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

[Muddin]

I think the reverend Wright owes America an apology...­.

[LeeFromVA]

The reverend was a Marine. He's earned his right to criticize this country. In fact, that's what it means to live in a free society. We are allow to criticize our country. The opposite is called communism.

[Muddin]

He sure does have the right to say what he says...and I am glad I heard him say it....I have a the same rights reverend Wright has ....
As far as Obama and reverend Wright...i­t says a lot about a mans character as to who he socializes and spend time with.

[FOXYLADY]

A MARINE?????? OH MY GOODNESS..­........SO­MEWHERE ALONG THE WAY HE LOST HIS RIGHTS!! THIS PASTOR WRIGHT IS A MEAN, NASTY RACIST PIG!! A HYPOCRITE ALL OF THE WAY.......­.......DOE­S THE JACKASS THINK THAT IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY HE'D BE ABLE TO PREACH AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT AS HE'S DONE??

[Amberlass]

I think Reverend Wright owes America an apology. He also owes Hillary Clinton an apology. He had no right to attack her from his race-based pulpit.

[Xander]

And this is exactly why if, I am faced with a McCain/Clinton general election, I will vote for McCain and 4 more years of the same lousy extreme-re­ligious-ri­ght policies over Clinton. At least with McCain, I know I'm getting somebody who's not going to simply try to destroy anybody who has the audacity to disagree with him (well, at least not domestically, at any rate)

[AERO]

I agree. I don't care for McCain too much, but now if Hillary is the nominee, I will go door to door for McCain.

[zozosmom]

OMG! The hypocrisy of this is astounding. All the Obama camp and the so-called progressives have been doing is tearing to shreds anyone who has the audacity to question Obama's credentials and his shallow self-marketing. Look in the mirror, dude.

[FOXYLADY]

"AUDICITY"??? MY MY XANDER....­.......IT SEEMS YOU MAY HAVE AT LEAST LEARNED TO USE "BIG WORDS"....­.......HOW CAN HILLARY CLINTON "DESTROY" ANYONE....­YOU ARE GOING TO EXTREMES AND NEED TO TAKE YOUR MEDS

[biglover]

Well Xander - you are entitled - but it shows how ignorant you are. You are like the 32% of americans who will vote against their own special interests. Real smart of you.

[JerDogNebr]

Hillary was just on Greta Van Susteren (Fox News) and stated that she was going to have a credentials fight over seating the Michigan and Florida delegates. She then said:
“Lets have the Democratic party go on record against seating the Michigan and Florida delegations three months before the general election? I don’t think that will happen. I think they will be seated. So that’s where we’re headed if we don’t get this worked out.”
Hillary is willing to so damage Barack Obama AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY that he cannot get the FL or MI electoral votes (and inflict collateral damage on local Democrats as well). The 48 other states and delegations held their caucuses or primaries according to the rules. Hillary's FL and MI "delegates" were awarded in elections that EVERYONE (including Hillary) agreed wouldn't count BEFORE the elections were held!! It would be like deciding in December that the New York Jets could count their pre-season NFL games to make the playoffs!!! It is just absurd.
It is time for the superdelegates to have their "come to Jesus" with Clinton. She cannot continue to destroy the Democatic Party as part of her desire to get back in the White House. The superdelegates need to commit now. If they want to go with Hillary, then so be it. However, they can then write off the African American vote and the educated middle class white males who believe in following the rules (me) from now until doomsday.

[conscioushope]

Yes, time for an old-fashioned revival, ie, "come to Jesus" meeting!

Sadly, alathough I had been a Hillary supporter, I do not think she can be "revived" from the death throes of a campaign of negativity.

[balanga]

'come to jesus'....­what a joke the Democratic party is already Destroyed!­!!.B.O. will in all probability get the nomination and up to 30% of Democrats will walk...thi­s is one independent [who has always voted Democrat] who is sitting this one out!

[biglover]

That's balanga - real smart. But good stay home and note vote in one of the most important elections of our time. If you have children and/or grandchildren you should be thinking about them and not just you

[smallpants]

conservative republicans were saying they would walk if McCain got the nomination. He got the nomination and now they're all back into the fold. They same will happen when Obama gets the domination. Such hard feelings are common in primaries. They choice between Obama and McCain is a pretty stark one. Clinton democrats will come around.

[riconap]

Rules? What about the fact that the Florida Republican Legislature (not the State Dems) were responsible for violating the rules? Should we tell the good people of Florida; "sorry, you're out of luck because those are the rules" ? Can we afford to disenfranchise them (and Michigan) just so that Obama won't have to go through a re-vote that he can't win? Should we write off these two States and let their voters go Republican or not vote at all? Rules? The rules are that the Super Delegates can make an independent choice; that is the purpose of their existence. No, here the rules are not good for Obama so you want the SD's to follow the "will of the people" carte blanch -ignore the rules when it suits your cause and apply them when it does not. Finally; what about the over 40 female voters, the (as you would state " uneducated") blue collar voters and the more conservative independents? Obama can't win but I do agree that it's better to let him run and lose the presidency rather than destroy the party which is what his followers would do; not Hillary supporters if the tables were turned.

[tea in the harbor]

Maybe the voters of Florida will choose more wisely next time! Michigan too.

[zippywpinhead]

Rules? How about reality? Florida Senate bill 1010 was introduced by a democrat and voted for by democrats. In fact, if you read the committee analysis, it addresses the issue of breaking the DNC and RNC rules and what the likely penalty would be, yet Senators FROM BOTH PARTIES chose to ignore it, as well as the warnings from their respective national party leaders and voted to change their primary date anyway. I feel bad for the disenfranchised voters, but their beef is with their representatives for failing to do their jobs, not with the national parties, much less one of the presidential candidates. Maybe if the voters of Florida had elected senators who actually represented them and had furthermore paid attention during the months and months this drama played out and called out their representatives for playing politics and attempting to game the system, they wouldn't find themselves out in the cold...

Nice spin, but it's all BS. Breaking the rules SHOULD NOT be rewarded

[tea in the harbor]

You forgot to mention that she's also putting forward the idea that "pledged" delegates aren't bound to their pledges. Your football analogy is interesting Bill used one yesterday, to illustrate his point that slimy attacks are part of what America is about. He said that if you don't want to get hit, you shouldn't put on the pads, it occurred to me that it might be more applicable to this campaign to ask how long the coach would let a player stay in the game if they were scoring points for the opponent! The party,(I don't belong, I vote for Candidates I respect, don't like anybodies koolaid), does need to get together though, they need to get all the super-delegates to endorse Obama and make a statement that it is about bringing dignity into politics, which would have the added effect of popping Johnny McWar in the jaw because we know where his campaign will be headed in the fall! A pre-emptive strike, so to speak.

[zozosmom]

The Democratic Party is damaging the Democratic Party. You just don't get it. Obama is not ENTITLED to the nomination. This is not a coronation. If you want a coronation, join the GOP. Hillary is speaking political truth--something the Obama people have unilaterally decided is old hat because it doesn't suit them. Get real. Your guy is toast in the GE.

[tea in the harbor]

No, you don't get it. Obama is winning this primary in every measurable way, that is a little thing called Democracy! Your beleiving something doesn't make it truth, neither does mine, that's why we all vote, and the clear majority has voted for Obama! If that pattern continues he is indeed, ENTITLED, to the nomination!

[superba]

Sorry, but you're the one who doesn't get it. Speaking of 'getting real' you really ought to make an attempt to understand how the primary process works. What the rules are and were before the contest even started. The math is no longer there for Clinton to make a credible case to take the nomination, not under any plausible scenario. Not even with a 20-point win in PA (chances of which are fast evaporating, according to recent polls,) not even if the FL and MI delegates are seated--she cannot overtake Obama in any of the areas that actually matter--not even in the popular vote, which was her last shot at gaming the system (hoping thereby to persuade superdelegates that she was 'more electable'--a threadbare argument, but even that is lost now.)

Listen to Nancy Pelosi--"this is a delegate race." Any sane opponent of Obama's would have stepped down by now, but Clinton is determined to burn every bridge she's got left.

Clinton supporters, if you failed to understand the facts before now, try to process the fact that Gov. Richardson (former member of the Clinton cabinet!) has declared for Obama. It's over, and the sooner you figure that out, the better for the country.

[FOXYLADY]

HIP HIP HOORAY ZOZO......­.....NOBOD­Y IS ENTITLED..­......THAT SOUNDS LIKE KING GEORGE AND HIS REPUKE PARTY....L­IKE "I'M THE DECIDER, BUSH" .. HOW CHILDISH AND CURLISH. IF OBAMA WINS THE DEMS NOMINATION YOU CAN BE SURE WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER REPUKE IN THE WHITE HOUSE....G­OD HELP US!!!

[biglover]

He is not entitled - but he is winning elected delgates and popular vote. Her negatives have gotten worse over the last two weeks. She cannot win. Your gal is toast and if you vote for McCain you will be a two time loser.

[JerDogNebr]

So Hillary is a lock in the general election given the way she has conducted this campaign? Tell me how with her "cater to the 51% of the 60% that vote in the states with 51% of the electoral votes strategy," she can win WITHOUT African Americans and middle class educated whites like me. That is EXACTLY what she is doing to herself (and the Democratic Party) if she is successful in getting the nominiation with FEWER of the pledged delegates. If she wins it with a majority of the pledged delegates, then fine. She would be the nominee and I would support her.
Remember that while Hillary initially claimed entitlement to the African American vote as the wife of the first "Black President," she hasn't batted an eye in throwing blacks off the campaign bus in exchange for Hispanics, white women over 50, and white men making less than $50K. If she does a "Bush v. Gore" and steals the nomination by getting the superdelegates to overrule the pledged delegates, then I'll stay home with my checkbook along with the rest of the Obama supporters.

[StillAmused]

Some of your comments bear witness to the effectiveness of the MSM "Narrative Chorus" that saturates the 24-hour news cycle

"But then she slyly added, "As far as I know."" ?

... AFTER Steve Kroft asked her the same question several times!

"You don't believe that Senator Obama's a Muslim?" Kroft asked Sen. Clinton.

"Of course not. I mean, that, you know, there is no basis for that," she replied.

Operative response: "Of course not"... the answer she offered before being badgered and groping to free herself for the next question.

"Next, she all but endorsed McCain over Obama for president.­"

No... she sought to minimize her primary opponent's credentials. She's had plenty critical to say about McCain.

"Clinton was perfectly willing to let the uninformed public get the misimpression that Barack Obama is moonlighting as an anti-American black nationalist racist."

When did the ignorance of the public -- or Obama's past associations -- become HER responsibility? When was the last time Obama defended HER? When his campaign likened her to Tonya Harding?

"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 didn't "break her silence"..­. she answered a specific QUESTION from the editors: How would SHE have handled similar comments from HER pastor?

"Hilary Clinton not only needs to defend Barack Obama, she needs to apologize to him."

Sure you don't want another pillow, Senator?

[darcy]

Thank you, StillAmused! This is politics! Why is Clinton attacked and abused for every word that comes out of her mouth, while Obama gets a pass on everything?

It's sickening. I really hope she wins the nomination.

[FOXYLADY]

DARCY.....­....I'M WITH YOU ALL OF THE WAY....YOU ASK A GOOD QUESTION..­.IT'S BECAUSE, IN THE OPINE OF THIS REALLY OLD WOMAN, IT IS BECAUSE SHE IS A STRONG AND INTELLIGENT WOMAN. TOO MANY "MEN" CAN'T TAKE STRONG INTELLIGENT WOMEN AND SOME WOMEN ARE UNDER THE THUMBS OF THEIR HUSBANDS STILL. IT'S REALLY BECOMING A GD NIT-PICKING CAMPAIGN BY ALL... AND THE MEDIA DOESN'T HELP ONE BIT WITH THEIR BULL S^%T!!

[mojomagic]

Steve Croft did badger her. My question is; Obama was on that same 60 minutes, why didn't they ask him, after all, he is the candidate that has some thinking he is a Muslim? I watched that 60 minutes and I didn't get the impression she was trying to create the impression he could be Muslim. It was MSNBC and Chris Matthews who tried to say she was trying to leave that impression , but then Matthews and MSNBC are the the official bash Hillary volunteers to Obama's campaign, and it is so blatant that many voters are being turned off of MSNBC and Obama.

[northeast73]

Uh, loser where is Obama's apology to Hillary AND Bill?

The Clintons were the SUBJECT of one of Wrights sermons titled "Hillary aint never been called a nword"....­and bill clinton was "lousy" to the black community. Yeah, I think THEY of all people have a RIGHT to speak out against wrights comments.

Secondly, TRY WATCHING THE 60 MINUTES INTERVIEW. She DID NOT add "as far as I know" until Steve Kroft PUSHED AND PUSHED AND ASKED THE QUESTION 3 TIMES....h­ardly a ploy, you paranoid freaks.

Thirdly, David Plouffe from the Obama campaing was complaining last week that Hillary DIDNT say anything about the Wright situation.­....now she does and you complain abou that.

Get a LIFE!

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

it's the same complaint they make against Bill Clinton. When he says something about Obama, like his anti-war position is a "fairytale", they twist it, claim he said Obama's entire campaign is a fairytale, then call him a racist.

When Bill Clinton talks about an election between Hillary and McCain (he does support Hillary, right) and doesn't even mention Obama, they still claim he is attacking Obama.

I guess what the Obama support's expect is for Bill Clinton to add "Obama is a good choice too" to the end of every sentence that comes out of his mouth. But even if he did that, they would claim somehow his voice inflection REALLY MEANT just the opposite and he was sending a coded racist message to the public

[FOXYLADY]

IT SEEMS WITH SO MANY IGNORANT PEOPLE, "YOUR DAMNED IF YOU DON'T AND DAMNED IF YOU DO".......­...NO MATTER WHAT HILLARY AND BILL CLINTON SAY OR DO THERE ARE GOING TO BE THE ^%$#'S WHO FIND SOMETHING TO "^ITCH" ABOUT. THIS IS GETTING TO BE A SICKENING EVENT AND I'M SICK TO DEATH OF THOSE WHO ACT LIKE OBAMA IS GODS GIFT TO THE UNITED STATES! MANY OF HIS "FANS" ACT LIKE HE IS A "ROCK STAR" WITH THEIR SCREAMING AND JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND WEEPING...­...PLEASE PEOPLE, WATCH HIS CROWDS OF FANS AND NOTICE WHO IS MOSTLY IN THE CROWD!!

[kingshmoopy]

And Obama should apologize for something he didn't even say--for what Wright said--why? He has already stated that he doesn't agree with some of the things that Wright has said, now he has to start apologizing each time one of his supporters says something against Clinton?

[TwoCentsWorth]

Good post northeast73, you are absolutely correct.

Obama should apologize to Senator Clinton for saying one thing to voters about NAFTA and then having his campaign staffer tell the Canadian official that they need not pay attention to what he says about NAFTA because it's just political posturing. Dissembling? Obama has a long list of statements that fit that description.

It is ridiculous that the Obama camp wants to nit-pick every word Clinton might have said while she was First Lady when we'd all much rather hear about issues -- e.g., presidential signings, privacy of e-mails and phone conversations, executive power limitations. Obama doesn't want to talk about anything substantive it seems.

[markusmarkus]

"Obama should apologize to Senator Clinton for saying one thing to voters about NAFTA and then having his campaign staffer tell the Canadian official that they need not pay attention to what he says about NAFTA because it's just political posturing.­"
Actually, the rumor that an advisor to Obama talked with a Canadian official was started by a a senior aid to a Canadian cabinet member. This senior aid political orientation is equivalent to an American neocon.
Read, research, think, then decide. And don't be a putz!

[superba]

Absurd. Do some research on the NAFTA question please. Joseph Wilson had a hand in switching the story to reflect the Obama campaign's involvement, when really it was Clinton who had attempted to mollify the Canadian government. That story is not over (update just today on internal Canadian probe in the Globe and Mail.)

As for issues, Obama is at least as accomplished a policy wonk as Clinton; his many bipartisan successes in the Illinois state legislature led directly to the position he finds himself in now. If you don't bother to inform yourself about his policies that is one thing but please do not say he "doesn't want to talk about anything substantiv­e." Today's New York Times points out that Obama's is the best plan for the mortgage crisis from among the three candidates (it involves permitting bankruptcy courts to restructure home loans. Bet you didn't know that.)

[mojomagic]

Well said......­..........­...Amen!

[nkpatel1279]

I strongly dislike politicians like Barack Obama and supporters of Barack Obama who take offense of the fact that Barack Obama is a Muslim. What is wrong with the fact that Barack Obama is part Muslim.The­ir is nothing that says in the constitition that you have to be a Christian to be President.

[Repub4Obama]

Islam is a religion, not a race. The only 'race' that equates itself with religion is judaism. There are lots of people who have an Islamic family and consider themselves Kenyans or Americans, or whatever else.

He's half-black, half-white, not half-Muslim. That said, there's nothing wrong with Islam, and many Muslims are good people. But the Bush war machine has taught America to fear Islam as a whole, and not just the extremists moving for muhejedeen.

[Amberlass]

I am afraid of Muslims for the following reasons which have nothing to do with Bush:

Iran Embassy Hostages - 1979

Beirut, Lebanon Embassy - 1j983

Beirut, Lebanon Marine Barracks - 1983

Lockerbie, Scotland Pan-Am flight to New York 1988

First New York World Trade Center Attack - 1993

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Khobar Towers Military Complex - 1996

Nairobi, Kenya US Embassy - 1998

A! den, Yemen USS Cole - 2000

New York World Trade Center - 2001

Pentagon - 2001.

I'll be voting for Hillary if she is the candidate. If she isn't - I am voting for McCain. I willl not be voting for anyone with Muslim ties, who were responsible for all of the above attacks. Our problems with Muslims began along time ago.

[woodchips]

in fact, MOST Muslims are good people. Those who follow radical islamic leaders are NOT following the teachings of their prophet. Just like the radical right-wing "Christians" in the US do NOT follow the example and teachings of Jesus (...but that's another story).

[kingshmoopy]

Obama is not "part Muslim," Islam is a religion, not a heritage. He is American, period.

[nerakami]

To be a Muslim or a Christian or whatever other religion there is, means a personal embracing of the ideologies and doctrines of that religion. I was made to attend a Christian church for the first 17 years of my life, and I can absolutely claim that I am not a christian.­..

Barack Obama does not embrace the Muslim religion therefore, there is nothing wrong with him stating the facts that he is not, just like there is nothing wrong with the Muslim religion.

[Choicelady]

Nothing wrong at ALL in being Muslim. We've vilified that major religion thanks to 9/11 and its hideous warped aftermath of stupid bigotry. But no one is 'part Muslim' since you're pretty much one faith or another. I agree that you don't have to be a Christian to be President, but let's just accept Obama for who he is - a member of the United Church of Christ, the direct linear descendant of the Pilgrims and one of the most progressive Christian churches in America. That's quite cool. More power to him.

[JohnShank]

Perhaps as Mr. Boykin states, "Hillary seems perfectly willing to let the uninformed public get the misimpression that Barack Obama is an anti-American black nationalist racist", because he is. Certainly Mr. Boykin would admit that if Hillary Clinton or John McCain had ever been a member of a church that had a decidedly pro-white agenda, they would be out of the race before they could issue a statement. The MSM would be all over them. Barack Obama is not held to the same standard.

[barrista]

Do you know that the church Obama went to has a 'decidely pro-black agenda'?

You're right they're not held to the same standard. McCain has a crazy spiritual adviser himself, and yet he didn't have to make a public speech about how he's not planning on killing the pope.

[tea in the harbor]

Hillary is a member of a church that calls itself "The Family."Th­is "church" specializes in attracting D.C,'s power brokers, it's stated purpose is to use that power to further their own agenda. She has gotten NO questions from the press about them. Johnny is now promoting himself as a fundamentalist Christian, the people who gave us Timothy McVay and a decade of clinic bombings, the ones who said Katrina was a "Punishment from God," how many reporters have you seen push that angle of his religion? Your assumption is demonstrably false.

[zozosmom]

This "The Family" story is total BS. Hillary is not a "member" of the Family. She went to some congressional prayer group meetings, eons ago, that were also attended by a few people who are members. Barabara Ehrenreich should be ashamed of herself for writing that baseless hit piece. But that's the Obama camp-- when your candidate is defending the indefensible, accuse Hillary of doing the same thing and call it indefensible. The Obama camp sent Druge the turban photo and then accused Clinton of playing dirty, the Obama camp defended Wright and then sent out a picture of Bill shaking hands with Wright--as if it meant he were dirty-- the Obama camp compared Obama OJ ...

[MysticMichael]

An apology from Hillary, eh? Good luck with that one. Personally, I'm not holding my breath...

[mslindab]

I guess HIllary can now answer the question as to whether or not Obama is a Muslim more convincingly! Or, knowing her pattern, maybe not!

[AnninCA]

Clinton said what a huge number of Americans think, and that is certainly nothing to apologize for. The notion that Obama deserves an apology because someone dared to point out the obvious and what everyone and his grandmother have been writing about for a week is absolutely laughable.

If the author is indignent, then the author is simply assuming that Hillary is not allowed to even say the obvious. Good grief, this is politics.

[tea in the harbor]

Look beyond the divisiveness of the Reverends statements and you may see them differently. This country did, while promoting itself as a "The land of the free," endorse slavery for 75 years, it institutionalized racism for another hundred. Under the "Doctrine of Manifest Destiny," we engaged in genocide against Native Americans for a century. You didn't do this, nor did I, but to assume that all those years of mistreatment, those generations of pain, would not affect the current members of those family trees, is foolish. All of our histories are a mixed bag, I am proud of my ancestors who signed the Declaration of Independence, but there was also reportedly a Judge in Salem, who put people to a horrible death based on superstition and the accusations of a twelve year old child! Overall, our Nation has moved humanity forward, admitting our mistakes and talking about how to avoid them in the future would be another step in that direction!

[nerakami]

Thank you for the honesty ....... Acknowledging the "sins" of our Fathers does not mean... we have to take their guilt or shame, however it does mean that we understand the Law of Karma, or as the Bible states, reaping the seeds that were sown and we also know that it is now our mature and enlightened responsibility to harmonize / correct the distorted energy of this country's past.

In the same manner a child must learn through self-discovery to overcome the traumatic experiences of his childhood, so must America, through introspection, open and respectful communication one to another, our willingness to forgive .... learn and grow into an awareness of greater unity. We really can do this....

[JimR]

Ann is not a paid Hillary Clinton campaign staffer. As far as I know...

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"Clinton said what a huge number of Americans think, and that is certainly nothing to apologize for."

----------­----------­--------

bullshit! if you know it's wrong, it doesn't matter how many people think it, you don't say it! your statement demonstrates perfectly the idea that's it's okay to be dishonest. is this a standard position for hillary supporters? if so, explains a lot.

[Looplinker]

The Obama Wright fiasco is not over. I am sure when the press does its work there will be a lot more about the reverand's far far left views.

It is interesting that Obama claims that the issue of his spiritual mentor, the reverend Jeremiah Wright, is a distraction. I am sure for Obama it is a distraction but for some of us it raises questions about Obama’s character and judgment and of his fitness to be President.

Obama seeks to assure us that the videos of Wright calling on God to damn America and that the government was responsible for AIDS to kill Afro-Americans do not detract from all the good that Wright and his church has done for his congregation and community. Perhaps this helps to explain why Wright and his church saw fit to honor the racist bigot Farrakhan. This type of logic and judgment could also be used for honoring Hitler since he did improve the standard of living of the German people. Clearly, Wright’s and Farrakhan’s world views are similar.

It is one thing for Obama to now disclaim the racist utterings of his spiritual advisor by a blanket disavowal. But to claim he had no knowledge of Wright’s views would be to argue that a regular attendee at KKK rallies had no clue about the views of that organization. After all Obama attended the church for 20 years and saw fit to let his daughters be indoctrinated by the reverend.

[dasimms]

White people are indoctrinated with the notion that they are superior and they deserve to be in charge of the entire world.
People of color that dare to think that white people are not God and they don't deserve to be in control of the whole word are accused of being racists.
A black person that does not accept unfair treatment by their oppressor cannot inflict on them what racists whites have been able to inflict on people of color for generations.
Christians are taught to hate the sin, but not the sinner.

[darcy]

dasimms, that is utterly untrue. I don't know anyone who thinks he/she is superior and deserves to be in charge of the world.

Violence and racism are evil. They are evil no matter the race of the perpetrators. Can you imagine the furor if a white candidate was found to attend a church that advocated violence against blacks?

[mickyx65it]

Keith Boykin represents no one. He represents everything and nothing. He is for the war (Hillary and McBomb) and against the war (Obama). He has no substantive ideas, and concentrates his small brain in little quarrels. He is the typical status quo system columnist. Reading his opinions is just a waste of time.

[cybersense]

Look.

I thought Obama's speech was good. It was moving. He tried to turn this whole thing with Wright around. But, I have done this "retrospection" all of my life. Not in one moment in a speech.

My only issue here is that he should have distance himself before this happened. Before his campaign. Wasn't Rev. Wright an advisor on his campaign?

Then, Obama's record on his own emblishments to what he actually has done. He really does not have much in the way of political experience.

Unfortunately Obama's speech seems to have created some more division.

[riverhorse]

i think all you typical white people need to apologize to Barack. you all think the same thing. just because Barack had this radical hateful anti-american preacher the last 20 years doesn't mean a thing. so apologize white people! Repent ! or burn in hell !

[barrista]

Nice attempt at being funny, but you fail like Hillary usually does when trying to be funny.

[Looplinker]

LOL there is no hell and there is no heaven..20 years of being advised by his pastor does not mean a thing? Obama chose to remain associated with a racist organization whose parishoners dance in approval of the pastor's racist rantings. Not a pleasant sight. I think Wright owes his parishoners and the rest of us an apolgy. He sure is no Martin Luther King.

[cybersense]

This has more to do with being anti american. Most understand that the majority of the black community does not feel the way Wright does. The big problem here is that Obama should have known this would happen, and distance himself from Wright politically. That was not a good judgement call. If he had done this, this would not be such an issue.

[barrista]

"distance himself from Wright politically. "

Maybe it's refreshing that someone in politics doesn't always do something for political reasons

[kingshmoopy]

Exactly. I do not understand how people can come down on him for this. In my eyes the fact that he took a risk--did the politically risky thing--by not tossing aside Wright, because of their history and their relationship, shows that he has integrity. The fact that he was not willing to sacrifice his friend for politics is something that we should admire.

The way Obama has behaved is not only refreshing, it is right.