The Phantom Menace And The Real Problem
Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin recently took a potshot at Bill Clinton over his Obama statements while the former President sat 20 feet away. Some say this is a foreshadowing of the dangerous path the Clintons have taken in going after Barack. It may help them get the nomination, but could hurt them in the general election with blacks.
I wouldn't put much stock in this. I don't know too much about what will happen in the Presidential election, but I do know this--African Americans will vote for the Democrat, no matter who.
On the other hand, Franklin's comments could be a dangerous omen for Obama if he wins the nomination. If black Americans see him as "their" candidate, it might not play well with the rest of the electorate. They won't relish four years of any criticism of the President being met with such counterattacks.
posted by LAGuy @ 1:25 AM
4 Comments:
The Clintons are not stupid (tactically at least)- portraying their opponent as a minority candidate helps them in the primary (helps to defuse Obama's attacks on them being part of the failed politics of the past) and as you say has a good chance to not have any effect in the general election int erms of black voters. However in the long run dispiriting the next wave of voters may be a bigger blow.
I don't see how her counter-attack necessarily had anything to do with race, other than it coming in the context of an MLK Day speech. She was defending the candidate she had already announced her support for, on a subject broadly under the heading of national defense, no? But I guess if you perceived it as race-related, that's good evidence in and of itself for your final point.
She referred to an issue in a particular way that had been discussed as a racial one for days, and did it on MLK day. Furthermore, she had the former President as a guest and decided to take him on, which is extraordinary--that suggests a sensitivity that goes beyond mere political support. (Or is claiming someone is too "sensitive" a racial attack these days?)
The "fairy tale" line had been discussed as a racial issue? I missed that. I thought the only race issue between Obama and H.Clinton was the LBJ/MLK point.
I think a former President is due additional deference and respect right up until he throws himself fully into a political campaign. I read that Hillary has left for California, leaving Bill as her surrogate candidate in South Carolina. Under those circumstances, it is unfair to expect any South Carolina politician to treat him with any deference, regardless of the opposing candidate they support.
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