Harry Smith won't be up on the platform with Ted Kennedy today endorsing Barack Obama. But he might be there in spirit, after having absolutely unloaded on Bill Clinton's on this morning's Early Show. The CBS anchor made the stunning suggestion that when it comes to matters racial, Bill Clinton may have perpetrated a fraud on African-Americans.
Smith's guest was "diversity expert" Joe Watson and you might have expected Watson [who FWIW impressed me favorably] to carry the anti-Bill ball. But ultimately it was Smith who offered the single most damning suggestion. The CBS host began by playing the clip of Bill's by-now infamous words from the weekend, writing off the Obama victory in South Carolina by pointing out that Jesse Jackson had won there twice in the 80s.
View video here.
After Watson dismissed the notion that Clinton's words were accidental, Smith chimed in to poo-poo Hillary's excuse that Bill's comments were the result of "sleep deprivation," then added . . .
HARRY SMITH: These words are fraught. These words are rated. These words, as you suggest, are not accidental. By invoking Jesse Jackson, what is Bill Clinton saying?
JOE WATSON: Well it's imagery, it's any time that we do these things, Nadia Comaneci [??], Michael Jordan. As soon as we say those words, images pop into your mind. The hope of course is that things will link together. And when you do that, Jesse Jackson causes a visceral reaction in many portions of our population. Many folks within the campaign I imagine would hope that it would be negative. And by creating that linkage, somehow you would derail the efforts of Senator Obama.
That's when Smith offered what amounted to a stunning indictment of the former president.
SMITH: Through all of this talk, I mean [holding up the front page of today's NY Post with its blaring headline "Wild Bill] look at this, there's all this talk within the Clinton campaign of trying to rein in the former president. Does Bill Clinton send a message to African-Americans that he may not be who they thought he was?
WATSON: Here's what's really telling, when you think about this. The African-American talk radio, all the conversations have been ablaze with thoughts and commentary around this issue. And when you come out and make a comment about Jesse Jackson, you essentially pour gasoline onto a fire. Now think about that. If you send that kind of signal, what you're really saying is, "we got sub-20% [of the black vote], maybe we can't compete for this demographic anymore, and we've got to compete for a different set of demographics."
Bill Clinton may not be who African-Americans thought he was? Hard to read that other than as Smith suggesting that Bill Clinton has defrauded blacks [and all Americans for that matter] on race.
Update 9:15 AM: Carville's Cajun Chutzpah
Over on Good Morning America, James Carville had whatever the Cajun equivalent of chutzpah is to claim that Bill Clinton hadn't "meant it in that way at all" in comparing Obama's SC win to Jesse Jackson.
View video here.
JAMES CARVILLE: I don't think he meant anything other than it just being an analysis, you know President Clinton has a long --
DIANE SAWYER: You wish he hadn't done it?
CARVILLE: They have a long history of being pro-civil rights in Arkansas, which is not the easiest place in the world. Her support from the African-American community in Arkansas and New York is literally overwhelming. I think he was trying to make a political point here. And I can see why people would interpret it another way. I don't think he meant it in that way at all. There's nothing in President Clinton's history to suggest that.
Actually, there's everything in President Clinton's history to suggest that he'll say whatever it takes.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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I hate to say it.
January 28, 2008 - 08:48 ET by dronetekI'm no Bill Clinton fan, but these charges of racisim are completely ridiculous in my mind. True, if it were a republican it wouldnt even be up for debate, but I'm just so sick of everything being labeled racist.
I would have agreed with you
January 28, 2008 - 08:50 ET by Mark FinkelsteinI would have agreed with you up to the moment Bill Clinton wrote off Obama's SC win by comparing him to Jesse Jackson.
I find it interesting that
January 28, 2008 - 09:03 ET by USA4freedomI find it interesting that now the Clinton juggernaut is a little shaky, the long knives are slowly coming out. The MSM are starting to question Bills moves and how solid the Clintons are.
I believe they want OB to do well because they are tired of covering up all of Bill’s issues. They like OB because he is even more leftwing then the Clintons (if that is possible). He talks a good game, Ohhhh, we will make America the new Shining (communist) city on the hill. They think(with some reason) that America will buy this snake oil, because OB is such a good sales men.
How many of us wish W, could speak as well?
How long before the Goreoracle will proclaim from his perch, his endorsement of OB.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Mark, I don't know if we
January 28, 2008 - 09:04 ET by motherbeltMark, I don't know if we agree on why he did it. My opinion is that he knows JJ is NOT a favorable comparison, to white voters, and that's who he was pandering to in that remark. Is that your take on it? If not, what do you think?
Sounds like we do agree.
January 28, 2008 - 09:23 ET by Mark FinkelsteinSounds like we do agree. Clinton was trying to write Obama off as just another black candidate in the Jesse Jackson mold who managed to do well in a largely black state.
I agree.... These are
January 28, 2008 - 09:41 ET by USA4freedomI agree....
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
I'm sure that line has been
January 28, 2008 - 09:43 ET by USA4freedomI'm sure that line has been batted around the war room a lot of times.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
We've learned over the years
January 28, 2008 - 09:26 ET by BruzillaWe've learned over the years that racism can take many forms, and the stereotyping of racists as Archie Bunkers or klansmen is a very unrealistic view of the issue. While there are racists like Archie, they are the minority. The majority includes many folks who like to claim they aren't racist, but then have a fit if a black family moves into their neighborhood or wants to join their club.
I'm from Pittsburgh, and like most folks from the north, I never had many issues with blacks, or Italians, or Pols, or Slavs, or anyone else as we were the picture of a melthing pot in the 'Burgh. But people from the South, who were raised on racial hatred during the 1960's and 1970's are a different story. I don't think that you can possibly be around that type of environment and not pick up some of those characteristics. You may me the most liberal minded person to walk through AK, but when you're up against the wall and looking for a reason why you find yourself in the pedicament you're in, I think it's natural to think about some of the stuff you heard growing up and use it as a means of justifying yourself.
I don't think the Clintons are the Bunkers, but racists... I think so.
Melting pot?
January 28, 2008 - 11:22 ET by sterm26I don't know about Pittsburgh, but 300 miles to east, in Philly, I'm not ready to declare that we are a bastion of racial harmony.The South is no worse than the North, in my experience, when it comes to racism, it's just presented differently.
I know a great example.
January 28, 2008 - 11:41 ET by BruzillaI know a great example. Helen and Amel are a couple who used to live next to my grandmother in Daytona Beach. They met in the 1950's, and Helen was from Georgia and Amel was from New Jersey. When Amel took Helen back to Jersey to meet his family, they went to a movie. They got there late and had to sit in the front row. When the movie ended, they got up, and that was the first time that Helen realized there were blacks in the audience. Without thinking she yelped "Amel! There's niggahs in here!" The crowd was too shocked to say anything back before Amel got her out the exit doors by the screen and they headed home.
There was a huge difference between how blacks were treated in the south that's only begun changing recently. Maybe Philly is just a hotbed of racism, but I never saw anything Blacks Only or Whites Only in Pittsburgh dueing the 1960s through now. And Amel told me that he had to explain to his finance that in the north of the 1950's, there was no segregation in public places... which came as a shock to a GA girl.
Pittsburgh? Racial Harmony?
January 28, 2008 - 12:18 ET by AgnosticThings must be different in the city but I've spent quite a bit of time in the small towns North of Pittsburgh, all the way up to Erie and over the border to Ashtabula, and thought they were some of the racist places I've been to in the US that were predominately white. The time I spent there actually radically changed my ideas about small town life. Admittantly, I've only spent an evening in Pittsburgh itself and can not attest to the city.
I would pay money to watch this train wreck
January 28, 2008 - 09:01 ET by SouthJersey1953....but the Dims are giving it to us for FREE!!
It's not Right vs. Left; it is Right vs. Wrong
The Obama Mystique.
January 28, 2008 - 09:48 ET by CrashOr as Bill Clinton might say, "that old black magic."
Today I asked my son why he liked Obama. He answered, "I don't know I just like him."
I pressed on until he replied, "Dad, I'm just a kid (15)."
Well, that's it, Democrats are just kids. They tend to avoid issues pertaining to reason or responsibility. It's got to feel right, be the in thing or the "bling." I realize that bling is not the in word, much like "groovy" fell from fashion after Sonny & Cher used it on national television. It went mainstream if you will.
The fact is, the youth vote will go for Obama because he does not represent their parents views; which after all, parents have set up by their incessant complaints about the what my generation referred to as "The Establishment." If all Democrats & Republicans do is complain, why shouldn't our youth question what can only be perceived as a lack of good judgement? After all, we voted for them then and we still deride them now.
I'm a 46-year old Republican
January 28, 2008 - 10:46 ET by BruzillaI'm a 46-year old Republican and I like Obama. I think the reason that so many people like the guy is his use of inclusive language. It isn't so much that he has a positive message, as most politicians do, but unlike most politicians he delivers it in a highly inclusive way. Read some of the statements he made after winning SC:
"You know, over two weeks ago we saw the people of Iowa ..."
"After four great contests in every corner of this country, we have the most votes..."
"We are looking for more than just a change of party in the White House. We're looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington."
"But as hard as it may seem, we cannot lose hope, because there are people all across this great nation who are counting on us, who can't afford another four years without health care."
Now compare that to how Clinton speaks:
"...because the fact is that people turned out and I got a significant share of the popular vote and I think that -- you know, my view always is you just keep going, and that's what we intend to do."
"And I want to tell you how excited I am that now the eyes of the country turn to Tennessee..."
"... and I can't imagine anyplace I'd rather be than right here in Nashville as we kick off the next 10 days."
"I do not want to in any way sully the reputation of the music capital by contributing my less than meager talents."
See the difference? With Hillary, and most of the Republicans, it's always "I", "my", and "mine", which are words that exclude people. Obama is always using "we", "ours", "we're" etc., which are inclusive terms. He makes you feel like you're a part of the team and not a fan of the star quarterback, and people respond to that.
Bru, Don't forget that wheh
January 28, 2008 - 10:55 ET by Hunter12Bru, Don't forget that when he wants to fund universal healthcare, it will be with your money.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
The point is not his issues,
January 28, 2008 - 11:05 ET by BruzillaThe point is not his issues, which I disagree with, but rather why Obama is so popular. His stands on the issues are close to the same as Hillary's, but if you're trying to understand why a 15-yr old or a 50-yr old like him better, it's because of his use of highly inclusive language.
That's a very good point.
January 28, 2008 - 16:09 ET by CrashThat's a very good point. JFK's daughter expressed similar sentiments in her endorsement speech for Obama.
hispanic vote going to Obama
January 28, 2008 - 16:18 ET by bigtimerPlus don't think Kennedy isn't going to be going to where the Billary team thinks they have it all locked up with the mexican votes...legal and illegal... McCain/Kennedy Amnesty bill will be used by Kennedy in places like Calif. and Az. ect. They have it all planned out, here the Clinton administration helped accelerate the illegals to come here intentionally, along with the Motor Voter law...and Obama and Kennedy and others now will be saying they are the ones that feel your pain...vote for Obama...
Hill is in trouble...big trouble.
I don't think he meant
January 28, 2008 - 09:34 ET by motherbeltI don't think he meant anything other than it just being an analysis...[ ]... There's nothing in President Clinton's history to suggest that.
From someone who worked for Bill Clinton for years, was part of the strategy, and knows exactly how far the guy would go for personal gain, that's really rich.
In other words
January 28, 2008 - 10:02 ET by KC MulvilleWho you gonna believe, me or your own lyin' eyes?
Carville said, "Her support
January 28, 2008 - 10:03 ET by Hunter12Carville said, "Her support from the African-American community in Arkansas and New York is literally overwhelming."
The question becomes, how will her support of the African-American community be effected if there are no votes for her there. That will be the true measure of how unbiased she is. Her endorsement from the Abbsynian Church of Harlem was purchased with several earmarks in this year's budget. If the black community in New York comes down for Obama, I bet that money goes to some other group next year.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
The part that gets me
January 28, 2008 - 10:10 ET by candanceYou know what really gets me is this air of patient chastising Hillary has been able to claim in this. Oh that Bill, he's such a scamp, I can't keep him in line. Thus her campaign pretends they're having such a hard time reigning him in.
Uh, if Hillary didn't want Bill to say that, she would have stayed in SC and spoke to the press herself. She's letting Bill say all the nasty things on her behalf and then pretending she doesn't like it.
But will the MSM figure this out? Nope. It took them 15 years to realize the Clintons play dirty at all.
candance, did you see
January 28, 2008 - 10:46 ET by motherbeltcandance, did you see Drudge this AM? The headline is "Will Hill Chill Bill?"
And the photo of her with it looks like she's about to have another "emotional" moment ....<gag.>
More support for the "victim wife"? two.
The question is, do we have "Chill Bill, Volume 2"?
Will she rein him in? Can she? If she won't it means they think it's working in her favor. If she can't, we're back to the Freudian question of "Does Bill really want her to win, or not?"
Who knew?
January 28, 2008 - 10:10 ET by Hunter12The talk for years has been about how inarticulate and stupid the President is and how he can't express his thoughts in a manner that is easily understood. I thought the liberal MSM was talking about President Bush, but it was Clinton they were bashing all along. Who knew?
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Racist --no --unless
January 28, 2008 - 10:45 ET by docbThe history of Bill is to embrace every one literally. He spent years grooming for being the next Kennedy and knows full well that every thing is dissected and analysied by the media. He also has the hitmen of Carville and Begala to parse a sentence with him to get the exact phrase to denigate his opponent. He knows what he is doing but has ALWAYS be forgiven --so he goes for it.
It is to brand Obama as the BLACK candidate to turn off the white racist in the south...It worked to some extent but the problem is Obama transcends the race issue and appeals to a cross section of voters. Obama brings new people to the table across all lines.
This new influx of informed voters is the true problem for the clintons...their base is older, low- information white women and until recently African Americans. The quantum shift that is Obama has forever changed the field and the clintons know it.
There will always be the fringe racist/bigot/fear based voter but today few are as isolated as even 10years ago.They have multiple news and information outlets and they use them.
The informed voter is an annethma for the clintons. They know what they are doing--- they just do not care!!!!!
Clinton has always been a racist
January 28, 2008 - 15:46 ET by SlicksterExcept that no one ever challenged him on it. You know he's in trouble when they drag out that bald headed freak Caravelle to defend him.
...and Cry-Baby Lanny Davis
January 28, 2008 - 15:55 ET by bigtimer...and Cry-Baby Lanny Davis too...he has been everywhere since the trouble started brewing...