by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright January 13, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

resh off a narrow upset win in New Hampshire Jan. 8, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) took one step forward and a giant one backward, telling the New York Times Jan. 7 that former President Lyndon Baines Johnson did more for the civil rights movement than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It took a president to get it done,” giving Johnson more credit than the unheralded blood, sweat and tears of civil right activits like Dr. King. Hillary was trying to discredit her chief rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.), the nation's first viable black presidential candidate, who frequently cites the name of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To many African-American voters, Clitnon's comment showed poor taste, especially for the venerated memory of the nation's most honored civil rights crusader.

      Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act because of sustained pressure from leading civil rights' activists like Dr. King. Few white Southerners, including the most liberal Democratic strongholds in Houston, Tx, supported sweeping civil rights legislation, including the former president who served in the largely segregated U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate during the late ‘30s and late ‘50s before becoming vice president in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy. Hillary's remark infuriated the black community, something she needs to win the nomination. Hillary's problem in Iowa and indeed elsewhere involves her lack of appeal indpendent and crossover Republican voters. Alienating the black community plays with a key component to her Democratic base, namely, African Americans, now in play in South Carolina on Jan. 26.

      It wasn't rocket science to figure out how Hillary's remarks would play in the African American community. House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who was officially neutral in the race, expressed dismay over Clinton's remarks. Clinton accused the Obama campaign of playing the race card, despite the fact that Clinton, not Obama, expressed her views to the New York Times. No one suggests that Hillary is racist but her comments deeply offend African Americans who hold Dr. King in the highest regard. They had no love for LBJ, whether his administration passed, along with Congress, the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Heading into South Carolina, Hillary didn't need controversy about a key constituency to her base. African Americans are beginning understand the significance of Obama's campaign, the nation's first black presidential candidate with a real chance.

      Almost simultaneously to Hillary's gaffe, her husband former President Bill Clinton called Obama's campaign a “fairytale.” “There's a differenced in your voting record, and Hillary's, ever since,” said Bill at a campaign rally. “Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairytale I've ever seen,” stirring more controversy about two questionable statements made by the Clintons in two days. Bill claims that he was referring to Obama's claim that he consistently opposed the Iraq War. Hillary has been criticized by fellow presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) for not repudiating her vote Oct. 11, 2002 to authorize President George W. Bush to use force in Iraq. Obama claims, while serving in the Illinois state senate, he consistently opposed giving Bush the right to use force. Since then, Bill has been on the defensive, explaining his “fairytale” remarks.

      Speaking on Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show on the Radio One Network, Bill tried to clarify his “fairytale” remarks. “There's nothing fairytale about his campaign. It's real, it's strong, and he might win,” Clinton told Sharpton, trying to reverse the damage from his offensive comments. While Bill says now his remarks were only about Barack's views on the Iraq War, others felt he disparaged Barack's personal story and presidential campaign. “You have a hard choice, and if you decide to vote for Sen. Obama, I respect you, because it is a source of enormous pride in the African-American community, and it should be. He's an impressive man,” said Clinton, implying that African Americans would vote for the lesser-qualified candidate because he's black. Many voters—including African Americans—believe Obama is the best-qualified and most desirable candidate, period.

      Bill Clinton's attempt to neutralize Obama by calling him a “fairytale” or Hillary crediting LBJ with advancing civil rights more than Dr. King gave African American voters something to think about. Instead of hammering away at Obama's credentials, the Clintons made a mistake introducing character and attacking national icons. “I would argue,” said Bill, “that she is better for your life and your future, and right now, we have to pick the person who is most ready to be president,” trying to salvage potentially lost votes heading into Nevada and South Carolina. Without independents and crossover voters, Hillary must rely heavily on traditional Democratic constituents like African Americans. Alienating that group presents problems for Hillary going forward. In a competitive race, losing Black support could give Barack the needed edge to prevail in upcoming contests.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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