Edwards Joins Clinton, Obama Race Dispute

As South Carolina Primary Nears, Native Son Says He Was "Troubled" By Clinton's Remarks

(AP)  Democrat John Edwards on Sunday waded into a dispute between his rivals, criticizing comments by Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband that some have considered disparaging to Barack Obama and black people generally.

"I must say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real change that came not through the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King but through a Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that," Edwards told more than 200 people gathered at a predominantly black Baptist church.

Sen. Hillary Clinton recently was quoted as saying King's dream of racial equality was realized only when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, while Bill Clinton said Obama was telling a "fairy tale" about his opposition to the Iraq war. (Click here to read more.)

Edwards did not name either of the Clintons in his speech, but turned the argument back on them.

"Those who believe that real change starts with Washington politicians have been in Washington too long and are living a fairy tale," he said.

Speaking in his native South Carolina, where he hopes to win the Democratic presidential primary on Jan. 26, Edwards said he was pleased with the civil rights progress that's been made in the South and lauded Obama, an Illinois senator.

"As someone who grew up in the segregated South, I feel an enormous amount of pride when I see the success that Senator Barack Obama is having in this campaign," said Edwards. He then added, with a laugh: "Some days I wish he was having a little less success."

Obama won the first contest in Iowa, and finished second last week in New Hampshire. Edwards placed second in Iowa, third in New Hampshire.

A former North Carolina senator and trial lawyer, Edwards ran for president in 2004 and earned his only primary victory in this state. He was helped by black voter, who made up nearly half the primary ballots cast. But this time around, those votes appear to be heading either to Obama, who is vying to become the nation's fist black president, or Clinton, whose husband's presidency is remembered fondly in the black community, surveys show.

Edwards, who is touring the state by bus and hoping to again appeal to black voters with his populist, working-class message, told the congregation that the work of the civil rights activists needs to continue.

"We are not being true to ourselves or the heroes ... if we do not continue this journey to bring about real change," he said. "Real change started in churches just like this."

"What the election is about is about building one America," he said.

[tbweb]

Voters should not Vote for Sen. Obama just because he is half-Black or Vote for Sen. Clinton just because she is a women! Voters should examine these Candidates and Vote for them based strictly on the issues alone! Of course Sen. Obama wants to gain the Black Vote by pointing out that he is Black too, why not, whatever works! Of course Sen. Clinton wants every women to Vote for her pointing out that she is a women and wants to penetrate the "glass ceiling", why not, once again, whatever wins Votes! But in the end "real, true Americans" should not fall for any of this, do not let any Candidate win your Vote playing a race or gender card, the only card that Voters should recognize is the "American" card and whoever plays any other card should pay a penalty for it by not gaining your Vote! Enough of this America, its time for real change and its time to move on, move pass this nonsense for real. Don''t fall for it, don''t be a sucker, we need a "sucker free" election!!

[monkeyboy36]

Wow, you really took what they said and elaborated huh? I had no idea that you could get all that from their quotes.

[monkeyboy36]

Obama keeps going on about change. I''m bring change, were going to change things. But what does he plan to change? I haven''t heard anything that could really be construed as change aside from being the first balck president

[tbweb]

Wow, you really took what they said and elaborated huh? I had no idea that you could get all that from their quotes.

Posted by MonkeyBoy36 at 05:40 AM : Jan 14, 2008,,,

If you are referring to me, I got all that from their collective quotes from many news sources, here, on the radio and Sunday TV Talk Shows! For example, Sen. Clinton was on Meet the Press with Tim Russert for the full hour all by herself, I heard everything she said, I heard what they all had to say and I still say don''t be a sucker, Vote the issues important to you, not race or gender!

[julian1413]

Obama has been slamming Hillary for being from the establishment and using his charisma and eloquent speeches to cover up the fact that he has very little experience and a poor voting record (many votes he avoided with a "present" - look it up yourself - google it!). Hillary has not twisted any of his words - she is only asking the voters to ask him questions to get behind the fluff and find out what his real experience is and what his real plans are. H Look up all three on the internet and check out their voting records. Ask questions of everyone.

[redveg]

Lots of hate mongers like lex want to twist things to serve their hate filled purpose. Look at what Hillary actually said, not at how the other side twists it. Sh didn''t belittle MLK. She pointed out that his dream started to be realized with the equal rights bill. What is wrong with that.

[watcher269-2009]

These RACE issues are all trumped up by the GOP - They''re the people that have problems with Skin Color and Gender.

Not the Liberals.

This is all a Cheney Rove Trick to get the Democrats to seem to be disorganized and appear to be fighting each other.

Why isn''t there News how MITT had an affair with Sen. Gayriag (Craig)? Or how Rudy wants to Stick it to McCain?

This story is all GOP fabrication.

[likeitis5050]

The GOP has nothing to do with this...good grief. This is Hillary back-dooring an opponent...as usual. She got caught being stupid so she charges ahead with her own back door politics to make Obamam look like he''s using the race card...not that she''s ever used the gender card (weep, weep...I''m just a girl). Obama wasn''t the one to raise the stink...the media did. Blame the media if you can''t bring yourself to blame a Democrat (Hillary!)..but leave the GOP out of it...Bush is to blame for everything else in the world...not this.

[scottyusa]

I was wondering when the race card was going to be played. Edwards is so shallow by jumping into this nonsense. We want to hear about issues and how things are going to be fixed not about race or gender. Nothing happens in this country without politicians changing our laws. MLK didn''t change all that by himself. He convinced the politicians of the day that he was right. He played the game correctly and won it for the good of the country. That is what Hillary said. Agree with it or not it certainly was not a racial slur or in any way diminished what MLK did. Equal rights would not have happened without him.

[ramos937]

There is no valid race issue. The Clintons made very valid points and they should be viewed as such. The ones making an issue out of the comments are self serving people who have their own agenda. Edwards is only trying to appeal to black voters by saying what he is saying.

[g02342000]

John Edwards is the only one that will fight poverty and bring health care and education to the poor & middle class of America. The Edwards / Biden ticket would be the best Presidency for all America, anything less will be as bad as keeping Bush in office forever. America deserves honest men of integrity that will fight for all Americans. Edwards is a true patriot that can make America great, he has the substinance, determination, and will to fight greed, corruption and end the outsourcing of our jobs, His economic, education, health and welfare policies are now being copied by all the canidates. Edwards spoke out months and even years before the others. America needs to think about why are the "Washington Greed, Corruption, Large Corporations and Media" trying to make this a two candidate Democratic race? Edwards is the only one able to win the Presidency from the democratic side, and any republican that is nominated will beat Clinton and/or Obama. Only Edwards can fix Bush''s mistakes!

[cbs_oliver]

I agree that Clinton can easily claim that Obama''s position on the war is very much like hers.

It is true that Obama said he was against the war and Hillary was for it.

Indeed Hillary is eager to be hostile to Iran the next target for war.

He and she both voted to provide the money necessary for the conquest and occupation of Iraq.

He and she both continue to support the stationing of troops in Iraq to protect the troops that are stationed in Iraq while the troops carry out their mission of supporting the puppet government of the occupation of Iraq.

But Lyndon Johnson did not bring about the pressure for change that motivated the civil rights act although he did carry out critical political maneuvers to bring it about.

He did great things as well as terrible things and deserves to be remembered for all his accomplishments - especially the good.

Hillary''s comments about him were really profoundly disturbing. She has definitely aligned herself with the code talk/think of white priviledge and racism.

She should stop that - if she can.

[cbs_oliver]

There is no valid race issue. The Clintons made very valid points and they should be viewed as such. The ones making an issue out of the comments are self serving people who have their own agenda. Edwards is only trying to appeal to black voters by saying what he is saying.

Posted by ramos937 at 08:11 AM : Jan 14, 2008

So long as people look at you funny when you talk about Obama''s white children there will be a race issue.

[realpatriot1]

Ramos937,

Explain the validity of the Clinton campaign disseminating misinformation accusing him of being a Muslim and a drug pusher. What''s next, are they going to accuse him of being a pimp?

LBJ was not the central figure in the civil rights movement, he was a politician who responded to the consciousness raising brought about by those who put their lives on the line to achieve freedom and justice
and to denigrate that for political gain is despicable; the point was not valid.

How would you feel if Obama started spreading unsubstantiated rumors that she as gay. It would explain a grat deal about her husband''s philandering and her tolerance of the same, but it wold be baseless and class-less, just like the campaign she''s running.

MonkeyBoy36,

What needs to be changed is politics as usual. Hillary practices it and says it''s the Republicans fault. Hillary has taken more money from lobbyists than all other democrats and all Republicans combined.

The Democratic party always has a battle between the forces of the status quo and the forces of change. That''s why former agents of change like Bill Bradley and Gary hart are endorsing Obama.

[rowdytexan2]

Edwards is sucking up to Obama for a Vice Presidency. The man is an ambulance chasing fake, who only takes a case if it''s 99% winnable and remakes him a millionnaire. Since he wasn''t born rich like the rest of the upper 5th tier. He scams it off the suffering of children.

Go Hillary!

[samthetvcat]

I wonder whether Edwards read the tea leaves and figured it was a way to syphon some ''black votes'' off Clinton from ppl who find Obama too ''young'' and ''inexperienced''.

[samthetvcat]

Or maybe he''s fanning the flames hoping nationally that ppl get scared of the two front-runners and go with him.

He''s got nothing to lose I suppose . . .

[trillion1]

Why are race and gender even issues. I want someone who is qualified and Clinton and Obama aren''t.

[allunknowing]

Such a crock of sht. When are people going to finally live passed the seeing of someone''s skin color ideology. What separates us is not the color of our skin. What separates us is the choices we make, the choices our parents choose to make, the way we talk, the people we associate with, and how we choose to live our lives. Not skin color.

Stop feeding money to the equal rights cash cow that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson vulture over every day and night.

Open your mind before you open your mouth.

[piercetheval]

RowdyTexan: I think you''ve got something there.

[ringading3]

I am so tired of "Pretty Boy" Edwards who out panders both Osama and Clinton. The man speaks with fork tongue, he says one thing, and then lives another way. $400 / $12 would buy me 33 haircuts! The man is a fraud.

[excoachken]

I favor Edwards for President, because of what he has done in the past, but I think he is off base with this idea. This is disappointing, but it is simply a political maneuver by a campaign desperate for attention, since the national press will not give them a fair share. For once however, Rowdy Texan, you are way off base with the unsubstantiated comments about his trial lawyer experience and what you stated here is more inaccurate than what John Edwards said about Hillary. Let''s stop "eating our own" and run against the sick group in the White House now. John Edwards is the best candidate against the big $$$ corporations that have purchased the present administration, because he already has beaten them in court numerous times.

[piercetheval]

Hillary will probably take Calif. New York and Texas. With those three states in her purse she''s gonna be a lock. Edwards is disenfranchised and bitter. A Hillary/Obama ticket?..possibly. But Edwards is attempting to throw a wrench into the works.

[excoachken]

To Ringading: I think that the value of his house probably makes up less of his total wealth than the value of yours, when applied against your total wealth. Why shouldn''t a man be able to spend his own money the way he wants, since he earned it legally and by defending citizens who were ripped off by rich corporations. And, just how much do you think Mit and Hillary spend on their hair and make up?

[watcher269-2009]

This is all an Orwellian Media ploy to divert Attention away from Bushit in the Middle east trying to start another WAR with Iran!

The GOP Orwellians used to talk about the Liberal media - at least we had facts from them - not Fabrications.

[briannorwood]

Hillary and Bill''s attack machine has turned against them. About time.

These two are power hungry egomaniacs who feel that the presidency is owed to them.

They are old and tired, and I wish they would just go away.

[hillaryin08]

So the Clintons played the race card. Who didnt see that coming?

[briannorwood]

jh6379

Yes, I know. But Hillary is just so divisive. The Dems are probably march like lemmings and nominate her, even though they know she has such an image problem, she''ll never make it.

Then, we''ll sit around and cry about losing yet another presidential election and wonder why.

[joseycarr]

Edwards is right about one thing...anyone who stays in Washington too long becomes clouded in their understanding of what America is really about...we need a shock of fresh new blood and new ways of thinking every few years...someone who DOESN''T have as much experience and is not jaded by what they believe can not be done! Only an individual who believes in possibilities will take the vision and endeavor to make it happen...after all that''s what Dr. King did, not Lyndon Johnson.

[joseycarr]

Edwards is right about one thing...anyone who stays in Washington too long becomes clouded in their understanding of what America is really about...we need a shock of fresh new blood and new ways of thinking every few years...someone who DOESN''T have as much experience and is not jaded by what they believe can not be done! Only an individual who believes in possibilities will take the vision and endeavor to make it happen...after all that''s what Dr. King did, not Lyndon Johnson.

[joseycarr]

Edwards is right about one thing...anyone who stays in Washington too long becomes clouded in their understanding of what America is really about...we need a shock of fresh new blood and new ways of thinking every few years...someone who DOESN''T have as much experience and is not jaded by what they believe can not be done! Only an individual who believes in possibilities will take the vision and endeavor to make it happen...after all that''s what Dr. King did, not Lyndon Johnson.

[joseycarr]

Edwards is right about one thing...anyone who stays in Washington too long becomes clouded in their understanding of what America is really about...we need a shock of fresh new blood and new ways of thinking every few years...someone who DOESN''T have as much experience and is not jaded by what they believe can not be done! Only an individual who believes in possibilities will take the vision and endeavor to make it happen...after all that''s what Dr. King did, not Lyndon Johnson.

[joseycarr]

Edwards is right about one thing...anyone who stays in Washington too long becomes clouded in their understanding of what America is really about...we need a shock of fresh new blood and new ways of thinking every few years...someone who DOESN''T have as much experience and is not jaded by what they believe can not be done! Only an individual who believes in possibilities will take the vision and endeavor to make it happen...after all that''s what Dr. King did, not Lyndon Johnson.

[motherhen11]

Well I''ll be.

[joseycarr]

Edwards is right about one thing...anyone who stays in Washington too long becomes clouded in their understanding of what America is really about...we need a shock of fresh new blood and new ways of thinking every few years...someone who DOESN''T have as much experience and is not jaded by what they believe can not be done! Only an individual who believes in possibilities will take the vision and endeavor to make it happen...after all that''s what Dr. King did, not Lyndon Johnson.

[gunownerdan]

Congress has a very low approval rating, much lower than George W. Bush''s approval rating, so where do the democrats go for their candidates?
Congress.
Meanwhile both Hillary and Barack believe citizens can not be trusted to own common handguns, shotguns, and rifles while they are surrounded by bodyguards holding MACHINE GUNS.
WILL AMERICANS EVER WAKE UP?????????

[pepperp1]

Edwards is such a barnacle, he is actually killing Obama and the Dem party, he is just mad at Hillary because she has better hair. I wish Governor Richardson would have stayed in the race vs this *** has been. Bet he runs next year to when Dennis is voted out of office.

[blazercoach1]

Metroduck,

Please don''t play the "wounded victim" card for Hillary. If she and Edwards agree on something, would you say they are ganging up and lynching Obama?

How hippocritical can that be? I loved it when Hillary was frantically stating that she "embodies change" because she is woman. She didn''t seem to take into account that she was on stage next to an Hispanic man and a Black man. It''s all about her.....all the time.....and if you think otherwise, you''re just anti-woman.......

[america2008]

Sunday Morning on Meet the Press %u2013 Hillary says, The Obama campaign is deliberately distorting the comments of the Clintons. I guess that means - all African Americans, who are upset with the Clinton comments, including Donna Brazile and Jim Clyburn (neutral blacks), are idiots and can not see the Obama campaign trying to manipulate them.

A few hours later at a black church Hillary says, "I''m so proud of Sen. Barack Obama."

While her the first black billionaire and supporter at the church implies a young Obama was on the streets %u201C doing something in the neighborhood that I won''t say what he was doing but he said it in his book%u201D while the Clintons were involved in black issues.

Do you see WHO is manipulating WHOM?

[samthetvcat]

"She didn''''t seem to take into account that she was on stage next to an Hispanic man and a Black man. It''''s all about her.....all the time.....and if you think otherwise, you''''re just anti-woman......."
Posted by blazercoach1

Ah ha ha - good one!!!!! I didn''t even notice :)

[cbs_oliver]

Hillary''''''''s comments about him were really profoundly disturbing. She has definitely aligned herself with the code talk/think of white priviledge and racism.

She should stop that - if she can.

Posted by CBS_Oliver at 08:28 AM : Jan 14, 2008



If you would look back at when things were said, you would find that Obamas wife appealed to BLACK WOMEN to vote for her husband not just women but BLACK WOMEN.Isn''''t that considered being racist?


Posted by rharrin1 at 09:00 AM : Jan 14, 2008

I missed that. Any respected link I can go to on that?

Regards.

[samthetvcat]

"Does Edwards REALLY think his comments to help Obama???

Good LUCK to these 2 idiots."

Posted by metroduck75

I think that''s the idea - it doesn''t

[justrains]

This is not going to be a true election. It''s all about who can cry about getting thier feelings hurt the most. If you can not do the job, step down. It appears that Mr. Obama can not do the job. He''s losing the battle. Now he throws the race issue into the ring. Before this election is over the NAACP and ACLU will enter the picture. Osama has no worries now. The United States will destroy itself from within. What a fight it''s going to be. The ACLU, NAACP and the KKK on the playing field. What a shame.

[realpatriot1]

Rharrin1,

If it''s rascist for Mrs. Obama to ask black women to support her husband then it''s sexist for Hillary to ask women to vote for her. I think you''re digging deep to rationalize the Clinton campaigns consistent use of divisive code words.

Obam''s no saint, these are politicians we''re talking about who are trying to get elected. However, there should be standards of decency that people won''t lower themselves to in order to get elected and the Clintons didn''t just start pushing the enevelope.

They played Sister Souljah, welfare reform, law and order,the death penalty all to tap into white votes in the past. They''re very sneaky about it but it''s no less disgusting than what Rove and Jesse Helms did right up front. Now it''s about Muslims, drug pushers and black candidates who shuck n jive. That''s funny because no one shucks and jives more than the define what is is team.

The Democrats have a clear choice between the most uniting figure in politics today and the most devisive figure in politics today and the choie made will have an impact on our party up and down the ticket in November.

[emma915]

It''s a shame that Mr. Edwards and Mr. Obama''s SUPPORTERS would rather destroy the Democratic Party in their efforts to brainwash the American people with regards to what Hillary said. Mr. Obama has not played the race card; his campaign people have, and he should end it here and now! Mr. Edwards is a sore loser who seems to be hoping that Mr. Obama will ask him to be his running mate. Anyone who lived through the 60s and 70s knows that Martin Luther King''s fight for blacks in our country was a valiant battle that continues in the hearts of many, today. However, it DID take a president in office who also believed in Mr. King''s dream to make things happen. We need that person at the top who can make things happen! Just as Bill Clinton was a president in office who earned the title of "the first black president" for his belief in Mr. King''s dream, Hillary would be a president in office who is also a believer. THAT WAS THE POINT OF HER REMARK!! She too, is a believer in Mr. King''s dream, and it is my hope that Black America can see through the radical racism of those distorting what she said. It is also my hope that someday, our news media will stop playing games with news clips to make their reports more "exciting."

[creeper00]

Rinse, repeat:

"Those who believe that real change starts with Washington politicians have been in Washington too long..."

[wadyaknow]

This whole mess ends my support of Edwards and also any chance that Obama would get my vote.

[chitown639]

We all know what Hillary Clinton and her campaign has said to stir the pot of racism. But, what has Obama said or done that implies that he is paying the race card??? Could anyone show me a statement that Obama made which implies that he is playing the race card. I dont believe he has made a statement regarding Hillarys remarks...

[cptdeuce]

Obama is a racist, Hillary is a flip-flopper. John Edwards is the Real Deal.

[tigerjcs]

Poor Mr. Edwards. He is looking forward to try to get his Vice President nomination by Obama.
All these racist issues started out by twisting the words of the Clintons. We can''t elect someone as President of the United States because he can use race issues whenever someone disagree with him. We have bigger problems to face such as economy, health care, Middle Eastern and Asian problems etc.