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Candidates Remember King, Clinton Chokes Up
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ShareApril 04, 2008 1:22 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper and Sunlen Miller Report: Senator Hillary Clinton's voice quivered as she recounted her recollection of the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. On the 40th anniversary of King's death, Clinton spoke at Mason Temple Church of God in Christ in Memphis TN. She addressed the crowd in the annex of the church located behind a larger church where King spoke before dying the following day.
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
“Like many of you here who are of a certain age. I will never forget where I was when Dr. King was killed. I was a junior in college and I remember hearing about it and was feeling such. I walked into my dorm room and took my book bag and I hurled it across the room. It felt like everything had been shattered. Like we would never be able to put the pieces together again you know I joined the protest march in Boston It worked to convince my college to recruit more students of color wore a but it felt like it wasn’t enough,” said Clinton.
Clinton spoke about King’s drive and perseverance even when the media and everyone else counted him out and how he never gave up.
“He never gave up and neither should you. His faith in America animated and sustained his journey. Like with any faith there were dark moments when one doubts. When one is on the brink of giving up and throwing in the towel. He would always come back from those dark places, and so must we. The tenacity of Dr Kings faith is all the more extraordinary when you think of the ways it was tested. All the critics in the media attacking his work, by the death threats the bombings the beatings the stabbings the murder. The grinding heard work day after day of just getting up and moving on.”
Senator Barack Obama also honored King on today's anniversary, in a speech before a Fort Wayne, Indiana crowd. At the top of his prepared remarks solely devoted to the anniversary, the Illinois senator said he had spoken to the King family this morning and then prompted the crowd to observe a moment of silence.
Obama called King an extraordinary American whose assassination, “left a wound on the soul of our nation that has yet to fully heal.”
Obama said the dream that King began has not been completed, and it is all Americans task to now help finish.
He referenced his own speech on race in this context, “this is something I spoke about a few weeks ago in a speech I gave in Philadelphia. And what I said was that instead of having a politics that up to Dr. King’s call for unity, we’ve had a politics that’s used race to drive us apart, when all this does is feed the forces of division and distraction, and stops us from solving our problems. That is why the great need of this hour is much the same as it was when Dr. King delivered his sermon in Memphis.”
Obama said earlier that he chose to commemorate the day with campaign events in Indiana and North Dakota because he wanted to spread the message of Dr. King’s legacy to unfinished places. Indiana also has a place in today’s history, it was the place where Robert Kennedy was campaigning when news broke of King’s assassination. Obama was introduced at his town hall today by Mike Riley who served as Indiana chairman for Kennedy’s campaign and was with Kennedy when he spoke in Indianapolis after receiving notice of King’s death.
April 4, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (196)
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It was a wonderful speech given by a true gentlemen.
Posted by: Tiffany | Apr 4, 2008 1:40:38 PM
I'm glad Obama chose to be in Indiana and not clinging to the hip of Hillary, as the media would have posted them, as usual, can't mention Barack without throwing Hillary in there, after all she might get slighted. I think Barack Obama will make history as one of the greatest presidents we've ever had.
Posted by: RuthieM | Apr 4, 2008 1:44:27 PM
This guy will do or say anything to become the first Black President. I used to be an Obama supporter but this jerk lost my vote with all of his inconsistencies. I don't like any of the 3 candidates. What an awful choice we have. I guess I will wait until the general election to make up my mind but either I will skip my vote this year or bite down very hard on my tongue and vote for MCCain since I can not bring myself to vote for an empty suit.
His so called "race" speech. I think it should be called "Try to save my own A##! speech"
Posted by: Frank- South Hampton | Apr 4, 2008 1:45:15 PM
Obama begging to elect him so MLK's dream can come true... What a liar.
See Jesse JAckson, Sharpton .. some of MLK's close people. They are nothing but a disgrace to the Black community. They minted enough money to feed 10 generations.
Posted by: GS | Apr 4, 2008 1:50:39 PM
I call it the "My Grandmother Made Me Cringe" speech.
Posted by: Kitty | Apr 4, 2008 1:50:42 PM
I can't wait until Obama is made to look like the fool and the inexperienced candidate that he is once the general election starts.
Posted by: Alan | Apr 4, 2008 1:50:51 PM
Obama making a race speech. He constantly plays the race card. What a coward he is. I am not that big on Hillary but one thing I think most people have to say about her is she is fighter and stands up to people. Down with Obama!
Posted by: DORIS | Apr 4, 2008 1:53:27 PM
It was a very thoughtful speech with great sentiment. He is always a good orator.
Along with his speech in Phillie.
Maya Angelo called his speech in Pa.
one that will be in the history books.
I also believe it will be, he done a fantastic job.
Posted by: Lauren | Apr 4, 2008 1:57:34 PM
How come Clinton's remarks in memphis are no where in this blog?
Posted by: An Opinion | Apr 4, 2008 1:57:53 PM
Obama!
1- I never heard my Pastor make such inflammatory comments while I was in the pews/ -- in his race speech When I would hear inflammatory comments during his sermons etc. etc. You can't have it both ways.
2. Rezko - he gave me 100,000.00 ooops day before the trial - it was 250,000.
3. I don't believe in NAFTA! It hurst the country. When I become pres I will reform it. - Shhhh - hey Canada - this is only election rhetoric - dont worry about NAFTA- wink wink.
Obama is toast.
Posted by: Lydia | Apr 4, 2008 1:58:34 PM
Again, speech.. speaker...He should run for speaker of house so he can speak his dream every day....
Again he showed his only experience, where he got well trained from his church how to speak about your dream and make you as his followers.....
He is unelectable is not because he is black... it is because he is no experience and accomplishments to earn such most honorable title...
Colin Power is much better than Obama in terms of experiences and leadership....Power would be true first black president if he would run...
America is not stupid.....He will be dumped either in Dems primary in the end or in G.E by REPs....
Posted by: True Truth | Apr 4, 2008 2:00:57 PM
Dr King's Legacy is that he was human too. He had extramarital sex just like JFK & Bill Clinton. It is time we dropped the criticism of Bill Clinton about Lewinsky.
Posted by: Tom | Apr 4, 2008 2:01:44 PM
GREAT SPEECH BY CLINTON - SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR THE EQUALTIY. NICE JOB - HILLARY - I MAY MOVE MY VOTE TO YOU.
OBAMAS SPEECH IS MUCH OF THE SAME - FANCY SPEECHES. DONT' THESE GET OLD FAST.
Posted by: mary | Apr 4, 2008 2:04:45 PM
Report: Senator Hillary Clinton's voice quivered as she recounted her recollection of the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
I wonder how long she had to practice that one?
Posted by: Lauren | Apr 4, 2008 2:08:05 PM
Lay it down, folks. Today we honor the Reverend Martin Luther King. Senator Obama has a right to speak to that legacy too.
Don't we all?
Posted by: len | Apr 4, 2008 2:08:19 PM
Because Mayou Angelo says it's a great speech and it is one for the history books. how the heck is she to tell us what is good. She writes poetry.
the only reason that Race speech was ever written and spoken - it was not because it was heartfelt - he was trying to save his campaign and the guilty white people bought it. I didn't cause all this racism and the history of slavery. I am not going to vote for someone because this country wants to show the world - we are not racist. We are racist if that is the reason most people vote for him. Is is ashame that 90% of the black popluation is voting for Obama. What does that tell you.
Posted by: Donna | Apr 4, 2008 2:10:37 PM
I don't think Hillary's choking up was planned. The Clinton's are a lot of things but no one can ever say that they are not true supporters of minorities and have always tried to help the black race. That is why Bill Clinton is referred to as the first Black president so LAUREN you should really read up on things before you make idiotic statements.
Posted by: Alan | Apr 4, 2008 2:16:01 PM
Truth Truth
I am with you. Obama is where is he because he is black. John Edwards is a much better person than Obama and it is a shame that he dropped out. We may end up with that jerk Obama. Oh well.
Posted by: Donna | Apr 4, 2008 2:19:33 PM
Do you think Obama is an honest man when he lied about his long time friend Rezko, his "uncle" pastor, and double-talking about NAFTA??
He is just the same politican as others, or worse because he tried to pretend he were clean...
So please give Americans the reasons why he is entitled to be US president with his little experiences and little accomplishments...
Posted by: True Truth | Apr 4, 2008 2:23:24 PM
Hey CC4Obama -
funny you can remember 40 years ago. Let's ask obama how much money Rezko dontated that he in return donated to charity - first is was 100,000 and later on it was 250,000.
Nafta double talk and the lies about his pastor. Glass houses CC. He is a typical politician.
Posted by: Donna | Apr 4, 2008 2:29:36 PM
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