Could the Clinton Campaign Play the Race Card?

[Bullet1987]

With nothing left to lose (except New Hampshire) and really having no options left...I think the next 5 days could be the dirtiest of this primary season. They've already had a surrogate bring up his cocaine use, what's to stop them from playing up his race? Especially since NH is another majority white state. I say the next 5 days because essentially if Obama wins NH, this race is just about over. I mean people will spin it that Clinton is still in it. But he'll likely win South Carolina as well and maybe even Nevada. Clinton needs NH to plug and halt the domino effect that is bound to occur. With 5 days left, and not a lot of time...the Clinton campaign may become irrationally nasty.

[Avalux]

1. No. n/t

[msongs]

2. obama's doing that already, HRC should pass on it nt

[NYCGirl]

5. He called her white? When? NT

[snowbear]

6. Talk about sour grapes..

You are something else..

[Mythsaje]

3. I think it would backfire badly. n/t

[Renew Deal]

4. I don't think they have the time to make it nasty.

Hillary will lose the weekend. And it would look like sour grapes on Monday. Tuesday is election day.

[Bullet1987]

9. Maybe you're right...

Obama is going to get all positive media and press tomarrow and that'll carry into the weekend.

[Kucinich4America]

7. Whattya mean "could they"??

They circulated a racist e mail, they called him a crack dealer. They have shills calling radio shows and referring to him as a "radical Muslim and enemy of Jews".

How many more race cards do they need?

[Colobo]

8. I wish they decide to do so. I really do.

[annie1]

10. how did Obama's win become 'lets' be nasty about the clintons'. ??

[KennedyGuy]

15. Funny..the ONLY people I have ever read mentioning the race card

are the Obama supporters..I haven't seen anybody else talk about race.

[BenDavid]

19. Kennedy you are right on target. I have even been called a racist

because i said that mrs obama and oprah had injected race into the campaign. oprah came so close to the line by saying to vote for obama for the simple reason he is black, but she got close but did not, and then you had mrs obama giving an interview that said and i paraphrase: if you're black, vote for Barack, cause he's black.....
There was something patronzing in her assumption that its some sort of ingrained fear keeping black folk from backing her husband. What a low opinion of others she evidences and perhaps an inflated view of Barack himself.Does it not occur to her that perhaps these could be people who think independently and for themselves and are not still bound to a historical or community perception? What if those not coming out to support him simply don’t agree with his politics, or his social stands, or his views on Iraq, or any other issue that the next POTUS will be facing?Why doesn’t she give this community the benefit of the doubt instead of yet another negative assumption - but then that would entail having to admit her husband might not be the best candidate….and finally Mrs Obama basically said in her interview that only saw the light of day for 1 day before it was pulled said basically, if you're black, vote for Barack, cause he's black.....

This was the frist instance of race being put into this campaign and it was what 2 weeks ago the clintons were accused of playing the race card and then the clintons were accused of being anti muslim. So, it is not the clintons injecting race into this campaign it is the obama campaign and supporters in here.....

Ben David

[Joe the Revelator]

20. Lets not act like Hillary supporters havn't been throwing around "Sexist" pretty freely.

nt

[KennedyGuy]

22. argument #1: Look Hillary does it too!

[Joe the Revelator]

26. Bullshit. You can't whine about Obama's supporters if you're just as far in the mud as everyone else

[Anouka]

27. I believe you lie about Oprah, and do not know the souls of black folk

to make this comment:

"There was something patronzing in her assumption that its some sort of ingrained fear keeping black folk from backing her husband."

go to the black websites. Michelle Obama knew exactly what she was talking about. The black posters here may or may not be able to back me up, but I believe Michelle because I've seen what Michelle is talking about.

I'm confused about you saying that Oprah is asking people to support Obama just because he's black. When did she ever do so? What I heard Oprah say was to make up one's own mind.

The only people I've seen say to vote for Obama because he is black, have been *white men who claimed to be liberals* and they usually did it in the service of saying it's ok to vote for Hillary just because she's a woman, too. That kind of thinking bothers me more than anything, mostly because those who say it are operating under soft racism (which is sometimes worse than hard racism). Their thinking is a lot more offensive, to me, than Michelle trying to give 'real talk' about the thoughts of black folk.

And, if Michelle's comments are what you are talking about her saying vote for her husband because he's black, I believe you misinterpreted her. Michelle was speaking to the fears of black voters who would *not* vote for Obama *because* he is black. The fear of his being assassinated, the fear of black folk always 'screwing up' (a holdover from the aftermath of psychological revision of Reconstruction), of fear that deep down whites are automatically better and perfect is not good enough for the black candidate who actually has a chance. The fear of success, because with success certain security blankets have to be let go. They are not going to vote for him, because he is black.

Again, Michelle knew what she was talking about.

Off topic, are you really Jewish? how did you feel when people made comments about Jews only voting for Gore Lieberman, or ever voting for Lieberman, because he's also a Jew (instead of giving members of the Jewish faith the benefit of the doubt that they would like his politics)?

[emilyg]

21. You are right.

[wtmusic]

11. What the hell card would that be?

"A n***** wouldn't make a good president?"

Oh that will go far :rofl:

[elizm]

12. Don't you get it? They have no cards left that can win. nt

[Maven]

13. When is this statement-as-a-question shit going to stop

It is SO Faux News.

[KennedyGuy]

18. Some will continue to push this canard..

But if a non Obama supporter were to dare ask: "will Obama attempt to run on his race"? they would get savaged as racist..
the ultimate double standard.

[Catherine Vincent]

14. You and his supporters would like her to.

:eyes:

[Renew Deal]

16. Like her to.... continue

It's been going on for a while.

[emilyg]

23. Proof?

[Renew Deal]

25. Emails, crack dealer, coke, Kerrey

Need I go on?

[emilyg]

17. No. But go ahead and fantasize.

[CyberPieHole]

24. Obama and Michelle are playing the race card...left, right and center...

but it's working...

[Anouka]

28. Being black is not a race card, it's who you are.

Why not claim that Edwards is playing the white male card, just by existing? or Hillary is playing the white female card, just by existing?

A card is a card when attention is brought to it in order to give an advantage to the player -- such Hillary's unfortunate use of the gender card, and Geraldine Ferraro later backing her up in that hand of bridge. But being a woman by itself is not playing the gender card.

At no point has Obama played the race card, in spite of a certain number of people seeming to want him to... including (unfortunately) many blacks who say they support Hillary or Edwards. They bring it up by saying he is not black enough. Their reasoning for how he could prove to be black enough is usually out of Obama's control or just plain offensive.

Bill Bennett is being crucified on Daily Kos for saying Obama is not like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton... but he has sort of a point. He has sort of that point precisely because Obama is not about race.