Who's that Boxer in the Picture? (Hillary Clinton Rents a Negro*)

It's one of those things -- you might assume about the people standing behind the mic at a primary victory speech -- that they're local volunteers or supporters from region which voted.

So who's that black man with the boxing gloves who's appeared at least twice at Clinton's victory speeches? See him below at HillaryClinton.com, appearing at her victory speech in Pennsylvania:

And again last night at her speech in West Virginia (source CNN):

It may be a small thing --

and yet, with a win in the dominantly white state of West Virginia, it is noteworthy, it seems to see that Clinton's handlers have seated this boxing black man within the camera frame... twice.

What might the message be -- Look! I've not succeeded in alienating all black men by my tactics. I've got one here. No wait, two!

Never mind that she sometimes has to use the same guy - when the occasion calls for it.

*By renting a Negro, I am of course referring to Damali Ayo's satire, "How to Rent a Negro," a book about the potential commercial advantages of whites renting blacks -- as she writes, "What to get the person who has everything? A new black friend!" Perhaps it's an obnoxious reference, but there it is.

Comments

[expatriota]

I happen to know this boxing man- and he has been a great Hillary supporter for years, and has made a point of traveling to many different states to help her in her campaign. He is getting out the vote and enjoying the process- perhaps he was seated behind her because of those amazing boxing gloves!!!

Even as an Obama supporter these comments are just completely unnecessary and once again needlessly focusing on race in this election. Give us a break and let's come together as Democrats and win in 2008- all that matters is Healthcare, protecting women's rights, education, the economy and electing a democrat. Period.

[Candymarl]

I guess I'm another of those "rented Negroes". I'm AA and for Hillary. I was right about Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice and Colin Powell. What did they do for AA's when in power? Nada. What will Barack do when in power? Nada. By the way how does a first term Senator from nowhere get all this money? Don't compare him to JFK. JFK came from a rich and powerful family. He was a congressman, senator, and world traveled. He was also a combat veteran. McCain will eat Obama for lunch.

[hwebb54]

Hillary rents a negro? What about all the white ladies behind Barack at every event? The ones that were put there after Obama's staff made Asians and blacks get of the stage?

Boy you Obama supporters have a short memory.

And you're a race baiter to boot. Your only hurting Obama with this crap.

[ngcummings]

Grow up people.

The man in with the boxing gloves (refers to her being a fighter) is a die hard Hillary supporter who believes in Hillary so much that he travels to different towns when he can to participate in her events. He is a commenter at another blog.

How sad that you think so little of "negros" that they could be used as pawns. African Americans are capable of making their own decisions.

If you really want to talk about stacking a backdrop however, does anyone recall Obama people yelling that they needed more white people behind Michelle at one of her events?

Hillary Clinton and her supporters have endured a horrendous amount of sexism and misogyny for months. The media and Obama supporters don't see anything wrong with the way we've been treated. Now they are trying to woo us with lovely comments such as, "can't we just get along, you racist bitch?" With love like that how can we resist?

Obama and his supporters are convinced that, just like a battered spouse, we will come crawling back, no matter how much they keep bashing us. After all, they think, where else can we go?

I'll tell you where we are going to go. Straight out of the DNC and into the comforting arms of independent voting and free thought.

You see, I would vote for Hillary regardless of what party she is from.

I would NOT vote for Obama simply because he is a democrat.

[jfh]

This blogger prove the the Obaminations play the race card.

[citadelgrrl05]

i JUST PRAY THAT THEY ARE NOT UP TO NOTHING CUZ SHE SURE SOUNDS CONFIDENT ABOUT GETTING EDWARD'S ENDORSEMENT!!!
PLEASE LORD COVER OBAMA WHAT IS MEANT FOR EVIL WILL TURN TO GOOD!!

[virtualval2001]

Yikes. Just wow. *sigh*. I think it's just because we are paying such close attention in this race. I believe this is how it was always done. We were just asleep before.

That's how Bush got elected.

[REZBOO]

This is getting too petty. So what, she's lost already. Now all of the grownups are going to ignore the lady who is running for vanity's sake and pay attention to Obama's message to the auto industry and what he is going to do to eradicate the possibility of a McInsane Presidency.

FOCUS PEOPLE. Someone has to declare it, so it might as well be me, Hillary is OLD NEWS and we're not going to pay her any more attention until she is a good girl.

[Opus007]

I know it's over for Hillary. Most of us here have known it for a long time.

But for those diehard Hillary supporters out there who are very bitter that she did not get the nomination,:

First there was her own supporter or staff member as a plant in a town hall meeting, (remember the wink) , her reversing positions in a debate of driving license for immigrants, the Bosnia lie, her endorsing McCain, her flip flop on Michigan and Florida etc., etc.. She lost because she is a very, very weak candidate. But her biggest mistake of all was making the political calculation that she must show she would use military force in a presidential run against a Republican so she voted for the war without even readimg the report. Which boils down to she has a record of putting her own ambition in front of what is good for the country. So sorry Hillary supporters- it is game over for Hillary. You have been very loyal to her- she has no one to blame but herself.

[hwebb54]

What you don't understand is the political miscalculation of the Obama camp. In the beginning when he was racking up wins, it was because Republicans saw him as something new. A black man who didn't identify with race. A Democrat that wanted to work with Republicans. Now that time has passed, people see him for what he really is. A man who attended a black nationalist (racist) church for 20 years and a far far left liberal that will never get the Republican vote. Hillary moved to the middle to save this party and Obama runs up the left side and pulls a McGovern and wins the nomination. Mondale, Dukakis, McGovern, Stevenson, and all the other far leftwingers of the party have also won the nomination by doing this but never was able to win a General. Hillary knew that and she set herself up to be a winner. Whether you know it now or not, Obama is destroying Democrats chances in the fall. He has been pushed out of the middle where John McCain is going to rack up votes and Maybe do as good as Kerry did in 2004. Get close but getting close doesn't put you in the white house. You are the one that needs to wake up. Obama is a sure loser. Even half the Democrats hate him.

[altohone]

Hillary mimicks the Bush-type "mantra of the speech du jour" repeated across the wall behind the podium too.
Personally, Bill couldn't raise enough money to pay me to listen to her stump speech again and again... maybe not even Obama could. She exudes contrived confidence... you can almost see her thoughts battling to maintain the act... it's painful.

C'mon folks... not one comment on Hillary's colorful Clint Eastwood coat (sorry to the fashionistas... I'm sure it has a proper name)?

[fschroeter]

Regarding some earlier comments concerning crowds.

Bill Clinton visited the University of Montana Wednesday morning.

700 well wishers crowded into an arena that holds 1200 to hear his pearls of wisdom.

[XME]

Wow, you'd think I should have anticipated something like this, but this goes beyond sad.

[Dendy]

This is a guy that works as a volunteer for Hillary Clinton"s campaign. All of those insults are really unnecessary. I suggest checking your facts first and then using sarcastic and offensive language.

[thinkb4uleapII]

The whole scenario seemed contrived and distracted from what Hillary Clinton was saying (not that I was really listening to her). Initially the guy with the boxing gloves was in the crowd (see first photograph) and then he was moved to a spot directly behind Hillary Clinton, next to the guy waving a bowling pin (who incidentally had been moved into position just before him). They were placed strategically in the TV frame above the only darker hued person in the crowd, who himself cheered boisterously at every opportunity - so much so, I believe he was notified to "simmer" his enthusiasm. It all looked like a very poorly staged sideshow to me.

[margardner]

Wow, I noticed the same thing.
The young African American man in the yellow shirt would have not been noticed except he was a "little" to over enthusiastic that it caught my attention. I then pointed him out to my husband and said,
"oh my goodness, that guy is acting as if he's been paid to act" You could then see he had been told to settle down a bit.
It makes me sad that Hillary feels she needs to stage people to reflect false supporters. I also noticed the event was lifeless with few supporters at the event and mostly everyone there was under 35yrs old. Where were the seniors and the vets. If she won so many votes in WV as reflected, you would think they could find a venue that held thousands so that they could come out and reflect the true win.

[thinkb4uleapII]

Oops, I realize now that the first photo was of an event in PA. In any case, he was initially in the crowd and then later moved into position behind Hillary Clinton.

[kravitz]

the NYT and Philly Inq and LATimes all did stories on how Clinton is paying walking around money that Obama is not to get party chairs to pay regular folks to solicit votes for Clinton. they also do gigs like rallies and photo ops. one of the reason her campaign is in so much debt. big promises. big costly promises.

[nostalgia]

Thank you Ms Pollard, this is the funniest post we have read for a while! After all this election has been
so heart wrenching that we need a good laugh. I particularly like the guy in the yellow shirt who jumped up and down like Curious George. My little son thought Hillary looked like the White Witch of Narnia.

[gbht12]

She had lots of paid supporters in Texas too. It is a totally different type of campaign. We have real grassroot support and she pays for them.