The Obama campaign sent their national co-chair Jesse Jackson, Jr. to tear down Hillary Clinton on MSNBC the other night. He took it too far over the top. His comments on Hurricane Katrina seemed to indicate he was saying Hillary Clinton doesn't care about black people. It's one thing when Kanye West says that about George Bush, it's another when it's Obama's spokesperson saying it about Hillary Clinton. That is out of bounds.
Jackson's appearance on MSNBC and our analysis of why he was wrong to say it is in the video below:
What's even more interesting is what happened after we played this clip on the radio this morning. Calls poured in for nearly two hours -- and the results were frightening. It appeared that people have started to split up in different camps based on their identity. Obama supporters were accusing Hillary of not doing anything to help black folks. Hillary supporters accusing Obama of not being sensitive to gender issues.
Yes, there were definitely exceptions. A black female caller voiced strong support for John Edwards. But overall, the sense I got is that the race issue (and less so the gender issue, but that is also growing) is out of the bag. Once that genie is out of the bottle (to mix my metaphors here), it's hard to put it back in. For the first time, I think Democrats are on the verge of doing serious damage to one another. This thing could get real ugly, real soon.
They have got to reel this back in. It isn't going to help anybody. This negative campaigning definitely turns off voters, especially Democratic voters. It's one thing to attack someone's record (which I am actually in favor of), it's another to do these personal and identity based attacks. The candidates are only hurting themselves in the primaries and their opponent if he or she winds up in the general election.
One last thing, this particular strategy by Obama is short-sighted. Yes, it might help in South Carolina. But you could win that battle and lose the war because you turned off so many other voters by playing the race card in South Carolina. As a guy leaning toward Obama, I hope he reconsiders this terribly misguided strategy.
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Barack Obama's Campaign Plays the Race Card
Posted Jan 11th 2008 10:46AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Video, Race Relations
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Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 4)
31. I just love Jesse Jackson, JR. He's at lot like his dad, only on steroids. I guess junior must have discovered that secret White House memo. You know the one where Bush says to FEMA to "Take your time getting the stuff to New Orleans, it's only a bunch of poor, black people starving and dying of thirst in the floodwaters. You know how much Laura and I hate black people. And they're probably all Democrats, too, so let them swim around in oily gunk for a while." (Yeah, I hate it when they discover those incriminating memos.)
Dave at 3:18AM on Jan 13th 2008
32. Dave, how right you are.
The Democrat Party (The Party of Slavery, The Party of Segregation and The Party of Internment) bused the residents of New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward to the polls every election cycle. When the buses were really needed for evacuation the Democrat Party was no where to be found. "School Bus" Naquin (Democrat) was safely in Texas. "Dollar Bill" Jefferson (Democrat) commandeered military trucks and rescue units for his own personal use. Blanco (Democrat) refused the initial offer of military help so as to not look incapable of handling the disaster.
The people of New Orleans were living in the Utopia of Liberalism promised them by the Democrat Party. The demands of this lifestyle demand total dependency on Government for all of the necessities of life. This is best explained with the Chinese Proverb: Throw a man a fish he is fed for a day, Teach a man to fish he is fed for a lifetime.
Paulie's Proverb: When Liberalism fails blame a Conservative.
Paul Sparcello at 9:33AM on Jan 13th 2008
33. The Big Republican Secret of Civil Rights.
The Republican dominated Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and overode a veto by Democrat President Andrew Johnson. Because of their actions they were labled as "Radical Republicans" (for wanting to give Blacks equal rights).
Republican President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Civil Rights Acts of 1871 and 1875 into law only to have them ruled Unconstitutional in 1883 by a Democrat controlled Supreme Court.
Republicans have championed Civil Rights for over 100 years. The Civil Rights Acts of 1866, 1871 and 1875 are almost identical to the beloved 1964 Act. Please liberals and left wing race baiters stop regurgitating the Democrat Party Line bullcrap.
BTW: Lyndon Johnson opposed the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960 because they were supported by Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
“I believe as long as we allow conditions to exist that make for second-class citizens, we are making of ourselves less than first-class citizens.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower (Remarks at the United Negro College Fund luncheon, May 19, 1953)
Paul Sparcello at 9:43AM on Jan 13th 2008
34. i agree with all the comments except that, miss hillary let the racial genie out of the bottle with her "obama is unelectable" strategy. it suggest that, because a black man has never been elected that it can't happen , while she tries to become the first woman president.
dcrabba1 at 10:36AM on Jan 13th 2008
35. Paul Sparcello, that's an interesting piece of U.S. history.
The parties sure have changed over time.
Captain Negative at 2:44PM on Jan 13th 2008
36. I enjoyed your post - not because I necessarily agree with it, but because I support the reality that negativity campaigning turns off a myriad of voters. I would have to disagree about Obama and the race card - I think they have overall fought to make this about what can happen when people unite to make a difference. I'm surprised to note, however, that you don't spend a lot of time talking about the Gender Card. If the cry, Steinem's article, and the racial overtones of Bill; combined with the false accusations over Barack's religion, drug use, and middle name aren't symptomatic of the politics of yesterday - I don't know what is. I commented on my blog- I don't support Barack because of my race any more than I would support Clinton because of my gender. But, when it comes to dirty politics - there's something clearly Corrupt and I believe it is foul Clinton Campaigning in the air.
Aimee A at 5:55PM on Jan 13th 2008
37. It is just fascinating the way Paul tries to blame the plight of Hurricane Katrina victims on, liberals.
At least Paul didn't directly blame the Hurricane itself on Clinton.
The idea that life for the black folks in New Orleans was a "Utopia of Liberalism" caused some side-splitting laughter.
Captain Negative at 4:00PM on Jan 13th 2008
38. Captain - Glad you're enjoying yourself, but are you denying that New Orleans has been run by liberal Democrats for decades? And all those little fiefdoms which are supposed to be in charge of upgrading levees have misappropriated millions, perhaps billions which was supposed to spare New Orleans tragedy typifies the kind of money grab which occurs on a regular basis in blue cities, the most recent occurrence being the $16 Billion Big Dig/feeding frenzy in Boston which was supposed to cost $1.5 Billion.
Dave at 5:59PM on Jan 13th 2008
39. "clearly Corrupt and I believe it is foul Clinton Campaigning in the air."
There is a lot of "foul campaigning" going on.
I note the prominent news story about "black leaders" condemning Bill and Hillary for attacking Obama's record on the dumbed down "Iraq War"
issue.
IF it means having each and every important issue for the next 5 to 9 years forced through a "racsism filter" of acceptability, I don't want Barak Obama to be President.
If we can't talk about war (or any other issue) without turning it into a race issue we will be paralyzed.
By the same token, if we can't talk about war without forcing it through a "gender filter" then we will be paralyzed.
Between the racists and the "women who think Hillary is a bitch" we just might hand the next election to somebody like Huckabe.
John Edwards is the answer. Not just because he is white and not just because he is a male.
John Edwards has foregone a lot of the money that Hillary and Obama have sold their principles for.
John Edwards is campaigning on ending the corporate strangle-hold on America.
John Edwards is the way to go.
Captain Negative at 6:14PM on Jan 13th 2008
40. Dave, if you know of a Utopia somewhere here in the United States, please let me know. A Utopia wouldn't have or need any government at all.
Once again, what we have is an example of republicans trying to blame their atrocious failures on Clinton.
"Heckuva job, Browine!"
It was the Bush Junta which took days to get any aid at all to the stricken Gulf Coast.
It was the Army Corp. of Engineers which was responsible for New Orleans' levy systems.
"Corruption in the blue cities" is a convenient phrase. Which other cities are "blue cities?"
Which cities are "red cities?" How are they doing these days?
Who was responsible for FEMA during and after Hurricane Katrina?
Was it Clinton?
Who is responsible for the displaced? Is it Clinton?
I don't think New Orleans is wort rebuilding - except as a seaport.
Captain Negative at 6:25PM on Jan 13th 2008
41. Captain:
A Republican President used a War to end Slavery in America.
The Modern Democrat Party has forced Freedmen to suffer the ravages of the Democrat Plantation System. Big change.
Paul Sparcello at 8:13PM on Jan 13th 2008
42. Yeah, Lincoln was a "good republican." He was also the first republican president.
The second republican president was U.S. Grant, one of the most corrupt presidents in history.
"The Modern Democrat Party has forced Freedmen to suffer the ravages of the Democrat Plantation System. Big change."
Paul, you're gettin bizarre on us.
Captain Negative at 1:02AM on Jan 14th 2008
43. Captain - Yes, the Army Corps of Engineers did much of the work on levees, but like everything else, they cost money and local politicians in New Orleans have wasted and stolen much of this money which was designated for levee upgrades. New Orleans has been run by lefties for decades and yes, it would be a very blue city. (Engaging in semantics about what is and isn't utopia won't change that.)
No one is defending FEMA's incompetence and the Bush administration's failures to respond more quickly. FEMA is a typical government agency which can't get out of it's own way. And no, I didn't blame Clinton for the New Orleans debacle, just the liberals who have been running the place for eons.
The failure and incompetence of local government (Democrats) in this disaster was absolutely spectacular. They were the ones who were supposed to help get people out before the flood and they whiffed big time.
Dave at 1:04AM on Jan 14th 2008
44. I surrender, Dave.
There is plenty of incompetence involved in the Hurrican Katrina debacle and, "liberals" aren't innocent parties.
New Orleans has always been infamous for mis-mangement and corruption in general and police corruption in particular.
That doesn't excuse the Bush Junta.
Captain Negative at 2:20AM on Jan 14th 2008
45. Be nice to see something new and fresh in The White House. However, Barrack is a Muslim wolf in Sheep's clothing. America won't know what hit them until all hell has broken loose with a Muslim as President,(and one that is shady and doges about being truthful regarding his past. He tries to downplay it.Any man who refuses to say the National anthem and respect the American flag does not deserve the Presidency. Hilary is just a good actress.
E at 3:08AM on Jan 14th 2008