Black Ministers Back Clinton In S.C.

Clergy Play Key Role In Influencing State's Large African-American Population

(CBS/AP)  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton picked up endorsements from dozens of black ministers Tuesday in South Carolina, an early voting state where she and rival Barack Obama have been courting the critical black vote.

The clergy were drawn to the New York senator for her views on health care, jobs and other issues, said a state representative who helped organize the endorsements. "They felt this was the best candidate addressing their concerns," said state Rep. Harold Mitchell, a Democrat from this northern part of the state.

Nearly half of South Carolina's Democratic primary voters are black, and ministers can play a huge role in shaping the political direction of their congregations. More than 60 ministers gathered with Clinton on a stage at a hotel and her campaign said 88 were in the room where the endorsements were announced.

Clinton, in a wide-ranging speech to a crowd of more than 450, touched on her plans to expand health care, better public education and improve the image of the U.S. She said she would send emissaries around the globe - and mentioned former Secretary of State Colin Powell as "someone I know very well" - to send a message the era of "cowboy diplomacy is over."

"I understand we've got to take on health insurance companies and the drug companies," she said. "Don't you think it is time for us to do that?"

The Rev. Timothy Brown, of Cleveland Chapel in Spartanburg, said Clinton will get government to a "better plateau." He also referenced Obama, a first-term senator who wrote a book called "The Audacity of Hope."

"We need to look for a leader that is ready to lead right now," Brown said. "We don't need to be filling our heads with hopes and dreams."

Also Tuesday, Clinton's campaign released her proposal to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS, which in part focuses on fighting the spread of the illness in minority communities. Clinton would double the HIV/AIDS research budget at the National Institutes of Health to $5.2 billion annually and spend at least $50 billion within five years around the globe, according to an e-mail from her campaign.

Clinton did not focus on the proposal in her first two of three appearances in South Carolina. In Aiken, she was asked by one man about whether gays should be able to openly serve in the military. "I don't believe 'Don't ask, don't tell' worked," she said.

The endorsements from the South Carolina ministers came as Clinton tries to widen what one recent poll showed was as much as a 10 percentage point lead in the state over Obama, an Illinois senator.

"This is just the beginning," said state Sen. Darrell Jackson, a Columbia minister working for Clinton. Similar announcements are in the works in other regions of the state, he said.

Another state senator, Harold Mitchell, told CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod that his heart had him backing Obama early on, but he switched to Clinton last month.

"We've got to get away from these emotional feelings," Mitchell said. "If you put that aside and look at the candidates... it's a no-brainer."

Obama has pulpit endorsements of his own. He's visited churches in the state and his campaign has organized forums on faith at churches and community centers. It also sponsored a recent gospel music tour.

In October, Obama stood in front of the pulpit of a Greenville church and told a mostly full, 4,200 seat sanctuary that faith was everything to him. "It's what keeps me grounded. It's what keeps my eyes set on the greatest of heights," he said.

Clinton's husband remains popular with blacks in South Carolina, and the former president apparently helped get the support that was announced Tuesday during a visit to the state last month.

Don Fowler, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, said courting the pulpit is key for the black vote here.

"The church and individual members play an extremely important role in black politics," Fowlers said in an interview last month.

"There's very stiff, intense competition for the hearts and minds of the African-American clergy," he said. "Collectively, they have huge influence."

Obama's campaign said it has held forums educating people about his faith across the state and recruited 180 volunteers who are organizers in their "faith communities."

"Senator Obama is proud of the tremendous support he has from South Carolina congregations and ministers. The successful Obama Faith Forums have allowed us to capture enthusiasm among voters who are interested in how Obama's faith impacts his vision to transform our nation and have a positive impact on issues like healthcare, poverty and education," the campaign said in a statement.

[antinaacp]

where is the politician that panders to what whites want ?i mean seriously why doesnt a politician say im out to get the white vote and address concerns of whites?where is the white congressional congress ?or the national association for the advancement of caucasion people ?or 100 WHITE men ?or united CAUCASION college fund?the list goes on and on its high time these discrepencies were addressed

[gunownerdan]

Hitlery was making fun of how Southern Black people talk. Now their "leadership" claims to support her.
Interesting.

[logicanada]

OH GREAT!!!!
Now the Democrats are pandering to the religious nut balls too!
Hitchens help us!

[antoniof123]

Posted by AverJane at 12:03 PM : Nov 28, 2007

You know after reading this I just have to ask where do you gets your facts. She is very much a person who believes in God and tries to do some good. She for her part is not perfect but you for your part Jane have no facts to back this if it is church she goes every Sunday.

So please don''t make stuff up those days are long over you had your chances to do this during the 90''s now we are tired of it so please take it to a wing nut site and post all you like.

[eyzwidopn]

The Rev. Timothy Brown, of Cleveland Chapel in Spartanburg, said... "We need to look for a leader that is ready to lead right now," Brown said. "We don''t need to be filling our heads with hopes and dreams."

And there it is, the defining ignorance of our time. A minister in the Black community denounces "hope and dreams" in favor of supporting the tired and antiquated status quo that has done more over the last quarter century to divide this country along racial, social and economic lines, stalling and/or regressing the condition of the middle class in this country and criminally neglecting our poorer communities. If change is indeed the mantra of this election, recognizing our country''s urgent need to stop politics as usual so that we can create a new dawn of governing that actually is "for the people," then we all need to have the courage to embrace those who represent true and sincere change. We all need to dare to have hopes and dreams much like the signers of the Declaration of Independence had, slavery abolitionist had, women suffragist had, the allies against Hitler had, civil rights activists had, as JFK, Martin and RFK had. That''s why it''s a such a shame to hear someone like Rev. Timothy Brown ridicule the need for and faith in "hope and dreams"... but that''s probably because he and those he speaks for have lost their ability to do either.

[averjane]

gunownerdan

It was their own people who originally sold them into slavery for lazy rich people whether they were Christian or not has no relevance. What''s crazy is why Christian minister would support Hillary Clinton because she goes against everything the Bible teaches. She is the most extreme form of democrat. I believe they will support her because she uses their race to promote her own agendas because she believes in special rights. Many black people believe everybody owes them and they have that agenda. Hillary will use theirs to further her own. Any black person who feels they need specail rights to have freedoms are still being enslaved by people like her and the likes of the Jesse Jacksons of the world of whom I''d be ashamed to call my leaders. They are parasites. When will they ever see that. And not to mention they call themselves Christians supporting her and all that she stands for; homosexuality, abortion, and anything that opposes God.

[claussanta]

Up and running at:
www.ourtownreport.com

[gunownerdan]

"A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side."
-- Aristotle(384 BC - 322 BC)

[gunownerdan]

Hitlery Clinton is more of a "neocon" than Bush is, and we''ve got idiots lining up to throw their support behind her already.
Amazing!
Another thing I find amazing is that so many African Americans claim to be members of the same religion(Christianity) that was used as an excuse to enslave them for so many years. Ironic.

[mistered9]

What else would you expect from black ministers in South Carolina.
There making this a black and white show.

[cryonbrian]

No suprise there! Black church goers are so easily fooled! They are so used to voting wrong that they think it is right! Maybe Hill will pass another NAFTA like package that will put the rest of Black America on the unemployement rolls! LOL and SAD!

[olebd]

Unfortunately, all the Democrats are dishonest and all the Republicans are spineless. I really there was a good third-party candidate.


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Posted by MacStyler at 11:02 PM : Nov 27, 2007
+ report abuse

Are you sure? I thought it was the other way around -LOL

I''m convinced there are no good leaders today. No great minds like what there was every so often in history. If there are, they are being intentionally kept in the shadows, stiffled and perhaps mistakenly labeled as unpatriotic.

[thisandthat1]

It must have been Hillary''s southern drawal that convinced them! You know, the one she only uses when she''s talking to Southerners! LOL

[g-gfather]

I AM OF THE HUMAN RACE AND I AM SADDEN TO TEARS TO WATCH MY PEOPLE BEING TURNED AGAINST EACH OTHER BY POLITICIANS PLAYING THE STACKED DECK OF RACE AND RELIGION. WITH SLIGHT OF HAND THEY PLAY THE CARD TO WIN, AND WE ARE THE LOSERS TO THESE POWER BROKERS.THEY HAVE NO SOULS, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.WE ARE BEING USED. "ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU,BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY"JFK. "I HAVE A DREAM"Dr MLK. (LEST YOU FORGET) THERE IS BUT ONE SOURCE OF POWER, AND IT REST IN THE SPRIT OF OUR HEARTS AND SOULS.LOOK INTO THE EYES OF A CHILD, THE ANSWER IS LOOKING BACK..UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. FOR THE CHILDREN PLAY THE CARD OF LOVE IN ALL YOUR DICISIONS..GREATGRANDFATHER

[ejbutler1]

Check out the following web address for the article I referred to in an earlier comment (in The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, by Theodore Cross. It''s titled "Barack Obama is the Superior Choice for African-American Voters") www.jbhe.com/obamaprint

[ejbutler1]

Folks should be asking which of the candidates has a platform/program to deal with racial inequality.

I urge folks to read a 2007 article by Theodore Cross in the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, titled "Barack Obama is the Superior Choice for African-American Voters."

He points out that, "Obama offers a concrete program for black America. Hillary Clinton offers none." he also states, ". . . the leaders of the Clinton campaign appear to believe that if she announces any form of a black program, she kills the support of voters she needs." Referring to Obama, he states,"Unlike Clinton, he outlines a comprehensive program to reduce poverty, revitalize America''s urban areas, and empower black Americans."

It really is a "no-brainer" . . .Barack is the superior choice.

[lanefiller1]

Anyone looking for some new Hillary video from an SC stop and an interesting commentary on how race is impacting that primary should try: http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/27/hillary_and_the_black_men_of_god

[Macstyler]

As a former Democrat turned Independent, I can''t stand either Clinton or Obama.

These ministers conveniently forget that this will give Bill Clinton a second shot at the White House after he ordered the murder of thousands in the Balkans against the express wishes of our NATO allies. Of course, this puts the Clintons in good company since Ted Kennedy necer was held accountable for the murder of Mary Jane Kopechne.

They also forget that one of the top 5 most powerful Senators is Robert Byrd, a Grand Dragon in the Ku Klux Klan. Since Byrd has used the ''N'' word on the Senate floor, (I have seen it on C-Span) I''m appalled that Obama hasn''t mentioned this. Of course, the powers-that-be in the Democratic party are probably telling him that he is to leave the racism alone if he knows what is good for his Presidential bid.

Only one candidate out there that I really like but I''m sure he does not have much of a chance as he was virtually ignored in the debates. Unfortunately, all the Democrats are dishonest and all the Republicans are spineless. I really there was a good third-party candidate.

[Macstyler]

As a former Democrat turned Independent, I can''t stand either Clinton or Obama.

These ministers conveniently forget that this will give Bill Clinton a second shot at the White House after he ordered the murder of thousands in the Balkans against the express wishes of our NATO allies. Of course, this puts the Clintons in good company since Ted Kennedy necer was held accountable for the murder of Mary Jane Kopechne.

They also forget that one of the top 5 most powerful Senators is Robert Byrd, a Grand Dragon in the Ku Klux Klan. Since Byrd has used the ''N'' word on the Senate floor, (I have seen it on C-Span) I''m appalled that Obama hasn''t mentioned this. Of course, the powers-that-be in the Democratic party are probably telling him that he is to leave the racism alone if he knows what is good for his Presidential bid.

Only one candidate out there that I really like but I''m sure he does not have much of a chance as he was virtually ignored in the debates. Unfortunately, all the Democrats are dishonest and all the Republicans are spineless. I really there was a good third-party candidate.

[geezer62]

denn034
Please explain "conservative values" versus "entitlements and pandering". As I understand it entitlements are: social security, medicare, public education, gee, that about covers it. Now, conservative values are: anti-abortion, anti-gay rights, well, that about covers that. You might say that family values could be included but I really don''t know anyone who does not value their family. Even liberals love their mommies. If you look at the above it brings to mind the last election where the Republicans ran on conservative values. And it worked! Just look at us now. Here''s what they accomplished. No health care for millions. No energy policy. No improvement in education. No improvement in environmental policy. A national debt that is impossible to even comprehend. A national infrastructure that is crumbling. And a war that continues with no possibility of ending. For the major amount of time since the last presidential election they had the majority of the house and senate. So you want to re-elect the same kind of leadership? Educate yourself and as you do don''t lie to yourself. Look hard at the candidates and ask yourself, "can this person get the job done"? Don''t pay any attention to what organized religion says and if you do ask yourself, "WWJD".