Bill Clinton In ABC News Interview: "I Am Not A Racist"

Washinton Post:

Former president Bill Clinton has been trying to keep his political opinions in check in order to turn back to his international work.

Still, he got a little testy in an interview Sunday with ABC's Kate Snow, telling her he is "not a racist" even as he avoided delving into specifics about what happened in the Democratic presidential primary. The interview, taped in a quick stop in Liberia, will air Monday on "Good Morning America."

Read the whole story: Washinton Post

Comments

[olivia]

Bill is more of a sexist than a racist.

[pupbayer]

It is sad that this President who did so much for AAs has to say he is not a racist. We all know he isn't.

[olivia]

The Clintons just appealed to racism in voters very briefly out of desperation. They are not really racists themselves.

[ScandalousCandice]

Exactly. Their politicians and when an opportunity arises, they are gonna take it. Politicians morph to fit certain molds of their constituents.

[kassandrasduplex]

Well the media sure made it seem as if they appealed to racism.
"The people will believe what the media tells them they believe."
George Orwell

[Smirk]

That's what I think, too.

[abby4ever]

Maybe not, but if they 'appealed to racism in voters very briefly out of desperation', they are poor losers and they are manipulative and they don't have much integrity.

The fact that it was 'very brief' won't save them, in my eyes; it should not have been done at all, if they did do it.

[AguynamedWayne]

No, a certain politician and his campaign actively "pushed" the racist story line about the Clintons, and we all know who that was: Obama.

[nomobull]

what?

[manan01]

Name me one thing he did for AA, just one!

[BEHM777]

What again did he do specifically for African Americans? Thinking folk don't buy the "Bill Clinton as 1st Black President" meme. Was he a mostly successful POTUS? Absolutely. However what he did, he did for AMERICA, not just Black America.

Time to grow up about who William Jefferson Clinton was and is.

BEHusseinM777

[PAposter]

Really, like what?

[ShamusNYC]

I don't believe he's a racist. His record is very strong in this regard. I will concede that he said some unfortunate things.

Let's be honest - he could be a real jerk about things and throw a major monkey wrench into the works of O's campaign if he really wanted to - he has the smarts, the media profile, and the ability to do it very skillfully.

I hope that we can cut him some slack and let time heal the wounds.

Or, we can choose to fight amongst ourselves and let John Boy be corinated next January.

[olivia]

The Clintons already tried all that. O won anyway.

[robXdion]

Billy should read THIS >> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gregory-s-parks/a-new-raceism----unconsci_b_116647.html

It may help to understand himself instead of being contradictory.

[foxbat]

President Clinton is not a racist. He's done a lot for the African American community and has been a person in the past who has put his money where his mouth is, so to speak, when it comes to the issues of African Americans and other minorities. With that said, I do believe that he spoke without realizing how the words would be perceived. Whether it was intended or not, many who heard the words heard something that seemed to be dismissive of Senator Obama and, to some extent, those who supported him. I think the shock for many who saw President Clinton as being "on their side" in the past, caused them to unfortunately mis-label him as racist. Perhaps political opportunist might have been the better term although that too seems overly negative when you look at his track record with minorities.

Unfortunately, sometimes in political battles, folks get into that "pinata mode" of swinging wildly and sometimes they hit the other party attendees when they really meant to hit the pinata. Hopefully there will be a chance for all party attendees to let the hurt subside and get back to focusing on the prize that they all untimately seek as a group.

[Fabienne]

What, specifically, has Clinton done for the African American community? Has he improved their schools? Their access to health care? Their rate of poverty? Their access to higher education?

[chronic]

Bill, please go somewhere and be S*T*F*U!!

[gloriar8]

It's must be real tough, when people actually hold you to what you said. And they have it on audio and video tape. And all that wonderful political capital you once enjoyed has now evaporated. Race baiting is racism and no one gets a free pass for that even the Clintons. It kinda like him saying I am not a racist, although it depends on what the meaaning of racism is. I can't wait to hear what he called the black congressman from S.C., that decide to support Obama.

[jsinclair]

He's not a racist. But he IS angry and bitter that he's not hailed as the greatest president ever.

And he's a narcissist who, even his closest friends say, is NOT introspective and NEVER thinks he's done anything wrong.

I realize he's trying to keep his mouth shut, but the easiest way is to just not give interviews.

[Fireback]

For those of you who might have missed it,

Please note this vid McCain put out on JUNE 27, 2008 featuring Obama on the $100 bill ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDTJDv4hevU

[GuyFawkes]

He is not a racist. That's a strong word. But like McW, he uses anything he can to drive a wedge between people, whether it's race, fear, pandering. These are people who have been in politics so long, who are used to winning at all costs, so far up in their ivory towers, they can't see the harm their words or actions cause, even when confronted with them. It's no wonder McW is slanding Obama's personality. He got the playbook from the Clintons.

[TovSquirrel]

Trust me, if there is a play book, it is huge and the Clintons did not write it. They are merely a footnote on page 453.

The book is old and dog-eared. Been around since Greece. Tradition has to count for something.

[JDowlin1]

Obama had proven he's no angel these past few weeks shifitng his positions on everything from abortion to gun control to FISA to offshore drilling. I think he will do anything to get elected (something he accused Hillary of.) I believe Bill Clinton did have the race card played against him and the Obama camp is waiting and hoping to do the same thing to McCain. McCain hasn't given them any ammuntion so Obama tried to stir things up himself by saying "they're going to say I'm scary and don't look like the Presidents on the dollar bills." It's race baiting and McCain is not falling for it.

[Fabienne]

Obama has NOT shifted his position on abortion and I defy you to cite one quote that suggests he has done so. As for offshore drilling, you obviously have not listened to his remarks. If you can't understand that compromise is the only method of accomplishing anything in Washington, you don't understand the way our political system works. And if you want a President who NEVER changes his position even though the situations are changing around him, write on Resident Bush for a third term.

[foreffectivegovernment]

JDowlin1: You said, "I believe Bill Clinton did have the race card played against him and the Obama camp is waiting and hoping to do the same thing to McCain."
Surely Obama's string-pullers know that the same "race-baiting" and "character-assassination" tactics used against the Clintons in the primaries will not work in the general election against McCain.
The "bitter" voters that Obama has so much distain for are admitted racists and proud of it. Only Intellectuals on trust funds or scholarships, and adults who still believe in "fairytales" and don't have to shop at Wal-Mart are swayed by these accusations.
The majority of voters, who don't have time to expound on their superior intelligence by writing on Huffington Post using big words learned while writing their Masters thesis, are the ones who will decide this election.
This handwriting on the wall explains why Obama is not lightyears ahead in the polls and why the Democrats have lost most elections in my lifetime.
Until my fellow Democrats forget about nominating "historic" and "cool" candidates for President, even incompetents like Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush will continue to perpetuate the Republican plan for a One World Order with them in control into eternity.

[Smirk]

The GOP would've done it anyway.

[Freesia2]

Wow. What an historic irony. The interview was in Liberia. During the abolitionist period, one possible place for relocation for black people was Liberia.

And then that headline "I Am Not A Racist".

Prove it Bill. Stop undermining him, stop dragging your heels. Stop protesting.

Just prove it. Help him. Or at the least just get out of the way.

[robXdion]

The same place were America tried to offload all of it's slaves and where Clinton apologized for slavery on the US government's behalf, but couldn't do the same on US soil to African Americans.

[motu]

good one!

[Deaninphilly]

Well, I don't recall hearing O asking him to do anything as of yet. So who to say it's Pres. Clinton not doing anything. Gee, I guess that thought never would enter into your brain.

[ebm]

Agree!

[Justsaynodeal]

The ball is in 0's court, just as it was in Gore's and Kerry's before him..............How did it work out for Gore and Kerry to decide not to have BC campaign?

[tel8034]

Methinks Bill Clinton and John McCain doth protest too much.

When people continually have to DECLARE that they are something or not something, they usually are the total opposite of what they are trying to convince others of.

All we can hear from Clinton/McCain these days is "I'M NOT A RACIST"................If they are not racist, then why do they have to shout it from the roof tops every chance they get? .......... ARE THEY TRYING TO CONVINCE US OR THEMSELVES?

Both Clinton and McCain have done and said things which prove otherwise, and they can scream at the top of their lungs "I'M NOT A RACIST" until they totally lose their voices, and still NOBODY will believe them.

IF IT LOOKS LIKE A RACISM, WALKS LIKE A RACISM, TALKS LIKE A RACISM, ACTS LIKE A RACISM AND THEN TRIES TO DENY IT'S RACISM..................... THEN IT IS MOST DEFINATELY RACISM.

.

[presto]

Well, that was absurd. If someone called you a racist every time you turned around, what would you say?? Nothing?? Or would you say" "I'm not a racist"? That was a totally goofy post.

[ebm]

Look at their actions. It tells it all.

[brwnizofmine]

I wont go so far as to say he is a racist, but he sure has given me some bad feelings. One would not normally bite the hand that feeds them, and he bit the hand off! So, I have to do some more thinking on how I feel about him being a racist or not.

[honeydiva]

put the blame on everyone but you...

[EarthToZoey]

Am I one of the few liberals who still likes Bill Clinton?

He's not perfect, but I certainly don't think he is a 'racist'. He's been cynical about the state of race relations in America today, and unfortunately he attempted to use that as a reason why HRC would be more "electable". That was very unfortunate because I've heard countless speaking engagements where he's talked about racism with a realistic and hopeful perspective.

Bill Clinton is a sharply intelligent man and can do a lot of wonderful, charitable things across the globe. I do, however, think he is well-served to distance himself from politics for awhile. Politics brings out his aggressive side, which does more harm than good.

[DamageControl]

i don't think Bill is racist either, but i can certainly see how he tried to inject race as a wedge issue to split voters. Race baiting doesn't necessarily equal racist, for some crazy reason people don't realize that or don't want to acknowledge it.

[presto]

And how exactly did he do that? Bill Clinton is not a racist.

[Fabienne]

Race baiting may not equal racism, but I have absolutely no respect for anyone who does it.

[jsinclair]

I wish I could like him again, but I just don't see anything likeable.

He's manipulative, self-centered, and imo, a complete phony. I saw an old clip of him from the 90s and I still felt distaste looking at him.

Now, if he had put his ego aside and seen what drew the majority of Democrats to Obama--and humbly and helpfully worked his heart out for his re-election--I'm sure that my opinion would change.

But that? Isn't Clinton. The best we can hope for is that he'll try to "do no harm" (especially as he's inhibited by a desire to help Hillary's future prospects. Thank God for that).

[useyourbrain]

I think it was Bill Clinton that apologized for slavery in America. The first and only president to do that. His work as Governor, President and internationally speaks for itself. That he said HRC is more electable was just his belief that HRC was a better candidate.

As can be seen by the current McCain, 527 and RNC ads, the racism that underlies all of America is something that will take many generations to discuss and overcome. Obama was right when he addressed it head on -- he does not look like previous Presidential candidates. He mentioned his face on currency. You can google a June ad in which McCain put an altered photo of Obama on currency. Now there is a "religion" ad referring to "The One", twisting Obama's words to make it sound like he is the anti-christ.

The MSM, Tom Brokaw especially, has become the media arm of the McCain campaign. It's not just bias, it's outright propaganda. The jelly-kneed John Kerry had to dump on Wes Clark for his spot on assessment of McCain's lack of military and executive management by mouthing the MSM dogma that it was an attack on McCain's military service. Shameful.

I never doubted the public's racism and, sadly, it's proving correct. There is so much you can say when you say you are not being racist.

[rzan]

I can't help but like Bill in spite of his flaws. I don't think he is a racist. I just wish he would get over the fact that Hillary lost, and either support Obama or go about his business.

[renatam]

Bill Clinton is a deeply flawed man. The torch is being passed to a new generation. Enough commoditizing of American interests abroad via international DEALS that erode the American way of life -- while we fight the world's wars and subsidize rebuilding other Nations in lieu of New Orleans. This is the end of the Bush/Clinton dynasties. The price for what Bill Clinton offers is too high. Hillary Clinton just found that out the hard way.

[Texas4Obama]

It is always hard for the older generation to let the younger generation take control.
It is time for Bill and Hillary to let go and realize that their time has passed and a new day has dawned! Obama/Sebelius '08

[arvay]

You've put this exactly right.

The cost of Bill Clinton's immaturity has been high.

He talks very well, famously out-talking everyone in the room, and is also famously very smart, but his presidency was a mess and sadly underperformed its promise.

The Monica distraction was easily avoidable. If he had just admitted the truth early on Ken Starr would be an obscure lawyer today. What a waste of the nation's time and attention!

His last-minute attempt to settle the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy created bitterness and a sense of hopelessness that persists and grows.

I hope you're also right that the torch has passed to a new political force that elects Obama president. Level-headed, mature and right on the issues.

[AbbieXHoffman]

He is not a racist and the charge against him was disgusting. Period. I am not even going to bother responding to any of your ridiculous retorts that he was. I am voicing my opinion period.