need to focus on...this is America's chance...and all the race bating/inflaming, two time speak, and attempts to draw fire will end up with people seeing...our standing has to get better in the world above everything if we are not going to crumble as a nation, the polarization of the workings of congress have to go away to fight the issues (rather than each other) that we face, and that the only way to change the "highway" we have been on for a couple of decades, that lead us here...can't be changed by someone who has only driven on this same highway.

Posted by: dl | Apr 22, 2008 9:52:51 AM

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