Spike Lee: Hillary And "Massuh" Clinton Would "Lie On A Stack Of Bibles"

Director Spike Lee was asked about his political leanings this season. He had kind words for Sen. Obama, even taking credit for his marriage to Michelle:

I'm riding my man Obama. I think he's a visionary. Actually, Barack told me the first date he took Michelle to was Do the Right Thing. I said, "Thank God I made it. Otherwise you would have taken her to Soul Man. Michelle would have been like, 'What's wrong with this brother?' "

However, Lee attacked the Clintons, calling them liars who drag along black politicians as subservients:

The Clintons, man, they would lie on a stack of Bibles. Snipers? That's not misspeaking; that's some pure bullshit. I voted for Clinton twice, but that's over with. These old black politicians say, "Ooh, Massuh Clinton was good to us, massuh hired a lot of us, massuh was good!" Hoo! Charlie Rangel, David Dinkins--they have to understand this is a new day. People ain't feelin' that stuff. It's like a tide, and the people who get in the way are just gonna get swept out into the ocean.

Read the whole interview here.

Comments

[LarryKingBarelyAlive]

The Clintons discarded the Black Community in favour of pandering to the White Working class and to Latinos. The Clintons take their lead from Karl Rove.

Hillary's veteran Latino political operative Sergio Bendixen was quoted in The New Yorker last January as saying : "The Hispanic voter -- has not shown a lot of willingness or affinity to support black candidates­."

The Clintons use people and dump them as soon as they serve their purpose. This attitude also applies to any State which didn't vote for Mrs. Clinton - " they don't matter".

[calicutie]

spike kept it real.

couldn't agree more.

the old guard needs to sit down, help, or move out of the way!

[PNolan]

Well, I won't pay to see another Spike Lee film.

[veracal]

There is a generational divide between black people of the civil rights era (DInkins, Rangel, Lewis, et al) and younger black people. Its an important topic and Spike is right to talk about it. Those of you who think any discussion of race is equivalent to race baiting or playing the race card are truly among the denial based community.

[NDUBB]

With veterans of SCLC such as such as C.T. Vivian, Wyatt Tee Walker, Dorothy Cotton and Jesse Jackson, and John Lewis backing Obama (which J.Lewis did later), I don’t think it’s generational divide.
Those 2 who you mentioned are NY politicians and HRC has much sway in NY. The NY governor & others down the line will pledge delegate votes for HRC. I think it has to do with the Clintons cashing in on favors and the question on whether those mentioned feel compelled that they owe the Clintons something. Voting for her based on paying them back and ignoring their own convictions.

[inthecolour]

Will people ever stop throwing around the terms "racist" and "racism" so loosely?

There is NOTHING "racist" about what Spike Lee said. You can disagree with his comments, but calling them racist is just flat out inaccurate. He is addressing the very real issue of some black Democratic leaders who feel that African Americans owe the Clinton's their vote. He has a right to express his dislike of this point of view. Using colorful language that invokes the historical tradition of slavery in the U.S. does not make him a racist.

[ApolloniaCreed]

I'm sorry... Please, let's not take Mr. Lee's comments too seriously.­.. This was hilarious!

[lawchic]

For those calling Lee's comments "race baiting"' you have not been paying attention. Many black leaders have discussed "loyalty" to the Clintons based on what they have "done for Black people." The flip side is the Black leaders, who support Obama, and brow beat other Black people who will not stand behind him. Both positions would be comical if they were not so sad.

As Spike alluded to, blind loyalty to a candidate based on what "they have done for Blacks," is not only foolish, it is destructive. It is one of the main reasons why Blacks have voted the Democratic party line for so many years without really evaluating if it was in our best interests to do so. It also symbolizes the type of "slave mentality" that occurred post-Reconstruction where many Blacks didn't want to leave the plantation because their "Massahs" had been "good to them"; despite the fact that they did not have any rights, endured back breaking labor for nothing, and were denied education. This isn't race baiting, it's drawing a stark parallel to a historical fact.

As far as the flip side, that's just as bad. I refuse to believe that just because a candidate and I have the same color skin, everything is going to be flowers and rainbows when he gets into office. However, I will evaluate him against the other candidates, and if I feel he is the best for the job, I will proudly vote for him.

[asere]

Spike is a New Yorker; New Yorkers learn at an early age to speak their minds.No BS, just lay it down.
That's why folks in other parts of the country have trouble relating to those of us from the Metropolitan Area.

[verlaine]

Thank God for Spike Lee!!

Hillary Clinton has always been totally full of CRAP

[Julia1023]

Except that, aside from Mr. Big Mouth Lee, Obama got the SMACK DOWN in New York. SMACK DOWN.

[deejsmom]

really? what election results are you looking at?

[cathye]

Perhaps that was because some of the districts, for some unknown reason, mysteriously reported 0 votes for Obama.

I wonder if that's been straightened out.

[onfire]

The point I was making about Spike Lee is that many of his film contain homophobic material. He who is without sin throw the first stone. To Mr. Lee gay people are "the other.' This is equivalent to racist thinking-Demonizing the Other-making fun of those you have no positive regard for and are willing to trash. I support Senator obama but i hope he does not surround himself with people like Spike lee.

[deejsmom]

I think he was just speaking as a voter - he is not part of the Obama campaign or circle.

[onfire]

Spike has reduced this to a racist thing-and that is not good for Obama. Let us not feel we have to attack one to support the other. Plus, Spike Lee has included many homophobic slurs in his films-I guess he thinks that's okay. That is not just a monopoly though of black folks-whites are just as despicable when it comes to homophobic remarks-but it is funny how so many African-Americans sheepishly following Christianity-a religion that condoned slavery for a very long time. To me he has done some entertaining films but a lot of it is just jive. If supporters of Seator Obama want him to win then they should tout his achievements as a human being, not as a "Black man." All this color stuff should be thrown out. Plus I know many racist African Americans. Afriend of mine just had to move out of Harlem as a result of the insults, assaults, and taunts that he constantly received at the hands of his African-American neighbors. But i guess that does not count.

[MinerSam]

What does "Riding Obama" mean?

In 2004 Karl Rove put anti-LBG marriage in 11 states and got an extra 3Million votes. They also gave millions to blacks minister brigning many black votes.

Obama has been using Republican Talking Points against Hillary. And this "Unida not a Divida" STOPPED a vote recount in Michigan and Florida, Despite contributors willing to pay for Michigan, and it was in both states that the Republicn legislatures caused the breaking of the Democratic rules.


Obama is collaborating with the Republican controlled Media and using Republican Talking Points from back in the 1990s against Hillary. Hillary had nothing to gain from misremembering what occured between that corkscrew landing IN A WAR ZONE and the armored vehicle they ended up in...BUT NOT ONE PEEP in the Republican Media (TEMPORARILY Obama TV..Till he wins, then the Swifboating of him will be aired 24/7),.Not one peep about what Hillary did achieve diplomatically during that visit to Boznia...

50% of young people (who have no historic perspective) get their news from CNN and MSNBC online. No wonder so many support Obama.

This shows the power of Media. He who controls it controls the agenda. This was learned with Hitler's and the cause of the Holocaust: Mis-use of the Media: He and the "architect" of his campaign, to their delight, discovered that if you repeat lies often enough people will believe that they are true.
.

[deejsmom]

are you serious? first of all, if young people are anything like my 20 somethings and 19 year old kids, they DO NOT watch main stream media - they get the majority of their news online....

second, to suggest that Obama is in bed with the right wing is the most laughable conspiracy theory to date - other than Keith Olberman, most of the media are not pro-Obama, and Olberman only recently when Clinton endorsed McCain as more qualified as CiC... so, either you are smoking something - because that is not what is on television­...good try, but no cigar.

[qwr]

Whatever. I don't know why you are invoking the Third Reich, but look at the record: Obama's record is to the left of Clinton's. She is far more "Republican" than him, mainly because Obama was not in the Senate when Clinton voted for the nightmare legislation dreamt up in Cheney's evil brain. Because as we all know, Clinton voted for all of it. She took no stand on any issue. Once the country tacked left, she tacked left.

[Shantee]

Exactly, and the Clintons are geniuses at systematically brainwashing the working class into believing they feel their pain; because as you said if you repeat lies enough, people will believe they are true.

I'ronically, the working class voters in PA, KY, WV and elsewhere will not see the class dimensions of this contest. Instead the innuendo, recently heightened by the Wright flap, being spread to this class of voters is that their interests align them with the Clintons, mostly supported by the fatcats rather than Obama whose campaign reflects the power of the little guy. Yet Clinton is perceived as the candidate of the "downscale" voters while Obama is seen as the candidate of latte-sipping upsclae voters. Speaking of strange logic!'

[sherbug]

MinerSam, you are ridiculous. Obama did not stop the vote count in Michigan and Florida. Michigan and Florida, by whatever means, held their primary outside the rules of the DNC. They were well aware of the consequences, yet they went forward. All Democratic candidates agreed not to campaign in these states. Why is it now Obama's fault that Michigan and Florida's votes don't count. Why should he agree to a privately funded revote. That stinks of unfair.

You sound like you don't like Obama, which is your right. However, blaming him for Michigan and Florida is just what Hillary wants you to do. The blame for Michigan and Florida lies with the governments of Michigan and Florida, not Obama.

[JimR]

"Obama has been using Republican Talking Points against Hillary."

Like what?

" And this "Unida not a Divida" STOPPED a vote recount in Michigan and Florida, Despite contributors willing to pay for Michigan, and it was in both states that the Republicn legislatures caused the breaking of the Democratic rules."

Vote recount? Do you mean revote? Obama didn't stop anything, but it's flattering you think he has such awesome, far-reaching power! The Democrats in each state decided against a revote. Even if there was a revote, it would have to be done in a hurry and by definition there would be lots of problems, and probably lawsuits.

Not sure about Michigan, but in Florida it was a unanimous vote to change the date of the primary. So while the Republicans led the charge, the Democrats went along with it.

"Hillary had nothing to gain from misremembering what occured between that corkscrew landing IN A WAR ZONE and the armored vehicle they ended up in."

Sure she did. It helped her look tough. By the way, did you know that the war in Bosnia had ended 3 months before her visit? Darn those facts!

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/hillarys_adventures_abroad.html

"Not one peep about what Hillary did achieve diplomatically during that visit to Boznia..."

See above link.

"50% of young people (who have no historic perspective) get their news from CNN and MSNBC online."

Source?

[livesimply]

Spike Lee is a brilliant writer and director. He's quite quirky, but he's an artist. He has a right to his opinions just as everyone else. Doesn't help or hurt Obama one way or another.

[2008andbeyond]

He's also had racist language in his films. It's art and it is meant to represent the real words that people say. You got to put it out there and have people see and discuss it instead of sanitizing it to save feelings.

Do you believe that a director that puts a rape scene in their movie supports sexual abuse? No. It's a story.

[monique]

"sanitizing it to save feelings?"

Gee, wouldn't that be ridiculous to actually consider the feelings of other human beings and not just say every mean, rude, insult that pops into your pathetic brain?!

It is called civility. It is called decency. It is called consideration and respect and basic kindness.

This race and Obama's supporters are making me sick. They are turning people who are not even racist into racists.

Spike Lee is educated. You would expect more from him. I am so sick of all of this hate. It is disgusting. When I say I might vote for McCain, things have gotten bad.

[oafishcad]

Mr. Lee's comments about the Clintons are racist. He should stop defending Senator Obama. The Democratic Party needs to show a little more civility to members of its own party unless we want President McCain.

[bailey2006]

YOu must lead a very sheltered life to not know that many of the very old time blacks still speak in that manner. That is how they were taught to speak to whites back then.

Spike Lee was simply saying something the old black folks say and saying it exactly as they would say it.

[MinerSam]

The older black folks, especially those who worked for civil rights, support Hillary.
President Clinton appologized for slavery and when he left the White House moved his office to 125st in Harlem, during a time when white people were still afraid to walk there.

It is Obama and his campaign that has been playing the race card. Claiming that any critisim of him is racist. It began on MSNBC where Chris Mathews implied the above one night and then DURING THE DAY that South Carolina was going to vote Tim Russert obsessed for ours that Bill's conversation with REPORTERS WHO DO IT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK about *DEMOGRAPHICS" was racist.

Only 2 nights ago CNN (which is to Journalism what painting by numbers is to Art) had a big sign "Hillary Playing the Race Card?"

The Republicans (and Obama EFFECTIVELY in colaboration with them) Have been controlling the Democratic Primary. And they have us just where they want us, by inventing Racism where is does not exist and Obama using Republican PR operative Frank Lunz's book as the model for his campaign: "It's not what you say but what people hear." Which should be called: "It's what you imply and who you implicate with lies"

[lovethesinner]

Racist? You mean Realist. And excising the plantation mentality of the Democratic party is necessary. Lee is correct to call into question the value of loyalty to members over loyalty to party, or more importantly loyalty to pricipal. The Clintons are very odd creatures in the Democratic party. Consider the DLC, Bill and Hillary's ties to big business, and the even stranger affiliation of them with "The Fellowship" conservatives of Douglas Coe. By pointing out the lack of authenticity of both Bill and Hillary, Spike Lee is speaking for a lot of us:

The change in American politics isn't coming, IT HAS ARRIVED.

Obama-Webb '08

[adl]

Please look up the definition of racism.

[CitizenTess]

Beautiful Spike!!! Tell the TRUTH!!!

[Julia1023]

Right. Suddenly Spike Lee is the voice of America. Yeah. He doesn't speak for all African Americans. As usually, he should just stick with making movies. Some years ago, many of you who are patting him on the back were calling HIM a racist because of his films, but let him make some pro-Obama remark (as he would), then he's suddenly speaking for mainstream America. Just goes to show the two faced thing works for Senator Obama as well as those who support him.

[adl]

CitizenTess didn't say "Beautiful Spike!!! Tell the TRUTH!!! You're speaking for America" I think it's safe to say that she's speaking for herself. You sure read a lot into her post.

[jayburd]

Spike, I love your movies but please stay away from the Senator. You don't have a great track record when it comes to helping people win things. Remember the '90s and the Knicks?

[veracal]

LOL, don't blame Spike for the Knicks!!

[apresdeluge]

This is beyond ridiculous. Can't he just promote his chosen candidate without insulting the Clintons and playing yet another race card from the Obama side? We'll be lucky if this kind of talk (and that of Rev Wright) don't set race relations back several decades.

To refer to the Clintons as racist is way beyond acceptable.

[kittyma]

Does it trouble you that he acknowleges and reminds us, that blacks had to call whites "massa"? It is not racist to say that blacks were slaves and then were made to be subserviant even after slavery. It is just a fact of history, whether we like it or not. And to quote Bob Marley there is something real called "mental slavery" that was very much in existence up to 40 years ago and still exists in any way, but to a far lesser extent. We have to be careful that we don't start to think that acknowledging historical fact is racist.

Where has he insulted the Clintons? He has said something that we all know that hey have lied repeatedly. This is a fact. He has also accused them of dragging along black politicians as subservients. That is fair comment. You may disagree, but it is a fair comment, not an insult.

Who he has insulted is the black politicians, not the Clintons. And even that insult is actually something which is discussable.

Every mention of race is not racism.

[deejsmom]

well said!

[jp5472]

This really should have been the "HuffPost's pick". All Spike Lee does here is out and out call the HRC multiple "misspeak" what they truly are - BS! This country had enough of BS from WJC eight years ago and surely that is one of the reasons that the election in 2000 was as close as it was - too many people believing that GWB actually was a man of his word and felt soiled by the shenanigans of the previous eight years and wanted a change. Now here we are not even out of the primaries yet and HRC has proven to be just as much of a liar, but a pathetically bad one at that. If you are going to lie, at least don't lie repeatedly about matters so ridiculously easy to refute. Many have said over decades that the Clinton's use people, and Spike Lee is just reiterating it here...cal­ling the older black politicians on their allegiance. Your comments about race are entirely true as well. Thank you.

[brooklyncitizen]

The truth hurts doesn't it?
forget acceptable­....new day.

[plooger]

How is this guy saying b-s "playing yet another race card from the Obama side"? Lee is a private citizen, not a member of the Obama campaign, so his comments are no more from Obama's side than that of any John Q Blogger.

Sheesh.

[Shantee]

It's not that the Clintons are racists, but that they are opportunists using the 'race card'. There's a huge difference.

We're insulting the Clintons, because many democrats are finding themselves insulted by the Clintons. We have finally woken up and realized that we've been had by the Clintons; and that in many respects the Repbulicans were right about the Clintons all along.

'Last night on Nightly News, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell examined a little-known yet influential Christian group, The Fellowship, which sponsors the annual National Prayer Breakfast that many Washington politicians attend (including presidents and the two Democrats running for president this year). The Fellowship, however, also seems something out of a Dan Brown novel -- it’s secretive, it has had ties to some unsavory third-world leaders, and its leader, Doug Coe, has said things in the past that have appeared to praise Hitler (at least his organizational skills) and oddly honor Chairman Mao.
Well, as Mitchell and others have reported, Hillary Clinton has participated in its smaller prayer groups and "has called Coe a spiritual mentor" and guide. In many ways, Clinton’s ties to The Fellowship don’t compare to Obama and Rev. Wright -- Coe isn’t her pastor, she has never given him or his group money, and "has never heard the controversial things he’s said." ???
Yet Clinton, when recently criticizing Obama over Wright, said you choose who your pastor is.

But isn’t that also true of spiritual advisers?'

[meanguy]

using the race card has always been the #1 tactic of the obama camp-any criticism of the 'obamessiah' has inevitably led to charges of 'racism'..­.spike lee is just saying loudly what the obama campaign have been whispering from day one: 'the clintons are bigots'! if that's the tactic (victimology 101) they choose to employ, spike lee is THE poster boy...he's in a perpetual 'win-win'; if he succeeds, he's done it IN SPITE of rampant racism designed to "keep the brother down", and if he fails, it's not his fault, "the racist system kept him down". this works pretty well with the democratic party, but has a tendency to fail in general elections; the electorate is pretty tolerant, but will turn their backs on a 'whiner'

[monique]

No, he can't support his candidate without trashing the Clintons.

It is rare to find an Obama supporter who can simply support their candidate, without outright venomously hating and attacking Hillary.

It is pathetic. And it makes you not want to support Obama should he get the nomination.

And to hear Spike Lee talk like this? It is disgusting and irresponsible.