Reply #70: Though I don't agree that Matthews started it.... [View All]

I do agree that he's been one of the most guilty.

To clarify, I don't think she's a racist and never have. I disagree with those who are calling her that (and are calling Bill that). And you're right that both Conason & Rangel pretty much said that it was a stupid thing to say and didn't go further than that. The OP was about making this about Obama being a black candidate and I do think that Conason at least addressed that and I most certainly think the MSM & Clinton campaigns have been doing this. So do I think they're racists? No. Do I think that they'll use race in ways that should be beneath them to win the election. Yes, I do. From my perspective that doesn't make them racists but it does make them pretty slimy.

It WAS a stupid thing to say and I personally think it fits a pattern in the Clinton campaign. I don't think they can continue to claim it was a gaffe when it happens over and over with the Clintons & their prominent supporters (Bill in SC, Ferraro, Hillary's MLK comment, this reported quote from an unnamed Clinton "advisor" -- In the words of that Clinton adviser: "If you have a social need, you're with Hillary. If you want Obama to be your imaginary hip black friend and you're young and you have no social needs, then he's cool"; Andrew Cuomo's "you can't shuck and jive at a press conference" crack.) There've been more, too. Some of them I thought were stretching to call it race-baiting, but I do think there's been a subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) pattern in her campaign. They understand the corporate media. They send their "gaffe" out there, it gets lots of play, and then then clarify or say they regret saying it. The damage is done and they know it.