Posted on 03/17/2008 9:52:44 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - 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 made similar comments on CNN's "American Morning," calling the notion that he had unfairly criticized Obama in South Carolina as "a total myth and a mugging."
While campaigning in South Carolina in January, Bill Clinton complained that Obama had put out a "hit job" on him. He didn't explain what that meant.
At an MTV forum for college journalists Saturday, Clinton said he knew as soon as Obama won Iowa's caucuses Jan. 3 that he was on his way to wrapping up a large majority of black voters in other primary states.
"Iowa happened. The minute it became possible that he could be the nominee, he was going to win the lion's share of the African-American vote," Clinton said. "And I never begrudged it."
He added, "Contrary to the myth, I went through South Carolina and never said a bad word about Senator Obama — not one."
In South Carolina, the former president angrily lectured reporters, arguing that they were going easy on Obama while subjecting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to unfair scrutiny.
"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.
Campaigning for his wife in New Hampshire earlier in January, Bill Clinton called Obama's opposition to the Iraq war a "fairy tale."
It’s just so much fun to watch Big Media treat the Clinton’s like Republicans.
Gawd, this guy is so in love with himself isn’t he?
-PJ
The media is just racist against the first black president.
...well, there’s still a long way to go until they are treated as Republicans are, but, at least it’s a start. ;^)
Poor old Clintbilly. He’s CONSTANTLY being smeared with these “bum raps.” In actuality, butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
Did you happen to read or see Keith Olbermann’s rant last week on Hillary, regarding Geraldine’s remarks.
“Former President Clinton is pushing back on criticism that he fanned racial tension while campaigning for his wife in South Carolina.”
Even as our President, President Bush is called Bush or Mr. Bush in the media, yet this most disgusting person still is given the title - that he dirtied. That said.......
clinton is saying (its always ‘all about me’)....
“—he had gotten a “bum rap” from the news media..”
“They made up a race story out of that, -—, calling the story “a bizarre spin.”
calling the notion “—a total myth and a mugging.”
“—Obama had put out a “hit job” on him.”
“— 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.”
“—lectured reporters, arguing that they were going easy on Obama while subjecting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to unfair scrutiny.”
“— Bill Clinton called Obama’s opposition to the Iraq war a “fairy tale.”
“Contrary to the myth, I went through South Carolina and never said a bad word about Senator Obama — not one.”
doesn’t that sound familiar!!!!
disregarding the above comments, which reveals the bill clinton we all know.... the following is really the most interesting (who was it that always said - the last paragraph is the real story)
“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.
"I never had sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky, not a single time."
A bum rap indeed. He handles it like a bum.
Boy, what a liar. He must have a narcissistic personality disorder to tell such whoppers with a straight face.
***doesn’t that sound familiar!!!!***
It sure does. But it left out Bubba’s usual comment when things go wrong for him:
“I never worked so hard in my life as I did on _____.”
But, there’s hope. He can use it when the Witch gets defeated.
No, what did he say?
The first black president is just reminding everyone that Obama is actually black. Just keeping the racial pot stirred.
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