Clinton Apologizes To Black Voters

Presidential Hopeful Apologizes For Comments By Her Husband And Geraldine Ferraro

(CBS/AP)  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton did something Wednesday night that she almost never does.

She apologized.

And once she started, she didn't seem able to stop.

The New York senator, who is tight race with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, struck several sorry notes at an evening forum sponsored by the National Newspaper Publishers Association, a group of more than 200 black community newspapers across the country.

Her biggest apology came in response to a question about comments by her husband, Bill Clinton, after the South Carolina primary, which Obama won handily. Bill Clinton said Jesse Jackson also won South Carolina when he ran for president in 1984 and 1988, a comment many viewed as belittling Obama's success.

"I want to put that in context. You know I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive," Hillary Clinton said. "We can be proud of both Jesse Jackson and Senator Obama."

"Anyone who has followed my husband's public life or my public life know very well where we have stood and what we have stood for and who we have stood with," she said, acknowledging that whoever wins the nomination will have to heal the wounds of a bruising, historic contest.

"Once one of us has the nomination there will be a great effort to unify the Democratic party and we will do so, because, remember I have a lot of supporters who have voted for me in very large numbers and I would expect them to support Senator Obama if he were the nominee," she said.

The Clintons long have enjoyed overwhelming support from black voters, but that has been eclipsed during the primaries and caucuses by enthusiasm and support for Obama, who has pulled huge margins among black voters. Arguments over the role of race and gender have flared up repeatedly throughout the contest between Obama, who would be the nation's first black president, and Clinton, who would be its first female one.

Earlier in the day, Hillary Clinton supporter and fundraiser Geraldine Ferraro gave up her honorary position with Clinton's campaign after she said in an interview last week that Obama would not have made it this far if he were white. Obama said Ferraro's remarks were "ridiculous" and "wrong-headed."

Of Ferraro's comment, Hillary Clinton told her audience: "I certainly do repudiate it and I regret deeply that it was said. Obviously she doesn't speak for the campaign, she doesn't speak for any of my positions, and she has resigned from being a member of my very large finance committee."

Earlier Wednesday, Ferraro defended her comments on CBS News' The Early Show and said they were taken out of context. (Watch the video.)

As first lady and senator, Clinton rarely cedes an inch to her critics. On the issue of her vote to authorize the Iraq war, for instance, she steadfastly has refused to apologize, coming close by saying she regrets it, despite calls from many anti-war voters in the party to make a more explicit mea culpa.

Her third conciliatory statement of the evening was more in keeping with that fighting stance.

Asked about the government's efforts in the Gulf States after Hurricane Katrina, Hillary Clinton turned an apology into a criticism of President Bush, who happened to be speaking at a Republican event in another room at the same hotel.

"I've said it publicly, and I say it privately: I apologize, and I am embarrassed that our government so mistreated our fellow citizens ... It was a national disgrace," Hillary Clinton said.

[luigi999-2009]

Too late, Hillary. You''ve lost most of the electorate, not just the blacks. Bill & Ferraro are your mouthpieces and your strategy backfired big time. Why not just drop out now and spare the country more of your low-life theatrics.

[popstom1]

There is nothing for her to apologizes for

[boatdocster]

HRC, Good Cop - Bad Cop, but did not know when to stop.

Too little, too late. You have shown your true colors and the voters are leaving you in droves...

[trace-sc]

Fatal role of the young would-be black man?

"I had learned not to care," ... "I blew a few smoke rings, remembering those years. Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack, though. ... Blow" is a street name for cocaine. "Smack" is slang for heroin."

"Junkie. Pothead. That''s where I''d been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man,"

Is this a racist comment or what? You guessed it right, it came from Obama''s big mouth!

[tawpdawg1]

I got news for the elitist Ferraro - According to the census bureau blacks and black/mix make up just 13% of US population so SOMEBODY else must think Obama is a hell of a brilliant candidate, too. Ya think ? Ya think Clinton could march right up to New York and get herself elected to a very powerful US Senate seat if her husband wasn''t the ex-president? Obama has earned his standing with his brain, not his skin color. I''m praying for God to give him the ability to overcome the racism and elitism he is up against. Good luck, Barack....you gonna need it!

[jsilver2th]

Good cop, bad cop...

How transparent....

How come she didn''t appologize to everybody? I was pretty offended and I''m not a black voter-

There''s one to think about...

[iceman_1960]

When is John McCain going to apologize for Rev. Hagee ?

When ? When ???

Apologize for Hagee, Senator.

[jsilver2th]

"Ferraro is currently a lobbyist in New York with Blank Rome Government Relations."

Oh I see she''''s really a lobbyist for Republicans now... I wonder do you think she is on their payroll while she''''s out raising money for Hillary?

Here''''s what Blank Rome''''s own web site says about Gerry:

"On a slightly territorial note, however, the Washington Post.com reported, %u201CGeraldine Ferraro is heading back to D.C.%u2014or at least she%u2019ll be spending more time here . . . . The 1984 vice presidential candidate . . . adds a bit of Democratic flava to a firm known for its GOP ties; she also returns to town just in time for the latest round of %u201CIs the nation ready to elect a woman?%u201D interviews.%u201D "

So when she''''s out there raising money for the Clintons and being disciminated against because she''''s white- is she really on a feminist crusade or is she trying to buy favors for Blank Rome''''s big bucks clients?

What a joke- Hillary''''s superdelegate Mr. Spitzer isn''''t the only NY politician that understands prostitution....

[iceman_1960]

When is John McCain going to apologize for Rev. Hagee ?

When ? When ???

Apologize for Hagee, Senator.

[pensacola88]

I never expected Hillary to apologize, but now that she did, it''s time to forgive and put this all behind us.

All candidates will get their turn. Hillary was very smart to be the first Democrat to do it.

Drama needs to take the back seat and give way to the differences between John McCain and his two opponents.

Voters need to see why either Obama or Clinton will win or lose against McCain.

[PulSamsara]

Clinton should quit. Her ego is destroying the Democratic Party.

[jimesmith2]

To all the racist pigs and bigots. Regardless of your ignorance, you can''t stop forward progress. It''s inevitable that truth will always win out over stupidity and ignorance. The future will not carry your message well. So, embrace your hate, fear and whiteness like there''s no tomorrow, because change is coming and you can''t stop it.....

[tawpdawg1]

While she''s busy apologizing, if she''d admit to the

mistake she made with her war vote AND APOLOGIZE to

the families and friends of the 4,000

dead and untold wounded MAYBE Obama would at least

CONSIDER her for vp. Until then, how can he?

[obamagrls-bf]

CLINTONS can not spin it ...look at the timing of such things just before the eve of promaries ..
example

1. She cried before NH
2. Bill Clinton''s remark in NC
3. 3 a.m call..a white blond kid
4. now ferrar...

its a well designed OLD WASHINGTON POLITICS

[obamagrls-bf]

WHY arab muslims agist USA?

1. USA armoured taliban during coldwar to fight agaisnt USSR...promising them better pallestine

2. America and Eurore do not understand other countries and other''s faith.

3. America funded pakistans ISI to fight against INDIA.. USA untill 9/11 was supporing Jihadi movement..now they call them terroris t groups

[hdinsight]

Now, if we can get Obama to apologize to the masses for Louis Farrakhan & Jeremiah Wright''s racist, homophobic & antisemitic comments, we''ll finally be able to talk about America''s economic crisis and detailed solutions towards a speedy recovery.

[egresor]

proud of jesse jackson?

wasn''t he the fella that appeared in public with blood on his shirt after martin luther king was assissinated?

like he cradled king''s body while he died and thus began the anointed successor?

which prompted one of those who were there to say that he knew what jesse was trying to do and lost respect for him.

that wasn''t king''s blood jesse!

and how well have you and your family lived on the rainbow coalition money since?

rather better than those who contribute to it i''m sure.
yeah he sure

[tawpdawg1]

As always, Keith Olbermann cuts right to the chase:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtAja20kTCA

Well said, Hillary. It is time for the healing to begin.

[blkpresident]

Hmmm

[spinster2]

To all the racist pigs and bigots. Regardless of your ignorance, you can''''t stop forward progress. It''''s inevitable that truth will always win out over stupidity and ignorance. The future will not carry your message well. So, embrace your hate, fear and whiteness like there''''s no tomorrow, because change is coming and you can''''t stop it.....


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

Posted by jimesmith2
================================================
After reading a post like this, anybody might forget that ninety percent of blacks are voting for the black canidate. Are they going to make progress too?

It''s notable that Ferraro twists it around to make it sound as if SHE''S the victim. That has a familiar ring to it... seems like I''ve heard that before.... somewhere...

[bearkat30]

No WAY the Super Delegates back Clinton now. After Ferraro''s unbelievably racist remarks, after she went on GMA, then Nightly News and actually had the unmitigated gall to blame it on the Obama campaign and feebly attempt to play the victim, Clinton STILL did not apologize; worse yet, her campaign actually tried to spin it. In fact, as it is now starting to come out, Ferraro said the same this in 1988 about Jesse Jackson. She said it again on Fox radio weeks ago, then the newspaper interview, and still she did nothing to stem the tidal wave of Hate.

This is scorched earth at it''s absolute worst. I''ve never seen a campaign willing to systematically marginalize an entire ethic group just to get nominated. Now that this has reached Defcon 1, she STILL didn''t apologize.

As I said, there''s no way the SDs will go for her now. It would be the end of the Democratic Party. If she has an ounce of integrity left, for the good of the Party, for the good of the Nation, and for the good of Humanity, she should quit this race now.

[luigi999-2009]

Fake "apology." She is so transparent it''s laughable. That''s why only the uneducated and the ancient support her.

[yellow53209]

Has everyone gone mad? There''s nothing wrong with being black! These articles & apologies make me feel as if there is something wrong with being black. As if there is something wrong with me when someone "reminds others, or reminds me" that I am black. IT IS OK TO BE BLACK IN AMERICA!!
For years black people have been passed over for opportunities JUST because they were black. What if that is truly the case.. is it wrong? or right? Is that really an issue? Now it''s a problem "IF" they are given a chance because they are black (which is usually not the case, but is usually the claim). Historically, White americans have long since benefited from being white in america (moreso than not). Instead of spending our time focusing on the real issues, instead of spending our time drawing boundaries between what is & is not acceptable politically (ending this war)...we are spending our time drawing more racial boundaries between fellow Americans (as if we need more in this country). It''s all amazing and very sad. It tells you a lot about race relations in the USA.

[pelosisaho2]

Dumb, but that''s typically Hillary.

What was there to apologize for, dumb cluck? Why did your camp fire Ferraro?

Obama needs to be put on the hot spot for his ties to Rev. Wright, an unmitigated racist, the ties to Farrakhan, his friendship with the hatemonger Senator Byrd, his sick remarks concerning Abraham Lincoln plus a choice of advisers that includes not a few anti-Semites. For the little boy to cry racism when he dines with Byrd is sheer hypocrisy that the Left, in its own infantile Nazism, will always remain silent about.

Hillary, you have already proven to be a coward when you chose to stick with a draft dodging, serial rapist Islamoterror appeaser - because you not only shared his views, if not his bed, but you wanted the power. You''ve failed again, shrill shrew.

For the racist nazis of the Left who might jump on this, go right ahead. I''d vote for a J.C. Watts or a Mike Steele anyday - and I initially supported Colin Powell in ''96. They were - and are morally courageous and fit to be President. The Klan grovelling boy, the coward and racial hypocrite Obama will never be.

[cyberus-2009]

Too little too late.

Right now it looks like a feeble attempt by the losing side to dig themselves out of a hole.

Almost like the pandering that the Republicans do towards minorities every election cycle

[spinster2]

What I would like to know is when Obama is going to denounce his racist paster and withdraw his membership seeing how his paster is the source of the most racist and anti american comments in the whole country.

[pelosisaho2]

Both Democrats - TOTALLY UNFIT, MORALLY, ETHICALLY AND OTHERWISE to be the President of the United States of America.

President of the House Servants? President of Cuckolded Wives?? More likely. President of a country fighting the very Islamofascism they would appease and surrender to, well, NOT bloody likely.

[tbweb]

When you make a mistake with computer software you can select undo, put things back like they were and act like the mistake never happened! Unfortunately life does not have an undo command, however life does have something a little close to it and that is an apology. Not everyone can apologize, apologies are hard! Issuing an apology means you acknowledge you or someone on your behalf made a mistake and you are taking responsibility for it. An apology may seem trivial but they are hard, not everyone can issue one. I have always believed that once an apology is issued the matter is over, the healing process begins, it doesn''t mean you forget but it does mean you don''t continue on as if an apology was never given.

[spinster2]

Blacks vote ninety percent for Jessie Jackson. Four years later, blacks vote ninety percent for Jessie Jackson again. Hillary Clinton runs and Bill comments that Obama a black man, should do very well in SC an add''s that Jessie Jackson done well there. The ironic thing everybody on the face of the planet knows it was a true statement with nothing racist about it. The statement was meant to lower expectations in SC but the Obama camp, NBC and MSNBC put a good spin on it.

[alphaa10-2009]

hdinsight said, "Now, if we can get Obama to apologize to the masses for Louis Farrakhan..."
---
Obama has no responsibility for what Farrakhan says, and has said so. The two do not agree.

Look at your own party. If there are GOP leaders who detest McCain but stay in the same party, there is surely room for difference of opinion elsewhere.

You are the unwitting agent of smear tactics used by GOP dirty tricks squads. Check out their urban legends about Obama or Clnton or McCain at www.snopes.com.

[samthetvcat]

"I''ve said it publicly, and I say it privately: I apologize, and I am embarrassed that our government so mistreated our fellow citizens ... It was a national disgrace"

Why''s she ''apologizing'' for Katrina? That doesn''t make any sense to me . . .

[samthetvcat]

PS Meaning not that Katrina wasn''t a disgrace, but that Hillary had responsibility over the relief efforts (or the lack of relief efforts) . . . so what exactly is she apologizing FOR?

[tbweb]

Blacks vote ninety percent for Jessie Jackson. Four years later, blacks vote ninety percent for Jessie Jackson again. Hillary Clinton runs and Bill comments that Obama a black man, should do very well in SC an add''s that Jessie Jackson done well there. The ironic thing everybody on the face of the planet knows it was a true statement with nothing racist about it. The statement was meant to lower expectations in SC but the Obama camp, NBC and MSNBC put a good spin on it.

Posted by spinster2 at 02:29 AM : Mar 13, 2008,,,

The only problem with your Post is the Black Vote between Clinton and Obama was split most of the race almost 50/50, Bill Clinton went for the knockout of Obama and it backfired then suddenly the Black Vote was 90/10 favoring Obama! Bill should have chilled out, like the saying goes, if its not broke, don''t fix it!

[samthetvcat]

PPS oops - that should read that Hillary DIDN''T have any responsibility over the relief efforts . . .

[spinster2]

Fake "apology." She is so transparent it''''s laughable. That''''s why only the uneducated and the ancient support her.


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

Posted by Luigi999
=====================================

Frankly she doesn''t really have anyting to apologize for, although the media owe her an apology. As to the educated "style and personality" voting independents who are pushing Obama, well, let''s just try to remember these were the same know it all''s who supported Dubya not once but twice. The sad truth is, you can''t teach common sense. Your either born with it or you aren''t.

[spinster2]

Blacks vote ninety percent for Jessie Jackson. Four years later, blacks vote ninety percent for Jessie Jackson again. Hillary Clinton runs and Bill comments that Obama a black man, should do very well in SC an add''''s that Jessie Jackson done well there. The ironic thing everybody on the face of the planet knows it was a true statement with nothing racist about it. The statement was meant to lower expectations in SC but the Obama camp, NBC and MSNBC put a good spin on it.

Posted by spinster2 at 02:29 AM : Mar 13, 2008,,,

The only problem with your Post is the Black Vote between Clinton and Obama was split most of the race almost 50/50, Bill Clinton went for the knockout of Obama and it backfired then suddenly the Black Vote was 90/10 favoring Obama! Bill should have chilled out, like the saying goes, if its not broke, don''''t fix it!
==========================================
LOL Ha ha, You say that like Jessie Jackson got ninety percent of the Black vote before SC.

[spinster2]

I have never owned a slave nor do I know anyone who has ever owned a slave. I do know that most races have been imprisoned at one time or another by another race. I think it''s terrible that white people owned slaves, and that African''s sold their own people as slaves but I personally have no culpibility in the matter, hold no guilty feelings, and getting called a racist because I''m not voting for a black while black people are voting almost unanamously for a black is getting a little ridiculous. Obama has FAR more connections with racist that I ever did, do, or ever will.

[shanev137]

HillBilly thinks if she breaks down and starts sobbing more crocodile tears again, that people will fall for it and vote for her.

[spinster2]

!!! WHY THE MEDIA IS IN THE TANK FOR OBAMA !!!!!



It turns out that Westinghouse, and General Electric own CBS, NBC, and MSNBC. They are the corporations planning to build 26 nuclear facilities around the country under *** Cheney''s energy bill. Obama voted for this bill and Clinton voted "against it which would mean these companies stand to lose billions should Clinton win.

It would also explain why NBC made youtube pull all the pro Clinton Saturday Night live clips while you can still see anything else such as David Letterman. It''s shameless.

[alphaa10-2009]

yellow63209 said, "These articles & apologies make me feel as if there is something wrong with being black."
---
Most people did not bring race up when Hillary and Obama were on civil terms at the start of the campaign. The issue of race surfaced only when race became a demographic factor in the SC primary.

In that primary, Bill Clinton sensed most of the state''s registered black voters-- 79 percent-- were going to Obama. It may have been Obama''s youthful appeal (a heavy proportion of youth of all races favor Obama), but more likely the SC groundswell for Obama was simply strong identification with a black candidate who also held a comparable position on most issues with Clinton. Perhaps SC blacks sensed this was a historic first, and wanted to be part of it-- no insult intended to Hillary Clinton.

In every strict sense, this is the only time racial thinking became a factor. Outside of that, Obama has done nothing to encourage flagging him The Black Candidate of 2008, although Clinton has done a great deal to call attention to herself as The Female Candidate of 2008.

As long as Obama can resist the trap to trade accusations about race, he will win most people on his native, color-blind qualifications-- merit and eloquence.

[jockh]

In her 2000 campaign for the Senate, Hillary Clinton''s campaign demanded her opponent release his tax returns and even sent a staffer dressed as Uncle Sam to taunt him during campaign stops. Today she refuses to release hers. Makes you wonder what crooked and shady characters have been contributing to her funds.
Don%u2019t be afraid Hillary, release your tax returns and let us vet you.
Hillary makes ridiculous claims that she is tried and tested in over 80 countries. As the wife of a visiting US President she simply tried and tested various tea and cookie offerings but she never negotiated anything, in fact she did not even have security clearance. By Hillary%u2019s childlike reasoning this means Laura Bush is also tried and tested to be President or that the wife of a brain surgeon is qualified to operate on people!!
Hillary may have answered the White House phone at 3am but I am sure the callers always said CAN I SPEAK TO YOUR HUSBAND PLEASE!!

[wisedad]

An Open Letter To Mrs. Clinton, her Family Campaign Manager (Ms. Williams).

I am an African American Male who has voted Democrat all my life. African Americans for the most part has voted and supported Democrat Candidates in every election since and even prior FDR in this country we''ve never hesitated to support, nor question President Bill Clinton in either process of his campaigns.

America and or the African (Black) American community in particular, has suffered enough and continue to scratch the often parrlizing itch from the deep scars of Racism in our culture, economics and politics. While at the same time found pride and meaning at the potential of the first ''Black'' African American and President and First Lady. And at if nothing else, a glimpse of what that would be like through the love and nurturing displayed by Barack H. & Michelle Obama.

Given the enoumous since of Hope, I know my own children for the first time expressed through their participation as adults in this election year process.

To have to explain to my young adult daughters who in spite of her family who supports Obama, worked your campaign solely because she had taken pride in her own womanhood; that her candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton enlists RACISM was more painful a disappointment then I have evr known in any of my children!

I hate everything there ever was in you that seem intentionally good!

Thank God I don''t have a Heaven to deny you or a HELL to place you in... thank God!

[hdinsight]

To: alphaa10 -- Your assumption that I am a member of the GOP is as false as it is insulting. Obama DID eventually reject the support of the bigot Louis Farrakhan. Yet his hesitation to do so was analagous to the 7 minute, MY PET GOAT incident by Bush. Many insiders found this delay unacceptable. The underlying theme of my comment is that I am annoyed that so much media time is spent dissecting random blathering of Obama/Clinton supporters. The top news story becomes who''s gotten fired from which campaign today. I strongly believe the campaigns should each be squarely focused on IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS to the issues that are affected our country: economic collapse, foreclosures, unemployment, health care, crime/gun violence, national security, education, global warming, trillion dollar war, the staggering US National Debt of $9,405,042,506,818.76 etc... Enough with Obama & Clinton throwing spit balls at each other. United we stand, because we are presently bitterly divided & rapidly falling into a chasm of futility.

[Syndicate]

I completely agree with miss Ferraro''s comments. They are based on facts and it is unfair for Obama to call her a racist. By calling her a racist he calls me a racist. I want an apology. Now!

[shanev137]

If all of Obama''s success is because he''s black, then all of Hillary''s success is because she''s a woman.

It''s pretty simple, isn''t it.

[hdinsight]

To: WiseDad -- Hillary Clinton is not a racist by any stretch of the imagination. The evidence is overwhelming that the Clinton''s have "loved & nurtured" the African American community with complete devotion. Just as Abraham Lincoln did not have to be an African American to see the injustice of slavery, the Clinton Administration was dedicated to fighting injustice through Affirmative Action. The Clinton''s have always delivered POSITIVE CHANGE to African Americans, both those living in America & those in Africa. Perhaps your "Wise Daughter" knows that when Bill was in office, African American unemployment went from 14.2% to a historical low of only 8.9%. Real Wages of African Americans rose over 6% in two short years under a Clinton administration. Inflation was at the lowest level since Kennedy was in office. The median income of African American households rose by over $3,000.00. The minimum wage was increased which benefited over 1.3 African Americans. The Clinton''s FOUGHT to erect the MLK Memorial in the National Mall, although only presidents are honored in such a way. No, Hillary Clinton is not a racist. Ms. Clinton has denounced the comment, fired the person who made the comment & apologized for the comment. The comment in no way reflects her philosophy nor does it epitomize the Clinton''s respect & decades long PROVEN dedication to the African American community.

[jdchatta]

Senator Obama''s racist "preacher" makes me concerned about Obama''s judgement. He and his family have attended this guy''s "church" for 20 years. Please search for video footage of the guy''s so-called sermons and I believe you may wonder why Obama and his family ever joined his congragation in the first place... And he wants to represent our citizens? May God help us all!

[cyberus-2009]

----
Why''''s she ''''apologizing'''' for Katrina? That doesn''''t make any sense to me . . .

Posted by SamTheTVCat at 02:33 AM : Mar 13, 2008
----
Umm .. to try and garner sympathy maybe?