2008: Group: Tell Clinton to Stop ‘Race-Baiting’ - NYT

[WillyT]

Group: Tell Clinton to Stop ‘Race-Baiting’
By Kate Phillips - NYT
May 9, 2008 10:14 am

<snip>

Upated The online grassroots organization, ColorOfChange, today urged its members to begin a phone onslaught of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, in a protest against what it views as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s “race-baiting” remarks.

“Senator Clinton’s race-baiting must end today,” said James Rucker, the executive director of ColorOfChange.org, a black-led advocacy group that boasts a membership of 400,000. “She is sowing division and making the outrageous claim that white voters won’t vote for a black candidate. The politics of division now seem to be her core strategy. It’s a strategy where everyone loses; we can do better and we should be able to expect better from Senator Clinton.”

The group cited Mrs. Clinton’s remarks published in an interview in USA Today on Thursday, in which she said: “I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on,” she said in the interview, citing an article by The Associated Press that “found how Senator Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me.”

In the interview, she said her comments weren’t intended to be divisive: “These are the people you have to win if you’re a Democrat in sufficient numbers to actually win the election. Everybody knows that.”

The Obama campaign was quick to respond that its candidate had made inroads in the latest contests among white voters, with exit polls showing he did better than, say, in Pennsylvania last month, and called Mrs. Clinton’s remarks disappointing and untrue.

Citing the interview and remarks made by other Clinton campaign officials, ColorOfChange, which has not endorsed a candidate, is demanding that Howard Dean, the chairman of the D.N.C., and other party leaders intervene to tamp down such racial divisions. It sent out this letter to its members today.

Part of Senator Clinton’s message is of course directed at the party’s superdelegates, as she tries to persuade them to endorse her...

<snip>

More: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/group-tell-clinton-to-stop-race-baiting/?_r=0

[Cali_Democrat]

1. 2015: Clinton's Favorability Strong Among Black Americans

http://www.gallup.com/poll/184547/clinton-favorability-strong-among-black-americans.aspx

[HerbChestnut]

4. It's crazy.

It's like people have forgotten what she did in 2008.

[Cali_Democrat]

12. Not really. Actually it was overblown....

and I say that as someone who supported Obama over Hillary.

Hell, Obama hired Hillary as his Secretery of State right after the 2008 election.

Obama clearly moved on and so did African Americans.

It seems the only people who haven't moved on are Bernie supporters, many of whom are white.

[HerbChestnut]

21. Thank you

for implying, once again, that Bernie supporters are somehow racist. You seem to do this on a daily basis. Seriously, what is your deal?

[OilemFirchen]

26. I don't think that many Sanders supporters are white.

My impression of late would suggest that their predominant skin color is transparent.

[Scootaloo]

43. I must say, it's fascinating

I have not seen a single person supporting Clinton now, that will admit to supporting her in 2008. And yet the rhetoric sounds identical.

[litlbilly]

44. I voted for Obama and am voting for Bernie, and im a 61 yr old white guy. You are just amazing, you

do this everyday and it is getting really old...

[Truprogressive85]

46. So all African Americans move on ?

A white woman using her race and her privilege to say why she was be a better choice for the party than a black man is not something I can just brush under the rug.

70% person of African Americans could support H.C.
I have no problem being in the minority of black folks who vote for Sen. Sanders.

Majority of black people in Chicago voted for Rahm E. and look at the terrible person they got.
A person who was so power hungry that instead of calling for transparency ! He sat idle and if it were not for journalists who pushed for the video to be released ,it would have never seen the light of day ( BTW there is another video about to released same city same bs).

I'm looking for radical , a fighter,and someone who been fighting for the issues that I believe in

[ljm2002]

69. "many of whom are white"...

...you are engaging in the same divisive tactics that Hillary used in 2008.

It does lend insight into your affinity for Clinton as a candidate. Birds of a feather, &c.

[Segami]

14. They haven't forgotten....

They just wish everyone else would forget, and if not, they will stomp on their posts with their wrath should they dare raise such past issues. They want to turn DUP into a Hillary tea room support club where everyone gets a free, plush scented lounge robe with slippers.......

wake up...

[Cali_Democrat]

16. You got your keyboard fixed!

[HerbChestnut]

19. Oh I know all about some of the Hillary supporters here

I was talking about her large AA support.

[pnwmom]

59. She's spent eight years working to heal those wounds with the African American community.

They, unlike many DUers, know that her first job out of Yale law school wasn't to a NY corporate law firm, but to Marian Edelman's Children's Defense Fund. She has long history of working for civil rights and against poverty, and strong connections with the African American community -- despite what happened in 2008.

[HerbChestnut]

62. She created those problems in 2008 first hand.

Don't you think it's a bit shallow to try and "heal" the wounds afterward when everybody in the world knew she was gearing up for another presidential run? Look, I don't doubt that Hillary is actually a decent person, but let's face it, she used race in the 2008 election and she's played the part of a seasoned politician since then to prep herself for another run. It's cliche politics 101.

[pnwmom]

63. The African Americans who support her, like John Lewis, know that she has been

working with them since her first job out of law school, when she could have done anything she wanted, as one of the first class of women Yale ever graduated. Instead, she went to work for the black woman who organized the Children's Defense fund.

2008 was a mistake. But it didn't cancel out decades of work.

[rhett o rick]

28. Kudos you got the number one response slot. You guys must take turns watching for every post.

But do you think it's really that important?

[MrMickeysMom]

39. Results of your jury...

On Thu Dec 3, 2015, 10:45 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Kudos you got the number one response slot. You guys must take turns watching for every post.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=871986

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

There is no reason for this poster to continually call out a poster, simply because they are the first to reply. I understand that he and others figure it is some kind of conspiracy. Over the top, disruptive and rude.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Dec 3, 2015, 10:53 PM, and the Jury voted 2-5 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Absolutely nothing wrong with this post. Alerter should follow their own advice
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: geez, really?
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Stop the nonsense rhett. Most DUers are good people with good intentions.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: What a ridiculous alert to what I would term as pretty frequent snark. Yet, it's mistaken for calling out. Grow some skin and take a time out, for crying out loud.

RoR... You don't have to take my advice, but I'd give these people no rope. I value your participation too much. I've taken sort of a "count to ten" approach before addressing some posters here. We all know who they are.

[rhett o rick]

56. I try I really do. I have over 20 of them on ignore. But thanks for the advice.

I will try to do better.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. But I thought she was supposed to be......

.... oh, never mind.

[HerbChestnut]

3. And yet

Nobody seems to remember and/or care about any of it this time around. It honestly blows my mind.

[leftofcool]

8. It is because they don't care.

You are assuming that AA's hold grudges which is not the case at all. The Clintons have spent over 40 years building relationships with the AA community. Why don't you ask John Lewis if he gives a shit about anything Clinton might have done or said in 2008.

[HerbChestnut]

30. You're not going to like this

But John Lewis endorses the "winner". After initially endorsing Hillary in 2008 he switched his support to Obama once he started winning primaries. I admire Lewis for his role in the civil rights movement, and he deserves all the respect in the world for that, but right now he's a politician.

[WillyT]

33. + 1,000,000,000 - What You Said !!!

[Bread and Circus]

41. Yeah I brought this up yesterday I believe... it kind of quieted the opposition

When they found out John Lewis turned his back on Hillary

[leftofcool]

58. And he just endorsed Hillary didn't he?

[seabeyond]

34. There was plenty of sexism and even some misogyny thrown in from the Obama camp. We women let that

go, too. I was an Obama supporter. There were times I had to stand with Clinton during sexist and misogynist attacks.

Does that blow your mind, that as a feminist I would watch my camp be sexist assholes and I still continued to support and vote for Obama? Not to mention a hell of a lot of other women, and women that were so angry during 2008 and still voted Obama in general election?

[HerbChestnut]

35. But was Obama himself being sexist and misogynistic?

To my knowledge he never stooped to that, but I wasn't paying much attention to the Democratic race at that time.

[seabeyond]

37. Yes, he made some comments. Something about her baring her claws. And him and Edwards

played the good ole boy game.

His speech writer.



But you and the rest really do not recall, at all, the sexism and misogyny Clinton and women as a whole had to endure back then, do you? Certainly one sided this.

The race got competitive. They both played in the "isms". They both moved on. Most of us have moved on. Yet you and other Sanders supporters continually use it as a weapon. That being the case, I would also expect you all to remember, recognize, and speak out about the sexism, equally.

But we do not. Most do not recognize or remember, or really give a shit about it.

[HerbChestnut]

40. Well, I was only 21 at the time and wasn't really paying attention to the race

That said I do not recall Obama ever blatantly using sexism as a tool like Hillary did with race. You might also be pleasantly surprised to hear that I'm a feminist and as such would like to see a woman President as much as anybody. Unfortunately, I don't agree with Clinton on enough of the issues.

[MaggieD]

5. 2008? Running out of material, huh?

And didn't a bunch of Bernie supporters call AA folks race baiters? I think they did. I remember Brave being called that. Yep. That happened.

[leftofcool]

7. Yes, I believe you are correct. The actual term may have been "race nagger"

[MaggieD]

11. Ah yes, that was it

Thanks.

[WillyT]

9. Oh... You Have No Idea What's Out There... Even DU 2007/2008...

It's gonna be a long slog.

[upaloopa]

20. You are going to spend now until the

primary rehashing 2007/2008?


I guess you are expanding Bernie's base right?

[WillyT]

23. What Do You Care ??? - Were Supporting A Dictator, Right ???

[upaloopa]

24. I don't much care. Your going to do what

you want.

I don't think you are accomplishing much

Hillary will be our next President

[Renew Deal]

47. You're welcome to waste your time as you wish

The more time you spend digging up stuff on the internet, the less time you spend helping your candidate. It's a win-win for your opponents.

[WillyT]

49. Funny... I Was Going Through DU 2007/2008, Found An OP About HRC... It Wouldn't Load...

So I went on Google, posted the title, and all sorts of stuff came up.

I did not use Fox News, Rush, or a myriad of other RW sites...

So I picked two... just two... to exemplify the shit that is a out there waiting to be mined.

Has probably already been mined, and filed, by the GOP.

But they're not gonna break it out now...

They are going to wait until HRC stands all by herself on that stage.

Welcome to the next year.

Maybe.

[Renew Deal]

50. You think the republicans are trolling DU for material?

They are a little more sophisticated than that.

[WillyT]

52. That Was My Point... They Don't Have To... They Just Have To Use Google

[upaloopa]

6. So what is your motive here?

What do you expect to accomplish?
Telling us you don't like Hillary?
Why not just tell us?

[leftofcool]

13. Motive? I think I know.

Not willing to burn a hide for it though.

[MaggieD]

15. We have Stockholm Syndrome, remember?

[upaloopa]

18. Yep but this is futile

[MaggieD]

27. Yes, of course it is

But that apparently does not matter. Truth doesn't seem to matter either.

[upaloopa]

38. They will have their time in the sun

until Hillary is nominated then we can work to elect her as the first woman President

[sibelian]

64. She's manipulative.

She strikes attitudes that invite appeal that are not based on things she actually believes.

It is better that this is known.

THAT is the motive. It's perfectly apparent from the OP that that is the motive. What other motives could you possibly have imagined that it would be?

[Menshunables]

17. Those were the kinds of things Republicans would say.

I don't know what she was thinking going down that path in how it would save her.

And it does matter very much how she conducted herself in 2008. It's not old news, it's about character.

[TSIAS]

22. I give her credit

She's managed to be a champion for African Americans in 2015. Back in 2008 she was the darling of hard-working white folks, who said Obama wasn't "their type" of guy.

I always remember her supporter in West Virginia who was just sick and tired of "Hussein".

[Thinkingabout]

25. The times I have seen the "race baiting" continuing is by OP coming

From Sanders supporters, why is this a subject desired to be brought up over and over if the desire to get it stopped?

[MaggieD]

29. Ironic, isn't it?

But let's not give DU all the credit. Twitter and Facebook were full of that as well. I really think Bernie's chances to win the nomination were completely lost when his supporters took to every crevice of the internet to insult AA after BLM.

I remember sitting on my back deck reading about it and seeing it on social media and thinking "well he's done." And the polls appear to bear out my intuition on that.

[litlbilly]

45. Wow do you have that backwards. Unbelievable

[Thinkingabout]

57. The title of this OP is about race baiting.

[leftofcool]

60. No that's not what is unbelievable.

This is:

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/1251687330

Do you get it now?

[Doctor_J]

31. many of those people are now calling Sanders a racist, right here at du

You've got to hand it to them. They do everything full force - especially hypocrisy.

[Thinkingabout]

65. Who is calling Sanders racists?

[NCTraveler]

67. Tell us, how many? Nt

[Smarmie Doofus]

32. She lost anyway, but she actually was right about this part:

>>>>“These (i.e. "working, hard-working Americans, white Americans&quot are the people you have to win if you’re a Democrat in sufficient numbers to actually win the election. Everybody knows that.” >>>>>>


But I wonder if her 2015 supporters ( on DU) agree that this is true today ?

If so... many of them have very strange ideas about how to attract this particular demographic.

[Juicy_Bellows]

36. Anything to win!

She's so genuine!

[Bread and Circus]

42. Hillary Clinton is not a rampant racist, but rather an opportunist with a touch of sleaze

[WillyT]

51. Yep...

Still trying to wrap my head around the support.

[olddots]

48. we interpret the past and hope for the future

right now in the present H.R.C. isn't looking like someone I want for president .

[hrmjustin]

53. Yet African Americans suppport her overwhelmingly.

Nice try though.

[leftofcool]

61. Typical WT thread

[MisterP]

54. it's how Rahm won; their ilk think that everyone has a big "race" button they can push

and just make them go after anyone of a different color; they're political PUAs

[Dawson Leery]

55. Bernistas have nothing much to offer but nonsense

from 2008.

[NCTraveler]

66. Desperation is hitting all new levels. Nt

[WillyT]

68. Kick !!!