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Clinton’s Mea Culpa
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ShareFebruary 23, 2008 9:02 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton came to New Orleans, La., to apologize again to the African American community at Tavis Smiley’s forum at the State of the Black Union Town Hall. Clinton acknowledged the pain in this race, alluding to her husband’s remarks and the offense taken in the community. She said, as she has before, that if President Clinton’s remarks offended anybody then she is sorry. But the timing of Clinton’s visit and creates questions about Clinton’s motivation to come to New Orleans nine days before March forth.
"The high stakes and historic nature of Senator Obama’s candidacy and mine have invested this campaign with an intensity and an excitement seldom seen in the political arena. And as often happens there have been some painful moments, too," Clinton said. "Those of us who have fought together for decades to right wrongs and break barriers cannot allow differences in our choice of who should be elected to undermine our fundamental unity and determination to change course in our country starting in November."
Smiley asked Clinton about this pain and what Clinton was referring to. The Senator did not directly say that it was a reference to her husband’s remarks and their tarnished reputation in the African American community, but alluded to it saying, "I just wanted to acknowledge that because I have lived it, I understand it and I think it is so important that we do take pride and we recognize the historic nature of this choice, but we also believe we will be unified once we have a nominee."
Clinton also made a point to talk about her long relationship with the community.
"I have long and deep relationships. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and I have introduced what has been called the platinum standard of voting reform," she said. "We worked our hearts out together to present that piece of legislation. Shelia Jackson Lee and I labored for four years to get the Congress the Republican Congress to approve a bust of Sojourner Truth, the first African American woman to be honored in the Capitol. I have relationships and friendships and working histories with so many of you, and so does Barack."
Clinton defended her husband, saying, "My husband apologized for slavery. My husband mended so as to avoid ending affirmative action. My husband had in his White House, his cabinet, his administration many of you who I see here.
"We know that when he was president we had a rising tide," she said. "We lifted more people out of poverty than in America’s recent history."
Clinton made that case of her long-term commitment.
"I don’t think that there has been any doubt that I and Bill have been part of that common purpose or struggle our entire adult lives," she said. "It is important to me that I make that abundantly clear."
Senator Clinton faces obstacles in Texas and Ohio, where the black vote could tip the scale for her. Clinton’s extension of the olive branch in New Orleans weeks after her husband’s inflammatory comments were met by some applause in the audience. Clinton repeatedly mentioned that come November, Democrats will have to be united behind their nominee -– signaling to the crowd that whether it is Obama or Clinton, she hopes the community will be able to rally behind either.
February 23, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (53)
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Will the real Hillary please stand. After trashing Obama in Ohio a few hours ago and now this. She has no shame whatsoever.
I am glad that Democrats have already rejected her.
Posted by: diogu | Feb 23, 2008 9:08:05 PM
Interesting, such mood swings. She seemed extremely reactive this morning when faced with the truth of having held Nafta up previously as an achievement of the Clinton years. And she said she would garnish people's wages to pay for insurance, which is what mandate (require) means. So why is she this evening trying to manipulate the black community to support her, when she and her husband have been so disrespectful of Senator Obama?
Posted by: lynn | Feb 23, 2008 9:15:55 PM
Why can't we trash Obama? Is trashing Obama equal to trashing all african americans? That is called a race card.
Posted by: false hope | Feb 23, 2008 9:18:23 PM
Hillary Clinton is the ONLY choice!!!
Posted by: Heather | Feb 23, 2008 9:18:40 PM
Because he is black...we can't attack him on the issues? Sorry. I am sick and tired of having to walk on egg-shells!!! If he is big enough to dish it out--he is big enough to take it!!
Posted by: Bonny | Feb 23, 2008 9:23:19 PM
Reply to : diogu
You should be asking.
Will the Real Barack Obama Stand Up.
Clinton accepted the invitation to the New Orleans Black Caucus and Obama was a NO Show.
He couldn't even vote "present" for this event.
Posted by: Enough | Feb 23, 2008 9:24:53 PM
Bonny - I agree with you completely. Race shouldn't matter. But it cuts both ways. If people shouldn't be bringing up Obama's race, then I shouldn't hear or see any more news stories or blog commentaries entitled "Is America Ready For A Black President." If race does not matter, then that conversation should be moot.
Posted by: Enough With The Race Discussion | Feb 23, 2008 9:27:56 PM
"SHAME ON YOU, HILARY CLINTON", for saying some thing yesterday and its contrary today. You supported NAFTA before, and now you blast it in order to get American workers' votes. You said that you are honored just for sitting with Barack Obama, then you yelled on him, and now you pretend you may support him in case he wins, … YES: SHAME ON YOU!
Posted by: Mark | Feb 23, 2008 9:29:43 PM
Why shouldn't there be mandatory healthcare? If people can afford it--they should have to pay for it!! I am tired of paying for their healthcare!!
@ the charity hospital in Baton Rouge you see people getting out of their big Lincoln Navigator's to go into the E.R. room. They are in the waiting room with their Coach or Dooney&Burke purses playing on their i-phones and polishing their $200 shoes. IT MAKES ME SICK!
I have to pay for their healthcare with premiums going up or by taxes being imposed upon us. They should have to responsible and take care of their families just like I have to.
Posted by: Bonny | Feb 23, 2008 9:31:35 PM
I have NEVER believed that, nor do many people I know! It's about being fair!
Posted by: Bonny | Feb 23, 2008 9:34:13 PM
If some of you took the time to listen to that broadcast on C Span you would of seen the black community did some trashing of their own on how white America treats them.
I listened to Hillary and all she was saying was no matter who wins the nomination we should all unite behind whoever it is because that is the only way to win this election.
I think is was very brave of her to go to this forum because listening to most of the speakers they were not very kind to white America.
The reason for all this support of AA for Obama is because they feel he will make life better for them as he is black, and they feel that they have been denied a lot through the years by white America so he is now the great black hope, and it was transmitted by their speeches.
The media will not give that side of the story but as usual they are quick to only take the Hillary part of the session and make that news. The real news was the fact that most of these people are supporting Obama due to his race and not issues, most of the speeches were pushing the race card to the limit, and the rest was the usual bashing of Hillary and the idolizing of Obama.
After taking in the program for the evening I came to one conclusion that it did not matter if Hillary attended that function or not, the majority of AA there are not going to vote for her no matter what.
Posted by: SJ | Feb 23, 2008 9:34:16 PM
Did someone miss the fact that the Clintons and their surrogates are the only one who bring up this issue of race and gender constantly?
People prefer OBAMA to HILLARY, not because the one is black and the other is a woman, but because the former talks of hope and the latter is hopeless.
How can one imagine that the only solution she proposes for covering everybody with a healthcare is … to MAKE EVERYBODY PAY, and PUNISH those who cannot pay! Punishing the weakest in society that one pretends to help: Has someone ever heard something such absurd and insensitive?
Posted by: Mark | Feb 23, 2008 9:35:03 PM
SHE WANTS TO TAKE CREDIT FOR BILL'S PRESIDENCY, THEN SHE MUST TAKE CREDIT FOR NAFTA.
SHE KNEW ABOUT THE MAILERS FOR WEEKS & IS JUST USING IT NOW TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT FROM NAFTA.
Posted by: Right on Day1 | Feb 23, 2008 9:38:13 PM
Mark--you are a better person tham me! I, for one, am sick and tired of the healthcare situation in America! This is about all americans: white or black!
Posted by: Bonny | Feb 23, 2008 9:38:50 PM
This whole "black" America, "white" America is such a stupid concept. Black and white Americans have fought side by side in every single war that this nation has ever fought. We wouldn't even be sitting here typing if it weren't for the sacrifices made by all of these brave Americans. Not to mention hispanic Americans, asian Americans, etc., etc. And I bet there aren't too many who have given their lives for "black" America or "white" America. There is only one America. I wish people...of all colors...would get that.
Posted by: One Nation Under God | Feb 23, 2008 9:42:35 PM
He dissed the forum and its attendees.
If he and his handlers are so confident that they've already won and calling for Clinton to concede, then why couldn't he afford to go to New Orleans to at least thank the attendees for their support and to bear witness to the New Orleans community as they rebuild.
Posted by: twinmom48 | Feb 23, 2008 9:43:51 PM
We are all sick of the black and white stuff but the problem is on both sides, unfortunately in this election all of a sudden some people are trying to make the Clinton's look as if they are biggest racist of all time and that is the problem.
Posted by: SJ | Feb 23, 2008 9:46:21 PM
twinmom48--I agree with you! I believe he didn't want to be associated with this because he is trying to grab some of Hillary's supporters!!
I am proud of how Mrs. Clinton responded to this and I say about damn time!!!
Posted by: Bonny | Feb 23, 2008 9:49:25 PM
Obama did not attend because he knew fully well what was going to come out of the mouths of people like Gregory, Sharpton Jackson and a few others, so he stayed away.
He needs the white vote so he was not going to attend that forum to be aligned to that kind of talk and let the media open a can of worms on him, he conveniently opted out of it but am sure if he does get the nomination he will not miss another one.
Posted by: SJ | Feb 23, 2008 9:51:42 PM
Sorry...I couldn't get past the misspelling of the word "fourth" at the end of the first paragraph.
Posted by: DisdainLady | Feb 23, 2008 10:27:17 PM
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