S. Carolina Black Leaders Back Clinton (AP)

[Eugene]

S. Carolina Black Leaders Back Clinton

By JIM DAVENPORT
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 13, 2007; 1:33 PM

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Two key black political leaders in South Carolina who backed John Edwards
in 2004 said Tuesday they are supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid the Democratic
presidential nomination.

State Sens. Robert Ford and Darrell Jackson told The Associated Press they believe Clinton
is the only Democrat who can win the presidency. Both said they had been courted by Illinois
Sen. Barack Obama, but believe his winning the primary would drag down the rest of the party.

"Then everybody else on the ballot is doomed," Ford said. "Every Democratic candidate running
on that ticket would lose because he's black and he's at the top of the ticket _ we'd lose the
House, the Senate and the governors and everything."

-snip-

Ford said he was swayed by calls from former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. He said
she has solid support in his native Charleston, one of the key regions in the state with a big
black Democratic voting population.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/13/AR2007021300703.html

He says a black man not only can't get elected President but will also sink the ticket.
Very interesting. :eyes:

[skipos]

1. Hmmm I think HRC is the most likely to lose the general election

But what do I know? :shrug:

[mnhtnbb]

2. I agree. She's also the least progressive.

[Clark2008]

30. A lot.

All our "top three" have significant problems flipping red/purple states (and I LIKE Obama).

[demnan]

3. This is politically important

and bad news for the Edwards campaign.

[flpoljunkie]

57. Jackson signed a contract with Clinton's campaign worth $10K/month six days prior to endorsement.

February 14, 2007

An Endorsement, And A Consulting Contract

State Sen. Darrell Jackson (D) is the pastor of the Bible Way Church in Columbia. which has one of the largest congregations in South Carolina. He was the youngest African American ever elected to the legislature. His endorsement is among the few in the state that can change minds and move votes.

Jackson is also a prized political consultant, and, during the past two South Carolina primary campaigns, has been the object of a bidding war between top-tier presidential candidates.

Yesterday, Jackson confirmed that he had decided to endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton, less than six days after his public relations firm, Sunrise Enterprises, agreed to a contract with Clinton's campaign worth at least $10,000 a month through the 2008 elections - a total of $210,000. (The contract has not been signed.)

A few days before that, Jackson was deep in negotiations with Steve Hildebrand, a senior strategist for Sen. Barack Obama's campaign. On the table was a contract worth in excess of $5K a month, beginning on 3/15/07. Separately, Obama was personally soliciitng Jackson's endorsement.

There's no question that the contract and the negotiations are legal. Sunrise is the oldest political consulting firm run by African Americans in the state and its services were in demand: at least five candidates, including Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Joe Biden, reached out to Jackson.

But in an interview, Jackson conceded that he should have acknowledged his firm's new business relationship with the Clinton campaign.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/an_endorsement.html

[Nedsdag]

76. AHA!

So he's bought and paid for by Bill. Don't get me started!

Anyway Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has just endorse Obama. Ironic because here's a white moderate Southern governor endorsing an African American for President, meanwhile the African American politicians don't believe Obama has a chance.

Only in America. :shrug:

[Hippo_Tron]

4. Yea, I'm sure Hillary Clinton polls well among white voters in South Carolina

:eyes:

[rhombus]

5. Bill Clinton charms his way into their minds with a single call

These two black state senators represent the S.C. establishment. The Clinton machine is a powerful establishment machine. Notice how quickly they dumped Edwards just with a simple call from Bill. Hillary will get a lot of establishment support. But in the long run, when it comes to push and shove, the grassroots wins most of the time. Money can't buy excitement or grassroot support. Edwards and Obama have the advantage over Hillary Clinton with the excitability factor.

[flpoljunkie]

6. Speaking of dragging down the ticket. How many D's are concerned about being on ballot with Hillary

[Bullet1987]

7. Two people really matter...

(sarcasm).

[Ronnie Roach]

8. It's still early...

Thing could change in a few months!

[Bullet1987]

9. It really hurts

When Black politicians in office NOW come out and say they don't believe a Black person can win. Because all they're doing is reinforcing the belief, not trying to erradicate it.

[beaconess]

26. It hurts, not because they're saying, but because the press treats it as if it matters

Black politicians say things all the time and are ignored. How many black elected officials have been talking about Bush's budget cuts, Iraq, Katrina, etc., yet the press doesn't give them the time of day. But let one black person criticize another black person, and the press knocks themselves out quoting him as if he's some sort of authority.

I call bullshit - not on the politicians who are saying such things, but on the press for giving it this kind of play.

[FrenchieCat]

36. That's how the media has stolen our democracy....

they decide what we hear, what we see and what we read.

Not good. :(

[NCarolinawoman]

49. The press is always looking for some kind of drama.

They like to turn everything into a cheap soap opera. I wonder what school of journalism these people attend. Maybe none at all.

[Clark2008]

31. You have a significant point.

I know I sound like a broken record (and my apologies for doing so), but after I saw what happened to Harold Ford Jr. in Tennessee (who, even if he was DLC, was still a much better candidate and much better for TN than Corker), I have trouble believing a black man can win a national election.

But, you're absolutely correct in saying that black politicians are short-changing themselves by not supporting Obama. He's at least well more progressive than Hillary (and a heck of a lot more likable, fow what that's worth).

[Colobo]

34. Minorities can't and shouldn't give up

Doors are not open by sitting down and waiting for the wind to open them...

[beaconess]

45. hear hear!

[hughee99]

10. This sounds like something I've heard before...

If you vote for this candidate (Obama) not only will he lose, but the party will lose races AT EVERY LEVEL just because he was the candidate.

First, I do not believe that Obama would necessarily lose just because he's black and on the top of the ticket.

Second, I do not believe simply having him on the top of the ticket will cause the Dems to lose the House, Senate, or Governors, LET ALONE ALL THREE.

Third, if calls from Bill and Hillary were were what convinced him that an Obama candidacy would be the end of the world (in a manner of speaking), this endorsement does absolutely nothing to make me think any better of Hillary than I do now. Did they really try to (and apparently succeed at) convincing him that not only can a black person NOT win, they will hurt the election chances of EVERY Democrat?

[Bullet1987]

11. I agree...

...I think they talked them out of supporting Obama...and they're more than likely repeating what they said to "persuade" him.

[blm]

13. Bill is telling big Dem donors to not back Obama, either. What is he afraid of?

Why is he acting like Jeff Gilooly and trying to take people out beforehand instead of letting the competition play out on a national stage where the talent will show who is best to be the Dem nominee?

[karynnj]

14. I suspect it's his usual answer,

because he can. I guess are best hope is that another piece of conventional wisdom is that leading Democrats is like herding cats. If so, the natural independent may resent too heavy handed control.

It's also what the others are likely tring to do too.

[Cameron27]

15. She's his wife,

of course he's going to do everything possible for her. Why not take someone out early if he can, no one's forcing these donors to do his bidding. Obama's going to keep coming on strong regardless.

[blm]

16. It shows me they don't have confidence in her debate performances. Bill wouldn't

fear debate and would want to get on stage with strong debaters to prove he could top them.

Now, it is apparent they are fearful of those with a strong presence and strong debate chops because they don't have the confidence that Hillary can top them on her own.

[juajen]

58. Bullfeathers

You're a one-trick pony.

[blm]

64. Then say so using proof of their confidence in her instead of

taking a swipe at someone who sees the tactics they are employing as a show of no confidence.

[AtomicKitten]

17. It's Politics 101.

Nothing nefarious about it. The sniveling about this is way off base. It's all part of the game and nobody is doing anything out of the ordinary.

Obama will hold his own.

[Auntie Bush]

52. I'll second that! n/t

[hughee99]

18. I'm not surprised that Hillary (and Bill)

would like the support of the big donors, or at the very least would prefer those donors not back other candidates. I would expect almost any serious candidate in any race to try to get the "big money" working for them or at least not working against them. It also doesn't surprise me that they're trying to take out the serious contenders beforehand. While I'd like the opportunity to pick the candidate I like the most, I understand that the race has already started, and this also isn't something that's unique to the Clintons.

What surprises me is the way that they seem to have gone about it. Did Bill and Hillary REALLY make the argument that there's no chance a black candidate can win, and even more than that, their candidacy will hurt the Dems' chances everywhere. Frankly this whole argument seems to me very much in the line of the * fear mongering we have been subjected to since 9/11. I also don't see how this can possibly help them all that much, since they're basically coming out early in an election season that's sure to have at least some discussion of race in it by saying essentially "there's no chance a black candidate will ever win, so african-americans should vote for me". Is this supposed to make the AA voters like her more?

[blm]

24. To even tell donors don't give money to anyone else? This is not politics101 - Bill didn't

do this when he ran because he had confidence in his debate and campaigning skills and WANTED to compete with the best.

This is FEAR. This is how Bush2 ran for office because they FEARED the debates.

[Cameron27]

59. It's politics

not a parlor game, and if you have the clout, then you damn well convince donors not to give money to anyone else. There's not a candidate in history who wanted to keep the entire field open for a debate for the sake of the voters. That's a laughable theory you've got running.

Obama was fishing for the same donors as Clinton, and for their own reasons (money, ideology, believing Hillary had a better chance of winning) they backed her.

[blm]

65. Last pres cycle, donors gave to MULTIPLE Dem candidates without receiving restrictive warnings.

The first widespread use of that tactic was Bush in 1999. Now it's being used by Hillary.

[Cameron27]

71. Again, so what.

This presidential cycle apparently donors are being more selective.

[oasis]

85. Do you actually believe that Bill Clinton would approach two accomplished black legislators

and sell them a "black man has no chance to be president" bill of goods?

First and foremost, Bill Clinton is too damn savvy to run the risk of insulting two prominent African Americans.

[AtomicKitten]

12. It's still early.

I have every confidence Obama will ultimately convince Americans that a black man can indeed be elected.

Gobama.

[beaconess]

19. The only thing worse than black people running around claiming Obama will cause death and disaster

is the fact that the press gives this much play to two black people running around claiming Obama will cause death and disaster.

And a headline reading "S. Carolina Black Leaders Support Clinton" is terribly misleading when it's TWO black leaders they're talking about.

That would be like a "Illinois White Leaders Support Obama" headline over a story noting that Dick Durbin and David Axelrod endorse Obama. Of course, we'd never see that since white people are never referred to as "white leaders" in the press.

[hughee99]

20. I also noticed that while the article touts them

as supporting her, it was mostly about their issues with Obama. Their "support" of Hillary is summed up as "State Sens. Robert Ford and Darrell Jackson told The Associated Press they believe Clinton is the only Democrat who can win the presidency", not that they agree with her position X or Y, not even that they believe she's the best person for the job, just that "Clinton is the only Democrat who can win the presidency".

Personally, neither Clinton nor Obama is my first choice, but this whole article (or maybe just the way it was written) rubs me the wrong way.

[beaconess]

22. I think we'd better get used to it - it seems like we're going to get a lot of this kind of crap

I don't even understand the point of the story - that these two guys are going to support Hillary? In a primary that's a year away? Who cares? I don't think anyone could argue with a straight face that this would have been a story if race had not been artificially injected into it.

[Colobo]

32. They want people to believe

"Not even blacks plan to vote for Obama". It a very well done attack...

[Dean Martin]

28. I agree

Obama will still pick up more and more steam as the months toward the convention progress.

He's getting more and more followers every day, and Oprah has publicly endorsed him. I feel through her more people that carry more weight amongst voters than two leaders in South Carolina will get more and more people joining the Obama camp. Maybe that's precisely what the Clintons are worried about.

[k_jerome]

21. get used to this happening....

the love african americans have for the Clintons, Bill in particular, has eaten white people up for a long time. I look forward to reading the many reasons why they are being coerced into supporting Hillary, how stupid they are, or how foolish, or naive. Meanwhile, they will continue to support the Clintons.

[beaconess]

33. The love "some" or "many" AAs have for the Clintons . . .

We aren't a monolith - I love the Clintons, but we don't all feel that way any more than any white politician, regardless how popular, is loved by all white people,

[k_jerome]

37. i did not say all....

around 90% support for Bill when polled. Higher than any other President, including Lincoln and LBJ. There will always be a percentage that do not agree. What makes me laugh are the claims that they are being coerced to support Clinton. And someone call those politicians in South Carolina....they have become the establishment.

[Colobo]

38. Bill Clinton is not Hillary Clinton

They are two different people. I know Bill's mojo benefits his wife, but Hillary is the one running... I think she needs to earn everyone's vote like anyone else.

[k_jerome]

39. agreed...i believe it will translate to 75% support...

we shall see.

[beaconess]

42. I think you're comparing apples and oranges

The fact that Bill Clinton polls at 90% among African Americans does not necessarily translate into 75% support for Hillary Clinton. Bill Clinton's poll numbers are based upon popularity - 90% of blacks have a very high opinion of him. I'll bet that a high number of blacks also have a high opinion of Hillary. But that's a different question than whether people will vote for her in a contested primary when she's running against several other people who are also likely to attract large numbers of black voters, especially John Edwards and Barack Obama.

I just don't believe that, regardless how popular the Clintons are among African American voters, that Hillary Clinton would get 75% of the black vote while Edwards, Obama and the others would split the other 25%. Blacks just aren't that monolithic, especially considering how diverse and interesting the Democratic pool is this time around.

[k_jerome]

43. you are, of course, entitled to your view....

the good thing is, we will see how it pans out.

[oasis]

83. Apples and apples: buy one, get one free. Bill and Hill are a package deal. (eom)

[fuzzyball]

63. You are probably the minority amongst A-A's

[Mass]

23. In South Carolina, may be. But who among Democratic presidential candidates can win

South Carolina?

[fujiyama]

25. They can back whomever they want

That's fine...But the candidates should be judged on their merit - not race.

Their reasoning is really stupid. These two "leaders" are anything but. They are cowards.

[Superman Returns]

27. As Obama said on 60 minutes

its good that a black candidate has to work as hard for black votes as he does for white votes. If anything, it shows how much progress society has made.

However, these S. Carolina black leaders have given the WORST reason as to not have Obama on top of the ticket. Statements reinforcing racism and prejudice are IMHO, just as bad as the bigots who simply won't vote for Obama because of his color.

[beaconess]

35. Funny - the press doesn't find a couple of obscure white politicians

who refuse to support Obama because he's black and run a story across the wires about how these "white leaders" feel about him as if their opinion matters.

[Colobo]

29. Millions of Americans Support Barack Obama

And that's what matters.

[KoKo]

40. Hillary's Campaign is all about RETURN OF BILL...even though Media

and our Dems want to deny that. It's about Bill's SECOND CHANCE...Just like the CHIMP got the chance to avenge Poppy's demise.

The advantage for Dems is that Clintons are defending their OWN RECORD and don't have POPPY REVENGE working against them. It can be a FRESH START for "THE CLINTONS" and maybe they've learned.

Who knows...???

[Colobo]

41. So, who's running again?

Hillary or Bill?

[Grandrose]

44. Wow all two of them....

Wonder why they are so outspoken, so soon?
Why negative and over the top with panic?
I am African-American and totally disagree with
all that doom and gloom. :grr:

I will support the candidate who wins the primary.
A female could cause defeat also. Those two
men are hypocrites with their own agenda.

Draft Gore/Obama and be done with it!:)

[beaconess]

46. :-) But don't you know - if two black people criticize a third black person

that means that the first two black people are "black leaders" who represent the black community and whose opinions should be reported throughout the media, cited by white people to prove how black people REALLY feel, and are conclusive proof that the third black person is a jerk.

If, on the other hand, two black people DEFEND a third black person - or say anything else about anything else, for that matter - the first two black people are "so-called black leaders" who are: 1) out of the mainstream; 2) don't represent the views of the black community; 3) being led around by the nose by the third black person aka "black leader;" or 4) all of the above.

[Nedsdag]

47. An African American columnist

compared AA's support for the Clintons to 1940s black movie audiences who cheered for Tarzan and Jane over the African natives.

:shrug:

[beaconess]

48. That's funny.

Untrue. But it's still funny.

[ripple]

50. I find this sickening

These two 'leaders' can support whomever they choose, but to imply that those who support Obama would hand the presidency to the other side is beyond shameless.

I wonder just how much they've supposedly been 'courted' by Obama, considering he only announced his candidacy a few days ago. Granted, the exploratory committee has been out a few weeks longer, but it still seems like an underhanded swipe at Obama (in addition to the OVERhanded one, mind you). Essentially, they're saying they weighed the two candidates and Hillary won. I call bullshit, unless they're talking strictly about money and political favors. That isn't meant to be a dig at Hillary, BTW. Politics are what they are.

Are either of these men Cabinet material, by chance? I can't help but suspect that there is more to the story than has been reported.

[ItNerd4life]

55. Interesting thought

I too find it sickening. I find it interesting if Hillary is offering them a seat. Wouldn't surprise me, she is what I consider a dirty politician.

[KingFlorez]

51. It's idiotic to suggest Obama would cause the whole ticket to collapse

That is not even realistic.

[blm]

53. This is the tactic Bill's pushing - he's as wrong here as he was in 2004 when he advised

Kerry to SUPPORT the anti-gay measures on red state ballots.

[Nedsdag]

54. Reportedly Clinton sweet talked the state senators

into supporting Hillary. Not a good sign.

By the way, the so-called leaders couldn't help Democrats win statewide in South Carolina so who the heck are they to think they could help Hillary win in the general election?

[AtomicKitten]

56. That allegation is untrue.

yet you keep posting it here repeatedly at DU. Clearly Kerry has his own ideas on LGBT issues.

Excerps from:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/05/06/democrats_platform_shouldnt_back_gay_marriage_kerry_says/

Democrats' platform shouldn't back gay marriage, Kerry says

BATON ROUGE, La. -- US Senator John F. Kerry said yesterday that he believes it's a mistake for the Massachusetts Democratic Party to include a plank in its official platform in support of same-sex marriage, saying that such a statement does not conform with the broad views of party members.

******

The state party chairman, Philip W. Johnston, said Kerry's opposition will not affect the party's decision to support of same-sex marriage. When the party meets next Saturday in Lowell, he said, the platform is on track to be approved as it stands.

'I have great affection and respect for John, but I disagree on this issue," Johnston said. ''It is important that the state Democratic Party support civil rights. We need to take a stand."

******

''I'm opposed to gay marriage," Kerry said yesterday, reiterating past statements. ''I support partnerships and civil unions."

[Tellurian]

61. And you wonder why Kerry withdrew from a presidential bid..

Ill advisement, from so-called loyalists, will sink any ship-

[blm]

66. Why pretend Clinton never advised Kerry to support antigay ballot measures?

Don't Blame The Gays
Why the “moral values” story plays right into the GOP’s hands
 
by Michelangelo Signorile, OPINION from 365gay.com on the Web, November 21, 2004
 
A few weeks ago Howard Dean told me that, oddly, I was the only interviewer to ask him about a passage in his new book, You Have the Power, in which he recounts how Bill Clinton told one of Dean's supporters that Dean "had forfeited his right to run for president."  The reason for Clinton's alleged claim?  Because Dean had signed civil unions into law in Vermont, something Clinton believed would prevent him from ever getting elected.  The fact that few in the media asked Dean about this glaring account in his book — in a year in which one presidential candidate has used the issue of same-sex marriage against the other one — says a lot about our clueless media, which is suddenly telling us that the presidential election turned on "moral values."

It also obviously says a lot about Bill Clinton, though not much we didn't know already.  The gay issue has always been complicated for Clinton, traumatized as he was on the gays-in-the-military issue and often operating from then on in an irrational manner.  Newsweek claimed last week that Clinton had advised John Kerry during the campaign that he should come out in support of the various antigay state ballot initiatives banning same-sex marriage, to which Kerry supposedly replied, "I'm not going to ever do that."

Kerry not only did the honorable thing, he was smart not to take the advice.  That strategy would not have worked for the Democrats, not in 2004, and Kerry's loss might have been greater had he followed it, perhaps dampening turnout among a substantial part of his base.  (Clinton, by the way, saw a dramatic drop in turnout among the four million or so gay voters in 1996 after he signed the Defense of Marriage Act and did not gain any conservative "values" voters — who gave more of their vote to Bob Dole that year than they did to George W. Bush in 2000 — and Clinton never won with a majority of the electorate; he snagged a few red states mostly because Ross Perot ate into the Republican candidate's base a bit.  Let's not forget that Al Gore, who supported more pro-gay initiatives than Clinton, including partnership rights, won the majority of the popular vote in 2000.)
>>>>>>

http://www.gaypasg.org/gaypasg/PressClippings/2004/November/Don't%20blame%20the%20gays.htm

[Cameron27]

69. The link doesn't work for me.

[blm]

74. it works for me. The article is accurate and you could find it thru the author

if you are unsure of its authenticity. It also references a Newsweek report.

[Cameron27]

60. So you're suggesting

that Kerry has the mind of a child, is easily swayed by another's opinion and can't make his own decisions. Fascinating.

[blm]

67. Why would you say that, seasoned? It's well known that Kerry refused that bit of advice.

.

[Cameron27]

68. Kerry did not and still does not support Gay marriage..

or is that incorrect?

[AtomicKitten]

70. So very Kerry.

http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/workschool/p/JohnKerry.htm

Same-Sex Marriage: Kerry initially said he does not support same-sex marriage, but supports civil unions. Kerry admitted to the Boston Globe that he is against a US Constitutional ban on gay marriage, but would support a Massachusetts ban, if it allows for civil unions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28118-2004May14.html

The presumptive Democratic nominee has long opposed gay marriage, favoring instead state-sanctioned civil unions that extend legal protections to gay couples.

Yet Kerry has taken several positions on the issue: He voted against the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as a union only of a man and woman, saying it amounted to gay-bashing. Kerry has opposed President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage but said in February that he favors such a ban in Massachusetts.

[Cameron27]

72. Oh boy,

Well that settles it right? :+

[blm]

75. That's what corpmedia does - takes the black/white storyline and runs with it.

As if there is no nuance that is allowed.

Well, you can attack Kerry all you want, but you are also attacking the lawmaker who was the FIRST senator to advocate for gays legislatively in the senate, and who testified to congress for gays to serve openly in the military. Few would put themselves on the line for that - especially back in the 80s and 90s.

But, you probably don't care and just see something you can spin.

[blm]

73. Bill advised him to support ANTI-GAY ballot measures in red states.

Not personally supporting gay marriage wouldn't make Kerry support any anti-gay measure written into law.

You may recall that Kerry was the first Senator in the senate to write a gay protection bill, and advocated for gays to serve openly in the military, which targeted him for death threats at the time.

[mtnsnake]

77. Looks like you lost a few rounds of spin again, blm

Truth always prevails over propaganda, doesn't it.

The way you blabber on and on about Kerry, you make him sound like he's God's gift to everything gracious and perfect, when he's far from it.

If only Kerry had studied Bill Clinton's great presidency harder, maybe he could've picked up some pointers from Big Dawg, which just might have kept him from losing to an imbecile in 2004.

[fuzzyball]

62. Why not? Hillary Clinton is the wife of the first black president

that's how Bill liked to think of himself..1st black president!

[Colobo]

78. Yeah

But he is not...

[EffieBlack]

79. It's been said that Bill Clinton is the only white person who knows all three verses

of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," (the "Negro National Anthem").

Even most black people can't go past the first verse without faking it.

[Colobo]

80. Has he even been pulled over

For DWB?

No.

[beaconess]

82. I don't think she was trying to prove he's REALLY black

I don't think anyone here is.

It's a cute anecdote - calm down.

[AtomicKitten]

81. that is true

I've heard many black leaders tell that tale.

BTW, welcome to DU and Happy V Day!

[fuzzyball]

84. OMG Atomic...

You have so many hearts...you must be a real sweetheart!