Obama Backer: Irreparable Breach Between Clinton And Blacks Is Foreseeable

A key Obama supporter in North Carolina said it was "foreseeable" that an "irreparable breach" had been created between the black community and the Clintons as a byproduct of conduct during the Democratic campaign.

Rep. G.K. Butterfield, a African American Democrat from North Carolina, was asked on a conference call to respond to comments reported earlier in the day by Rep Jim Clyburn, in which he qualified former president Bill Clinton's recent primary conduct as "bizarre."

"Jim Clyburn is my very best friend in the U.S. Congress and he and I talk on and off the record every day of the week," said Butterfield, who predicted that the race in North Carolina would ultimately be decided by single-digits. "That said, I had not read his comments... But politics by its very nature is a competitive process and there have been times when Sen. Clinton has walked up to the line and there has been a time or two when she has stepped over the line in terms of her comments... Whether there is an irreparable breach, I don't think we are at the point right now where we are at an irreparable breach, but it is foreseeable and that is why I encourage civility."

In the days leading up to the Pennsylvania primary, Bill Clinton was quoted on a local radio station as blaming the Obama campaign for "playing the race card" on him. A day later, he denied that he had ever made such a remark. In an interview in Friday's New York Times, Clyburn responded to the episode, as well as other Clinton remarks, by saying: "black people are incensed over all of this."

Comments

[StillAmused]

This is the rankest form of racial extortion!

"there have been times when Sen. Clinton has walked up to the line and there has been a time or two when she has stepped over the line in terms of her comments"

NAME 'EM! Paraphrasing 'someone' -- who quoted someone quoting someone -- won't cut it.

... and spare us the manufactured, press-cropped, debunked 'Jesse Jackson' flap in South Carolina.

Got something, Rep. Butterfield? Spit it up, or blow it out your exhaust port. We're getting more than enough reckless innuendo -- against BOTH candidates -- from the brain-dead press.

[nellie]

You're completely missing the point. You don't have to be African American to know race baiting, but If you're not African American yourself, you may not be able to recognize race baiting when you hear it—especially if that is accepted speech in your circles. Usually when I encounter someone who is unwilling to trust the target of race baiting when they say it's race baiting—whether that target be African Americans, Latinos, American Indians, Asians—it usually indicates that when it comes to race, they're tone deaf from listening to too much hate speech. And if you're not one of those people, then try listening instead of talking so much. You might learn something.

[StillAmused]

Who am I to "talk so much"... when you seem to have that covered.

People hear what they WANT to hear. There's "race-baiting", and there's "perceived race-baiting". The latter is entirely in the eyes of the beholder, entirely subjective and -- most importantly -- virtually impossible to refute.

If YOU say I'm insulting your mother, I can deny it till I pass out, but I'll never convince you... or neutral onlookers.

The magic in "the race card" is that, once it's invoked (by either party), it's the elephant in the parlor that never goes away.

Now, YOU'VE learned something.

[Marioth]

Wow...you don't *sound* amused....

[StillAmused]

Wow... you don't sound informed.

[Testtubebaby]

Oh really you're offended? When all America has gotten for seven weeks is WHITE THIS AND WHITE THAT! Yeah your a#@*% are waking up. Without the Black Vote you lose a whole lot of critical states....thank the media, luv.

[StillAmused]

When the Cryptology Department decodes your comment, I'll get back to you.

WTF?

[jelly450]

My take on this is if they give her the nomination after he has more delegates, won more states, won more of the popular vote there will be trouble. Sharpton, Jesse and more will call for something call for AA to stay home. AA are the Dems most loyal and forgiving constituents and this would be a slap in the face. If Hilary thinks she can win the General election without the AA vote she is mistaken. I think not only would she lose this year but she would lose if she ran in 2012. I would also venture to say, that any Dem up for reelection from of the major cities that have a high AA population might also lose. What people have got to realize is she may not be getting the AA vote now, but this is DEM vs DEM. When the Fall comes the Dem Nominee will need the AA vote. Also, it has already been proven that the Rush affect has happened in Ohio, Texas & Penn. These same voters are going to vote for any Dem in the General.

[Bobleblah1]

newfapalooza

You are so right its amazing.
I have been thinking about that for months.
Its amazing how Hillary has just replaced blacks with Hispanics.
her pandering is the stuff of legend. First she's in Texas wearing sombrero's then she's in
Pennsylvania trying to act as Irish as possible, wearing green shamrocks and drinking whiskey.
Hillary Clinton is the most fake politician in America. I can not think of a single American politician that
panders more, or comes off more fraudulent then her. She walks over the ashes of those who help her with no remorse. Wait until it serves her purpose to dis Mexicans, do you have any doubt that she wont jump at the chance to throw Latinos under the bus to score political points?

[lpeggy]

HRC will never...ever...recover the Black vote. That ship has sailed. Because the Black vote helped put her husband in the White House, and stood by him during his impeachment. He was beloved by the Black community. That is why HRC had the large share of the Black vote in the beginning. But as this campaigned progressed, and it looked like Obama was a real threat, then you started seeing the other side of the Clintons and now, after attacking Obama so negatively and playing some subtle and not so subtle race baiting politics, the Black vote is firmly behind Obama.

Not to mention the fact that after the RNC in North Carolina announced their Obama/Rev. Wright smear ad to be launched on Monday. John McCain asked them to stop, and denouced the ad. (yes, of course he did, but they are still going to run it anyway, and he hands still will appear clean...right!) But guess whose campaign when asked FIVE times about it since Wednesday had absolutely no comment? Hillary Clinton. Her campaign sends emails all day long about talking points and answering questions, and as of right now..72 hours later, they still have not condemed the ad. This speaks volumes to the Black community.

The pundits need to be asking this..Can Hillary Clinton gain back the trust of Black voters? And the answer is NO.

[Marioth]

But but but Bill has an office in Harlem!

[jade7243]

Not for long...

[magnitude]

That is just a window dressing!

[rabprevent]

ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE THIS CLEAR IS TO DONATE $10 TODAY TO OBAMA, PASS THIS ON

[ApolloniaCreed]

Everyone said she the most polarizing figure that could possibly run for the nomination... and I guess they were right...

[fayted]

ABSOLUTLY!!!!!!!!!!

[Nyla785]

Anyone who amplifies the divide in the democratic part, from what is essentially the normal competitive process of running in a primary, is surely shooting themselves in the foot. So are those who 'won't vote for the other guy'--a definite case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. The right wing media is helping to hype this divide and these conflicts--and everybody better understand this. They 'use' whatever is available to advance their own interests. Let's not help them with further antagonism. This is a process. It must be gone through. Sometimes it gets rough. We can handle this.

[AurigaRa]

bring it on.
About time black Americans had someone to vote for who might actually consider their rights.
It ain't Hillary and Bill.

[ann1]

If Clinton hadn't lost the black vote she'd be ahead right now. As far as the relationship between the Clintons and AA is concerned, were the levees in New Orleans breached? There you have it!

[harriscrl3]

I've always said that. This was her FATAL mistake in the primary. This and Not paying attention to Caucases. She let him get 90% of the AA vote thats why he trounced her in some places by 30 points. He just got through winning MS a couple fo months ago by 25 points. BIG MISTAKE. If she had managed to split the AA vote with him she would be ahead. Before this election started obama was getting like 30% of the AA vote. Look where he is at now. She ignores caucases didnt bother with AA voters and those two mistakes is what will do her in.

Carol

[oldrwsr]

I agree. If you remember, it wasn't that long ago that Hillary was beating Barack in the black vote. South Carolina and the Clinton campaign are what cost her the black vote.

[patmancando]

You don't think that Rev. Wright and his famous speech saying........."Hillary doesn't know what it means to be called a N****r" wasn't a deliberate attempt to pry the Black vote away from Hillary? The sermon was given in Dec. 07, and was the first use of the race card in this campaign. Jessie Jackson Jr. also played the race card after NH when he said, "I wouldn't put much faith in her tears. She didn't cry for the victims of Katrina."
I saw an interview with the NYT reporter who wrote the Clyburn story and he said, " I think Bill Clinton is very hurt by the accusation of being racist." I have thought all along after Clinton's history with blacks that he must feel devastated; blacks could have supported Obama out of pride without having to destroy Bill CLinton.

[aliceblue]

All this has been calculated on Penn's
calculator. The strategy is to stoke
up the (justifiable) anger of the black
voters and use that to catch the attention
of the much more numerous white
voters.

If she doesn't take North Carolina
by the required 66% (the lowest
possible figure for the next three
states, then the requirement jumps to
80% per state) then the delegates had
better grab their sorry bums and step up.

[gapanther]

There is a very serious issue with the Clinton campaign. Her tactics of an ever changing metric, moving the goal post continuously play into a deep sentiment among minorities. We learn the workings of the system excel at it but are not rewarded for our efforts because someone decided the rules have changed. Not that the rules changed for everyone, just to benefit the one doing the changing. Can someone explain why no one at the DNC has the courage or convictions to call her on these tactics? How will we ever vote for or trust a candidate that would so blatantly violate the system for their own benefit? Haven't we had enough of that for the last 8 years? It feeds the stereo type we have held for decades that our government really does not have our best interest at heart; they just want us around to help win elections, then are ignored and discarded. If you reward Sen. Clinton’s behavior by giving her the nomination, you risk driving a wedge between the minority voter and the Democratic Party that will last for decades.

[TimRivers]

There ARE those out there that speak nightly of the changing metrics you speak of. Unfortunately, it isn't CNN, MSNBC (Olbermann and Abrams excepted), ABC, et al - it is Jon Stewart and Stphen Colbert! It is truly a strange thing when the so-called comedians deliver a better view of what's REALLY happening than the MSM! Jerry Garcia said it best - what a long strange trip its been!

[k6007]

All by design, my friend. All by design.

[harriscrl3]

Hilary Clinton aligned herself with Republicans to destroy Barack Obama a candidate that have a shot at being the first AA President. Did Barack Obama aligned himself with the republicans to DEFEAT Hilary NOPE. Black people now see that Obama knows what it is to be AA man in America. He made a mistake with the bitter comments they all JUMP on him media, republicans, Hilary, McCain. McCain came out and denounce an ad from the GOP in NC. What does HIlary say NOTHING. In the debates where ABC swiftboated even some pundits agree that Hilary was never ask those kinds of questions one after the other in A DEBATE. Hilary was there to twist the knife in with Louis Farrakhan and Hamas. So of course AA are going to start feeling a kinship with him. THats why she will NOT win that nomination unless she can show that she can win the AA vote and so far the percentages that Obama wins gets higher and higher. He could be on point to get 100%. Thats the polarization she has done to the party but they dont talk about that because AA votes means squat. She threw it under the bus and didnt make any reasonable attempt to get it back. The AA vote when it colasce around a candidate do MATTER. Bill Clinton ought to know that. I have no doubt Obama does.

Carol

[mommadona]

You mean the African-American community finally GETS IT?

The Clintonian waggin' the dog has been going on for so long, it looked normal.

They could give a fig about 'feelin' yer pain'....it's all about the gain.

A vote for a DLC candidate of the HIllBill Tagteam is a vote AGAINST your financial and social interests.

Now, can we just get those older WOMEN to understand the same thing?

That dog's not huntin' any longer. Stop waggin' it.

[Hussein2]

Hillary Clinton was considered to be a very divisive candidate when this process began. However at that time the thought was she polarized Dems v. Republicans and possibly independents. Unfortunately, she has proven divisive even within the party and her republican oriented strategy of recent weeks has been very disappointing.

[prisskitajoe]

I agree with what you said. I also agree that Hillary already knows she won't get the nomination, but she is using this primary to bloody Obama so that McCain will win and she will be able to run against McCain in 4 years. She of all people should know that African American's don't forget the people who have done them harm.

[JerryTheAngel]

If Democrats come to the conclusion that Clinton's negative "bloodying" of Obama ends up costing him the election in the fall, there is no way she gets the nomination in 2012. She will not become Majority Leader in the Senate and will become as hated as Ralph Trader is amongst Democrats.

[Tropiholic]

I'm white and believe me, I won't forget either.

[AnnieinOR]

you got it - it just goes to show, it's not the opposite side of the aisle that is the problem - it's Hillary herself!

[prisskitajoe]

I am an African American woman, and I can honestly say that at the start of this primary, I was definitely leaning more towards Hillary. Now, I am ashamed to say that I once thought about voting for her. I'm not like a lot of Obama supporters who are willing to bad mouth Hillary supporters, but I do want to say to you, the African American voters will not sit by and let Hillary or anyone else take this nomination away from Obama. I will personally call every African American radio show I can think of to organize a protest march on the convention in Denver if I have to. Hillary will not get the African American or youth vote if she is the nominee!

[mexamerican]

count me in. it isn't just african americans who refuse to let hillary steal the nomination. there are over a million obama supporters who will jam the streets in denver if obama is leading in delegates and popular votes, and the bigwigs decide they're going to hijack this nomination from the people. we WON"T let it happen. i guarantee it.

[prisskitajoe]

The number are adding up! Thanks everyone. I feel so angry, no bitter, right now. Hillary has really let me know, not only as a democrat, but as a woman.

For those of you who don't believe in the power of the African American, try tuning into any urban radio show if Hillary steals this nomination. Don't get me wrong, we will protest in a civil manner of course. But, our voices will be heard and our votes WILL NOT be counted.

[ann1]

Priss- include me if it comes down to that!

[AurigaRa]

glad to hear it.

[OrangeMocha]

Please count in this 41 year old white woman!

[Cyndee1113]

OrangeMocha and abrauer

Thank you very much!

[Fitzy]

Count in this 61 year old white woman, please.

[PorkBelly]

African American voters will not vote for Clinton if she would get the nomination.

No African American voters=no win in the GE.

How much longer until we can wrap Clinton's egomaniacal freakshow up?