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Did Clinton Play the Proverbial 'Race Card'?

Making the case that she appeals to a wider swath of voters than Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton offered some blunt remarks about race.

We debated Clinton's comments on today's reporters' roundtable. Take a read and tell us what you think:

"I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on," she said in an interview with USA TODAY. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article "that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me."

"There's a pattern emerging here," she said.

5:34 PM ET | 05- 9-2008 | permalink

 

Comments (Send a comment)

What's the use anymore?
Does it matter?
I thought that America got over this black and white thing a long time ago.
It's 40 plus years since "I had a dream".
And if you don't know what it was like "when we were King" then read a book.
Further, the people who are playing the race card this year are once again The Republican Party. Only they've left it to the Democrats to play their hand for them.
Think it ain't so Joe? They haven't said a word about who's black and who's not. Maybe it's too much excitement for we the people.
Think.
And then vote if you want to.
But like the Lotto. You've got to be in it to win it.In the race that is.
Hopefully everyone will be.

dePaul Consiglio

Sent by dePaul Consiglio | 6:38 PM ET | 05-09-2008

It's interesting, whenever Clinton talks about race she's 'playing the race card'. Whenever Obama talks about race he's starting a much needed national dialogue on the subject.

Sent by Bill M | 7:37 PM ET | 05-09-2008

I am amazed, but not entirely surprised, that so few Obama supporters don't get Hillary. Can't it possibly be that she continues in the race to: (1) demonstrate that she, like Obama, models personal strength, commitment; (2) that she, like Obama, is entitled to the dignity of making up her own mind, as opposed to capitulating to public opinion (I am reminded of the 'war' vote here;(3)that clarity in numbers may be more important than 'trends' and,(4)finally, she owes more to her supporters/voters but little to the Democratic party whose chief aim, it appears, is to punish anyone who doesn't fall in line with their view of when and how an individual's votes should be counted. I have no respect for the way Ms. Clinton been 'dissed' by those who ALWAYS claim to take the moral high ground. I'll take character over style (or money) any day, thank you.

Sent by Susan Donnell | 8:23 PM ET | 05-09-2008

If I were a blue-collar White without a college degree, I'd be insulted if someone told me that I'm a Clinton supporter. Then again, I'm not, but the ones I know are not Clinton supporters. Maybe that's unscientific or just a function of location (California), in any event, that's not a complete rule.

Did she play the race card? Well, she didn't say in so many words, "Don't vote for Obama because he's Black," but, then again, she doesn't have to in order to imply it. By claiming he's unelectable (whatever that means), she's says the same thing without bringing up his race.

Sent by Matthew Scallon | 9:50 PM ET | 05-09-2008

Of course, Sen Clinton played into the racial divide. She went so far as to claim that African Americans, "the Democratic base" will vote for her no matter what. But her supporters "hard-working Americans, white Americans" would not support Sen. Obama. Well, hard-working black Americans may have a surprise for her. Alas, it's disheartening to see former President Bill and Hillary Clinton risk his legacy and the goodwill they have among the American people simply to regain power. Does anyone remember what happened to Susan McDougall, Wes Hubbell and Vince Foster -- all friends of Bill and Hillary Clintons?

Sent by S.A. Sykes | 1:48 AM ET | 05-10-2008

Sure she did. If the Clinton's can't win then they are going to make sure they plant enough doubt and fright in Obama to prevent him from winning. She figures it'll come right back around in 4 years. In their minds, what Black people think is irrelevent because Black people will naturally fall right back into line. Whites in this hand, blacks and everyone else that rolled with Obama this time in the other.

Their lust for power has exposed what lay in their hearts all along. She's not going to go easy. I think they are going to eventually spin off and "Dixiecrat" the Democratic Party. I DO NOT TRUST THE CLINTONS. They are up to something.

Sent by Thomas B | 2:50 AM ET | 05-10-2008

Note to the former First Lady: it's not about dropping out of the race, but about consolidating your party's votes, our electoral strength. At the rate we're going, our party stands to loose; we are in fact weakening ourselves with this internal strife.

Sent by Diepiriye Sungumote Kuku-Siemons | 11:39 PM ET | 05-10-2008

Its very simple! Hillary did not bring
in the race card, the voters in Ohio,California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Indiana did. In each very important large state, working class
whites, and hispanics voted against Obama. If John Kerry could have won Ohio, or Florida he would be president today. Obama want even come close to taking the swing states, poll after poll has shown this. Over half the blue collar whites and hispanic who voted for Hillary have indicated they will not vote for Obama. Facts are facts, its very simple. Democrates have blown it again. A canidate for president must appeal to working people,
both black and white. The fringe element has too much control of the Democratic Party. Elitist can't win!
Don W.

Sent by Don Whitfield | 12:51 AM ET | 05-11-2008

She had to play something as she trys to drown out he Fat Lady singing.
The Clintons have been doing this since Bill said that thing about "rolling the dice" in South C.
They made the mistake of believing their own press. You have to have organizational skills, not just a good handshake and a political smile.
I'm so glad that era of politics are over. I did like that victory lap the President-Elect took around the floor of the house. That was a real classy rubbing it in her face.
Now onto slay the repubs and their out dated tactics.

Sent by audiodramatist | 2:48 PM ET | 05-11-2008

If Sen. Clinton wasn't playing the race card then what was she playing exactly? I'm with Rep. Charles Rangel, calling this latest comment of hers "the dumbest thing she's ever said."

Sent by Moji | 6:31 PM ET | 05-11-2008

last year this time she thought that she was the inveitable nominee and did not plan for the long haul and now she's grasping for straws

Sent by prncssntsoprfct | 10:30 AM ET | 05-12-2008

How low will Hillary Clinton drag the Democratic Party in her effort to convince us, "the people", that she will be the best candidate to defeat McCain in November? Hillary's most recent comments about "...hard-working...White Americans..." should fill us with revulsion. Unfortunately, our collective hang-up with "political correctness", again prevents us from expressing what should be our loud and righteous indignation. But, perhaps we can now rest knowing that Hillary Rodham-Clinton has finally revealed her true self. I naively and honestly trusted and believed that she was smarter than that.

Sent by Lewis 'Flash' Edgar | 10:53 AM ET | 05-12-2008

How in the devil can a freshman senator that just got done paying off his college loans not to long ago be tagged as some high and mighty elitist???? What does that make "my Daddy set it up for me" John McCain? What about his mega mega bucked and connected gazillionaire of a wife? Who is riding around in his wife's corporate jet? And Obama is an "elitist". The Clintons are worth over 100 million dollars. When a candidate can loan themselves money to prop up her campaign and now be in the hole for 25 million how in the devil can this be the chief advocate of white, stomped down blue collar America? I don't get it. Seems to me instead of making promises she should be throwing out money to them like Jack Nicholson's character, The Joker.

Yeah, if Obama were to lose to McCain those who crossed over simply because of his race are the real L-O-S-E-R-S and the blame of 4 more years of Bush will be on your own heads. Me? I don't care if Obama were a White and blue eyed, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or whatever, heck he can be all of them for all I care the last eight years have been a disaster and the Republicans need to vacate the White House.

Sent by Thomas B | 10:50 PM ET | 05-12-2008

I don't understand why who receives the white or black vote is being so overstated or misrepresented! Obama has about 16.43 million votes and Clinton has 15.73 million a difference of over 700,000 votes. Less than 13% of the US population is African American. That means that out of all the votes given thus far during primaries/caucuses about 4 million were African America. If none went to Clinton then that means Obama has won at least 12 million non-African American votes or 44% of the non-African American vote. Doesn't that clearly mean he has a greater diversity of voters? Doesn't that mean he has a much wider base than she does? Can we STOP making it sound as though Obama only wins because of African American votes! Why isn't the media saying that Hillary is losing because of her failure to gain a broader base that INCLUDES the African American voter?

Sent by Juan | 12:43 AM ET | 05-15-2008

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