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Toni Morrison On Calling Bill Clinton The First Black President And Endorsing Obama

Time   |  ANDREA SACHS   |   May 8, 2008 09:12 AM

Read More: Bill Clinton Black President, Toni Morrison Bill Clinton, Toni Morrison Clintons, Toni Morrison Endorsement, Tony Morrison, Politics News
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From a new Time magazine interview with Toni Morrison:

Do you regret referring to Bill Clinton as the first black President? --Justin Dews, Cambridge, Mass.


People misunderstood that phrase. I was deploring the way in which President Clinton was being treated, vis-à-vis the sex scandal that was surrounding him. I said he was being treated like a black on the street, already guilty, already a perp. I have no idea what his real instincts are, in terms of race.

Why did you endorse Barack Obama for the presidency? --Chris Francis Lightbourne, Long Island, N.Y.

I thought about voting for Hillary at the beginning. I don't care that she is a woman. I need more than that. Neither his race, his gender, her race or her gender was enough. I needed something else, and the something else was his wisdom.

 

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collapse MARTYB See Profile I'm a Fan of MARTYB

John McCain will be POTUS come November, all he has to do is start saying he will get tough on "illegal aliens", and make a" bow" in the direction of getting out of Iraq ASAP, whenever that will be
and "historical precedence " will do the rest.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:22 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse shockjock See Profile I'm a Fan of shockjock

Bill is an Uncle Tom

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:50 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse rudyinbama See Profile I'm a Fan of rudyinbama

If the treatment of Bill qualified him as black, what did the assassination of Lincoln make him?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:36 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse dumbunny See Profile I'm a Fan of dumbunny

What is "black, white, and red all over?"

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:47 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse schoolmaster See Profile I'm a Fan of schoolmaster

Obama befitted from endorsement of high achievers from black community starting with Oprah. Oprah said ' he(Obama) is the one" Like in the movie Matrix, it means he is the chosen one. To a degree it amounts to playing on the American psyche. Also Obama is the beneficiary of the respect American people, specially Whites developed towards the black community which has produced stalwarts in a variety of fields like music, sports etc and now politics. Such mutual appreciation will eventually break the racial barriers even without further attempts at Governmental level. In other words, it is time to gradually withdraw the laws appertaining to affirmation based on racial basis, and advance the same based on the degree of economic deprivation.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:10 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse schoolmaster See Profile I'm a Fan of schoolmaster

In the first sentence it should have been benefited and not befitted. Sorry for the typo.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:20 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse BigLib See Profile I'm a Fan of BigLib

What revisionist crap.

Someone needs to explain Google to Morrison:

Morrison wrote in the 1998 New Yorker essay, "displays almost every trope of blackness: single-parent household, born poor, working-class, saxophone-playing, McDonald's-and-junk-food-loving boy from Arkansas."

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:23 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse elion10 See Profile I'm a Fan of elion10

Yes, I think Ms. Morrison is looking for a ticket onto the Obama band wagon.

Its tough to be the one who " tag lined" the black community's support for Clinton, no wthat he has to be the"race baiting bad guy."

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:38 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse Ginzaman See Profile I'm a Fan of Ginzaman

Yes, Clinton was crucified because he forgot the Golden Rule about politics: Politicians aren't allowed to be human and have a private life. Yes the affair was stupid. Splitting legal hairs later under oath insulted the American public's collective conscience.

But that aside, him adding to Hillary's campaign's racist crap has totally destroyed his credibility with African Americans. How many people in Harlem have made $15 million a year for the past ten years? He moves his office into Harlem, and what happens? Rich developers come in and force a lot of low-income people out.

Nice long-range planning, Bill.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:26 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse caral See Profile I'm a Fan of caral

Thanks for the clarification. I love your work!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:04 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse rosal See Profile I'm a Fan of rosal

Thank you Toni, you make me proud of being a woman. I would never vote for a woman, just because she is a woman. As a matter of fact, I think its insulting. Feminists everywhere have to be wise and proud of voting for a woman based on her capabilities, wisdom, honesty, and integrity. Otherwise, just voting because "she is a woman" comes across as having an inferiority complex.
This is why I don't support Clinton. She lacks all the qualities mentioned above.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:08 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse mbaty See Profile I'm a Fan of mbaty

Toni Morrison for VP.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:36 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse soundfury See Profile I'm a Fan of soundfury

You know how Hillary said "Screw 'em" to the same S. white working class she's pandering to right now in WV, when they made Bill lose the Congress in 1994, well, I hate to say this, but I wonder, just wonder if she's saying the same thing today about AA's?

Just the fact that she doesn't consider them an important voting block anymore speaks volumes.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:47 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse peascott See Profile I'm a Fan of peascott

Hillary assumes that she can make peace with black folks. Seem like Hillary forgot the first the letters in the word assume.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:50 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse Infinitii See Profile I'm a Fan of Infinitii

The Clinton's used the blacks just like they are using the "working-class whites". Back when Bill was campaigning for the presidency, Hillary told Bill "f..k em', we don't need them, they're not doing anything for us". The "working-class whites" will soon find out just as the Blacks and Hispanics have found out. She needed the Hispanic votes so much and tossed them after the Texas primary, now she don't need them anymore. She has tossed every race to the side and now that she feel a need for the "working-class whites", she has run back them, the one's she spoke so disrespectful about. She don't need the Native Americans, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, she just need the "working-class whites" for now.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:38 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse trailrunner9 See Profile I'm a Fan of trailrunner9

How sad that you would defame someone's character that was standing on the side of social justice issues from the time she graduated college and did volunteer legal work for the poor, children, represented indigent minorities in the south who were often scapegoated or treated with unequal justice, fought to get George McGovern elected. Please. Give me a break. It is despicable what is being done to the Ciintons simply for having had the misfortune to dare to run against a black man. Had Obama not been in the race, I'm quite sure that many of the AA's equating Hillary Clinton to the epitomy of evil would be supporting her right now.

As for Toni Morrison's re-write on history, it speaks volumes of her integrity or lack there of and dishonesty. Who would you rather have as a friend, Toni Morrison or Mya Angelou. One doesn't throw someone under the bus for personal expediency when there is something to be gained. Really sad to see just how many people are doing that, too.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:35 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse pacats See Profile I'm a Fan of pacats

trailrunner say: "it is despicable what is being done to the Clintons simply for having the misfortune to dare to run against a black man".

What is being done to the Clintons is the result of what they did to themselves.
1).35 years of experience was not true
2). poorly managed campaign
3). hired top staff due to their devotion to her not for their experience.
4). Hillary told several media commentators, that she would have the campaign wrapped up by2/5/08.
5).When Rush L. made the announcement for his republican listeners to vote for Hillary in the Ohio and Texas primaries, she was okay with it. She should have been offended, and told Rush on national tv, that she rejects and denounces that plan. Instead, she laughed on ABC the day after winning Ohio. She say,"Hey Rush, be careful what you wish for".
6). writing a letter about the 2 disenfranchised states, knowing she supported the initial plan.
7) the number of her well known supporters who are willing to go on national tv or write articles designed to demonize Senator Obama. Lanny Davie, Koch, Carville. Too many people recognize this as a strategy used when you want to make white americans afraid of the scary black guy. Scary is a code word for strong, like Dr. King.

What is happening to the Clintons has nothing to do with the bi-racial guy in the race. Many politicians stepped away from the Clintons early on.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:36 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse whatevertoo See Profile I'm a Fan of whatevertoo

you forgot one.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45885

Fraud lawsuit targets Hillary
Fund-raiser claims 'smoking guns' prove campaign in massive scam

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:36 PM on 05/09/2008
collapse trailrunner9 See Profile I'm a Fan of trailrunner9

Your points are well taken in some respects, though I don't agree with them all. I am strictly talking about the re-write on Bill and Hillary Clinton's history and character based on their many public stances and works over many years. It is defmation in my book and as Toni Morrison proves, it is politically expedient now to throw the Clintons under the bus, which I feel is disgusting and speaks more to those doing it. Support a turn in a new era, support your candidates, crtique the differences, but stop villafying and defaming an entire lifetime of good works on behalf of the people of the Democratic Party.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:49 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse RG986xx See Profile I'm a Fan of RG986xx

Hillary has planned every step of her career since she met and married Bill Clinton. First she helps him become Governor, the she helps him become President, ignores his infidelity because her plan was to use Bill as a springboard to become a U.S. Senator and then "the first woman President of the U.S.". Her misstep wasn't this Presidential campaign, she should have run in 2004. She underestimated Barrack Obama's message of change. It doesn't even matter that Barrack Obama is Multiracial, people want to change America and redefine "WE THE PEOPLE". We the people are fed up with the way Washington works for the well-connected. We the people are fed up with politicians that promise us everything and forget us when they get to Washington, D. C.. We the people want change, not more of the same!

And I, for one, have a problem that if Hillary became President, her "first lady" has a reputation of being promiscuous. Oh, I forgot, the Clinton's said that the subject of Monica and his other affairs was "Off Limits". If she was present in the White House during his encounters with Monica, what will he do when she's preoccupied with the affairs of the government?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:45 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse timinhi See Profile I'm a Fan of timinhi

Your post exposes your ignorance of history. You clearly know very little about Hillary's life or even a simple timeline of her life. Before you post, you should educate yourself a bit. Even reading one of those rightwing attack books about Hillary would give you a more accurate understanding of her life than you've displayed here. Obama supporters are consumed with hate for anyone who disagrees with them or opposes him. How sad for America. And Morrison gushes about his "wisdom." Give me a break. Is this the "change" and "hope" he keeps talking about?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:07 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse SethBullock See Profile I'm a Fan of SethBullock

Yeah, she did a lot on social justice issues in her corporate law firm, and on the board at Walmart!

This isn't "being done to her" because she's running against a black man. This is being done to her because she is an untrustworthy, lying politician. Because she is for the war and because we can (and have) done better.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:22 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse rosal See Profile I'm a Fan of rosal

Follow the money. Your "heroes" are nothing but fraud. Follow the $109,000,000, and you will open your eyes.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:13 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse Darsan54 See Profile I'm a Fan of Darsan54

Being financially successful makes you automatically a fraud/crook? No wonder Democrats can't win; they cripple themselves before the race is even started.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:24 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse butterworth See Profile I'm a Fan of butterworth

Great comment, rosal!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:48 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse timinhi See Profile I'm a Fan of timinhi

Especially when one considers that the Obamas are multimillionaires, too, and will only continue to increase their wealth exponentially from here on out.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:01 AM on 05/09/2008
collapse gd7277467 See Profile I'm a Fan of gd7277467



TONY WHO ???

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:11 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse mikekev58 See Profile I'm a Fan of mikekev58

"I have no idea what his real instincts are, in terms of race."

Oh, really?

Do some research, Toni.

He was governor of Arkansas...he has a record there, for better or worse.

He has the Clinton Foundation....I think that's a little thing aimed at delivering concrete solutions to issues like HIV/AIDS around the world...that includes Africa, by the way.

Can you remember him being excoriated for apologizing to black Africans for America's history of mistreatment and neglect, including our history of slavery that ripped apart black families in Africa?

Can you remember him fighting the Republicans to "mend it not end it" regarding Affirmative Action?

To say you have no ideas of what his real instincts are regarding race is downright disingenuous and stupid!

So you're supporting your "wise" brother this time around. No need to denigrate Bill Clinton to justify your shoddy reasoning.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:10 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse aristippe See Profile I'm a Fan of aristippe

try picking up a book sometime

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:52 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse Nopes See Profile I'm a Fan of Nopes

I think she is lying. She tries to save her face, because the Clintons made a fool out of her (or a house slave). Otherwise she would have corrected this notion long ago.
That was really ridiculous. I couldn't believe a black person could make such a moronic statement (I'm white, so it's not biased).

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:08 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse robXdion See Profile I'm a Fan of robXdion

You're white and you can see the stupidity in it and yet many blacks defend this BS like she's their momma. It's pathetic. Black women are very indifferent to the experiences of black men. That's why they see nothing wrong in this comparison. Toni Morrison made the statement as an aside to defend Bill Clinton. What she didn't realize was Republicans gleefully went after him on this scandal because all the Clinton's previous scandals ran into dead ends due to mysteriously shredded and missing documents. That and his history of philandering was WHY they assumed he was already guilty. Not because he was an honorary black man. It's disgusting, cheap, and YES, very "house slavish".

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:40 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse mikekev58 See Profile I'm a Fan of mikekev58

"That was really ridiculous. I couldn't believe a black person could make such a moronic statement (I'm white, so it's not biased)."

Now THAT's a ridiculous statement!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:37 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse Nopes See Profile I'm a Fan of Nopes

And what is ridiculous about it? This kind of talk is cheap... Try to prove it.

It's quite obvious why TM talk is ridiculous.
Maybe Clinton did say some good things on behalf of Blacks. But that's not enough to call this white guy "the first black president", "blacker than any actual black person who could ever be elected in our children's lifetime"...
That's ridiculous. That's the essence of "house slave " mentality. Maybe your master did say or did do something good for you. But if you call him one of us... you are seriously a "house slave"..
BTW.. Did you notice that Clinton is actually white?... Maybe you have problems with perception of reality?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:18 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse soundfury See Profile I'm a Fan of soundfury

I'm white and I agree with you and TM.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:54 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse soundfury See Profile I'm a Fan of soundfury

I'm white, and I agree with you NOPES statement is moronic.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:51 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse coolrepublica See Profile I'm a Fan of coolrepublica

Why is she explaining herself? I'm sick of the intimidation of blacks who like the clintons. It's plain un-American. Enough with the mob mentality. Enough!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:45 PM on 05/08/2008
collapse calicutie See Profile I'm a Fan of calicutie

what toni morrison said was stupid. too bad that rather than simply admitting her mistake, she chose to invent some lofty excuse/rationale for her statement. for all his media-generated and self-inflicted grief, bill clinton's life hardly mirrored that of a despised black male in america.

that she was unable to imagine a 'real' black man ever being elected president of the united states is not her fault--she is a product of her time (and america's racist history did little to convince her otherwise).

her clinton statement and her subsequent support of barack obama are not inconsistent. she--like many black folks of her generation--NEVER thought they'd live to see this day. i'm glad that they will.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:37 PM on 05/08/2008