H. Clinton says Republican House run like a plantation
 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060117/...s/clinton_king


Hillary Clinton said yesterday before the Canaan Baptist Church that the Republian majority House is run like a plantation as she sopposedly honored Dr. King.

I don't know why she said this to be honest. I don't think I like her. What sense did that make and what was the connection? -and from what I read and heard, she didn't really follow up the statement with any real plausible anecdotes. I don't like it when politicians pick a scene or a particular situation to make some ear-catching statement thinking that just because of the issue it touches on it's going to make some sort of an enroad with the black community. I mean, yeah, Dr. King is connected to Civil Rights and of course Civil Rights is connected to Black people who are connected to slavery and yada yada yada, but come on, she didn't have to make such a blatant ignorant statement that is most assuredly going to be used by the republicans against her. That was stupid of her. I am not sure why it made me so mad, and maybe that is obvious, but I think it basically touches on the ignorance and panderish nature of these politicians who really DON'T have a grasp of the reall issues that were are concerned about. I am going to think about it some more and come back to rant more coherently, but what do you all think about this? Where do you all think she was coming from with it?

Oh and don't get me wrong, I don't like the Repugnant Republicans, I just don't like the way she is trying to play on our distaste for that party (largely) when the Democrats haven't really been shining too bright lately with us either.

I guess I understand how she says that if you have a different opinion, you cannot be heard in this administration, but I don't know if the plantation comparison was the best. I do feel that she may have used that comparison because of her audience.

I saw this on GMA today and I agree with Phasad. I know she was just trying to "play up" to the audience but I get tired of non-melanin people trying to relate to me/us (black folks) in either one of two ways:

1. by seemingly trying to be hip but using things they think are "black"(using slang, imitating urban culture)

or

2. by making unecessary references to slavery or the civil rights movement.

I don't know. I could just be sensitive.

ETA: Ok, now I know. For me, it just shows how some people think we just blindly follow the Democratic Party. Make a few references comparing the Republican party to slavery and we black folks will automatically be down with them like 4 flats.

I don't know....

I'm a registered independent. When I heard about this, I cringed. It did sound reflexive and panderish, but sadly, I think we can be a very reactive people.

HK, I also get tired of clear people attempting to relate to us as you described.

And if HRC runs for president, she will be crushed. There are still too many Clinton-hating people in this country.

Yeah, and furthermore, I think that she just gave the other side a huge source of disdain which will fuel the people who don't want to hear that kind of crap. It's not just whites who are not always up to hearing comments like that, but I think a lot of blacks don't want to hear stuff likfe that either. I mean, say something of substance, say something that is really relevant to what the community faces. Either she is ignorant of those issues period or she really doesn't know how to relate to our community. If the latter is the case, then we already had to deal with that with Bush so she better get with it or lose the black votes she THOUGHT were in her pocket.

Good analysis. Many of us want to hear discussion of educational and economic issues. And I agree that many AfAms aren't necessarily receptive to rhetoric about "plantations." I mean, talk to me about whether I can find and keep a job in this economy and if I have kids, will they have a quality public education.

Re: H. Clinton says Republican House run like a plantation
 

LOL. I don't like her.

*going on tangent*

I actually don't like the Republican or Democratic parties. Politicians aren't to be trusted and neither party TRULY deserves to get the majority of blacks' votes. I especially dislike it when politicians find cheesy and stereotypical ways to relate to a particular group of people. That's as annoying as when certain people adopt a "blackccent" when they talk to me or use "have you heard the new 50 Cent album" as an icebreaker.

I am an Independent who will vote for whichever candidate I feel deserves my vote. If that is a Republican candidate then so be it. There's nothing "black" about disliking the Republican party and there was a period in our history where blacks were huge fans of the Republican party.

Well, first of all, is there any one way to relate to a particular group of people? Blacks aren't a monolithic group. We have different social and political interests, in addition to different expectations in terms of how people should address us. For every black person who is tired of hearing crap about plantations and slavery, there are a few blacks who might find her comment humorous or accurate.

However, for the sake of discussion let's pretend things are simplistic and it is easy to figure out how to "relate to our community." Are people really surprised that Hillary Clinton does not know how to do so? What really makes these politicans different from most other whites? Are politicians expected to know how to pretend better than other whites are?

wow

I'm mad that HC thinks that we don't already know the White House is being run like a plantation. Tell us something we don't know like how she would function any differently if she got into office as president.

I agree with Phasad1913 about saying something of substance especially given the fact that no one can tell which side of the fence she stands on certain issues. I think HC and other Democrats are spending too much time blasting the Republicans instead of coming up with solutions to the country's problems. Don't tell me your hands are tied in getting relief to Katrina victims or helping the manufacturing sector develop more jobs when you vote for a bridge to nowhere in Alaska and support other "pork" projects.

Forever the registered independent,

PhDiva

Barack Obama Defends Clinton's Statements
 

Excerpt

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday defended Sen. Hillary Clinton for describing the House of Representatives as a "plantation," saying he felt her choice of words referred to a "consolidation of power" in Washington that squeezes out the voters.

The senator told CNN's "American Morning" he believed that Clinton was merely expressing concern that special interests play such a large role in writing legislation that "the ordinary voter and even members of Congress who aren't in the majority party don't have much input."


ENTIRE ARTICLE

Clear people, non-melanin people? The proper term is cracker.

Re: Barack Obama Defends Clinton's Statements
 

wow :(

Re: Barack Obama Defends Clinton's Statements
 

There are so many words and sentences that can describe what she was trying to describe.

For instance, plantation doesn't come to mind when I think of the U.S. government. Oligarchy does. Even if the elite are battling it out over bipartisanism. :)

I have always like Hilary and understood what she was trying to say.