How President Bill Clinton addressed the issue of race

I've seen a lot of disenguous posts today by the Obama-can-do-no-wrong crowd, basically saying they've never seen a politician confront the issue of race like this, yada yada yada.

Let's take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?

And let's examine, specifically, what President Bill Clinton said and did regarding the issue of race.

- One of my favorite stories about then Governor Bill Clinton is how, in 1992 just before the Democratic Convention, Bill Moyers asked him if there was any issue on which he would NEVER compromise. He responded "Racial injustice."

Source: POTUS Speaks: Finding the Words That Defined the Clinton Presidency (page 167)

Author: Michael Waldman

Also, as Michael Waldman writes in his book:

It was widely recognized that Clinton's single most powerful speech as president had been delivered in November 1993 from the pulpit in Memphis where Martin Luther King Jr. had told parishoners he had "been to the mountaintop.".......He (Clinton) imagined what King might say in 1993. 'You did a good job,' he would say, 'voting and electing people who formerly were not electable because of the color of their skin...You did a good job in opening opportunity."

But he would say, I did not live and die to see the American family destroyed. I did not live and die to see thirteen-year-old boys get automatic weapons and gun down nine-year-olds just for the kick of it. I did not live and die to see young people destroy their own lives with drugs then build fortunes destroying the lives of others. This is not what I came here to do. I fought for freedom, he would say, but not for the freedom of people to kill each other with reckless abandon, not for the freedom of children to have children and the fathers of the children walk away from them and abandon them as if they don't amount to anything...My fellow Americans, he would say, I fought to stop white people from being so filled with hate that they would wreak violence on black people. I did not fight for the right of black people to murder other black people with reckless abandon.

(Pages 168-169).

Additionally, Waldman writes "He wanted to say how America's promise had been constantly undercut by racism."

(Page 170)


- President Clinton also established the "One America in the 21st Century: The President's Initiative on Race." One of the things that always saddened me about this is that with the intiative, President Clinton seemed to be trying to get the conversation going in America about race, and the way forward. But the Intiative was not covered extensively in the media, and some Americans probably aren't even aware that President Clinton had this Initiative.

Some might recall, however, that the Initiative was Chaired by Dr. John Hope Franklin.

http://clinton4.nara.gov/Initiatives/OneAmerica/america_onrace.html


- Additionally, in one of his last acts in the final days of his Administration, President Clinton sent a 26-page report to Congress in which he urged lawmakers to work with the incoming Bush administration on a number of issues of particular importance to African-Americans and other minorities, including electoral reform, ending racial profiling, and improvements in health care and child care for working families."

Source: http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/15/clinton.mlk/index.html

For me personally, I've always been very moved and touched that President Clinton left Congress and the incoming Bush White House with a 'charge' if you will, on the issue of race. That spoke volumes to me, about his values.

So I just wanted to offer a bit of historical perspective for the folks on here who are attempting to portray the Obama speech as the most honest attempt by a politician to address race.

:hi:

That's why I'm for Obama.

black on black violence.

Oh yeah, he was too chickenshit to admit to a puff. He never inhaled and jailed all others that did.

Privatized prisons... it's an industry that I don't remember him fighting / speaking out against. I'm sure he did and I missed it.

But I know he backed the drug war. I remember that.

in arresting low level black offenders.

But at least he didn't need to worry about being soft on slimecrime

just like Clarence Thomas

:patriot:

I don't like everything he ever did, but he did many things very well. Too bad he has been demonized! I understand, though. The GOP is trying to make sure the Clinton hate rolls over onto Hillary. But when I see him demonized here on DU... well, it's pretty fucked up.

too bad Bill's not able to run for president.

:applause:

:patriot:

.

was one of the things that really took me by surprise when I first starting posting.

I am glad to see a positive post with good information put up to counter the rather overwhelming tripe that gets spewed about him on a daily basis.

Perfect? Far from it.

Better than what we have had for the last 7 years? Light-years.

Why, I'll never know...

Apparently eight years of peace and prosperity are evil

The Clinton's have 'walked the walk'.It is a crying shame what has been done to them over the course of this primary in regard to the race issue.It's absolutely unforgivable.

They are both wonderful people,amazing Democrats - thank you for posting such a significant reminder of that on this most disenchanting of days.

as race-baiting, MLK-hating people....As an African-American woman, I am absolutely disgusted with how they've used the issue of race in this campaign, and then tried to label the Clintons as racist.

It's disgusting.

And this is one African-American women who "gets it" (note to Michelle Obama). And it's precisely because I "get it" that I do not now, nor will I ever, support Barack Obama.

:hug:

Thank you for standing by your beliefs and for speaking up.I know being an African American Hillary supporter is not easy with Obama mania in full effect.

:hug:

biggest lies ever told in politics.

:kick:

for that I will never like the Rev
....sorry that's just the way it is



.

:kick:

I am sick to death of just seeing Obama threads on the Home page

and I haven't seen 1 positive Clinton thread on the Home page for weeks.

we are too out numbered here

Dems at their finest are fine indeed.

like BO's today. He mentioned Bill Clintons speech on Race relations.

it was delightful to hear.

Good to hear Bill getting some credit. :)

For front page goodness.

.

How soon we forget how much good he did.

Yes. Bill Clinton was the first president to address racial injustice. The first to acknowledge that there were still problems that we were not addressing as a nation. I will always be very grateful to him for that.

Thanks for all your work, Bill! Lest people forget...

She's running as a co-president with her husband. She doesn't say "I" will do this or "I" will do that. She says "we" will do this and "we" will do that. She's made that pretty clear from the beginning. A vote for her is a vote for Bill's 3rd and hopefully 4th term.

Have you listened to ANY of her speeches? She's clearly running on BILL'S record.

She says "we" will do this and "we" will do that.

As in "We" balanced the budget? -- Yeah right.

Bill's record. Not her's. I have no problem with it really, but to deny it is just silly.

But people, including myself, have called him out on race baiting tactics. There's a difference.

Because it was not coerced by being outed as a racist nor by a desperate desire to win an election. His came from the heart. And what gratitude has he received from the likes of Rev Wright and Obama? A relentless smear campaign suggesting he is a racist. A few quotes from Clinton's speech: " ... Abraham Lincoln reminded us that a house divided against itself cannot stand. My fellow Americans, our house is the greatest democracy in all human history. And with all its racial and ethnic diversity, it has beaten the odds of human history. But we know that divisions remain, and we still have work to do ... White America must understand and acknowledge the roots of black pain. It began with unequal treatment first in law and later in fact. African Americans indeed have lived too long with a justice system that in too many cases has been and continues to be less than just ...And there is still unacceptable economic disparity between blacks and whites. It is so fashionable to talk today about African Americans as if they have been some sort of protected class. Many whites think blacks are getting more than their fair share in terms of jobs and promotions. That is not true. That is not true ... On the other hand, blacks must understand and acknowledge the roots of white fear in America. There is a legitimate fear of the violence that is too prevalent in our urban areas ... The great potential today is that whites will come to see a larger truth that blacks share their fears and embrace their convictions ..."

now they want everyone to play nice because of a speech -- sorry the deeds of Obama do not match the rhetoric.

Just askin'

But not to the non-wonk folks.

Hillary hasn't mentioned it for the same reason she wants to go by Hillary, because she's trying to distance herself from the dawg so she will seem like her own person and look presidential.

We have a winner (you) and a loser (Hillary).

Barack hit it out of the park. No rational person can dispute that.

supposed "ground-breaking" "unprecedented" "historical" talk about why rev. wright is not a bad guy.

sheesh!

In fact, Obama's speech today described Clinton's speech to a T.

He spoke very clearly about politicians using race to gin up votes.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=14586

Clinton's Arkansas Blood Scandal.....only covered by Canadian newspapers....

here is a snippet....for the Cliff Notes crowd.

As part of the deal HMA struck with Arkansas, in addition to treating the prisoners, the company collected their blood and sold it. Because of the exploding AIDS crisis, U.S. regulations didn't permit the sale of prisoners' blood within the country. But HMA found a willing buyer in Montreal, which brokered a deal with Connaught, a Toronto blood-fractionator, which didn't know the source of the supplies. The blood was distributed throughout Canada by the Red Cross. Sales continued until 1983, when HMA revealed that some of the plasma might be contaminated with the AIDS virus and hepatitis. The blood was also peddled overseas.

But thanks for the history lesson anyway.

I honestly didn't know some of this, so I appreciate the post. However, it takes nothing away from Obama's
spectacular -- some would say historic -- speech in my book.

I thanked you for the post, because I wasn't aware that Bill C. was such a champion for
racial minorities: I said nothing to belittle Bill, except the obvious fact that he's not
running for President in 08.

The all-too-obvious motive for your OP was to take away from Obama's incredible speech, so
of course, you projected that motive onto my response. whatever.

I still have my autographed copy of My Life, but I don't like the way the Clintons have handled this election. It casts a pall on the achievements you mention, which are part of the reason why I was such a fan in the first place.

That is how long this will look like "OBAMA UNDERGROUND."

Paying back his aggrieved wife caused him to throw all of them under the bus..without a thought..

Was he lying then...or now?

I guess "his people" have spoken...

And I know that as Presidents go his attitudes and candor on issues of race had not been seen since the days of well I would say Robert Kennedy, but Kennedy never got to be President. Which brings up my first point.... once he WAS President I am glad he addressed issues of race as directly as he did. The President's Initiative on Race was not missed by this mixed race citizen. But he already had the power of the Bully Pulpit and this speech (as you note) was given in a service in observance of the greatness of MLK. It was not given during a divisive campaign season as a part of a campaign for the nomination...much less the GE. No, while he was campaigning he gave us the "Sista Soulja" incident.

My second observation is that the majority of the quote you posted is really a chastisement (a correct one BTW) of the Black community, with a throwaway line about contemporary white violence against blacks, and doesn't address at all racially motivated crime and societal discrimination. As such the Clinton speech you highlight does nothing to address the continuing racial divisiveness in America at all. I WAS a GOOD speech. It was even a speech that should have, and I believe DID, give people pause to examine the violence of the largely urban black street-level drug dealing subculture. I am GLAD he made that speech, but it didn't come anywhere near a discussion, or explication of, the resentments and difficulties of race relations from both sides of the racial divide.

Obama's speech yesterday DID get to the nub of the problem in terms both public and personal, and threw under the bus the entire idea that we should immediately disavow those closest to us if they hold some ideas that we find repugnant at the same time.

and a thousand more recs, if I just could.

forever tarnished his presidency by his lack of integrity, morals, and values! Have a cigar Bill!

:eyes:

cross posted--


Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject AP/CBS: Bill Clinton Rejects Criticism Over Race
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5154800#5154800
5154800, AP/CBS: Bill Clinton Rejects Criticism Over Race
Posted by rodeodance on Wed Mar-19-08 10:14 AM

About time this gets published.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/17/ap/politics/main3944841.shtml


Bill Clinton Rejects Criticism Over Race

NEW YORK, Mar. 17, 2008(AP) Former President Clinton is pushing back on criticism that he fanned racial tension while campaigning for his wife in South Carolina.

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" broadcast Monday, Clinton said he had gotten a "bum rap" from the news media after he compared Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's landslide victory in South Carolina's Jan. 26 primary to Jesse Jackson's wins in the state in 1984 and 1988. Clinton was widely criticized for appearing to cast Obama as little more than a black candidate popular in a state with a heavily black electorate.

"They made up a race story out of that," Clinton said of the news media, calling the story "a bizarre spin."

……….

He added, "Contrary to the myth, I went through South Carolina and never said a bad word about Senator Obama _ not one."

…………

"I never heard a word of public complaint when Mr. Obama said Hillary was not truthful," that she had "no character, was poll-driven," Bill Clinton said earlier this year. "He had more pollsters than she did. ... When he put out a hit job on me at the same time he called her the senator from Punjab, I never said a word."

He was referring to an Obama campaign memo from last summer that criticized Sen. Clinton's ties to India, referring to her as the "Democrat from Punjab." The former president's reference to a "hit job" evidently had to do with documents the Obama campaign once circulated questioning the former president's financial dealings.

………..

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/17/ap/politics/main3944841.shtml


Copyright 2008 The Associated Press

:kick:

Not to take anything away from Obama, because that was a good speech (I didn't hear the whole thing because I was stuck at a training conference for my job all day), but I find the memory loss in the rush to praise him a little bit silly.

KR

:eyes:

was the best prez my time on this earth has seen and I KNOW Hillary will pick up where he left off.

Or with the giant push to take the Democratic Party further to the right?

have a ball....

is try to extend Bill's coattails. Yeah, Bill gave a good speech in 1995, why not throw in all the other great speeches about race? Because they are irrelevant to your original assertion and don't trump up your favored candidate's husband - and not many political speeches about race have created the stir that Obama's did, certainly not Bill's. And unfortunately for you this kind of coattail riding won't get Hillary in office. Even if Bill himself could run again today, his cheerleading for war with Iraq based on no evidence would damage him just as much as it has done for Hillary.

OR- she could attempt to give an equally inspiring speech herself, in the year 2008?

Otherwise, thanks for the trip down memory lane- we agree that Bill made great points in the 90's just like Obama makes them now.

Perhaps the reason Obama might get more credit for his words on race in 2008 as opposed to Hillary getting credit for Bill's old quotes is due to Obama's unique perspective as a bi-racial man responding to media/GOP race-baiting? Who knows.

My point is that no one is stopping Hillary from repeating or paraphrasing Bill's words in an equally inspiring speech 2008 in response- if she wants to refer to Bill's old quotes by reference, I'm fine with that too.