Bill Clinton Asks for a Second Chance
Corrected on 2/12/07: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported the church that Bill Clinton visited. Clinton visited the Temple of Praise.
The morning after his wife, Hillary, was routed in three state contests by Sen. Barack Obama in their dead-heat battle for the Democratic nomination, former President Bill Clinton made his case for her before a packed Sunday service at one of the largest black churches in Washington, D.C.
But first he offered an apology of sorts for racially tinged comments he made about Obama and his candidacy that have triggered a backlash in the black community and among many other Democrats.
Clinton invoked his "worship of a God of second chances" in pronouncing himself glad to be at the Temple of Praise, which claims nearly 15,000 members. His invocation of second chances echoed comments he made early last week at black churches in California, where he campaigned for his wife before that state's Super Tuesday primary, which she won.
Clinton had been criticized for asserting that Obama's characterization of his position on the Iraq war is a "fairy tale" and for comparing Obama's resounding victory in South Carolina to failed presidential candidate Jesse Jackson's wins there in the '80s. He has softened his tone on the trail considerably since, and a few days ago, he told an NBC reporter in Maine that he has learned he can promote his wife but that she has to defend herself.
His mini-mea culpa on Sunday, which came two days before voters in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland will go to the polls and just hours before his wife's campaign manager stepped down, was politely received. He did get a warm initial standing ovation after church leader Bishop Glen Staples, a longtime Baptist minister, introduced Clinton as "one of the greatest—if not the greatest—presidents."
Staples didn't mention candidate Hillary, but ticked off a list of Clinton administration accomplishments that he said helped the black community, including job creation that contributed to lowering African-American unemployment more than 6 percent.
And Clinton followed by hitting the economic message hard, touting his wife—who Sunday lost to Obama in the Maine contest—as the only candidate who would place a freeze on foreclosures for those hit by the mortgage crisis. In a message with resonance in the black community, particularly in Washington, where diabetes is a major health crisis, Clinton spoke of his wife's universal healthcare plan and his foundation in Harlem that has been working on reducing type 2 diabetes.
As he wound up, Clinton invoked God again.
God works in strange ways, he said, in this case, setting up a monumental and historic choice: the decision of voting for a woman or voting for an African-American for president. Both of which, he said, he's wanted to do all his life.
"Wonder why God gave us this dilemma?" he asked, before assuring the crowd that whatever they decide, "we honor."
Which was greeted by gracious applause. Or as Obama might say, gracious enough.
Reader Comments
HillBilly
I remember when Bill was going through the impeachment ordeal and the TV networks would show him and his family exiting the church in Washington DC on Sundays with his huge bible in hand and the preacher close by. I wonder has Bill been to church since then. Now he is invoking the high and mighty once again on behalf of Hillary, maybe he needs to dig up that same bible when he makes these kind of appeals. What a schmuck Bill is.
Yes We Can
We are not looking for a president who does things. We are looking for a president who will lead all of us to do great things. Leadership, not political experience, is what we really need. Yes, we can.
Hilliary Clinton
Obama is simply not ready for the job! He smiles and talks a lot but
exactly what does he intend to do about the problems? He doesn't even know where to start - a very important question is, who is his teacher?
Hillary is ready, she knows what it is all about and is totally prepared - it is all extremely freightening to think this is a personallity and racial contest. It should be based on, who has the most experience and how they plan to implement their plans.
Taxed like crazy in NYC
Hmm, it is okay for Obama to share his tax returns but Hillary does not want to do that unitl she is nominiated, when it is forgotton about? It is okay for Obama to clearly state his positions while all Hillary can do is attack the opposition for his "inexperience?"
I think Hillary needs to decide if she wants to clearly state more of her positions, besides universal healthcare and garnishing wages of those making over $150,000 if a family member is not purchasing healthcare (yes, that is right, if two people each make $150,000 each, there will be an extra tax on the second person who makes that amount). For those of us who live in major metropolitian areas like Hillary's new home town, NYC, it is hard to make ends meet in this area when your combined income after taxes is $70,000 on a combined income of $180K.
Not the Clintons again
Bill Clinton is a hypocrite. I don't know how Hilliary tolerated his disgraceful behavior when he was in the White house and I personally don't care to see round two. Furthermore, I think Hilliary is an extremely temperamental person that does not need to have control of our country. Let's elect some one else.
one of the major themes of the Clinton campaign has been that the New York Senator is "battle-tested" and better prepared to take on McCain and the right wing attacks. But that has been turned on its head by the fact that a junior Senator from Illinois has ended up putting the Clinton campaign on the ropes. It's hard to argue that you can demolish John McCain when you can't decisively defeat an opponent who came from nowhere, with no national name recognition, in your own party's primary. That is just common sense.
President Clintons apology
I am not an Obama supporter. He lacks experience while embracing Socialist beliefs. However, given a choice between Hillary and Obama I would cast my ballot supporting Obama. He appears to be sincere. A trait not shared by President Clinton or his wife.
OBAMA's TIME
Bill Clinton and hillary Clinton. HUNGRY FOR POWER family. They just want to reclaim washington to buy Pizza for Monica Lewinski. Bwahahaha. Nope! your time is done and over. America needs a new leader without a baggage of scandals. Hillary Clinton is best suited to go back to her corporate job at Walmart Board. Bill Clinton can start writing a book about his affair with Monica. Ya know what I mean Bill.
Don't judge by peoples private life
You don't judge people on there private life, At lease while Bill Clinton was president the United States of America was working and we never had much of an Deficit if any, Now with George W. Bush, China and other countries own us. Think about that when you go to the poles!!!
Universal health care
A look at this video should be included in any discussion of a Universal Health Care plan:
http://www.freemarketcure.com/brainsurgery.php
Arrogance!
Bill like his wife Hilary shows real continued Arrogance towards the voters and his call for a "second chance" is an ideal example, just like Hilary Thursday last week she was proud to be with Barack Obama and then 48 hours later it was Shame on You Barack Obama, of course Hilary did not mention a similar misleading mailer she used earlier in the campaign on abortion!
Hilary is just not a Commander in Chief, people say Barack Obama does not have experience, did Tony Blair back in 1997 when he first stood as PM in the UK, no he had no experience, but he told the British people that it could only get better.
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When Clinton said God gave us a dilemma, the us he was referring to was him and his wife.
Feb 12, 2008 13:09:48 PM [permalink] [report comment]