Who knew she was still around? Maxine played a big part in & supported Jesse Jackson's campaign for president because he was Black; what else was it? He had no experience & no chance. During or after the convention on nightline she angrily pronounced that she 'won't support anything all white anymore'. Now she's for Biliaryl; fool me thrice...

Her endorsement is Laughable and is more proof that Maxine and those of her ilk (CBC) are & have been for quite some time, totally insignificant, easily compromised and haven't had nor do they have anything to offer but the ole old. Now sadly allowing themselves to be trotted out, shaking in their boots because the old racial politics, take us for granted, get nothing politics don't, won't, haven't & can't deliver.

One wonders if Maxine realizes that she herself has more experience than Hilary and couldn't even come close to running. Wonder how the dynamics of that sits on her soul as she stands with Hilary? That gender equality things seems to be working a little better for Ms Clinton.

An almost 50yr old tired game from another era; just like our public education system. Maxine, Andy Young, John Lewis, etc., you made us 'feel' good, seeing Black faces in places we weren't use to seeing, thanks for that but time has run out; on the no legacy, no succession, no innovation, no ideas, no evolution. Please go away gracefully, not being used by the Clintons who would throw you under the bus if they needed to!

Sent by Jon J | 10:39 PM ET | 01-29-2008

Rep. Maxine Waters endorsement of
Senator Clinton is a sisterhood
thing, not really an Obama slap
in the face thing.The real political
divide is the Obama hopefuls and
the old Clintons machine.THE ignored
political divide is the poor
workng class versus the Oprah-like
supporters.

Sent by jerry a. Myers | 1:21 AM ET | 01-30-2008

I've come to the conclusion that the Black Caucus members who are dancing gleefully around the Clintons are old guard reactionaries who's raison d'etre is to grovel for crumbs from the table. They cannot put their minds around the. fact that an unknown, intelligent, hard working, man of the times can leap frog ahead of all of them, without their blessing, to amass such a stunning campaign as Barack Obama has. It is unprecedented. This group of Black elected officials, who probably mortgaged their political fortunes to the Clintons, cannot fathom the idea that this energetic young Black man can attract massive crowds of young people of all races and ages to his campaign, which is something that no other Black elected official has ever done. They cannot stand it. They have to fall back to what they feel comfortable with, the Clintons. What they fail to recognize is that Hillary has a 60 year old brain and claims 35 years of experience, but he is much younger with less experience, but knows as much as she does, and outperformed her thus far. Wake up Maxine, and Stephanie, and Sheila, and Charley, and Kendrick, and John Lewis and all you other Clinton suck ups! The days of Miss Laura and Annie Johnson (Imitation of Life) are over. The hounds have almost all been killed.

Sent by skweeky | 8:54 AM ET | 01-30-2008

This is what I don't understand about some of the Obama supporters. Whenever someone doesn't agree with your political views you demean and degrade them. What part of the Obama vision is that?

Also, what good does it do the Obama campaign to have the entire CBC endorsing him? What type of signal do you think that would send to mainstream America? By making the Obama a "Black Thang" you doom him to failure.

Sent by Bill M | 12:50 PM ET | 01-30-2008

Bill M, it is rather complicated. For most of our lives Black Americans are encouraged to be the best and brightest. The best and brightest are encouraged to work hard and excel in a world where the playing field has never been level. That is why so many people worked hard to knock down barriers so that when opportunities appear the best and brightest should be ready. Someone is ready, the door is open and he stepped into it. But, people who's very existence, the Black Caucus, is to lobby and advocate for rights and entitlements for their collective Black constituency, say "whoa, not so fast" then there is a major contradiction. I watched Sheila Jackson Lee read Donald Washington, the US Attorney in Jena6, up one side and down the other in a House Committee investigation. She prefaces her remarks with the statement "race matters." You can watch a video for yourself and see this woman, invoking Martin L. King, tear down the Black U.S. Attorney:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Rep._Lee_grills_D.A._over_Jena_1016.html

It may be good that they are not endorsing Obama. But it begs the question why if something is good for Hillary (to have Black support) why is it not equally as good for Obama to have that same support? They could have opted not to support anyone. But race matters to these people. Huge numbers of Americans of all colors are not bothered by race or the idea that a Black man is running for president, however,large numbers are troubled deeply, including many African Americans. When you look at how this campaign has been waged the Grand Poobah of the Hillary Clinton campaign, Bill Clinton, has tried to make this a "Black Thang" by first trying to divide Black people in S Carolina and then invoking the name of Jessie Jackson to drag the shadow of a noose across Obama's victory in that state. Jackson-Lee in all her glory should have been loudly and publicly chastising Clinton for that insult. You see the complexity? You see the contradictions?

Sent by skweeky | 3:24 PM ET | 01-30-2008

I don't think Waters' endorsement means much. The Black establishment for the most part has not supported Obama to begin with and the masses still came out for him. Forget the Black establishment! It obvious they have been bought and sold.

Sent by LaVida Davis | 5:08 PM ET | 01-30-2008

Bill M:

You make a valid point. Black folks are not a monolithic group even though a few people seem to think so.

What has given me a pause in the past couple of weeks about some folks is that the same people who questioned Obama's blackness (or lack thereof) some months ago are the same people who will bash you for asking questions about Obama's policies.

This is everyone's right as a voter regardless of a candidate's skin color or gender to ask critical questions. I want the candidate to be accountable on issues.

Let me be honest, this is not an election like 2004, where I was in the "Anybody But Bush" category. This election has made me seriously consider three candidates in my party and found a fascination with one in another. So if I finally cast my vote for one, it doesn't mean I'm against the others. . . I just prefer my candidate's policies better.

Sent by Moji | 5:11 PM ET | 01-30-2008

Elected officials like Maxine Waters have become nothing more than seat warmers. They've had their day in the sun and have nothing new to offer. Their record of accomplishment is meager and they know it, but they remain in office mainly to throw crumbs to the supporters who still support them and to get thier picture in the local paper. The old guard like Ms. Waters are looking for additional recognition. Supporting Hillary, in their minds anyway, may mean that they get more time in the spotlight. Forget about what's important for the people. It really sickens me to see these same politicians claiming to be so black when it is expedient to do so, but when it comes to supporting someone capable like Obama, they come up lame. How many years has Maxine Waters been in office - 25? 30? However long, it's way too long. Time Ms. Water's for you to move over. It is now time for a new black leadership to emerge. Leadership that wont' carry a lot of water for certain people,for a little change. Ms. Waters, your time has come and gone.

Sent by marian | 5:57 PM ET | 01-30-2008

Blacks aren't monolithic to be sure, but in politics YES. Blacks voted in the 90% for Clinton twice, Gore & Kerry. All of a suddent the 'Black block vote' is problematic because the candidate is Black? The Demos have always counted on (then taken for granted) the Black block vote. Laughable.

What's the difference btwn Jessie, Al & Barak; all are Black? Answer: Barak is a REAL candidate, the most exciting candidate in this election, one going up against a politically-savvy and dirty machine and still hanging.
Many non-Blacks see it, international sentiment shows his tremendous appeal and Blacks aren't suppose to see what many others are seeing just to prove a point? The REAL racist & real DIVIDERS are the ones who assume Blacks aren't coming to their decision like everyone else and instead basing their decisions on race ALONE.

The policy issue is overrated in the sense that what you will get from whomever gets the nomination is a hybrid...he/she will pick & choose ideas from all 3 candidates. What matters I think is that Obama would better restore international integrity that has been severely damaged AND I would rather not have a friend of the Clintons cabinet & administration. Policy won't matter as much as the ability to lead. Billary brings too much baggage, old grudges, and mud. After slinging mud IF Hiliary gets the nomination, the Republicans will bring out the dawgs. And because of the Clinton tactics it'll all be open game.

Take Obama out of this election and it's a dud, politics as usual.

Obama is an exciting, energetic and capable candidate as qualified as anyone running, the fact that he's looks like me adds to the glee.

It's an easy choice because the Clintons are shameless. voter suppression in Nevada, then after agreeing to the rules wanted to change in Florida.

Sent by Jon J | 5:57 PM ET | 01-30-2008

My only point is this: If the Obama movement is about bringing people together and doing away with business as usual then his supporters should manifest that movement in words and deeds. There's a disconnect in espousing bringing the nation together while at the same time drawing an intra-racial line in the sand. If you really want to support Obama start by being an ambassador to the dream he's trying to realize. As Rakim once said, "Let the Leader Lead".

Sent by Bill M | 7:38 PM ET | 01-30-2008

Obama has taken the risk, step out on faith to make a change for the future. What was thought as impossible has become the possible, now is the time to put away fear and go with history in the making. Bill and Hillary are yesterday news. I'm not voting for Bill oh sorry, I mean Hillary he/she had there turn and did the best they could but his/her best wasn't good enough. Now Hillary has made promises but when it was time to show courage and vote aganist the war she show her true color, save and easy. She supported the wrong policy, that's enought for me. So do really want to relive their past glories or failures, do really want to hear about Monicagate. Bill, you had your chance and your wife can't remove the stain. There a new day and the train is leaving, so get on board the Obama train. All aboard! Don't get left behind, we can do it, we can make a change. So, come together, right now over me.

Sent by Richard Powell | 2:23 AM ET | 01-31-2008

Initially, I was torn between Clinton and Obama. However, the statements made by the Clintons prior to, during and after the South Carolina primary has shown me that I can not support the Clintons. They tried to marginalize Obama, belittle the Jesse Jackson campaigns (which Waters worked for), and even made questionable statements about MLK and LBJ. Why would members of the CBC offer support to someone who insults their family, the black family? As Malcolm X stated, there is a difference between the house Negro and the field Negro. Perhaps, this is what we are seeing. They really think that with the Clintons it is "we" but from my point of view, this race, to the Clintons, is more about "I" and their ambition than it is about the rest of us.

Sent by WGT | 11:48 AM ET | 01-31-2008

I will not vote for Hillary Clinton because she and her husband have thrown black people and everyone else who no longer served their purposes under the proverbial bus.

For all those torn, all those who think people who decide to vote for Obama have drunk the Kool-Aid, etc, please inform yourselves on Clintons policies-which go back 35 years according to her CV.

I'm not saying Obama is some saviour/saint, but when you have concrete evidence that one candidate has consistently and cynically used black voters as her pawns, I can't see any other choice if you insist on voting Democratic at this juncture.

We also have to remember that people like Maxine Waters and the CBC folks know the Washington game, but they don't know the people's game.

Most of them aren't looking out for you, but they are looking out for their next gig and next paycheck. Most career politicians do-don't get that twisted for one second.

I urge everyone to do a simple google search (both news and general) on all the candidates and google some information about exactly our democracy works, and then try to make their decision as an informed voter.

Sent by MNC | 1:59 PM ET | 01-31-2008

The Obama supporters should be respectful of the opinions of others. No African American has to support Obama
because he is black. I respect the right of Ms. Waters, and others to support who ever they see fit. Let us
not forget who the real enemy is. It is the Republican Party, the enemy of the poor and disenfranchised. If this tearing down of the Clintons or Obamas continue, the Republican Canadate will win easily. Please don't forget 2000 and 2004.

Sent by Don W. | 2:00 PM ET | 01-31-2008

Bill M
People can do both.
The intra-racial line was first drawn by the traditional old guard and those questioning whether Obama is 'Black enough' and now the Clintons are race baiting. Obama supporters & those in the middle are just speaking up about the tactics. Calling the old guard on the fact that they have made a career out of going after politicians that do what the Clintons have done...but don't seem to want to take the Clintons to task on their shenanigans. Make your entire career about race then stand with a race-baiting candidate against a qualified candidate who happens to be Black. Yes, they should answer to that.

Sent by Jon J | 6:45 PM ET | 01-31-2008

According to the constitution, both canadates are qualified. It is a matter of opinion as to who is better
qualified. I look at actions, and history when deciding who to vote for,
indeed both Ms. Clinton, and Mr. Obama
have a record when it comes to minorities, the poor, and middle class is concerned. Again I say everyone has a right to support whomever they may see as the more fit canadate. Certainly
Ms. Waters has paid her dues, and has a
right to back whoever it pleases her to support. Again I say lets keep the big
pitcher in focus and not blow this election. The majarity of the country is not made up of African Americans, or
Latinos, and I am sure those in this group of no good will are enjoying the
family argument.

Sent by Don W. | 7:35 PM ET | 01-31-2008

Ms. Waters response is incoherent and not concrete itself. Her endorsement is not representative of the will of her constituency. The Clintons showed their true colors in South Carolina. Ms. Waters, who I once highly respected, has sold her soul to the Clintons as some other old guard black politicians have. Obviously, they need change in her congressional district. I hope she loses her seat in the next election.

Sent by g-man | 11:40 PM ET | 02-03-2008