Hillary Clinton Should Address Race, Now

On March 18 of this year, Barack Obama delivered a powerful and much-needed address on race in America. It is past time for Hillary Clinton to do the same.

I say it is past time because, in recent weeks, we have seen troubling signs of a racial divide within the Democratic coalition, some of which has been fueled, whether intentionally or not, by the Clinton campaign and its surrogates.

Even if Senator Clinton did not mean to disparage Barack Obama and Martin Luther King, Jr, with her comments in New Hampshire; even if Bill Clinton did not mean to dismiss Barack Obama's win in South Carolina (or for that matter Jesse Jackson's 1988 victory), with his off-hand comments after that primary; even if Geraldine Ferraro had a deeper point in mind (although, for the life of me I can't figure out what it might have been); even if the former president did not mean to imply that, as long as Obama was a candidate, race would intrude on the great debate this country needed and would only be able to have if McCain and Clinton, "the two patriotic Americans," were the candidates; even if the Clinton campaign did not mean to keep the Jeremiah Wright story alive long after it should have been put to rest; even if Senator Clinton and her surrogates did not intend to continue to raise questions about Obama's patriotism and religion but were only answering questions they were asked; and finally, even if she was only quoting the Associated Press by noting that "Senator Obama's support among working, hardworking Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites...were supporting me" - the simple fact is that at least in part due to all of this, race has reared its ugly head in this primary in a deeply divisive way.

Those of us who have been out campaigning have heard it. Those of us who are superdelegates have received emails suggesting only Clinton can win, with the not too-subtle implication that it is because only she can win over white voters. That, of course, is not true as Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Illinois, among many others have clearly demonstrated.

For decades now, Republicans have exploited race and fear as weapons in ugly campaigns to defeat Democrats. Nixon's, Reagan's, and George H.W. Bush's campaigns come to mind. I do not recall race being used before in a Democratic presidential campaign.

There are those who suggest that, when this campaign is over, the party will unify. I believe that waiting is not an option. Senator Clinton needs to clear the air and drain this poison from our party before any greater danger is done. A speech on race would be a sign of real leadership, and genuine healing, and bring us closer to the victory we so desperately need in November.

Comments

[KenTao]

Agreed.

Earthlings Unite!

[ebbtide]

I would not depend upon the Clintons to deliver such a speech. They, the both of them, running for president have done everything they can to bring up the hatred of the racists in this country to vote for them.

They have run a despicable, dirty campaign and have capitalized on the race issue to the point where one needs to wonder if indeed, they, who have 109 mil in their bank account, are really racist and have managed to hide that all these years.

No, the Clintons could ever match the speech given by Obama. They would simply look staged, managed and, well as the liars that they are.

[StanCohen]

And why exactly would she denounce racism when exploiting it seems to be her only strategy to win the nomination?

[Bonobou]

Correction of a typo... fingers don't always follow the brain:

"Race in American has always been the 800-pound Gorrilla in the room!"

Should be:

"Race in America has always been the 800-pound Gorrilla in the room!"

[Bonobou]

I think most Americans have been waiting for such a speech!

We all know that candidates use racial things that appear damaging to their opponet as a means to highlight/emphasize their talking points. This tactic has been used far too long in the political space.

Race in American has always been the 800-pound Gorrilla in the room! It's time for politicians to acknowledge this fact and explain to folk that we all (white, black, brown, yellow, etc.) are Americans and that what happens in the political process benefits/hurts all of us (though, some more than others).

I'll be waiting for the speech; but will it ever materialize?

[LAJonathan]

Oh her race baiting has worked with her supporters. On every pro HRC message board, I have witnessed, daily, a coalition of racism and full misunderstanding of these issues. It is crucial that this woman clean up the mess she has created.