Historically Black Fraternity Inducts Bill Clinton As Honorary Member

NEW ORLEANS — A historically black fraternity has voted to induct former President Bill Clinton as an honorary member.

Phi Beta Sigma President Paul Griffin Jr. said Friday that Clinton is the first U.S. president to be inducted into a historically black fraternity.

The fraternity voted Tuesday for Clinton's induction at its 95th Anniversary Conclave in New Orleans, La.

Stevie Wonder, Al Roker, the Rev. Al Sharpton and jazz musician Ramsey Lewis are also honorary members of Phi Beta Sigma.

The fraternity was founded in 1914 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It has more than 150,000 alumni and college members in about 500 chapters throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

Comments

[Rock81]

When will people learn. Bill CLinton was a wolf in sheeps clothing for black people. The man did more harm than good. I thought people realized that during the primaries last year......­I guess not.

[arizonawonder]

You are ignorant and don't know what your talking about. President Bill Clinton's policies, hiring and legislation did more for blacks than any other president other than LBJ. Even now he has done more for Africa through his Clinton Global Foundation than any other person in history.

[UrbanRevolution]

Words are a manifestation of the condition of the heart. His words during the primary spoke volumes.

[robXdion]

You should read through this blog. You might get a thorough education on LBJ and Clinton that blows away those Cliff Notes you bought.

[socialtalker]

complete rubbish! clinton looked the other way during the rawandan genocide, he cut the support programs, involved in the gentrification of harlem. on paper, he gave very little to black folks considering what he got. the only reason he is popular is because he feel a little more comfortable with black folks than your avg joe the plummer, but its a comfort based on "i know how to handle them" more than anything else. but black folks have such a hunger to be accepted they treat scraps like a feast.

[renatam]

Yes. There are always fools...an­d clearly this is PR.

[TheBaffler]

He wasn't just bad for black, he was bad for all poor and working class Americans. His pro-corporate, Reaganite economic policies and his evisceration of welfare have caused immense damage.

[NickCatal]

There is a wide array of possible (and hilarious) jokes that can be associated with this story. If only we could see what the censors are picking up :)

[kylennblack]

Congrats to Clinton! Howard University is one of the finest schools in the country and Phi Beta Sigma is a great fraternity, he should feel honored.

[GoodFeathers]

Actually Bill is first a black president. Obama is too white. He follows everything where GW left off.

[ECB]

Go back to sleep.

[robXdion]

smh. . . .Educating the American public on simple public policy and political history is a Herculean task.

[kutkreata]

rolls eyez

[GoodFeathers]

I bet they are beautiful eyes :)

[danusgram]

Well actually they think that Andrew Jackson, Abe Lincoln, and Warren Harding were..just saying.

[independentjukebox]

So may Joe the plumbers in the democratic party...

Like that fella , who voted against his best interest , we have psuedo democrats who bash Bill. the greatest president , who gave us the greatest of all economic times.

[UrbanRevolution]

he allowed another bubble. Not entirely his fault but let us not forget where we were in 2001 with an industry that saw record losses...u­ntil now and the financial industry.

[robXdion]

You reference Joe the Plumber so much because you're the Democratic party version.

[PoliticalRockChick]

I wanted to know, what's so cool about Fraternities? Can somebody explain? What do you get out of it?

[fratricide08]

Connections. That's the main benefit. When you graduate they help with jobs and service. A frat bro whose a real estate agent can help you find housing and a lawyer with the law etc. In school they help with tests (they have old exams) and partying.

[robXdion]

Hazing. Acceptance. Clout. Recognition. Learn cute dances. Pay dues. Go to parties. Make weird noises and hand gestures. Possible job networks. Cool vanity plates, coats, purses, canes, etc. Support a few events and causes. ~ The human condition is amazing, isn't it?

[Tanyars5]

Being a Black Greek myself, I have to agree with you Rob! That was a great assessment of Black fraternities and Sororities.

[GoodFeathers]

Getting Drunk and making out!

[Tanyars5]

that also

[MyNameIsJames]

Actually Fraternities can be very effective for its older members.

Most people think of Fraternities in terms of "Animal House" -- this is true in many cases at the UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL.

However, once these guys grow up, leave college and enter the world of work and adulthood - the Fraternity scene changes substantially. It becomes one of networking and contributing to the betterment of the community. This is ESEPECIALLY true of African American fraternities.

Its not for everyone -- but there is much more that takes place in these orgs than meets the eye.

Most fraternity members - go through the initial wild phase that lasts maybe 4 years.

After that -- the next 40-50 years of fraternity affiliation is much more positive and productive IF an individual chooses to remain active.

[Tanyars5]

The initial wild phase is the best......­..the memories!!!!!!!!

[Badger84]

It's like buying friends.

[Niasia]

Bill Clinton was a good president. I do wish blacks would stop worshiping him. He did a lot of questionable things when it comes to blacks. And blacks need to realize that he is indeed a caucasion male from the south. Don't let it fool you. Pull him up on YouTube during the last election. True color shining through. I trust him no further than I can see him.

[independentjukebox]

I'm glad to see the greatest democrat and president being honered by the few good men left , who did not take clues from the corrupt hoodlum, race baiting James E cluburn. oh where are they now *cough* jessi jackson jr...

Bubba is by far the greatest president of my generation, because never ever have I have enjoyed those great economic times like it wad his 8 years! Never ever has my family 'kitchen table issue' been so prosperous as it was under Bill clinton.

New 'Huffopost' generation might not know of such great prosperous times... but it does not mean it never existed.

[fratricide08]

Cmon now. I'm trying to stop one set of haters not trade for another. Let me make this clear: You don't have to hate one to love the other. If you're a democrat show some love for BOTH.

[independentjukebox]

One is not a democrat if you one word of ill will towards Bill. Look , I'm simple man , with a family , who judges people based on proven records . If others want to bash Bill because they are into window shopping , so be it. But this democrat has seen the man walk the talk .

Greatest democrat and president of our times. Go ahead be a Joe the Plumber( vote against whats best for you ) by bashing a man who brought us the greatest economic boom.

[AbbieXHoffman]

I'm agree with you. I adored the Clint*on years...bu­t Ob*ama has time to take the torch from Cl*nton. In fact, I am routing for him.

[independentjukebox]

this is not an Obama vs clinton session. I'm too all for obama to take that torch. My comments are towards the punks who call thmesleves democrats , yet bash Bill.

[robXdion]

James E. Clyburn is a corrupt hoodlum and race-baiter??? Calling you on the carpet. I remember your race-bait comments from the primary blogs. Support this BS if you can. Whites like you with your plantation entitlement mentality make me nauseous. Blacks don't OWE the Clintons. Whatever "debt" you think is owed was paid when he used them as fodder for his 92 campaign, 94 welfare stereotypes, and when they saved his a** during the impeachment issue. Put up.

[dct1999]

If you criticize the Clintons then you are a republican.

LMAO!

[robXdion]

Meanwhile they're Republican-lite. It's crazy, isn't it?

[Fabienne]

The Clintons were Republicans.

[RJII]

H-U!

[ECB]

Actually they should give it to John McCain - if it weren't for him there would be no President Obama.

[RJII]

funny, but sadly true

[HeWhoReads]

Now that is what I call critical thinking.

[dct1999]

Attention anyone who dares to be critical of the Clintons.

Even though they attempted to divide the democratic party along ra.ci.al, et.hn.ic, ge.nd.er,and economic lines you are not permitted to criticize them.

If you do, then you are SPLITTING THE PARTY. The Clintons are above criticism, they have never done anything wrong, they have begun their apology to black people tour and all is well.

[fratricide08]

GOP supporter.

[dct1999]

Crybaby

[amdezurik]

oh yeah, I will really take my opinions from someone who could make unsupportable shrieks like you do

[dct1999]

Did you miss the sarcasm?

[Fabienne]

What did the Clintons ever do for the African-American community except hangout with them? If you have answers to this, please be very specific, as I can't for the life of me think of what they could be.

[bascombe]

while billy runs around with the same boo.sh fambly that spat on the Katrina victims. How's that fund doing?

[Tanyars5]

I do find it strange this Black Frat would give this honor to Bill Clinton. Maybe they need publicity.

[dyldrix]

they also gave it to Al Sharpton

[ECB]

Or a donation

[dct1999]

John Lewis is behind this publicity stunt. He is trying to help Billy the mad so that he can burnish his tarnished reputation.

[amdezurik]

you keep stating that as fact, do you have any support for that? and as a follow-up who gives a rats @$$ if he did? is that some kind of crime? or just (in your eyes) nefarious actions by someone who is not white?

[kutkreata]

I won't believe this garbage until I see Bill Clinton steppin in blue & white.

[fairtaxnow]

This Bill Clinton??

"When we got organized as a country and we wrote a fairly radical Constitution with a radical Bill of Rights, giving a radical amount of individual freedom to Americans.­.. and so a lot of people say theres too much personal freedom. When personal freedoms being abused, you have to move to limit it. Thats what we did in the announcement I made last weekend on the public housing projects, about how were going to have weapon sweeps and more things like that to try to make people safer in their communitie­s." President Bill Clinton, 3-22-94, MTVs "Enough is Enough"

"We cant be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans.­.." Bill Clinton (USA TODAY, 11 March 1993, page 2A)

[amdezurik]

do you have a point?

[amdezurik]

didn't think so...

[fairtaxnow]

So i take it you are FOR limiting the freedoms of everyday Americans.
Patriot Act anyone.

[Poboy]

Can you imagine this kind of commentary coming from the President, especially one who is supposed to be a "rhodes scholar?"

Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

Constitution of the US:

We the people of the US, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice...

X Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmenti

__________­__________­__________­__________

Individual Rights are NOT granted from the Government,

but

Individual rights are GIVEN UP to empower a GOVERNMENT by WE THE PEOPLE

and

We the people can take away those powers.

Bill Clinton, in the comment above, showed NO CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING of government of which he headed.

And for this, the Sigmas want to be associated?