Update (14:11): Video is no longer up on YouTube, so we pulled the embed. For more coverage, see Ed Morrissey's post at Hot Air.
Just in time to prove a major migraine for the Clinton campaign for the May 6 Hoosier State primary, a YouTube video alleges Clinton backer Mickey Kantor once derided Indianans as "sh*t" and "white n****rs." Fellow NewsBuster Seton Motley and I reviewed the video. There's no doubt Kantor actually said "It doesn't matter if we win. Those people are sh*t," but there is a dispute over who "those people" are and if the second slur is doctored. [see video embed below fold]
Ben Smith at Politico.com reports that D.A. Pennebaker, director of "The War Room" from which the clip is taken, insists the "white n****rs" comments were doctored. Au contraire, says the editor of the video, who insists he merely "enhanced" the audio to bring out the barely whispered epithet.
What's more, Smith reports, Pennebaker says Kantor was referring to then-President George H.W. Bush's political advisors as "sh*t", not the people of Indiana themselves:
He said the initial expletive referred to the anticipated reaction in the Bush White House to the fact that Ross Perot's polling numbers were holding strong.
"What he says is he's surprised Perot's numbers are holding," said Pennebaker in a brief phone interview. "He says they must be shi**ing in the White House."
The second expletive, he said, appeared to have been entirely fabricated, with new audio dubbed onto the original movie.
















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Uh oh
May 2, 2008 - 13:28 ET by Mica the MagnificentYouTube yanked the video.
Another way to cover a Dems
May 2, 2008 - 13:36 ET by ForeverOnTheRightAnother way to cover a Dems backside, a coverup. Hope someone was able to download it so that Kantor will be exposed.
Google: The political hack of the future
May 2, 2008 - 17:31 ET by kgIsn't it nice that You Tube shows it's bias by yanking anything that shows Democrats in their true light? However they put anyone with BDS on the front page.
Google: The political hack of the future
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
I am seeing a trend of
May 2, 2008 - 13:34 ET by ForeverOnTheRightI am seeing a trend of liberals that are racists, Wright, Byrd, and now Kantor. This, "No I meant this", is just nonsence. In poltics, as well as life, it is better to say what you mean so that their is no missunderstanding. This say one thing and later retract it when your caught is inexcusable.
Dirty Trick
May 2, 2008 - 13:44 ET by Wonder95You mihgt want to check out this post at Hot Air. It looks like it was fabricated.
Liberals
May 2, 2008 - 14:11 ET by iveseenitallThe "liberals" are every evil and more that they have accused the conservatives of being for decades: bigots, racists. sexists, homophobes, zenophobes...the beat goes on. Thank God for the internet.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Clinton backers
May 2, 2008 - 14:15 ET by candanceI commented on the other thread how Obama's campaign misled the public about one Clinton supporter so I wouldn't be surprised if they had a hand in this.
It's Hoosiers, not
May 2, 2008 - 14:40 ET by balboaIt's Hoosiers, not Indianans.
not necessarily
May 2, 2008 - 14:46 ET by candancePeople in NC are often called North Carolinians instead of Tar Heels. Those in New York are called New Yorkers and those in California are called Californians.
I fail to see why that's an issue here.
It's not an issue, really.
May 2, 2008 - 15:25 ET by balboaIt's not an issue, really. I'm from Indiana. Even though we're not all IU fans, we're usually all referred to as Hoosiers, as in the movie, Hoosier Hysteria, etc.
If I were the Clinton
May 2, 2008 - 15:07 ET by krendlerIf I were the Clinton campaign or Kantor I'd contact the FBI about this.
The Tape
May 2, 2008 - 15:13 ET by bwesPrior to "s***", the war room staff are reading their pathetic (1992) numbers, state by state. One guy utters "s***"... at the Indiana numbers. He then realizes it got picked on camera and whispers, "Oops, get the white-out", as you do when you edit on paper(dah). The original is on Part 9, 5 minutes in.
Video enhanced?
May 2, 2008 - 16:10 ET by docbWho is the editor who says it is right and only enhanced for sound?