Southern Discomfort: Dems To Battle Over Black Vote

Looking ahead to South Carolina: As for the next South Carolina battle, the pressure for a win moves from Clinton to Obama. If the Nevada exit poll results among blacks and whites is duplicated by Obama in South Carolina, the race might not be close. And, on paper, there's an argument that it shouldn't be. Then again, Clinton's chief ally -- her fired up husband -- is vowing to make the state competitive as he promises to go church-to-church and door-to-door in the state's black community, just like he went casino-to-casino in Nevada. Don't under estimate his belief that he personally turned things around in Nevada; that should give him carte blanche in South Carolina, right? The Clintons are now 2 for 2 as Bill has become the attack dog. And then there's John Edwards. If he fades like he did in Nevada, where does his vote go? Our last MSNBC-McClatchy poll indicated he shares similar demographic support groups with Clinton. It's going to be a fascinating week, with all the pressure now on Obama.

Read more here.

Comments

[CharlotteNH]

10:44 AM on 01/21/2008

How does Obama defend himself against the outright lies, misrepresentations, and dirty tricks coming from Bill, Hillary, and Penn et al?

He must respond quickly and forcefully.
That Hillary has been able to gain union support when she sat on the WalMart Board, Mark Penn was directly involved in union busting, and AFSCME supported her on the basis of her health care mandate when the union members and McEntee himself do not support a mandate, is astounding.

That Hillary has been able to play the experience card without any specifics is astounding.

That Hillary would like us to believe that her 8 years as First Lady uniquely qualifies her to "be ready on day one", is astounding especially when Bill and Hillary are blocking the release of the archives which leads one to believe that there's either something to hide or, in fact, nothing to support her contention.


That Bill Clinton accused the Obama campaign of suppressing the vote in Nevada, when the only story reported was that Bill Clinton was inside caucus rooms "intimidating" caucus goers, is astounding.

The Clintons seem to have learned "spin" from Karl Rove and others from the Bush administration: What you say will be reported regardless of the truth. The media is doing a very poor job of getting at the truth.

What Barack needs to say is: "I had hoped that this campaign would be about the issues and which candidate could best lead this country in a new direction. However, both Hillary and Bill Clinton have so distorted the facts that truth is the loser. When I feel my record is distorted, my statements are misrepresented or taken out of context, and/or the media doesn't take their responsibility to fact check seriously, I will speak up. Voters have difficult choices - if they cast their ballots based on the truth, this country will take a giant step forward no matter who is the Democratic nominee or who ultimately wins the November election."

[independentrepublicrat]

07:52 AM on 01/21/2008

Quote from the AP: [Obama's] campaign manager, David Plouffe, was far more pointed in a written statement that accused the Clinton campaign of "an entire week's worth of false, divisive attacks designed to mislead caucus-goers and discredit the caucus itself."Whatever the hard feelings, Clinton told supporters they would fade by the fall general election campaign. "We will all be united in November," she said, as the crowd chanted "HRC, HRC." [end quote] ---------------------------------------------------- I have said this time and again. The Clintons believe that no matter what lies, dirty politics, race-baiting, xenophobia inciting, lying, misreprensenting, amoral campaign they run, that Democrats in general---and Blacks specifically---will have no choice but to support them in November if they are successful in stealing this nomination. I beg to differ. I hope all intelligent Democrats of good conscience will vote for a change in the political party by NOT supporting her if she robs the public of a chance at an honest debate and a substantive choice for president. Don't vote for Billary in the fall under any circumstance; make a stand about your morals and your values as a party. Blacks more than others should always stand up for right because they, since inception, have been the true moral conscience of this nation; FACT!

[jrizal]

12:05 AM on 01/21/2008

The race to the nomination is already devolving and dividing along class, race, sex and age lines. Women support Hillary in greater numbers than Obama. So do Hispanics. Older voters go for Hillary, while younger voters go for Obama. The working class is going for Hillary, while the well educated, upper class go for Obama. That's human nature.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

08:34 PM on 01/20/2008

Its really very simple, its not about black or white, its about all of us. We are all on the same bus, there is no first class, no tourist class, its one class. If that bus crashes, we all go down. This is why, you have to ask yourselves, what is really important to you? What will give you peace of mind? What does having peace of mind mean to you? What are you really willing to pay for it? Peace of mind is having single payer healthcare ensuring all of us get medical treatment, no refusals. That is peace of mind. Its knowing someone will end this war, bring our families back, our jobs back, give us a living wage, not a minimum wage. Instead of courting blacks or whites, they need to court all of us, regardless of color, race, religion, sex, not make empty campaign promises, but promises they will keep. This bus has the potential to move all of us forward, or backward if you fail to make choices that mean something to you. Initially it might cost a bit more for that healthcare, but if we get someone willing to value a living wage, it won't matter. That won't be an issue. It is about morals, but not how republicans think. Priests are suppose to have morals too, and we all saw how that went. Folks, don't choose over skin color, choose who is going to take us on this bus forward. Same bus, we control it, how are you going to stear it?

[vsign]

06:46 PM on 01/20/2008

I feel like my only hope now is Bill. Please Bill, fight off this Obama character and win. His character is too much like Hitler. Obama can't fight off Osama - he is too much like him. Does Obama have no shame. Get off the podium Obama - you have lost. We see behind the mask and you are dangerous.

[ConcernAmerican]

05:35 PM on 01/20/2008

The race card was played in the PRESENCE of Obama when he was guest speaker at Apollo Theatre. Chris Rock made an introduction all the brothers must unite behind Obama against the "white lady". Even Oprah during her speech in SC had racism in her own words. What I find disconcerting the media did not report, but if it was anyone in the Clinton campaign that media will talk about it.

The comment of Hillary about LBJ and MLK was not a racist remark, it was accurate. But Obama campaigners made it racist and spewed it to whoever wanted to listen. Even this blog, any comments you make about Obama you're called a racist or a bigot.

Obama have created divisiveness amongst the race in this country due to his divide and conquer attitude. In his speech he always pound the pulpit he's a uniter but the real action in the ground when the microphone is muted, is the exact opposite.

His hunger and grand ambition to be the nominee he has created a rip with civil rights activists.

His speech change state to state, he's not consistent. He talks about ideologies, hopes and dreams when our country has bigger problem like our ECONOMY, we ARE in RECESSION. Does anyone of you here think feel good words is enough to solve the problems our country?

[Florida08]

04:36 PM on 01/20/2008

I am confused. What is the "race card"?

We all know what is purported to be Hillary's race card....MLK -LBJ. So let me ask you if the following are race cards?

Obama speaks at black churches and on election circuit of his following in the footsteps of Martin Luther King.

Obama speaks of Martin Luther King frequently.

Obama speaks of his activism in Chicago and black neighborhoods.

Obama speaks of drug use and African America males

Are these race cards? Does this bring race into the issue?

This confuses me as when debating this subject, I hear that only Obama can talk about African Americans and his participation. Are others not allowed to speak of their own experiences with Martin Luther King, or civil rights etc?

[LaFeminazi]

04:34 PM on 01/20/2008

Never lose sight of who the real enemies are.

American Enterprise Institute
Bradley Foundation
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Henry Jackson Society
Hudson Institute
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Project for the New American Century
Strategic Studies Group GEES

[geobushono]

04:25 PM on 01/20/2008

is it ok if I point out that the latino (mexicans-americans)vote went for clinton because our newly arrived latino brothers and sisters do not consider the AA Community their natural ally.......in fact, they recognize they are displacing AAs in the job market, and it is part the reasoning for why they'll vote for an anglo.......not because they like her, but because they won't threaten her and can count on her to leave the borders open for their cousins.
I just call 'em as I see 'em down here in sunny El Paso TX.

EDWARDS for President 08

[hjo4]

04:23 PM on 01/20/2008

President Clinton and President Carter are the only 2 presidents that have ever left office and instead of sitting on their back sides traveled around their world. They have helped people in need.
Helped people in need, that makes me happy, but Black males lead the nation with the homicide rate, they have the highest umemployment rate, the largest population in prison,the second highest in the high school drop out rate, has the largest number of fatherless children and highest morality rate.Senator Clinton has said she has 35 yrs of experience, what has she done to help the underclass.President Clinton has his shadow office on W 125th St in Harlem, NY, they talk a good game,but for the life of me I havn't heard,seen or know of anything they have done to help Black males and others help themselves.They still take our vote for granted.But this is a new day for them, us and the old Black guard it's called Senator Obama.Hillary since you've done nothing to help us but give us game, it's unlikely that you'll get our votes.Also for the Black politicans who supported you, they too may be looking for new jobs, when their terms expire.

[lovethesinner]

04:21 PM on 01/20/2008

To GE, (parent company of MSNBC, worlds largest manufacturer of military hardware, parent of Raytheon, creator and supplier of the first and all nuclear weapons to the U.S. and Israel) it makes no difference whether John McCain or Hillary Clinton win in '08. That's why MSNBC, Chuck Todd, Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews keep pounding the race issue, as if it was anything more than tabloid journalism.

And GE has help. Wolf Blitzer (former lobbiest for AIPAC) is stuttering the story for CNN, also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Blitzer#Career

The thing that GE fears is having to deal with someone outside the POWER ELITE, to stay in business.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Elite#Power_Elite_Groups

You might wonder, does anyone besides Hillary benefit from Bill Clinton's constant niggling? (it's a word, look it up)

Perhaps the Council on Foreign Relations? (Richard Holbrooke, current Bill and Hillary foreign policy advisor) Perhaps the "American Union" guys? Papa Bush's "New World Order"?

Dems aren't doing battle over the black vote, it's the MSM whose using race as a way to keep their bosses, the Power Elite on top. It isn't just the Democrats that are suffering from this narrative, it's the whole free world.

By splitting the latino and African-American vote, Bill and Hillary can get the nomination. But in doing so, is it possible that they can win in the general election against a team of Republicans who will scream "she's for driver's licences for illegal aliens!"

The battle isn't for votes, it's for killing votes. The votes of the American people who are sick of being mislead and robbed.

Obama in '08

[CLMMIT]

04:16 PM on 01/20/2008

The clintons seem to think that black folks are stupid. Going to every blck church and knocking on every thing does not mean nothing. What they don't understand is that once black folk make up their minds that's it. Most of these churches and houses where he will go made up their minds to vote for Obama when he entered the race. The clintons think that they are entitled to our votes. What make them think this. As far as me and my house we are voting for Obama. They are power hungry, and will do and say any thing for vote. Give me a break.
Obama South Carolina!

[MartinEdwinAndersen]

04:13 PM on 01/20/2008

Memo to Hillary Clinton:

Tomorrow we are celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, not Lyndon B. Johnson Day.

[LaFeminazi]

04:04 PM on 01/20/2008

I am enjoying Giuliani's Florida fantasy.

"I'm gonna make the biggest tax cut in history!"

Sure sure, with a smashed economy and two wars people are going to fall for that shit.

Oh damn, its America, I forgot.

Just wait until the insurance companies who insured all the silly loans start going to the wall, and the stock markets take a real hit.

I believe fiscal conservatism is due for a comeback.

[sjl106]

04:04 PM on 01/20/2008

With all the establishment media, republicans, and the majority of the blogs all promoting and campaigning for Obama, you all are whining about Bill? LOL HE IS GREAT, He stopped the vicious smear campaign against Hillary and got the country (voters) talking issues, because the media wouldn't do their job.
The Observer published:

State Package for Hillary Clinton
By Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

This is not the first time you have seen Hillary Clinton seemingly at her wits’ end, but she has always risen, always risen, don’t forget she has always risen, much to the dismay of her adversaries and the delight of her friends.

Hillary Clinton will not give up on you and all she asks of you is that you do not give up on her.

There is a world of difference between being a woman and being an old female. If you’re born a girl, grow up, and live long enough, you can become an old female. But to become a woman is a serious matter. A woman takes responsibility for the time she takes up and the space she occupies. Hillary Clinton is a woman. She has been there and done that and has still risen. She is in this race for the long haul. She intends to make a difference in our country. Hillary Clinton intends to help our country to be what it can become.

She declares she wants to see more smiles in the family, more courtesies between men and women, more honesty in the marketplace. She is the prayer of every woman and man who longs for fair play, healthy families, good schools, and a balanced economy.
She means to rise.

Don’t give up on Hillary. In fact, if you help her to rise, you will rise with her and help her make this country the wonderful, wonderful place where every man and every woman can live freely without sanctimonious piety and without crippling fear.

Rise, Hillary.
Rise.