Clinton Owes Obama An Apology

I've had it with the Clintons.

The past few months I've tried to defend Bill and Hillary Clinton against some of the more unreasonable attacks from their critics. Just last weekend on CNN's Ballot Bowl, I defended Bill Clinton when critics accused of him of questioning Barack Obama's patriotism. The critics may have misinterpreted Clinton's remarks, I said, giving the former president the benefit of the doubt.

I've also defended Barack Obama in recent weeks against unreasonable charges directed at him because of his association with his church and his pastor. It seems obvious to me that Barack Obama loves his country and is not an anti-white bigot.

Maybe I'm too close to the two Democrats to be against either one. I went to law school with Barack Obama and worked in the Clinton White House, so I have connections and allegiances to both candidates. That's why I've never understood the rabid Hillary haters or the angry Obama opponents. To me, all three candidates -- including John McCain -- are good and decent Americans who have served their country with distinction.

I wish Hillary Clinton would acknowledge that fact too. In the past few weeks, I've been increasingly disturbed by the gratuitously negative tone of the Clinton campaign.

First, during an interview with 60 Minutes host Steve Croft, Sen. Clinton cleverly stoked the rumors that Obama might be a closet Muslim. "No, there is nothing to base that on," she told Croft. But then she slyly added, "As far as I know."

Next, she all but endorsed McCain over Obama for president. "I have a lifetime of experience that I will bring to the White House," she said. "I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House. And Senator Obama has a speech he gave in 2002."

Then came the Jeremiah Wright story. Based on the previous tactics used by her campaign, I did not expect Clinton to say much of anything about the Wright story. As Napoleon Bonaparte famously said, "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." And after all, the Clintons have relied on the support of controversial black pastors, include Rev. Jeremiah Wright, to save their own hides several times in the past.

But as time went by, and the Wright story lingered on, it seemed Clinton was perfectly willing to let the uninformed public get the misimpression that Barack Obama is moonlighting as an anti-American black nationalist racist. She knows better, and she ought to be ashamed for not speaking up on his behalf.

Just last month, in one of the many near-death experiences that forced her into a moment of vulnerable humility, Senator Clinton told a debate audience in Austin, Texas that she was proud to sit beside Barack Obama. "No matter what happens in this contest -- and I am honored. I am honored to be here with Barack Obama. I am absolutely honored," she said to applause. For a moment, it seemed the Democratic contest might become civil but competitive. For a moment.

Then on Tuesday of this week, apparently dissatisfied that the Jeremiah Wright story had failed to derail Obama's campaign, Clinton broke her silence on the issue and told a newspaper in Pennsylvania (188 delegates) that Rev. Wright "would not have been my pastor."

She repeated her criticism at a press conference later in the day. "You know, we don't have a choice when it comes to our relatives. We have a choice when it comes to our pastors and the churches we attend," she said.

She ought to be ashamed. A month ago she stoked the fears that Obama might be a Muslim and now she plays on the fears of Pennsylvanians that the Illinois senator is a radical black Christian. I would expect that kind of nonsensical fear mongering from a Republican, but I'm disappointed when it comes from a fellow Democrat.

Even John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has acknowledged that Clinton and Obama are both honorable Americans. When a conservative radio host attacked Obama at a Cincinnati McCain rally last month, the Arizona senator stood up for his Democratic opponents and apologized for the attack. "I have repeatedly stated my respect for Senator Obama and Senator Clinton," he said and promised to "treat them with respect." That was much classier than Hillary Clinton's comments on Jeremiah Wright.

As a New Yorker, I have been proud of Hillary Clinton's service in the Senate, and I harbor no ill will toward her. If she somehow manages to wrangle the nomination from Obama, I will actively support her general election campaign. But I cannot remain silent any longer while my own senator destroys the Democratic Party, and her own reputation, in a desperate and degrading effort to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

It's time for Senator Clinton to act like a leader that I know she can be. Hilary Clinton not only needs to defend Barack Obama, she needs to apologize to him.

Follow Keith Boykin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/keithboykin

Comments

[Bridgeport]

On the contrary, Obama needs to apologize for the money he has taken to run his campaign as an agent of change. Is he kidding ! He is a candidate for president. If he can't stand up to his pastor and hate, he needs to step down. If he can't take the heat, then he needs to get out. I could never vote for him.

[fixbone]

why should he stand up to his pastor - can not he listen without agreeing or accpeting those beliefs as his own, does his pastor not have the right to free speech and religion, does obama not have the right to sit and listen and disagree and choose not to be like that - or is it that you simply disagree with the pastor therefore you are right and he is wrong - may be you should to move a country where free speech is the law of the land

[MJ20]

I'm an Obama supporter and could never vote for a Republican, but I do admire how John McCain behaves with a certain honor that we would never see from a desparate Clinton who has already lost but is acting like she is entitled to be president. I do look foward to the race between Obama and McCain because they are two honorable candidates and will give us an honorable discussion of the issues. Their surrogates and 502c's may behave differently, but I do believe that these 2 will behave like adults this fall.

[silverball]

mj....i think you need to do more homework..­.this is not about being honorable.­.it's about being competent and ready to govern for the massess...­.EVERYONE.­...all americans.­.. it's about us....not them....se­riously, meccain wants to stay in iraq for how long?...yo­u need to do more research..­..

[TERRYKEITH4]

Let me tell all of you something.­.... You don't want black people to go to your church. They build their own. You burn the black church down. So now you turn right around and call their pastor racist just because he speaks out against unjustice. This is just more 'white noise'! Shut up! The Obamas have the right to attend the church of their choice. Is there any blacks attending your church? Do you even go to church? If not you have no business even commenting on what Rev. Wright says.

[tea in the harbor]

I don't go to church, but I agree with you. Most people seem to not have gotten the memo about where these comments originated, it seems the Reverend was quoting a white diplomat's comments on American foreign policy failures. I also think this is a convenient way for racists to rationalize their fear.(Not that everybody offended by the remarks is racist, but it does suit their purpose.)

[lizabethj2]

It's not that they didn't get the memo, it's that it's too complex for them to take in. Seriously, I have doubts about the intelligence of Clinton supporters. If it's longer than a sound bite, they have trouble processing it.

[monique]

It is not Hillary Clinton's fault that Barack Obama chose to attend and support the church of Jeremiah Wright. That was Obama's choice -- and his mistake. A 20-yr. mistake.

Why should she apologize? That is ridiculous. If I were asked the question that she was posed, I would most probably not have been as generous and lenient as she chose to be.

I do not accept or tolerate racism or prejudice of any kind. Not white against black -- I have lost or angered many friends by letting them know how I feel when I hear ugly remarks. And not black against white either. And not prejudices against gay people either. I find it infuriating and repulsive.

I consider Wright's words to be harmful, hate-filled and racist. And Obama must be held responsible for his actions and his choices. You can say he is not a black nationalist all you want. But his actions and his choice of church say something different.

Do not blame Hillary for Obama's bad judgment or mistakes.

[Cowboylove]

The Clinton Campaign has a long and storied history of "planting" questions and then feeling "compelled" to answer them. The Clintons have - since South Carolina - been running a subtle racist campaign since they lost South Carolina. In recent weeks it has intensified to such a high level that I have decided if she is the Democratic nominee my vote will go to Nader or some other third party.

Oddly enough, Clinton was my second choice when this race began. I really liked her, but I felt John Edwards had a better handle on the economy and the war, and trusted him to really do something positive to change the train wreck course we were on. When Edwards dropped out, I became a Clinton supporter - but as time has passed, she has disappointed me time and again.

The Reverend Wright controversy - which is BS of the highest magnitude - lost me. I will not vote for Hillary or her husband for any office again. They make Karl Rove look like a boyscout!

[tea in the harbor]

I agree! She should continue her low-brow tactics and watch as her approval ratings plummet! (As they currently are.) Maybe she could send Bill out to tell people that having an argument is what "America is all about!" Or she could remember the terror of that little girls poem in Bosnia! She is becoming the Dr. Strangelove of politics, riding her own bomb into oblivion and cheering herself as she goes.

[fixbone]

i agree, but i defy anyone to show any speech, any proposal, any plan, any policy statement, any action pre and post political in Obama's campaigning or previous work or previous legislative activity that shows he holds the same views as his pastor!!!!

Any prejudice, any discrimination, any devisive action - that Obama has done.

Here's your challenge - i would love to see any of those who condemn Obama by simple association - show any evidence that we should not believe what he says about his beliefs.

[mojomagic]

Is this good enough

http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=aa0cd21b-0ff2-4329-88a1-69c6c268b304

[MrBlack]

If you read Rev Wright's controversial remarks out of context, you are ignorant of America's racial history. Empathy is the password for Black Americans, who came of age in the 1960s - consider the resentment and rage many of us harbored for the dehumanizing treatment our elders and cohorts endured under legal Jim Crow.

Rev Wright gave voice to some of that rage over the last 30 years in a church pulpit. I have concluded from the soundbites I have heard, most of Wright's comments are based on FACTS. Therefore, Wright's critics anger at the preacher and Obama are misplaced.­...in a sense, both Wright and Senator Obama are victims of America's sordid racial pass - some want to demonize Rev Wright for giving voice to the truth; and others want to punish Senator Obama for sitting in the pews listening.

Senator Obama has impressed me as a brilliant thinker, writer, and communicator. His 2004 Democratic convention speech was special; his vote in the Senate to confirm Condolezza Rice as Secretary of State [at the time I was opposed to Rice's nomination], but in retrospect Obama was correct, and that vote gave me insight and a hint that Obama would work in nonpartsian fashion; and Senator Obama's speech on race in America last week was outstanding!!

Yes - I am a big supporter of Senator Barack Obama! Senators Clinton and McCain pale in comparison.

[sandpiper1]

You either can't read or are incapable of intrepreting what you read. Listen to the sermon..
He's not preaching hate or racism but about injustice, he also spoke out against the Supreme Court who wants to control womens' bodies and other injustices and prejudices in America. He quoted Edward Peck, former US Ambassador to Iraq (Regan's Administration) when he talked about chicken coming home to roost because that's what Peck said on 9/11. His alleged ` God damm America' was referring to what God says in the Bible re. nations who cause/create war and kill His people and that He, God will damm them by burning their countries etc. Go read your Bibles, you racist hyprocrites, you don't even have the guts and intregrity to acknowledge that you are one.

[dudelette]

No, Clinton does not have to apologize. She has nothing for which to apologize. Until Obama apologizes to us "typical white" people for his comment, I'm not interested in anything from his campaign.

While I won't vote for McCain if Clinton does not get the nomination, I recognize that Obama is the Jimmy Carter of the Third Millennium. If you were around for the original, you know what a failure a new Carter presidency right now would be. We don't need bridge builders or promises. We need someone strong, who knows the ropes. That is not Obama.

[Cowboylove]

Are you suggesting that typical white people do not act very much as his grandmother? Because if you are suggesting that, please tell me how long you have been living under a rock.

The idea that it is inconceivable for white people to understand the anger an old black preacher feels towards institutional racism is more troubling that Wrights comments. Younger whites and blacks do not carry the baggage their parents and grandparents do. We are fortunate as a nation for that. However, I have never been in a group of mature white people when some ethnic slur was not eventually uttered by someone - and I always call them on it. Still, racism exists to this day and when it surfaces, people of Reverend Wright's generation remember attack dogs, prison beatings, lynchings, etc. and their fear is reignited. It is fear and sadness I hear, more than anger.

Jenna Louisiana was last year, people. The black man who was dragged behind a truck in Texas was just a very few years ago. We of the White Persuasion must understand that blacks, Asians and gays do not live in our Lee Greenwood America.

Oh and as for Barack being a racist - against which race? He is as much white as he is black, and his living experience has been more white than black. So why do so many white people look at him and just see black? How racist is that?

[davemyers]

Please see www.discussrace.com

[FOXYLADY]

BOYKIN, BOYOO.....­.........K­NOCK IT OFF......H­AVEN'T YOU WEAKLINGS BASHED HILLARY CLINTON ENOUGH? THIS OLD WOMAN IS SICK TO DEATH OF ALL THE MEN WHO "PURPOSELY GIVE HILLARY CLINTON A HARD TIME". I MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH HER BUT I AM OLD ENOUGH AND EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT "OBAMA, THE SUPPOSID WONDER BOY" IS NOT READY TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY AT ALL. HE TALKS A GOOD GAME BUT HAS LEFT OUT TOO MUCH OF HIS PAST ACTIVITIES TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY ME AND OTHERS WITH EXPERIENCE.

[DasBoot]

HuffPost's Pick

Stop shouting!

[tea in the harbor]

Thank You!

[tea in the harbor]

If all that matters is experience, how about you vote for Cheney?

[Nancyann]

Hillary Clinton's experience is very questionable. She takes credit for aiding in the Irish peace process, the CHIP program, under fire in Bosnia. People in the know say she was no where near the CHIP program and only had tea with some Irish women and we have film that she was nowhere near enemy fire. . SHE'S A LIAR AND A FRAUD!!!!!

[stormy7]

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT FOXY LADY. OUR ONLY CHANCE TO SAVE THIS COUNTRY FROM ANYMORE REPUBLICAN RULE IS TO GET HILLARY CLINTON ELECTED AS PRESIDENT.

[Liverp2]

I am a Florida resident and if Obama wins the nomination I will vote for John McCain.
Barak Obama has done everything in his power to scuttle the revote in Michigan and Florida and even though he can't win the Presidency even if he wins the nomination, he won't allow anyone in Michigan and Florida a chance to compete.

Of the 3 candidates Hillary Clinton will make the best President, and if Obama does not wake up and realize he can never be President the 'typical white people' are never going to allow it. He has shown himself for what he really is.

There are many people who have already voted for him who are asking how they can retract their vote, they have 'buyers remorse'
The TV channels have given him a free rein to tell them who he is and no one checked him out.
Have you noticed how he now appears with American Flags in the background this is the new approach ever since his Pastor Wright racial speech when he stood in front of 8 American Flags?
He is so obviously phony and those who believed him, now don't want to admit they were fooled by him.

[PauCK]

I am equally a sad as a result of the turn away from civility in the Clinton camp. I voted for Hillary in Florida ( if that counts ) and put up a web site to promote her here. I now have a site to promote Obama in Florida and have changed my mind about who should lead America.

I like the Clintons. I would welcome Bill back if he could run again. However, they seem to be setting aside the party and what is best for America in favor of what they see is best for Hillary.

I will vote for which ever one turns out to be the nominee, however I am starting to feel more comfortable with Obama these days.

I certainly will not donate more money to be used to slander someone in the same party and am sorry I gave some money to Hillary given the way it is being used.

[Hadok]

She was asked the following question..­.
"How would you have responded if your pastor had said some of the things that Rev. Wright said?"

If we concede that her response was the wrong response, my question is this:
How SHOULD she have answered this queston?

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"How SHOULD she have answered this queston?"

----------­----------­-------

here's how an honest person would have answered:

"over the past few days we have seen that wright's statements were taken completely out of context in order to paint him as anti-american. So to answer your question, I would have needed to have been there and heard the entire sermon in order to say how I would have reacted."

[Hadok]

That is not a very good answer. Apparently, neither was Obama there to hear the entire sermon. By his own admission, it appears that he has missed several sermons of Rev Wright over the past 20 years. If Clinton is unqualified to comment on Rev Wright because of her absence from his services, likewise Obama is unqualified to comment on Rev Wright. In addition, her statement that "...I would have needed to have been there..." can be taken as a slam against Obama, in view of the fact the he was not there either -- drawing attention to the fact that apparantly he has only limited contact with the man who he identifies as his spiritual advisor.

Try again.

[Bondaroid]

Wrights statements taken out of context?

Is that a joke or what? Wrights statements are in full color taken from his own sermon in his own words videotaped at his own church by his own people and available to anyone. Out of context? Wright is the albatross around Obama's neck and more than likely will sink his candidacy. You are a reflection of the friends you keep and Obama is no different. But I question Obama's character, not for being a member of the church, or having Wright for his good friend, confidant, mentor and spritual advisor but having his children subjected to this racist bigot in Wright who is a friend of Farrakhan and Malik Zulu Shabbazz of the New Black Panthers. Some friend, confidant, mentor and spiritual advisor Obama has. And the new minister of his church is apparently cut of the same cloth. Maybe we should write it off as Wright being a "Typical Black" to borrow from Obama. Obama's business is his business until he runs for President, than its everyone's business. Unless, of course, he wants to lose.

[Choicelady]

She might have acknowledged the systemic pain that caused Pastor Wright to speak as he did. She might have admitted that Black people in this nation have a right to be angry. One does not have to like the words to understand the fury another person might feel at the persistent discrimination people of color undergo in this nation.

But most of all - she might have admitted she and her husband also sought Pastor Wright's care and counsel because he is so kind and so healing and that his anger is so rare. She might have admitted that Pastor Wright WAS their pastor in their own times of need.

That would have been honest.

[MSaldana]

This is just a TOTAL CROCK... Have another toke or two!

-MS

[Hadok]

Good response. Acknowledge systemic pain and Black anger, but avoid any direct repudiation of Rev Wright (as did Obama).

And the fact that Wright has served as Pastor to the Clintons is a revelation to me. The things we learn by reading Huff Post. I'd like to hear more about this.

[rjcrane]

This whole Rev Wright controversy is just so absurd and shows our madness in stretching political correctness to the point of absurdity to where anyone and everyone can be attacked for something they said during their entire life time no matter how long ago and in what context or even out of context. What no one is actually stating about Rev Wright was that he was speaking to people he knew and knew for a long time and felt he could speak frankly to them and say certain things a certain way to them. Any one of us could also say similar things to friends we know while we couldn't say the same to other people/friends we know. Considering the death and destruction our country has inflicted on the people of Iraq, who among us couldn't utter: G**D***M America!! if not to others at least to ourselves?

Frankly I am getting sick and tired of people being attacked for expressing unpopular viewpoints when those viewpoints have merit and are well expressed by people who have done some research. We saw the same phenom when Jimmy Carter's book attacked some of Israel's crimes against the Palestinians and when Mersheimer's book came out questioning US foreign policy with respect to Israel. We witnessed the same assault on people who wouldn't wear a flag lapel pin.

This madness needs to stop soon before we drown ourselves in it.

RJ Crane, topplebush.com

[tea in the harbor]

When will we hear more about Hillary's church? The one who refers to itself as "The Family", and specialises in recruiting Washington power brokers. Whose stated goal is to use that power to advance their own agenda? What is that agenda? Why is she in a church that is overwhelmingly republican? She can't answer questions about a church she doesn't go to, but what about the one she does?

[mojomagic]

That story circulated around the net and was posted, I think on HuffPost..­........it was also rebuked.

[LongBeachDave]

By saying.."i see where this is leading, and I refuse to lower myself to the mudslinging and innuendo that many people in the press seem to want all of us candidates to engage in, Next question, please?"

[Hadok]

Good response. When faced with a tough question, accuse the press of "mudslinging and innuendo" and simply refuse to answer the question.

[JustMyWords]

Clinton is officially a member of the Methodist church. Among official church teachings is that abortion is always an evil, and that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teachings, so there can be no gay marriage or recognition of civil unions, and no admitted homosexual may be ordained in the church. Both of these positions are at odds with what Clinton supposedly believes - she says she's pro-choice and supports gay rights. So, by the logic I keep seeing here, Hillary must be lying about her political positions, because apparently it's not possible to disagree with what's said in church, right?

[zozosmom]

Why do you Obama supporters always demand that Clinton defend Obama for him? This is particularly outrageous considering how team Obama's entire campaign ispredicated on lying about Clinton's character. Obama, along with many bloggers at HuffPo, owes Clinton and her supporters an apology for all the race-baiting and sexism that has been the foundation of his campaign.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"considering how team Obama's entire campaign ispredicated on lying about Clinton's character"

----------------

hahahahaha, that's a hoot. clinton has dug her own grave. her true character has come to light during this election, and even though it has been nasty, ultimately it is a good thing for everyone when truth is exposed. no more illusions. the question of course, is: will people continue to deny the truth because they prefer the illusion?

[trapperj20]

I don't agree with your comments about Obama's campaign but I would love for you to convince me with some facts. The problem with the Clinton campaign is that they are destroying the Democatic party's chances of being elected. If the same attacks were coming from Repubs, then at least Obama would have members of his own party, especially a prominent one like Hillary, to stick up for him. The main difference is that Obama has never insinuated that Clinton is not qualified to be president. He has accused her of being dishonest. If you could provide me with links to Obama's campaigns use of sexism and race-baiting I would be grateful. I've been searching long and hard for a reason to dislike Obama, and I just can't seem to find one.

[kingshmoopy]

Defending him and apologizing to him are two different things. She should apologize to him for trying to speak out of both sides of her mouth, and for trying to perpetuate lies about him that she knew to be untrue.

Nobody has to lie about Clinton's character, she has proven herself to be a liar, most recently, with her Bosnia story and her other claims of foreign policy experience. Her claim to foreign policy exerience is the cornerstone of her campaign, what does it say about her character that she thinks so little of her own experience that she feels she has to pump herself up with lies?

[elbzee]

Well, Dang, I thought I'd been listing pretty closely, but, um.... "all the race-baiting and sexism that has been the foundation of his campaign."

What? I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time recalling actually seeing him say a sexist thing about her... or race baiting... Hmmm.

The thing that put me over the top with Obama was his class in responding to some to the asinine things she's done. I saw a gentleman who faced the absurdity of the 3am call commercial so beautifully and with such grace that I was reminded of my dad and the degree of class that always distinguished him as a great man. Of the choices, I'll go with a man who reminds me of my dad... My mom has way more class that Hillary has ever shown to me, and I knowshe's never lied to me. Sorry.

So, um I'm a tad confused.

[FOXYLADY]

DARN, OBAMA TOOK TOOOOOOO LONG TO "DENY HIS PASTOR"...­.....HE'S SAT THROUGHT THAT RANTING MANIACS SERMONS FOR AGES......­....IS HE, OBAMA, SUCH A HYPOCRITE THAT HE "SLEEPS THROUGHT THE SERVICE" AND DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS BEING PREACHED..­.........W­HAT BULL PUCKY!!!

[biglover]

Take down your caps Foxlady. We don't need you to shout at us.

[smallpants]

Foxylandy, I don't know what makes you seem older: 1) the fact you shout your posts because you are apparently deaf, 2) You don't know you are shouting because you don't know that "all caps" means you're shouting (ask your great grand children about this), 3) you close your post with "bull pucky."

[boomer59]

Speaking of ranting manics, foxylady, you are certainly one of them. How many people have asked you to turn off your caps, but you just continue to spew your vitriol and yell (that's what all caps means btw). You are certainly doing your candidate no good. Have a little common courtesy for goodness sakes!

[Muddin]

Alan Keyes for president !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.alankeyes.com/

[mojomagic]

This is the man who ran against Obama for US Senate. Pretty tough challenge.­......Yes? And Obama supporters say he took a big political gamble when he gave his so called anti war speech in the most liberal county in Illinois.. Crazy Alan, as perrenial a candidate as Ralph Nader....w­ith no chance to win but it keeps his name in the public domain.

[ResidentChimp]

Obama owes America an apology for sitting in a racist, anti-Semitic church for twenty years.

[smei]

HE DOES NOT. Do you listen??? He did not hear the horrible comments while he was SITTING in church.

What is it that people are so afraid of??? That Obama will all of the sudden become an angry man and spew hate? Don't be silly. Look at the man, his faith, his church, his perspective. THEN make a judgement. If you still don't like him great, at least you have been fair about your lack of support.

Remember we have freedom of religion and speech. It doesn't always make us comfortable, but you take the good with the bad.

If you truly want to understand the issue and be informed, listen to Obamas speech on race. This will at least inform you of a real struggle that exists in this country.

[Choicelady]

Where in the world did you get that 'fact'? There is not a scintilla of evidence that the church is racist (being uplifting of your congregants is not racism) and it absolutely has NO record of anti-Semitism. What absolute balderdash!

[FOXYLADY]

RIGHT ON RESIDENTCH­IMP.......­....A "CHIMP" WITH THE RIGHT STUFF!! HOW DARE OBAMA "PREACH" ABOUT RACE WHEN HE DID "SIT IN THAT PEW LISTENING TO THE SAME RANTING AND RAGING PASTOR FOR 20 YEARS"....­OR IS HE A HYPOCRITE AND DID HE USE THE TIME FOR "NAPPING" HIS NAPPY HEAD? I'M SO SICK AND TIRED OF HIS HYPOCRACY AND BULL CRAP SPEAKING

[tea in the harbor]

The good thing is that he doesn't need the votes of people who make racist comments like yours to win the Presidency, those days are over for this country and it is a sign that We the People are evolving!

[smallpants]

"nappy head" You just gave it away foxylady. Your and old angry racist.

[OriginalRisky1]

If I have a pet peeve in life it is with folks who feel the need to write in all capitol letters, What is up with that? Are you afraid no one will read your ill written and apparently ill considered post? If you find that last comment a personal affront, then take it in the spirit in which it was intended.
The most honest thing you could write about your comments would be that you are sick and tired of not having your own voice heard. I would accuse you of nascent racism, but I find the taxonomic classification of race within phyla to be ridiculas. Therefore I accuse you of ethnocentricism. If you are tired of less than honest politcians then you are in trouble because from where I sit Obama seems to be a little more honest than everyone else in the running, and he is a shining example of honesty in comparison to the Lack wit and his companions currently stealing our nation blind.

[twinkerbell]

You've just revealed what you really are. A person who would never vote for Obama under any circumstances and who is using the Wright controversy as a cover for your own racism.
You've lost any credibility you might have had on this blog. Good-bye & don't let the door hit you in the you-know-what.

[BBGG]

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD FOR YOU FOXYLADY!!!! AMEN. GLAD SOME OF US ARE STILL LEFT. FIGHT ON, FIGHT ON, FIGHT ON. NEVER GIVE UP!

[PauCK]

This demonstrates why church and state should remain forever separate.

No one needs to apologize for the church they go to.

It is the pastor who needs to apologize to his flock or he should be asked by them to resign. All this aside, it is a NON ISSUE unless people choose to make it an issue and those who do will always find something to take issue with.

Leave it alone.

[DasBoot]

How about America owing an apology to Africans for enslaving them and forcing them to come here?

[mojomagic]

They want reparations, but it hasn't passed in the Congress yet

[gipper1]

Hillary has absolutely no shame. She thought she could mail it in and have the nomination handed to her on a silver platter. Then along comes Obama and hell hath no fury like a Hillary scorned.

I voted for Bill Clinton in 1992/96, Al Gore in 200, John Kerry in 2004, and want to vote for Barack Obama in 2008.

Under NO circumstances would I vote for Hillary Clinton. If she steals this thing, I am voting for John McCain.

[conscioushope]

My sentiments exactly.

Actually, at one time I was for Hillary.
I understand that she wants to give her life to win, but in the process, she has also sold her soul.

So, now, I am ready for CHANGE with OBAMA.

[FOXYLADY]

GIPPER???? HOW OLD ARE YOU.......­..LIKE REAGAN WHO LOST IT WHILE PRESIDENT???

[donnal]

Stealing is not how she will do this...

Barack has little or no actions to back his inspiring speeches..­. What really gets to you all is that this woman works at getting this nomination every day...its Barack who beleives that because he can give us such fine speeches that this nomination is his.

Know your facts about the nomination, neither has enough delegates to win, they will go to a second and perhaps a third ballot to nominate a candiate in August. Don't believe the press and everyone who is telling you she doesn't have a chance...b­ecause she does.

His strategy is inspiring rhetoric with no plan for action.

I under no circumstances will vote for him, I have spent way to much of my life on the talkers, I want someone who will work for me, not just tell me that he will.

[lizabethj2]

I'm 50. I've been a Dem all of my life. I've always voted for a Dem President. I would sooner vote for Satan himself than for Hillary Clinton - and I'm a Christian, okay? Do you feel me? Never, I will Never vote for Hillary Clinton.

That being said, I won't vote for McCain either. My son is draft age and if I voted for McCain and my son got drafted into one of several wars that McCain would have going, I'd have to kill myself.

If the unthinkable happens, my solution is to write in Obama's name.

[BBGG]

If I were Hillary, I wouldn't want your damn vote. Vote for Barack but remember, you will get what you deserve. Words, words, words, with no content. Words, Words, influenced by his experiences of life and influenced by those who are close to him.

[fishwanda]

I'm right there with you Lizabeth, our sons deserve better than Hillary or McCain. Perhaps Chelsea and Bush'es daughters should enlist.... yep, that would be so patriotic!

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

good post. I also thought it was extremely lame of hillary to keep going with this idea that wright is a whack-job. prior to her comment 'he would not have been my pastor' it came to light that his statements were cherry picked to make him sound anti-american. she knew this. so for her to continue down the path of trying to paint him as a whack job is completely dishonest. but I guess I'm not surprised. what surprises me are those who know the truth who continue to support her. they apparently think that being misleading and dishonest is fine, as long as it gets you what you want. really, is there any hope for america when people think that this kind of behavior is acceptable?

[tea in the harbor]

There was a man who saw this coming over two hundred yers ago, a man who was offered a crown for what he did to free this country. Mr, Washington warned us, in his final speach as President, that a party based system would debase our Democracy and stifle independant thought. Maybe it's time we listened and started exploring alternatives.

[Smartey]

Not only do we know that Hillary lied about the Bosnian sniper fire (what's new? she lies repeatedly, and has for years). We can also conclude from this story that she and her dickhead husband got us into a war against a state that did not attack us, posed no threat, and caused no hardship to the American homeland. And we have now occupied that state for more than a dozen years, against that nation's will. And everybody is all worked up about Iraq. Such hypocrisy.

[mojomagic]

The reason Bill Clinton went into Bosnia was to stop genocide of the Serbs.