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.

[vmcneal2]

Rev wright is one of those old school fire and brimstone prechers who say things that are way over the top. Some of what he said is true but I can understand how it would be offensive to some people. Having said that,those harsh words came out of Wright''s mouth not Obama''s.

[infidel_us]

Hillary has always been a pandering arse kisser. ''I''z no ways tarrrred.......I comes too farrrrrrr......''

When ''pastor'' Jeremy Wrong apologizes to whites, I''d be willing to consider apologizing for SOMEONE ELSE''s remarks. But since Hillary is a gutless, arsekissing slice of wonder bread, it will always go down just like this.

[blkpresident]

wendy-lady,

Obama is running for president--not his pastor. Face it, your girl hillary lost. Get over it already. Bring on OLD man McCain, so Obama can unleash the Obama shuffle on his old ***. Word on the street is that the old geezer is ducking Obama and hiding behind Hillary''s apron strings.

[realpatriot1]

I''m a white Democrat and I want The Clintons and ferraro to apologise to me for campaigning like Republicans and selling the democratic a Party down the river!

With the corrupt and divisive campaign they''ve run they have guaranteed that what history will remember not only of this campaign but their time in the White House is how they divided the country first Democrat vs. Republican and now Democrat vs. Democrat.

All the good they did in the 90s has been washed away by their own hands.

These people and the corrupt officials around them are poison.

There''s nothing irrational about despising the Clintons, there''s only irrationality in not dispising them.

[wendy_lady_]

Why isn''t Obama''s apolygizing for what his "spiritual advisor" said in his rantings of hate and racism against whites? Is that untouchable?

Read it for yourself on abc.com or go to youtube and hear it:

"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ''God Bless America.'' No, no, no, God *** America, that''s in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God *** America for treating our citizens as less than human. God *** America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda''s attacks because of its own terrorism.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America''s chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.


Obama''s Pastor: God *** America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11

[jack3213]

JUST A FEW REMINDERS OF THE CLINTONSD DISGRACE AND HOW WE SHOULD NOT CONSIDER HER: As they departed the White House, the Clintons left with furniture, lamps, prints and other items totaling $28,000. After an enormous public outcry, the former first grifters returned this truckload of public property swiped from the Executive Mansion. For his part, William Jefferson Clinton successfully perjured himself in the Paula Jones sexual-harassment lawsuit.Long-subpoenaed billing records from Hillary Clinton''''''''s days at Little Rock''''''''s Rose Law Firm magically materialized at the White House in January 1996 -- just four days after a statute of limitations expired, thus sparing her from potential civil liability for advising Madison Guaranty, a failed bank whose collapse cost taxpayers $60 million.Today, Hillary Clinton''''s tax returns remain concealed, while Barack Obama released his. How did she "loan" her campaign $5 million in January? Voters need such answers now, not after Election Day, especially since Bill Clinton''''s speech and business income enhances their combined wealth. After White House Deputy Counsel Vincent Foster died from a gunshot to the head in Fort Marcy Park near Washington in July 1993, his office should have remained sealed for forensic purposes. Yet, two days later, the Clintons personal financial records are to be temporarily kept in a locked closet in the White House residence.

[bywill]

This just in America!!
There will be NO re-voting of any sort, in Florida!
Sing Song the witch is gone, the wicked witch is gone!!
Does anyone know where i can get some OBAMA? 08 bumper stickers??

[vmcneal2]

Ferraro is still talking!!!!! Some people just don''t know when to shut up. This is just another example of the weak Clinton campaign. Hillary thinks that she can win by reminding people that Obama is Black. Too late...After slavery ended, slave owners felt hurt when many of their slaves left the plantation. The slave owners said to the slaves"we been good to yall, why you leaving us". Doesn''t this sound just like the Clintons.

[fleura-2009]

The republicans are feeding your brains with smoke to damage the party & most of the hatred here on these sites is driven by republicans wanting the WEAKER of the TWO candidates to be nominated.

Obama will be sustained and bring us True Democrats back to the White House. He drives such energy and enthusiasm into the whole election process. It''s not about McCain/Clinton/Obama, this season is all about ---- Barack Obama!!!! He is the shining star of this whole election & bringing young, old, all walks of life and all the energy back into Washington, DC.

We want our boys and girls out of that miserable war. Barack Obama is that -silent voice- for everyone who has lost a child & been touched by a Bush/Clinton war in Iraq and Afgha...their silent tears and the words gone - USPOKEN
Only one --- Barack Obama is that voice!!!!

[ndolan622]

She SHOULD apologize...to ALL the voters who found this offensive...not just the AA community!

[dsolis777]

Hillary needs to stop the lies. Its onvious she wanted the race issue to come up before PA votes I wouldnt be surprised if her and her camp planned this whole thing. I cant wait to see her rediculous fake smile .I say bring the debates on! I suspect Hillary will put on another public disaster. I would love PA to see and hear her dishonesty upclose. Hillary Clinton cannot be trusted. Does she even know the first thing about dignity and honesty. As far as her knowledge of the economy... what a joke. She calls for rates on troubled mortgages to be frozen for 5 years... everyone knows this would not be possible. She is a train wreck from the past! Tell Hillary to stop stalling on the tax returns too!

[adarkstorm]

"The Capital Eye reported that %u201C[a]ccording to the Center for Responsive Politics, 14 of Obama%u2019s top 20 contributors employed lobbyists this year, spending a total of $16.2 million to influence the federal government in the first six months of 2007.%u201D Obama%u2019s no stranger to being influenced by those campaign donations, either."

[jesterbelle]

Now that is stupid. There is only one way of taking that remark. stop trying to defend, I know how Obama and his camp has been playing.People are so blind to not see it. Well, if Obama wins the democatic party, and then goes on to win and becomes the president, and then when he runs this country like Bush and people are whinning about it, they won''''t be able to blame me, because I won''''t vote. I''''m not gonna feel anyway responsible for that idiot.




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Posted by croft777 at 11:18 PM : Mar 13, 2008

Why would I be defending him.Bubba took the black voters for granted,simple as that.I saw the knothead on the tube when he was flappin'' his gums,and couldn''t help laughing.I knew he''d messed up,and I''m white.She can''t even run her own campaign,let alone the country.Your same accusations apply to her.From what I''ve read,the woman is a nut to boot.She has some of the same problems as Adolph Hitler.Why do you insist on a nut that can''t run her own campaign?

[adarkstorm]

"That%u2019s his campaign spin. Now here are the facts:

1) On not taking money from DC lobbyists and special interest PACS: This is the type of double-talk %u201Cpolitics of the past%u201D rhetoric he rails against. While his claim is technically true, what he does do is take money from state lobbyists and other big money contributors who have substantial lobbyist machines in DC, like law firms and corporations."

[adarkstorm]

http://www.pajamasmedia.com/2008/03/reality_check_on_the_legend_of.php

interesting

[croft777]

jesterbelle I think he was speaking more of Bubbas'''' attitude in taking the black vote for granted than he was an actual plantation,and justified in doing so.But then you knew that.Eighteen percent,and you and Hillary just dismiss it offhand.From what I''''ve been reading on other blogsites,%s are starting to add up.

Now that is stupid. There is only one way of taking that remark. stop trying to defend, I know how Obama and his camp has been playing.People are so blind to not see it. Well, if Obama wins the democatic party, and then goes on to win and becomes the president, and then when he runs this country like Bush and people are whinning about it, they won''t be able to blame me, because I won''t vote. I''m not gonna feel anyway responsible for that idiot.

[jesterbelle]

The power of the media is truly spellbinding!"


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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 09:54 PM : Mar 13, 2008

How rude!Butting in while me and the other Obamites were meditating!Oh well,since you''re here,you may as well have a glass of Koolaid,LOL

[jesterbelle]

Thats all just a fairy tale..What about that Obama endorser Senator Perkins from New york, Talking about Its not Bills plantation. I haven''''t heard anything about that on the news. Whats the guy saying, Bills a slave owner? thats ate up!


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Posted by croft777 at 09:45 PM : Mar 13, 2008

I think he was speaking more of Bubbas'' attitude in taking the black vote for granted than he was an actual plantation,and justified in doing so.But then you knew that.Eighteen percent,and you and Hillary just dismiss it offhand.From what I''ve been reading on other blogsites,%s are starting to add up.

[rowdytexan2]

"Is Brack Obama part of the biggest media swindle ever??

Got to admit it is impressive.

They take a first term US senator with sub par performance who lacks experience, is not politically savvy or tough, has not passed any meaningful bills to distinguish himself from the hundreds of other lawmakers AND........

Turns him into the best thing since sliced bread

This is advertising genius -

To take a person as ho-hum and politically ineffective as Obama and turn him into a phenomenon. It''s amazing. People are drinking up his fluffy speeches by the gallon with no questions asked, they are mindlessly chanting his name and slogans, he is inspiring an entire nation and.......when you take away all the pretense and fluff...

There is nothing standing there...Just an ordinary politician, who relies on "words" alone to inspire us, but has no concrete plans to benefit our country, one who will make us faint and swoon, but cannot even serve a full US senate term before running for prez.

The power of the media is truly spellbinding!"

[blkpresident]

easeltine,

Just face the truth--Hillary lost. Get over it already! Obama KO''d her. Now she has time to be a housewife and bake some brownies. Now bring on OLD man McCain so he can get some of this too. Scared OLD man? Better be...