All Black Candidates Look Alike

Who knew all black candidates look alike? I certainly didn't but I appreciate former President Bill Clinton for reminding me that some people just can't help thinking that they do.

Let me be clear here. I am not implying that the former president actually thinks that all black candidates are physically indistinguishable. But I am implying that his recent attempt to dismiss Barack Obama's blowout victory in South Carolina with a backhanded comparison to Jesse Jackson's previous losing presidential bids, reeked of condescension.

Before any die-hard Clinton fanatics attempt to argue that this was yet another Clinton quote taken out of context, or distorted by the media (all of whom must clearly hold some grudge or bias against the Clintons; after all why else would anyone ever criticize them, even when they warrant it?), I watched the video in which the man who was once dubbed "the first black president" nearly a decade ago made the aforementioned remark.

In a brief walk and talk with reporters the former president had the following exchange:

REPORTER: What's it say about Barack Obama that it takes two of you to beat him?

PRESIDENT CLINTON: That's just bait too. Jesse Jackson won in South Carolina twice in '84 and '88 and he ran a good campaign.and Senator Obama's run a good campaign here. He's run a good campaign everywhere. He's a good candidate with a good organization.

Here's what's striking about the exchange. President Clinton wasn't asked about Jesse Jackson's campaign. In fact, if he wanted to reference candidates who had "run good campaigns," won South Carolina's Democratic primary, and still gone on to lose the nomination he could have just as easily referenced Sen. John Edwards. In fact, wouldn't that have made more sense considering Edwards' win was in 2004 not 1984? The message, subconscious or not, seemed to be this: "At the end of the day all black campaigns look alike, run alike and eventually lose alike -- so this South Carolina thing is really no big deal."

Oh how wrong this assertion is.

A gift for oratory, a shared home base of Illinois, and yes, skin color, are just about all that the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Jesse Jackson have in common.

Aside from representing different generations, the two men represent two vastly different worldviews. Jackson, a veteran civil rights activist, is known as much for his racially charged rhetoric (and willingness to hoist himself before the nearest tv camera), as he is for his presidential runs and his role as an international statesman, who has famously negotiated the release of various U.S. hostages over the years.

Obama, a product of the post-Civil Rights generation, as well as of a multi-racial heritage and multi-cultural upbringing, is known for his ability to use rhetoric to bridge our country's racial and cultural divides, inspiring a real-life "rainbow coalition" on the campaign trail unlike no other our country has seen before. According to Sen. Obama his family reunions are a sort of mini-United Nations, complete with relatives who resemble the dark-skinned African-American comedian Bernie Mac, and others who resemble former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In other words, he does not strike voters of various hues as someone who might accidentally allow the derogatory term "hymie" to slip into conversation -- a slip that cast a cloud over Jackson's first run for the presidency and has continued to shroud his legacy.

While Jackson has said that he was not upset by Clinton's remarks we all should be. After all, the so-called "first black president" should have known better. Maybe this is why Toni Morrison, the woman who christened him "the first black President" was moved to endorse the man who really could become the first black president, this time around.

Read more Keli Goff at www.keligoff.com

Comments

[Lane4]

Brilliant article, Keli. Your instincts are exactly correct---Clinton's condescension was evident for the exact reasons you note. If Bill's intent was to pick a candidate who won South Carolina in the past but failed to lock up the Democratic nomination, there was John Edwards.

Perhaps former Pres. Clinton wanted to conjure up a more menacing image to DEM front-runners than that of John Edwards. In any event he miscalculated. Barack Obama is no Jesse Jackson. At this point I prefer Obama to Hillary on the strength of his ability to electrify voters and sweep many more into the house (and senate?) on his coattails. It remains to be seen whether or not Hillary has the gravitational pull to match him.

Best, and thanks for the insights!

L4

I am shocked at some of the comments accusing the media of "savaging" the Clintons!

[Jenai]

I think you make articulate and valid points.

[Hilleluiah]

If Senator Obama is above the fray and supposed to be running a different kind of campaign that has nothing to do with identity politics, then why does he have supporters that continue to spew the same venom and hate that America is supposedly tired of? I'm beginning to believe that you don't support him, because if you did, then you would know that this type of rhetoric will only push voters away. Keep talking about race; keep making personal attacks; and keep avoiding the actual issues and you will ensure his defeat. As a black person, I'm nauseous from listening to this kind of rhetoric that has no foundation. I respect myself and Senator Obama's abilities too much to see him win in this fashion. It's as if you concede that he cannot win on merit or by debating the issues. Twisting words in order to assassinate the opponent"s character by claiming that their racists is reprehensible and will only cause a backlash.

Another note, mentioning Jesse Jackson"s name is not a racial slur. Its one thing to look back to the days of MLK, but it"s another to turn your back on those who stood with him. It"s okay to respect those who fell down, so that you can stand up

[SeanGardner]

Keli, next time, explore two topic involving the Clintons: (1) their failure to release 2600 pages of documents from THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE, and, (2) Bill CLinton's failure to release the donor list to his Clinton Library.

The Clintons are done. Everybody knows it but them.

[whatsthatsound]

I think it's a stretch to associate that comment with racism. Bill Clinton IS an egomaniac, not a racist. So he felt challenged by the question, which was provocative, after all, and said something petty. I guarantee he regrets it now.

No one can imagine that the Clintons got together and said, "let's inject race into this race and come out looking like racists! That'll get us elected for sure!"

[SeanGardner]

I agree with you 100% Keli.

In fact, it was Ted Kennedy's disgust with Bill and Hillary bringing race and racial divisiveness into this campaign that led him to endorse Obama.

Bill and Hillary have ruined it for themselves, and have tarnished whatever good will they once had with a majority of African-Americans.

I'll always remember my digust when I saw that an anonymous Clinton aide said in an article that Obama Is For People Who Want An "Imaginary Hip Black Friend".
http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/clinton_aide_obama_is_for_people_who_want_imaginary_hip_black_friend.php

Thanks Keki.

[BonoX]

One more Obama surrogate flaming the racial tension! They are the ones who keep posting all these articles, going to the news program, bringing up race every chance they get, and yet they'll blame it on the clintons! its getting to a sickening level now - this constant flaming of race issue by obama campaign!

[MR]

Bill Clinton's attempts to put Obama's victory in perspective was completely accurate and fair game in trying to get the morons in the press who were using words like "big momentum" to take their thumbs out their mouths for a least on minute. What happened in SC was totally unique to SC.It is a state with the largest black population by percentage in the country (50% when the black population in the country as a whole is 12%) and over 55% of the voters in the primary were black,80% of whom voted for Obama( you wouldnt dare say all blacks vote alike would you? No, thats what I thought).

The fact that SC twice voted for Jesse Jackson in Presidental primaries was a statement about SC not Obama, but when you are afraid of facts, and have an agenda that you want to see pushed in spite of the facts( in this case the media totally overplaying the signicance of Obama's win) then you do what you did. You play the race card.

[prittfumes]

Keli, Keli, Keli,

Quit listening to Chris Matthews. Nobody cares if you want to be an Obamian. Just quit playing the victim. Lighten up!

As long as people (like you) continue to scan every spoken word for "purity" by persons of different races, you will continue to walk around with a chip on your shoulder. You are primed and ready to pounce on any comment that doesn't get through your filter without setting off your "racial" alarm of ever-increasing sensitivity.

Blacks have a choice. Continue to behave and act like victims or quit being so sensitive about every word spoken.

I saw NOTHING in ANYTHING Bill Clinton said that was even remotely racial.

[jrterrier]

This is complete hogwash for two reasons. First, being likened to Jesse Jackson should not be a slur. While Jackson has fallen out of favor with the establishment media, in fact what he accomplished in the 80's with his rainbow coalition was amazing.

Moreover, Obama happened to capture almost the same exact % of votes as Jackson did in 1988. Obama capture 55% and Jackson captured 54%.

Who was Clinton supposed to liken Obama to make the point he wanted to make -- that a win in SC doesn't necessarily mean a win. He wanted to blunt the win as Obama wanted to blunt Hillary's win in Nevada.

If Clinton pointed to himself, it would be the exactly different point because he won SC and the nomination. Gore also won in SC on his way to the nomination. The only other person to point to in recent memory would have been Edwards but given that Edwards outcome in SC was still in issue that also was not a good reference point for Clinton.

What is the most scurrilous & swift-boating is to accuse Bill Clinton of being a racist.

[nads2985]

And what of Obama surrogates trying to link him to Jesse Jackson?

At New York's City Hall earlier this week, there was a pro-Obama rally in which a black elected official who supports Obama made the same comparison Bill Clinton did, stating "If you look at the fact that Jesse Jackson in 1988 won New York City with a coalition of diverse supporters that is not as diverse as we think Senator Obama would be able to put together, I think he has a very good chance of winning New York City."

How do you attack Clinton for doing the same thing Obama's very own supporters are doing?

[Postroad]

I have for some time noted that we are as humans very tribal, something no doubt going back to early evolutionary times,and thus I am delighted that such issues as Gender and Race are now upfront rather than hidden in the land of make believe. The GOP has no problem since they tend to be white male only club, with some gays scattered in here and there but not having much voice about their concerns. another issue: Class. Here too we are all Americans and class does not matter. Right?Wrong.

[c.w.]

"Let me be clear here. I am not implying that the former president actually thinks that all black candidates are physically indistinguishable."

Classic passive aggressive racist-baiting.

Disgusting.

[MikePA]

Keli,

Let's review recent history.

A few days before the SC primary, The Clinton campaign began to lower expectations in SC, by saying that the large % of black voters will almost certainly support Obama.

The Obama campaign responded by issuing a memo about how hard the Clinton's had tried to win SC and reminding the public of his large lead in the polls just a month ago.

The Obama camp than began to lower expectations on the % of white votes they would get, going so far as to leak that they may not even get 10%. The result (He got 25%), a number of post election stories that talk about a decisive victory by Obama supported by a coalition of Black and White voters.

Bill Clinton brings up Jesse, to remind everyone that Obama won because of his overwhelming support (80%) from the Black voters in SC, and to blunt the suggestion that 55% to 27% of democrats throughout the country, were supporting Obama over Hillary.

Some people call it racist. I call it politics. So far, the Clinton campaign have been matched move for move by the Obama campaign.

[RonC]

THere is no way in Hell that Bill CLinton belittled Obama by mentining the fact that Jesse Jackson won the SC primary twice. THat is history. Are you saying that Obama is somehow better thatn Jesse Jackson? I am a 68 year old white male who was a delegate to the county convention for Jesse. I still wear my T Shirt. Your comments are an insult to Rev. Jackson, and you owe him an apology.