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.

[kaloa29]

Last night John Edwards said he was proud to live in a country that a black person and a woman can run for president. In my opinion, I am very SAD to live in a country that still, in 2008, thinks that it is amazing that a black person and a woman can run for president. All around the world blacks and women run countries and have for a long time now. But in a country built on diversity and imigration the only consideration for President has been a white male. This should have happened long ago. Why do we have to be so slow to see the value in something other than a white male? Why do we have to focus on gender and color? Why are we still struggling with these issues when there are so many more important issues? I hope that I will live long enough to see a world, and especially our country, where people would be shocked if someone brought up the color of your skin, your gender or where your ancesters are from. What is really more important, where you are from or what you have done in your life?

[samsel3]

We can all talk about the past, but what about now and the future ? Presently the CNP Council for National Policy is planning your future. This secretive organisation of several hundred of the richest men in the USA put Bush & Cheney in office to accomplish their global agenda. In September 2007 they met again in Salt Lake City. Cheney & Mitt Romney were keynote speakers. Romney wants their backing. The CNP wants to continue their agenda in global market control for BIG OIL & allied industry in the next election. National media outlets are owned by their members. Who will expose them? Who will stop their insanity and destruction of constitutional freedom ? Who will stop their misuse of the military to promote their global agenda? Paul Wolfowitz,Don Rumsfeld, Scooter Libby, George Bush, Richard Cheney, Eliot Cohen. Zalmay Khalilzad, Steve Forbes, Donald Kagan, Pete Rodman, Henry S Rowen, Dan Quale, William J.Bennett, Jeb Bush, they are all members of the PNAC Project for a New American Century.

[gunownerdan]

Clinton, Obama, and the KKK agree:
They all believe law-abiding black citizens should not be trusted to own guns.

"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual ... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of."
- Suzanna Gratia-Hupp

www.a-human-right.com

[bella_triana]

NOBAMA!!!!!!!!

http://saynotoobama.blogspot.com/

[taotxzen]

Hillary Takes Two from the Swift Boat Playbook:

Classic Karl Rove, attack your opponent on their strongest issue, Obama%u2019s Iraq war vote. Then let your supporters sling the mud, Slick and Rev. Billionaire. She sets perched above the fray while your opponent is taken off message addressing false allegations.

Pay attention to what candidates do not what they say.

[tbweb]

I remember how Bill Clinton stole the show unintentionally at Coretta Scott Kings funeral, how well he spoke of her and Dr. King. I remember all the trips Bill Clinton made to Africa, speaking out on AIDS there. I recall Bill Clinton setting up his office in Harlem, NY. I recall Bill Clinton hiring Vernon Jordan, a Black Lawyer as his Counsel during his Presidency, and Vernon Jordan was no ordinary Lawyer, he was also Bill Clinton''s close friend who he played golf with, hung out with! I remember the night basketball leagues Bill Clinton set up in urban areas across the nation and the impact they had on reducing crime and giving Blacks alternatives to boredom and crime. I recall how the Clinton''s always supported Black agendas, events and programs and were never ashamed to be seen with or hang out with Blacks ever! I recall how the Blacks on Bill Clinton''s Secret Service detail said how cool and down to earth he was. Bill and Hillary Clinton have always been supportive and sensitive to the Black community and even if the Black community wants change, wants to support Senator Obama this time around, the Black community should cherish the Clinton''s and don''t let them go out like that, let them be tossed aside, because the Clinton''s definitely don''t deserve that and have built up and earned enough equity in the Black community to make a few mistakes and to be forgiven for them now and then.

[alanrobisch]

I''''d rather give Obama a first chance before giving Hillary & Bill a second chance.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by realpatriot1 at 07:35 PM : Jan 14, 2008

agreed

[realpatriot1]

Emma915,

I''m 57 years old and I haven''t missed an election of any kind since I became eligible at 21. I''ve worked on the campaigns of Mayoral, City Council and School Committee candidates in Boston and was a Ward Committee Member for a year. I''ve earned the right to complain which is what I''m doing now. However, if Hillary wins I''ll keep my mouth shut.

I also wish we could talk about real issues and do so truthfully. I would like to hear more specifics from all the candidates which is wy this sleaze campaign upsets me so.

i''m sick of hearing about Obama''s lack of experience and specifics; frankly, I don''t see any of the candidates offering anything more than platitudes.

I''d prefer spotty experience coupled with reasoned judgement and the personification of character as represented by an uplifting campaign to platitudes about "35 years years of experience" from a career lawyer whose only public experience was mishandling National Healthcare leading to the Democrats loss of Congress.

I''d rather give Obama a first chance before giving Hillary & Bill a second chance.

[emma915]

realpatriot1:
As I read through all the comments posted today, I find the range of opinions to be very interesting, some provocative. The most important thing right now is for people to really pay attention and make up their own minds. THAT is true democracy; not allowing others to do your thinking or tell you who to vote for. Wouldn''t it be nice if the candidates of both parties could learn to work together in presenting the ISSUES to us voters and tell us how they each would change things for the better. Then we could vote for the one we think is most trusted to carry on. I wish they''d tell us how they would set goals to achieve successes regarding the economy, the environment, health care, the war(s), etc. etc. etc., and how they''d get "both sides of the isle" to work together. Nit-picking about rumors or who said what and what their underlying tone meant, how much someone pays for a haircut, infidelities, sexual orientation, what the meaning of "is" is. . . the list goes on. . . isn''t good for America in general. What I care about is a better, safer future for my children and grandchildren, world peace, and that Mother Earth will survive what big business has done to her. Don''t be frustrated into not voting, though. If you don''t vote, you give up your right to complain. . .:-)

[jack3213]

ON one hand, any Democrat would be better than any Republican,according to some, even if they are the worse choice, and some people can''t see beyond their irrational minds. Just because Bush is not popular does not mean a Republican is the worse choice. It is not black or white, it is and should be based on ability and achievements. What the F--- has either Obama or Clinton DONE???? Of course we can say Clinton has proven to be a fraud and Obama should not learn on the job. Simple right? Isn''''t your life worth more than the either one of these BAD choices just because you don''t want to be in a war? Unfortuneately friends, this war is necessary. It is based on Terrorism, and if we run, they come here and destroy us.That is very simple. What makes me cringe is that so many don''t understand this. There was no draft like Vietnam, and we are also defending our country, not just being there for their reasons. Please know the differance. Choosing a democrat will certainly kill us. SIMPLE.

[realpatriot1]

Emma915,

I can tell by your tone that you''re a reasonable erson and I respect your opinion. I don''t agree that he lacks the experience but I respect your feelings on that.

Hillary disavowed the comments about him being a drug pusher(as opposed to drug user) and the claims that he was actually a Muslim when she was confronted by them.
I''m well aware that the cover story was that "Oh we knew nothing about this and this bad person has been removed from our campaign." Then it happened again with bill Shaheen and he was removed. Then Cuomo made the shuck n jive comment. He wasn''t removed.
If you choose to believe there''s no pattern that''s your perogative but I respectfully disagree.

He did say in his book that he used drugs; he did not admit to being a pusher which is what the Clinton campaign was putting out.

I don''t know if i will vote for Bloomberg and I can''t vote for any of the republicans, but if Clinton wins the nomination I won''t vote for her, I''d rather not vote.

I lived in Massachusetts for 22 years and although I''m a liberal dem I never voted for Teddy the mistress killer either. I won''t vote for her under any circumstances.

[thgdriver]

It''s nice to see Edwards out and about after getting that knife buried in his back by Sen. John Kerry.

[thgdriver]

Like Ron Reagen or not ( I think he was one of the best) He was right when he said- "big government is not the answer to our problems--It is the problem"!!

[gunownerdan]

Both Clinton and Obama say you as a citizen cannot be trusted to own common handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Meanwhile they are surrounded by bodyguards holding fully-automatic MACHINE GUNS.

"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual ... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of."
- Suzanna Gratia-Hupp

[jon2012-2009]

It is also my hope that someday, our news media will stop playing games with news clips to make their reports more "exciting."
Posted by Emma915 at 10:45 AM : Jan 14, 2008

I don''t see it a big issue when the media sensationalize news. You are a mature adult with a brain, use it.

What I take offense with is when the reporting is not factual and an agenda is behind the bias. We''re all humans and bias and sloppiness will creep into the writing of a news report but when this problem is persistent and discriminates in its viewpoint, what we have is simply propaganda. Propaganda is not just playing games.

[jon2012-2009]

"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..."

I guess this text was a little lacking in care and open to sinister interpretations. Let''s turn it around. Suppose LBJ didn''t sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and vetoed it instead, where would we be today? The Congress would have overriden him? The next president would have signed it anyway? Or would the bill be revised and watered down?

We don''t know. We know politicians don''t always reflect the people''s will--GWB is exhibit A. It''s quite possible we would still be trying to pass something like it today.

[tibu987]

How many of us have done things, during our youth, that have been something less than exemplary?
Honesty is what absolves us of those stupid youthful transgressions.
Obama has clearly stated his position on his brief use of drugs in his youth.
Satisfies me.

[tibu987]

Obama statement in 1995:
"I am surprised at how many elected officials-even the good ones-spend so much time thinking about the mechanics of politics and not matters of substance. They have this poker chip mentality, this overriding interest in retaining their seats or in moving their careers forward, and the business and game of politics, the political horse race, is all they talk about. Even those who are the same page as me on the issues never seem to want to talk about them."
That statement by Obama in 1995 says loads about him and his use of the word "change".
If that does not say much about Obama''s feelings, nothing does. It is exactly where the problems lie, with the inept, self-aggrandizing politicians in
Washington.
I will not vote for Clinton and cannot vote for Obama if he chooses Edwards as his VP.
Edwards reminds me of a snake oil or used car salesman similar to Giuliani for the Repubs.
Obama/Richardson in 2008.

[cptdeuce]

If you wish for a drug using, Racist Muslim for your next President - Vote Barrack Obama
If you wish for a flip-flopping, is that what the poll said for your next President - Vote Hillary Clinton
If you want a person who has accepted no ''perk'' money from political sludge groups, then vote for John Edwards.
Either way it doesn''t matter because most Americans are too stupid to really research who their candidate is.

[starleo146]

John Edwards only wants what is good for John edwards and for him to try to destroy Hillary is because she told him to forget it you will not run as my vice pres. but Obama said maybe so he sides with obama. If he wanted to do good for this country why didn''t he stay in the senate, he left after one term and started to run for pres. what does that tell you I am great I am John Edwards, meanwhile he is taking votes away from Hillary and ObAMA and Pres he will never be.He will stay in till one of them says get out and you can be my running mate and what was posted by
Posted by Emma915 at 10:45 AM : Jan 14, 2008 is the truth and Obama ''s people better stop all this or he will lose as well . It is enough we have tabloid journalism that are trying to brainwash us to believe John Mc Cain who the media really wants to be president. See through it and say oh no you don''t You did it with Bush but not again.