Isn't it curious how when the race got tough, Hillary couldn't compete on her own - she had to rely on her husband to come save her? What does that say about the kind of president that she would be? Whenever a tough decision comes across her desk, she'll be running to Bill for support and answers? Is that the kind of president we really want? Women, is that the kind of female president you want; one who has to run to a man for help any time the going gets rough?

If Hillary can't handle Barack, who's all about civility and manners, how is she going to deal with Pakistan or Iran or North Korea or China or anyone else who doesn't kowtow to her?

More fundamentally, since it seems this is a "two-fer", do we really want another Clinton administration - like her husband's - that smiled at African America but marginalized us politically at every turn? Do we really want another administration that looks at us merely, and solely, as an "interest group" to be managed?

Sistas, do you remember how Bill left Lani Guinier swinging in the wind? As a legal scholar, because she looked to the law to explore ways of increasing justice for black folks she was labeled a "quota queen" by the press and her appointment as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights was shamefully withdrawn. Instead of standing up for this accomplished and worthy black woman, Clinton went the easy route and abandoned her.

Bill was responsible for NAFTA and the outrageous inception of "outsourcing" as a common way of doing business in America. This practice shifted millions of jobs away from hard working Americans and is largely responsible for the declining middle class in America today. These efforts disproportionately impacted African Americans - gutting whole communities as manufacturing plants boarded up and left towns.

What about the "Three Strikes" laws that came into popularity in the 1990's under Bill? These laws prosecute shoplifters and personal drug users, for example, as hardened criminals - sentencing many to '25 years to life' for petty, non-violent crimes. This law had a significant impact on the current state of incarceration in our community - breaking apart families, permanently stigmatizing people - effecting their ability to gain employment and otherwise participate in society - and weakening communities. I guess African America should expect more of this???

For a long time I have challenged African America to look beneath the smiling Clinton veneer to really see what's underneath. Since Bill's active involvement in Hillary's campaign probably mirrors his involvement in a potential Hillary Clinton administration, don't we have to ask ourselves whether this is really what we want? It was the Clintons who brought race into the current campaign - attempting to counter Barack's over-all strength and messages of unity to tap into latent (and not so latent) racism festering in the white community. How black folks can support Hillary after watching her campaign use Barack's blackness against him is absolutely beyond me! I don't care that Bill has called in longstanding IOUs from many in the black political leadership. What they have done over the past few weeks has crossed the line. It effectively releases any back person who otherwise felt obligated to the Clintons from any continuing support.

If Hillary or Bill called Barack a nigger would they still support him? Of course not. This means that there is a line that the Clintons cannot cross in terms of their relationship with African America. They can't say or do anything and still stay in our collective good graces. Well, I respectfully suggest that that line has already been crossed and African America should forever put the Clintons behind us. Frankly, within the context of the Clintons bringing out the 'race card' as they did, former Planned Parenthood head Faye Wattleton came off as a complete fool on MSNBC's Hardball yesterday as a black woman supporting the Clintons.

As the campaign has tightened, the behavior of both campaigns has shed revealing insight into who the candidates are. Barack has fought back hard, but never crossed the line of propriety. To be sure, he never introduced his race into the campaign, nor attempted to use Clinton's gender against her. Hillary, on the other hand, will seemingly do and say anything to win. This tells me quite a bit about the underlying character of the candidates. I hope it does to you as well.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MBM,

MBM - you make some very valid points.

I don't understand why African Americans have had such a love of affair with the Clintons. I've always thought that we were being played. I remember about a year ago when Hillary was giving a speech at a Harlem church and said something along the lines of the Republicans were running the White House "like a plantation". That was all about dramatic affect. Another "I feel your pain" moment. She was using the race card then, and she is using the race card now.
Her African American supporters really need to wake up.

I got one question for you MBM:

If Hillary was to win the nomination, would you still say the same thing when it comes to Hillary vs. Republican X?

quote:

Originally posted by Nmaginate:
I got one question for you MBM:

If Hillary was to win the nomination, would you still say the same thing when it comes to Hillary vs. Republican X?

If Hillary wins the nomination I'm seriously thinking about not voting: in protest.

I got one better than that: If Obama does get the nomination, we vote for him anyway as a write-in candidate ballot, if that's an option open for electronic voting.

quote:

Originally posted by Nmaginate:

I got one question for you MBM:

If Hillary was to win the nomination, would you still say the same thing when it comes to Hillary vs. Republican X?

I can't lie: I currently have a strong distaste for Hillary. I don't imagine I am alone in African America with that opinion. If she wins the nomination, she'll have a Herculean job of winning disaffected black folks back. Honestly, she'll almost be forced to ask Barack to be her running mate to make a solid effort at gaining our badly needed support back.

Bottom line - I'll hold my nose and vote for Hillary, but I won't be voting for her, I'll be voting against the Republican.

quote:

Bottom line - I'll hold my nose and vote for Hillary, but I won't be voting for her, I'll be voting against the Republican.

See, that's a problem as I see. Not your choice. That's your prerogative. It goes back to the idea of holding politicians accountable. It's a real problem, IMO.

IMO, Campaign Hillary and the portion of the Democratic party it represents needs to suffer the consequences. IMO, it rewards Campaign Hillary's race-baiting to vote for her under any circumstances. And, IMO, Barack is running for president. I see vice president as a slap in the face and part of politics as usual: white Democrat insults Black people apologizes and throw them (us) a bone and all is forgiven with there being nothing there for them to think that they can't do it again whenever they feel like it will help them.

.

Another excellent piece.

It is an excellent challenge to the members of the board.

The Clintons are 'Arkansas Players'.

They learned how to 'relate'.

They learned how to 'talk the talk'.

They learned how to use the language.

They recognize that the language of African America greatly influences American society from the 'high-five' to the 'body-bump'; from 'Bruh' to 'Bro'.

And selling a book 'It Takes a Village.'

America thinks she said it first.

I don't understand why African Americans have had such a love of affair with the Clintons. I've always thought that we were being played.---I_am_Mahogany

You are right!!!

And they do it while laughing directly in our face.

Senator Clinton was so bold as to 'steal' the 'Change' slogan while standing beside Senator Obama.

Maybe soon we will 'get it'.

PEACE

Jim Chester

This message has been edited. Last edited by: James Wesley Chester,

African Americans for African America
http://iaanh2.org


African American
Pledge of Unity

We stand, Together, after left alone in a land we never knew. We Bind ourselves, Together, with the blood and will of Those who have gone before. From the Bodies of our Ancestors thrown away, from the Pieces of Ourselves left to perish, We rise as One, a New Body in a New Land, a New People in a New Nation. Of Common Mind, Body, and Spirit, By Declaration of our Amalgamated Individual and Personal Authorities, We Are African America.

© James Wesley Chester 2004; 2008

You are who you say you are. Your children are who you say you are.

I can't...no I just don't want to believe how skrewed up we are.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957420/posts

MBM; we can say the same things about President Bush as you attributed to Sen. Hillary Clinton..!!! Where would President Bush be today had his father not galvanized his connections, resources and wealth and too even steal an election to make his mediocre son, President of the United States...!!! The Clintons are old school politicians and they play dirty, which is a part of the game and racism or playing the race card is as old as mom`s apple pie...! Its just that this time, they miscalculated and it backfired...!!! Politics is a dirty business and will always be when the stakes are high..!!! So, do not blame the Clintons for using the race card, blame the system that allows it.......ZuluImpi

quote:

Originally posted by MBM:

quote:

Originally posted by Nmaginate:

I got one question for you MBM:

If Hillary was to win the nomination, would you still say the same thing when it comes to Hillary vs. Republican X?

I can't lie: I currently have a strong distaste for Hillary. I don't imagine I am alone in African America with that opinion. If she wins the nomination, she'll have a Herculean job of winning disaffected black folks back. Honestly, she'll almost be forced to ask Barack to be her running mate to make a solid effort at gaining our badly needed support back.

Bottom line - I'll hold my nose and vote for Hillary, but I won't be voting for her, I'll be voting against the Republican.

It’s funny because I was thinking about this very thing last night. I’ve lost what little respect I had for Hillary as a strong female politician. If Hillary wins the nomination, I would have a really hard time giving her my vote. But I also couldn’t vote for McCain. Romney maybe but not McCain.

quote:

Originally posted by MBM:
Bottom line - I'll hold my nose and vote for Hillary, but I won't be voting for her, I'll be voting against the Republican.

That's where I was... right up until all the race-baiting crap.

Now I just don't know. I have huge issues with not voting out of protest, and I also have issues with throwing my vote away by voting for someone who has no chance of winning... and I'd rather slit my wrists than vote for a Republican. I don't know... I'm just so pissed at Hillary that I can't think straight about it.

However, in this case Hillary fits in that "has-no-shot" category. She can't win. If she wins the nomination she'll be soundly defeated in the general... with or without our support.

So, for now I'm just crossing my fingers and praying that Obama wins.

Clintons...Your Black pASS Is Hereby Revoked!!!!

Hillary and Bill Clinton have a lot of explaining to do. In her quest for the presidency, the U.S. Senator from New York and her husband — known by some as “the first Black president” — have used the race card against rival presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama (D, Ill.). Although Obama was supposedly the intended target, in the end, all African Americans were attacked. The Clintons have attacked blackness as a disqualifying attribute for the office of president, and have managed to insult Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement in the process.

It should be said at the outset that candidates for office should be thoroughly scrutinized. No one should be immune, and all of the presidential candidates should be required to justify their stance on the issues before the voters and explain any contradictions that might arise.

But the contest should go to the best person, someone who will heal a nation broken by injustice, hatred, neglect, greed and corruption. When a candidate exploits the race of another candidate, and insults an entire community for political gain, she is taking that community for granted and does not deserve their support.

The record is replete with evidence of what is going on here. Senator Clinton’s surrogates have raised issues about Obama’s Muslim middle name Hussein, and the unelectability of a Black man. Hillary aides and supporters — including BET founder Bob Johnson, who has already done enough harm to the psyche of Black America as a purveyor of garbage media — have made references to Obama’s youthful drug use. Meanwhile, Hillary surrogate and New York state attorney general, Andrew Cuomo, stated that presidential candidates cannot “shuck and jive” during the primaries. President Clinton had to defend himself against angry Black voters who charged that he dismissed Obama’s presidential bid as "the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen."

But most importantly, Senator Clinton — perhaps believing she is a qualified expert on the civil rights movement — suggested that President Lyndon Johnson’s role overshadowed that of Dr. King in the passage of civil rights legislation. The Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts were enacted as a result of agitation and pressure applied to power by a movement, many of whose members were imprisoned, discredited, maimed and murdered. Let us not forget the police dogs, the water hoses, the lynchings, and COINTELPRO. In her revision of history, Clinton would suggest that King and the movement were idle, passive dreamers, but it took the great father in the White House to do the heavy lifting, make the big decisions, and do the thinking required to get things done. The more she and her water carriers try to spin her misguided statement, the angrier Black people will become.

When viewed in totality, the comments from the Clinton camp speak to a pattern of racial insensitivity, disrespect for Black people, and a willingness to use the race card for political gain. Senator Clinton, an establishment Democrat, is employing the tactics associated with race-baiting, Swift-Boating, Southern-strategy Republicans. She and her handlers, faced with a bland product people were not buying, needed to conjure up a Black boogeyman, a Willie Horton, if you will. Perhaps the differences between the two parties are not as great as we were led to believe, after all.

And typical of the center-Right, DLC Democratic establishment, the Clinton campaign treats the African American community as the lover it embraces at night, yet refuses to acknowledge in the daytime. Meanwhile, Clinton attempts to buy off Black leaders and preachers and figures such as Magic Johnson, to the tune of $750 million, and shamelessly attempts to buy our votes in the process.

This is bigger than Obama. Obama, who is enjoying increased support in the Black community and whose candidacy is viewed as a source of hope for many, should not receive a free ride because he is of African descent. And he has not received one, given the split in the Black community over whom to support. To that extent, the Black electorate has displayed a political sophistication for which it is rarely given credit.

People of color, who have supported far more candidates from outside their community than have their White counterparts, know that Black faces in high places will not constitute progress without a positive agenda that benefits the people left behind. When Condoleezza Rice and Clarence Thomas climbed the ladder, they did not leave it out for the rest of us. They have meant nothing for Black progress. Obama has a unique opportunity to change the whole game in this nation if he listens to the people, dares to bring discomfort to the powerful, challenges institutional racism and fundamental inequality, and does not succumb to the corruption of the cesspool that is Washington.

Likewise, the senator from New York does not deserve a free ride due to her or her husband’s perceived record of helping Black folks. The first time around, they courted us with saxophone playing on the Arsenio Hall Show. When in office, through a game of bait and switch, they delivered disappointingly conservative policies, welfare reform, “don’t ask don’t tell,” and media consolidation that decimated Black and Brown-owned radio stations and newspapers. One wonders what they really did to deserve the considerable support they have enjoyed among progressives and in many corners of the Black community, support they enjoyed at least until they became desperately unhinged in this campaign.

And let us not forget then-Governor Bill Clinton’s use of the race card in the 1992 campaign. Bill repudiated Black activist Sister Souljah as a David Duke-type racist, a positioning to the Right which insulted the African American community, and allowed him to appeal to conservative Whites by showing he was a good ol’ boy. Then there was the 1992 execution of Ricky Ray Rector, a Black death row inmate in Arkansas, mentally ill, with an IQ of 70. Bill left the campaign trail to witness Rector’s execution, an expedient and opportunistic move to bolster his “tough on crime” image and help him claim the presidency.

Senator Clinton exploits the race card, to be sure, but avails herself of the gender card as well. One of the tougher and more testosterone-infused politicians on Capitol Hill when it comes to policies of military aggression, Hillary, it seems, becomes the fragile, defenseless damsel when it suits her political needs. She sheds a tear only for herself, when her political career is at stake. Senator Clinton touts her alleged record on human rights, the needs of children and the rights of women. But we wonder if she sheds any tears for the thousands of Iraqi women and children who died in a war she wholeheartedly endorsed, all to score political points, beef up her image and show that she is as cold-hearted and cold-blooded as the guys, as macho as any perverse, distorted caricature of a man.

Since when did a woman’s strength come from her willingness to exhibit the worst traits of conservative, warmongering men? There are countless anonymous women and men who live and have lived, whose strength has been judged by their commitment to building their communities, supporting their families, fighting injustice and leaving the world a better place than they found it. A person who will do or say anything to become president, including race bait, and aspires to the presidency for no other reason than a sense of entitlement and dynastic succession, is not a role model to follow.

And anyone can address a Black congregation with a phony Southern accent and clap offbeat to the choir.

Clintons, you became a little too comfortable for your own good. Your dirty tricks are out of pocket, and your Black pass is hereby revoked.
Article from the Black Commentator By David A. Love, JD