Clyburn Fears Clinton Conduct Could Doom Dems’ White House Chances
Rep. James Clyburn says Bill Clinton's conduct in the Democratic primary could hurt the party come November. (AP Photo)
The highest ranking black member in Congress issued grave warnings to the Democratic candidates Friday, saying the racially charged contest could turn away black voters and doom the party in November.
South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, in an interview with FOX News, singled out Bill Clinton for comments he said were not “seemly” and could damage his wife’s presidential campaign if she becomes the nominee. Clyburn on Thursday had told The New York Times that the former president’s “bizarre” conduct had “incensed” the black community.
“I am concerned … that the conduct of this campaign could very well make the nomination not worth having,” Clyburn told FOX News. “Our party is much bigger than Bill Clinton. It is much bigger than Sens. Clinton or Obama. It is a party that is here to serve the American people. … And I don’t want to see us conduct a campaign in such a way that it does irreparable harm to our being able to do that.”
Clyburn voiced concern that if Hillary Clinton beats Barack Obama, she might do so at the expense of the party’s usually loyal black base.
“When this campaign is over, if Hillary Clinton is the nominee, she cannot get elected president if 25-30 percent of black people vote for (John) McCain. She is going to have … to have that same 92 percent of black people that Obama (has) now,” he said. “And if (Obama) is the nominee he is going to need her help and her husband’s help getting white voters that he is not now getting.
“And I don’t see how you can go back to these people and get them to vote for the nominee if you have done all these things and said all of these things about him during the campaign … because you are not going to be able to reverse field in the middle of general election,” he said.
Bill Clinton took heat in late January for equating Obama’s victory in the South Carolina primary to Jesse Jackson’s win in the state 20 years ago. Obama supporters said the remarks were demeaning since they compared him with a black candidate whose appeal was more narrow.
But the comments came up again Monday, when Clinton told a Philadelphia radio station that he believed Obama “played the race card on me” during the incident.
Clyburn said he didn’t understand that.
“Many of the surrogates in the Clinton campaign of recent days have been saying things that have been angering African American voters over again,” he said. “I mean, who played the race card on President Clinton? … What does he mean by that unless he is trying to send some kind of signal on race?”
Clyburn, an influential superdelegate, says he hasn’t taken sides in the Obama-Clinton race, but analysts say he, like many other prominent black politicians, has been swept up in the near-lockstep support that Obama’s historic bid for the presidency enjoys among black voters.
“Jim Clyburn … is squarely in the corner of Sen. Barack Obama,” FOX News contributor Juan Williams said. “Jim Clyburn and a lot of the older black politicians started out with Hillary Clinton because of their long standing ties to the Clinton camp, but as they saw black voters overwhelming going to Barack Obama they have run to the front of the parade.”
Clyburn stressed Friday that he still hasn’t declared whom he will support at the Democratic convention in August.
Obama himself disputed the notion that the contentious tone of the race is doing irreparable harm to the party.
“I never believe in irreparable breaches,” he said Friday. “I’m a big believer in reconciliation and redemption.”
And Hillary Clinton has repeatedly said it’s Obama who’s running the negative campaign.
Asked about a mailing that criticizes her trade stances during a round of local interviews Friday, she sharply rebuked him.
“He’s done this repeatedly and I don’t why he keeps doing it. It’s misleading, it’s factually wrong,” she told a Louisville, Ky., station. “He’s running a very negative campaign below the radar screen with all of his mailings and phone calls.”
FOX News’ Major Garrett contributed to this report.
I think Obama is laying low because of the Reverend Wright racially-charged rant. I think that guy has real problems dealing with his anger and white folks in general. His rants are just to stir up racial hatred for whites.
I still question why Obama would sit under the preaching of this guy for years if he didn’t agree with what this guy says. I would find another church if I had a pastor that was such a blatant racist.
Clinton wont doom us. But she has and will continue to harm us.
Any reasonable candidate would have let go of selfish interests and did what was best for the Democratic party by now. But Clinton feels entitled to be president (weird as that sounds).
Reality = It is a mathematical certainty that Obama will be ahead in pledged delegates at convention time. The only way Clinton wins is if the superdelegates steal it from Obama, despite his lead (which isnt even realistic, given the obvious and serious consequences that would follow [e.g., huge backslide in race relations in America, huge defection of Democrats of any color, embarassment for America in the world community, vast elation among republicans). The Clintons know this and therefore are now simply trying to get Obama swift-boated to the point of some kind of disqualification. Sad but true.
Stop the drama. Vote Obama!!!
the Black politicans all going to Obama’s camp is not racist by any means………..
If America ( especially those with a BRAIN) will wake-up and look at Hillarys
creditentials– she is a shoe in for Prez………
That is the logic of a true genius. He says she [identifying Hillary[ “is going to have … to have that same 92 percent of black people that Obama (has) now,” he said, and refers to Party Loyalty. My question is: if all these Voters were so faithfully loyal all these years, what makes them suddenly go for a Junior Politician with a Big Mouth? I mean, if they aren’t happy, why don’t they just go and start their own Party, and you can join them, Mr. Clyburn!
Yes, we are sick of putting each other down. We want to know how Obama will change??
Want to know how, not just telling us!! CHANGE, CHANGE!! doesn’t mean anything!!
How is Obama going to change this economy??? Tell us?
Obama!! Instead of playing basketball to get more vote, tell us HOW you are going to change???
I wonder if he really has ideas how or when??
Hillary !! Don’t just put Obama down, you plays dirty!! instead tell us how you are going to solve all the problems? You probably don’t have any ideas.
JUST LEAVE IT TO REPUBLICANS.. THEY WILL CHANGE AND THEY WILL TELL US HOW AND WHEN IF YOU GUYS DON’T EAT ALL THE TAXES BY GIVING ALL THE MONEY TO LAZY PEOPLE WHO DON’T WORK AND RELY ON OUR TAXES.
WE SUPPORT 100% MCCAIN!! WHY? BECAUSE DO YOU KNOW ALL THE WELFARE MONEY IS COMING FROM US, REPUBLICANS!!
SO YOU’D BETTER VOTE REPUBLICANS …ALL BEGGERS!!
If the super delagates give Clinton the nomination even though Obama has more elected delagates then Obama should let the voters decide who they prefer and run as an Independant.
Back off and consider the facts. Obama’s worst enemies are his so-called friends (Wright, Ayres, Farrakahn, et al.) and Hillary’s worst enemies are herself and her husband, whatsisname, not the electorate or the Republicans.
i am a registered democrat and i am going to vote and endorse Hillary Clinton i feel she would be a great President only people who keep dragging race up everytime Barack loses a contest and threatening to vote for McCain if he does not get the nomination. what they are saying to me is that i am not voting for a strong woman.
You are so mistaken. Obama is the spoiler here, not Clinton. She had the nomination and the election untill Obama, who i never heard of, got shoved down our throats by the replubican owned media, to divide the dems. And it has worked so well. Obama is the spoiler here, not Clinton!