Race War Truce? Think Again

Washington Post:

As a controversy over racially charged politics threatened to spin out of control and supporters of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) expressed concern that the ongoing debate would revive old images of a party mired in identity politics and haunt the eventual Democratic nominee in the general election, the candidates inched toward a truce yesterday.

Speaking at a Service Employees International Union event in Manhattan marking the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, Clinton heaped praise on the civil rights leader. In a statement issued later, she said: "We differ on a lot of things. And it is critical to have the right kind of discussion on where we stand. But when it comes to civil rights and our commitment to diversity, when it comes to our heroes -- President John F. Kennedy and Dr. King -- Senator Obama and I are on the same side." Bill Clinton is to appear on Al Sharpton's radio show today to take calls from listeners on civil rights issues.

Campaigning in Reno, Nev., Obama told reporters, "I think that Bill Clinton and Hillary have historically and consistently been on the right side of civil rights issues. I think that they care about the African American community, they care about all Americans, and they want to see equal rights and equal justice in this country."

But earlier in the day, surrogates for each seemed determined to continue waging the war of words.

"Someone said, 'You can't unring a bell' -- well, the biggest bell in American politics just got rung," said James Carville, a Clinton confidant.

Rep. William Lacy Clay (Mo.), an Obama campaign co-chairman, said yesterday that Clinton was "trying to score cheap political points on the back of Martin Luther King's legacy" when she said that "King's dream became a reality when Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964" -- the statement that helped launch the debate over the role of race in the campaign.

Rep. John Lewis (Ga.), a prominent Clinton supporter, raised criticism of Obama to a new level. In an extensive interview, Lewis, a King lieutenant and icon of the civil rights movement, called Obama "a friend" but added: "He is no Martin Luther King Jr. I knew Martin Luther King. I knew Bobby Kennedy. I knew President Kennedy. You need more than speech-making. You need someone who is prepared to provide bold leadership."

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Ginzaman]

09:48 PM on 01/15/2008

Hillary was a fool for saying that Johnson was responsible for the Civil Rights Act. Did she ever march, get hit with firehoses, beaten and arrested day after day? I don't think so.

Also, it's sad that once again we have an actual opportunity to have a honest discussion about race. We tried it when Imus got fired. But that lasted for about five minutes because the MSM decided that Paris Hilton is FAR more important. Who the hell wants to see anybody other than Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton anyway? Nobody knows who they are. So what's the point?

The MSM censored Kucinich again. And all this talk about a race discussion is crap. It'll never happen.

[voiceone]

04:22 PM on 01/15/2008

Right now we need an adult in the white house. Clinton and Obama are acting like two kids on the play ground. The Clintons will do anything and I mean anything to get back in the White House. They will tear this party apart to get it, they will stop at nothing. Its about power and nothing else.

Edwards is the only adult on the stage. The the repubs. are so worried he might gain ground they won't even let him on the t.v.

[midwestvoter]

03:57 PM on 01/15/2008

Polls the media does not want you to see:

http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/14/the-polls-you-wont-hear-much-about/

[lovethesinner]

02:57 PM on 01/15/2008

An irrate and defensive Rep. John Lewis (GA) made a fool of himself and Hillary's campaign last night on PBS' Newshour in an interview by Judy Woodruff with Rev. Joseph Lowery: Co-Founder, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and supporter of Obama for President.

As Rev. Lowery continually handed out the olive branch to Lewis, he swated it back to stir the pot of "divisevness" for the Clintons. It was a sad performance, made even more so by the patience of Joseph Lowery's attempts to help Lewis come back into the light.

If you didn't get chance to see it, here's a link to the transcript and streaming video:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june08/race_01-14.html

It is interesting to note that, just like Obama's relevance in politics has outgrown the era of Bush/Clinton, his supporters have also moved beyond that era. Rep. Lewis and James Carville would like us the think that a bell can't be un-rung, but they forget that some of us have chosen to stop reacting to it. A little boy, or girl, may cry wolf, but that doesn't mean we will continue to come running.

[sarnold49]

02:50 PM on 01/15/2008

For all those calling Hillary a repuke or saying that she will be another Bush:

Please explain why the repukes HATE her so much?

They have a very strong history of loving their own no matter what, Just look at Joe LIEberman and Zell(crazy as a loon)Miller!

[msmaggie]

02:40 PM on 01/15/2008

Well we have finally arrived at the point where the media no longer just reports the news, they create the news. Sorta eliminates the middle man.

This is a complete load of crap. It's odd that most regular old people are able to look beyond race and gender and confine it to the "dustbin of history"; the media just keeps picking at the same old scabs.

[Ramirez]

02:28 PM on 01/15/2008

From the brilliant David Brooks:
****

"The problem is that both the feminist movement Clinton rides and the civil rights rhetoric Obama uses were constructed at a time when the enemy was the reactionary white male establishment. Today, they are not facing the white male establishment. They are facing each other."


Read the whole thing here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/opinion/15brooks.html?ex=1358139600&en=d6425b0148edd576&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

[jerthree]

02:27 PM on 01/15/2008

I think Congressman Rangel need to do his work on the Hill and stop with his bullshit we don't need another Bush that's what we will get if Hillary becomes President. I want something new not old that inludes Old Charlie give someone else a chance Charlie its time for a change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NCYvonne]

02:23 PM on 01/15/2008

Don't worry, Obama supporters. Most people don't follow Cable news, blogs or politics very closely.

Based on what was reported on Good Morning America, NBC News and the Today Show, this LOOKS BAD FOR THE CLINTONS!

They only thing they see in the big picture is white people who are desperate to win an election trying to remind people that their opponent is black and therefore can't be trusted.

[NCYvonne]

02:22 PM on 01/15/2008

Don't worry, Obama supporters. Most people don't follow Cable news, blogs or politics very closely.

Based on what was reported on Good Morning America, NBC News and the Today Show, this LOOKS BAD FOR THE CLINTONS!

They only thing they see in the big picture is white people who are desperate to win an election trying to remind people that their opponent is black and therefore can't be trusted.

[bIgTeX]

02:10 PM on 01/15/2008

When does she actually speak for herself..? I mean I have never seen someone with more handlers in my life. Do you think she actually feeds herself?

[plutorage]

02:06 PM on 01/15/2008

It is interesting how the "civil rights movement" is thought of as ending in 1968 when MLK was assasinated and the 68 civil rights act passed a week later (see "wikipedia").

At the time of his death MLK was in the process of broadening the movement beyond civil rights to "poverty" and "anti-war" and other activism for social change.

In a sense Obama is taking up where MLK left off while people like Lewis in the story above talk of the need for "dynamic leadership" and support Hilary Clinton while tyring to point out that Obama is no MLK. When Hilary is elected, the narrow interests of Lewis and his constituency will no doubt be well served and that is as it should be. But don't expect the goal of racial equality to get very far. What we need now is for a black quarterback to win the super bowl.

[AnninCA]

01:59 PM on 01/15/2008

This truly has been a valuable discussion.

I can see the racial divide very clearly.

And I will vote accordingly.

I am Caucasian, and I will not let racial bitterness and paranoia control my vote.

I'm glad this issue came to the forefront.

This white gal is going to vote for the white gal. She clearly represents me better than a Black guy.

[mrJJ]

01:28 PM on 01/15/2008

A machine that divides or a movement that unites?

The Old guard will pick the ole playbook of diviseness ala Karl Rove.

I'll go with a movement that wants to look forward and unite. I don't care too much for re-runs.

[TekBoss]

01:26 PM on 01/15/2008

ATTENTION! YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE! All media persons, may I have your attention.

Outside this door is a shiny silver ball of aluminum foil. The first journalist to unveil its secrets will gain 100 rating points.

OK everybody, as soon as they are all outside, sht the damn door and don't let them back in. They are all a bunch of morons.