Bill Clinton Deals the Race Card From the Bottom of the Deck

In the interest of honesty and bias disclosure, let me begin this post with two admissions: First, I am and have been for many years a political junkie.  Second, I am not now, nor have I ever been a fan of Bill and/or Hillary Clinton.

My fascination with politics is admittedly at odds with my revulsion for politics as usual.  I suppose I am the eternal optimist, hoping against hope that things can and will change in Washington.  For most of the last two decades, we have been forced to walk into the voting booth, hold our nose and vote for the lesser of two evils.  The last truly inspiring leader we had in the White House was Ronald Reagan.

There is a lot in Barack Obama that I find Reaganesque, which is why it is ironic he caught so much flack from his fellow Democrats for identifying Reagan as a transformational President in American history.

Reagan famously said that the "eleventh commandment" was "Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of a Fellow Republican."  Watching the Democrats - most especially former President Clinton - in action recently, it is has become apparent that not only do they not embrace that eleventh commandment, but that their version of the eleventh commandment is slightly different: "Thou shalt not speak well of Ronald Reagan under any circumstances."

I have always found the Clintons to be sleazy opportunists who would say or do anything to get elected or to protect their political interests.  I really have never understood the fascination that many have with them.  It's not that Bill Clinton was an ineffective President.  In fact, the economy did well during his term in office.  But his actions brought shame on the office and his lying under oath was inexcusable.  (It is very interesting to note that in two recent cases - that of Bishop Earl Paulk in Atlanta and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick - some of the same people who made excuses for Bill Clinton's lying under oath about sex are clamoring for the proverbial book to be thrown at these two for the same offense.

In the wake of Obama's victory in Iowa, the Clinton machine went into full stealth-attack mode, and Bill was cast in the role of the attack dog.  He did his job too well.  At a campaign event this weekend, Bill Clinton was actually booed by a predominantly African American audience because of his attacks on Barack Obama.

Clinton's lowest moment came when he responded to Obama's stunning upset victory over Hillary in South Carolina on Saturday by a 2 to 1 margin.  The former President dismissed Obama's win by reminding everyone that Jesse Jackson won South Carolina but didn't ultimately win the nomination.

Now I don't believe anything that the Clintons say or do is off the cuff or unscripted.  They don't blink without a plan, a poll or focus group results.  (That includes Hillary's tears a couple of weeks ago!)  Bill knew exactly what he was saying when he compared Obama's win to Jesse Jackson's.  He was telling everyone in a subtle (yet deniable) way that Obama is the "black" candidate and therefore not truly viable or mainstream.

That statement was a blatant playing of the race card, and dealing it from the bottom of the deck to boot.  He deserves the scorn that has come his way because of it.  It was a stupid thing to say from someone known for his political instincts.  His massive ego (he sees Hillary's potential election as a referendum on his legacy) has caused those instincts to betray him to the point that he thought comparing Obama to Jackson would be an effective ploy.

Barack Obama is directly responsible for millions of new people being energized, excited and involved in the political process this year.  His candidacy has caused record turnouts in most of the primaries this year.  He has set the agenda - change - for the candidates in both parties.  He's no Jesse Jackson.  There is nothing symbolic about his candidacy.  He is electable.

There was a rare moment of honesty from a highly partisan political commentator today on CNN.  Republican and Democratic consultants were on a panel discussing Democratic infighting.  The Republican consultant said Hillary getting the nomination would be much better for his party of choice to run against, but that "Barack Obama is no doubt better for America."

One can only hope that Bill will keep it up and that more and more people will realize he and Hillary will stop at nothing and stoop to anything to get what they want.  I agree with Atlanta-based radio host Neil Boortz who says very little frightens him more than the thought of Bill Clinton back in the White House with lots of time on his hands.

Comments

[Corey]

I am sure that you saw the footage of him at the MLK award pesentation. Sad. I am sure the Congressional Black Caucus may want to rethink their opinion of him as the "first black president."

[Alan Riley]

Hey, Corey, thanks for the comment. Yeah, it was really interesting that Toni Morrison, the Nobel and Pulitzer prize winning author who in 1998 first referred to Clinton as the "First Black President" today endorsed Obama. Her letter is brillant and takes a swipe at the Clintons without mentioning them by name. The letter read in part:

"Wisdom is a gift; you can't train for it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or earn it in the workplace--that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge, but not wisdom. When, I wondered, was the last time this country was guided by such a leader? Someone whose moral center was un-embargoed? Someone with courage instead of mere ambition? Someone who truly thinks of his country's citizens as "we," not "they"? Someone who understands what it will take to help America realize the virtues it fancies about itself, what it desperately needs to become in the world?"

You can read the entire letter on Obama's site here:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/CGVRG

Alan

[Jo Clark]

I am at a loss to understand how Christians can preach unity and love for the body of Christ, and then write people off as "sleazy opportunists" and demonize them and the good that they do. I have enjoyed reading your daily devotionals on Streaming Faith especially todays' which is why I made the mistake of following the link to your blog. It distresses me that people read what they want to read into remarks about people they don't like. Personally I am also amazed that the "religious right" can write and speak such venom about the Clintons but the habitual lying and misleading of the current administration goes unchallenged. Mr. Clinton's "lying under oath about sex" has killed no one and caused no one to lose their homes, lives or families. That cannot be said about the liars who occupy the White House these days.
For pete's sake,God and his wife have forgiven him, so why can't you hypocritical holier than thou religious fakes do the same.Please, this is why there are so many people who shy away from our churches. Hypocritical "Christians" who talk love on Sunday, sling mud at others in other settings. I'm sorry I can't hear your words of love and unity because your actions and words of hatred are screaming at me.

[Alan Riley]

Hi Jo,

Thanks for the comment, I sincerely appreciate it. Really, I do.

I'm sorry that you regret visiting my blog just because you disagree with me. I stated honestly in the post that I personally do not understand those like yourself who like the Clintons. I didn't attack you for your beliefs and opinions, I didn't call you a hypocrit or a fake or a hater, I merely said I didn't understand. You are welcome to disagree with me, even to disagree strongly, but there is no call for the personal ad hominem attack you launched in your comment.

I'm not sure how you arrived at the conclusion that I am a part of the "religious right" because regular readers of this blog know that I have not agreed with many things that the current administration has done. I did not defend or even mention the Bush administration at all in this post. On the contrary, I was defending a Democrat who I feel was unfairly attacked for political reasons by the Clintons.

It may come as a shock to you, but not every one who dislikes the Clintons is a member of the "religious right" or a part of the "vast right wing conspiracy." There are many Democrats who feel this way. Just ask the millions who are supporting Obama. Ask someone in the African American community in South Carolina. For that matter, ask Ted Kennedy!

For what it's worth, even those in the Clinton camp know that the former President crossed the line in his attacks on Obama, and they are insisting that he stop it immediately. Not because it was wrong, but because it has hurt them politically.

You accuse me of hypocricy and call me a "holier than thou religious fake." In doing so you are asserting that I am not sincere in what I write and believe. Let me assure you I sincerely believe every word that I write. Let me also remind you that in this great country of ours expressing your opinion - as you most certainly did about the Bush administration in FAR stronger terms than I did in my post about the Clintons - is not "words of hatred," it is our fundamental right as Americans.

I hope you'll come back to my blog sometime. You'll likely find a lot that you agree with, and some things that you don't agree with. But as my father used to tell me, "if you and I agree on everything, one of us is useless."

Warmly,
Alan

[Jo Clark]

Your comments are well taken. However, let me say that I don't have to ask members of the African American community in South Carolina about the Clintons. I am an African American woman who believes that people are reacting to too many misrepresentations of things that are being said. As a long time Democrat, my fear when I heard that Obama was running was that the campaign would become so negative and divisive that people supporting whoever lost the nomination would become so disenchanted that we would not be able to bring us all together again. I also believe that anyone can find racial undertones in almost any thing that is said. If I am looking for the "boogey man" I will find him. Many people feel the need to fan the fires of racism in order to assure Obama's victory. Too many of these persons are African Americans. I have read many of the news accounts of things that the Clintons have supposedly said, only to find out that they were taken out of context or soundbites presented with the media's slant for the purpose of making the Clinton's look bad.
As for your not understanding how I could like the Clintons? I happen to respect that people make mistakes and may stumble. I believe that Jesus promised forgiveness for our sins. I respect and admire Hillary Clinton for having faith and the courage to do keep her family together in the face of the most devasting embarrassment of her life. I love them for overcoming the toughest odds. I am baffled that Christians who proclaim to be "pro-life and pro-family" find it necessary to bash rather than congratulate this family.

[C.A. Phillips]

In the famous words of Rodney King: "Can't we all just get along?"

This is some good stuff!

Personally, I feel that Clinton's are despicable as well. We all can admire a family who can rebound from moral failure. But, to this date, I don't think Bill has admitted to a moral failure, nor asked for forgiveness from those he hurt - an ENTIRE nation. No, his antics didn't necessarily kill anyone, but it caused irreparable damage to the most important office in the world - the U.S. Presidency.

And, in the end, who can respect a man who claims to not know the meaning of the word "is"?

Admit it. You gotta laugh at the absurdity of that!

For less politically-heated drivel, come check out www.caphillips.org (Alan - you'll appreciate the shameless plug).

All the best.

[Je]

When I read your January 28th posting regarding Bill and Hiliary, it was as if you had read my mind. I mean really. I made the same comment about the 'tears' over lunch to a few of my female collegues who are voting for the 'female' party and they thought I was hung over. And they know that I don't drink. I don't know if I was more agitated that they think we are too stupid to see their ploys or that there are intelligent people out there that actually fall for and defend their ploys. Thanks for blogging your 'voice of reason' and know that you are not alone.