The American Debate: (Are Blacks) Bailing on Clinton?

Philadelphia Enquirer ^ | 1/20/08

[Mr. Brightside]

The American Debate: Bailing on Clinton?

By Dick Polman

There once was a time when the Clintons were demigods in the black community. I can recall, back when I was canvassing folks in South Carolina a few years ago, how the mere mention of the family name made them swoon. Pastor Joe Darby raved about Bill's "wonnnnn-derful touch." Anthony Dicks, an embalmer in a funeral home, smiled rapturously and said, "He gave me a warm feeling all over."

Bill and Hillary had probably assumed that the love for him could be seamlessly transferred to her...

We'll soon learn whether blacks are bailing on the Clintons for real. South Carolina Democrats will stage their primary next Saturday, and blacks are expected to compose half of the turnout. Blacks will be roughly half of the voters in Georgia on Feb. 5, and in Louisiana on Feb. 9; roughly one-third of the voters in Alabama on Feb. 5, and in Virginia and Maryland on Feb. 12; and roughly one-fifth of the voters in New York on Feb. 5.

Black Democrats in Michigan, however, have already sent the Clintons a worrisome message. The Democratic primary was meaningless: No delegates were at stake, and Hillary was the only major contender listed on the ballot. But it's worth noting that roughly 70 percent of black voters in Michigan chose "uncommitted" over Hillary. And CNN exit polls determined that, if Obama had been on the ballot, he would have swamped Hillary among black voters by a ratio exceeding 3-1.

In South Carolina: Obama, 64 percent; Hillary, 20 percent. This despite the fact that Bill and Hillary have been assiduously working the local black leaders, to the point of giving one leader a $200,000 public relations contract in exchange for his endorsement.

[TennTuxedo]

The black voters will jump back on Clinton’s bandwagon after Clinton gets the nomination.

[CaptainK]

The Clinton’s will fare as well as a Republican in the primaries.

[Proud2BeRight]

Regardless, they will be dutifully standing in line to vote for that Democrat if she gets the nomination.

[TCats]

And I ask, why should the Black voter continue to provide knee-jerk support to the likes of Hillary. What have these Dems ever done to help to Black underclass pull themselves out of their miseries. Are the schools better, are their families more cohesive and constructive, are their economic prospects improved? The dirty little secret is that Blacks (And many other minorities for that matter) have more to show for om the efforts of so-called Conservatives over the past 60 years than anything from the ‘Progressives’ (BTW - An oxymoron if ever there was one)

[outofstyle]

Right now it seems so. Hopefully they will remain embittered through November. One can only dream that someday the Dems inexplicable lock on that voting block will diminish.

[Piquaboy]

One of these days in a land far far away they will wake up and wonder, What did the Clinton’s and the Rats do for us, really.

[giotto]

to the point of giving one leader a $200,000 public relations contract in exchange for his endorsement.

Is that even legal? Oh, I forgot--it's the Clintons. Questions like that don't apply to them.

[hinckley buzzard]

Bill and Hillary have been assiduously working the local black leaders, to the point of giving one leader a $200,000 public relations contract in exchange for his endorsement

Now that's some serious "walkin' around money." Woder how much they've spread around that will never be reported.

[fweingart]

There are, as we all know, some conservative black citizens.

As a matter of fact one of my favorite Americans, Clarence Thomas is a true conservative.

However, the DemocRAT Party looks upon blacks in general as their personal property to be kept down on the plantation and fed a lot of lies through their plantation foremen: Sharpton, Jackson, et al.

[ProfessorGage]

The blacks want lots of welfare and they want white pols to tell them how evil and horrible white people/the USA are. Dems give them that. That’s enough for them.

[Enterprise]

"This despite the fact that Bill and Hillary have been assiduously working the local black leaders, to the point of giving one leader a $200,000 public relations contract in exchange for his endorsement."

"It's walkin' 'round money. And girl, you know what I'm talkin' about."

[Bob]

Pastor Joe Darby raved about Bill's "wonnnnn-derful touch." Anthony Dicks, an embalmer in a funeral home, smiled rapturously and said, "He gave me a warm feeling all over."

What absolute morons. What one thing did clinton actually do for blacks?

Anybody? Buehler? Buehler??

[ProfessorGage]

Seep post 11.

[cgbg]

The black voters will jump back on Clinton's bandwagon after Clinton gets the nomination.

They will, but only after Hillary makes _big_ promises to the black community with _our_ money.

There is no slime lower than a Clinton.

:-(

[mrsmel]

That’s exactly the appeal of the ‘rats to blacks, boiled down to its essence. Well said.

[DogandPonyShow]

I am not so sure that Blacks will be that forgiving.

ESPECIALLY Black women when they witness what the Clinton’s,
(ESPECIALLY the white woman Clinton), do to their Black man.

[AngrySpud]

“He gave me a warm feeling all over.”

Moron. That was Bill pissing on his back.

[Brilliant]

I doubt that the GOP can make anything of this racial divide unless they nominate a black VP candidate.

[Mr. Brightside]

lol!

Yeah, imagine a reporter using a comment like that from an evangelical Christian. It would not be used in a complementary way.