Did Hillary dismiss Dr. King's role in the civil rights movement?

Hillary Clinton has drawn criticism for remarks she made on Monday about the civil rights movement in the U.S.

"Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act. It took a president to get it done."

According to Essence magazine's blog, Hillary's comparison is being heavily discussed on black radio talk shows and blogs.

Could this cost her the support of black leaders and voters in South Carolina?

Comments

[Bobby123]

The implication seems to be (on an unchartable interpretation) that it takes a white president to actually get things done.

[Jim]

So much for the "individual" making a difference in his/her world, in this case Martin Luther King. Yet again, not only does Hillary make an asinine and illogical comment, she is giving us a glimpse into the "Progressive's" world.

In laymen's terms, without the government, you are useless to make any change. Welcome to the Brave New World, courtesy of the Clintons.

[dan matuska]

Presidents dont pass bills, they approve or veto them.

[rfxobrien]

Clinton did not say that it takes a white president to get things done, despite the claims of the race-baiters.

LBJ provided the political leadership necessary for the civil rights bills to pass in the US legislature. MLK provided the necessary moral leadership, but LBJ actually got the job done.

[Carolyn Meadows]

How dare this stupid white woman imply that he take a white man to make progress on civil rights. Everybody know that Dr. King did it all by his self - ain't nobody help Dr. King do it He didn't need anybody to help him. The arrogance of this woman is incredible!!!

I was going to vote to Hillary but not any more. I am putting all my support behind either Obama or Huckabee.

[Deacon Toby Gaines]

If we're going to be honest as black folks, and having lived through that period President Johnson did what he had to do to get the civil rights legislation passed. Period. And, yeah at that time it took a President to do it! That in no way discounts or disses Dr King. I'm no Hillary supporter, but the history is clear.

[Mark]

I agree with the other commenters. Mrs. Clinton's comments are a telling revelation about what she thought of Dr. King's achievements. He dreamed, President Johnson acted. Big mistake for her.

[Bill]

Hillary's opponents have just played the race card. Hands up those of you who noticed that?

And played it on the thinest of pretexts too.

[1955Mid-Boomer]

We the people are not interested in hearing about Bill Clinton's accomplishments. We would like to hear more about what Senator Clinton has done in her "35 years of service".

The Clintons went into this campaign with a certain smugness. She has to decide whether she is going to run on his record or her record.

Let the Clinton Campaign box with themselves. The verbage that they use show how out of touch they are with regard to respect for all of the people. For example, attaching the word "fairytale" to an African American candidate is a pretty slick thing for Willie to do.

They will continue to show how they've taken the African American ride for granted for too long.

Dr.
King dream would have been realized with or without LBJ being president for
those who know history. The world spotlight was on America and political
pressure was was mounting on the president to take action. Granted LBJ did do the right thing, not to take anything away from his contribution. But it was
the dream of Malcolm X, Martin, Megder J Evers, Marcus Garvey, Harriet Tubman,
Fredrick Douglass and all our ancestors that made this dream real.
MK

[sherrie]

Hillary will say whatever she thinks she needs to say to get votes. She doesn't have to mean it. She doesn't have to believe it. She just has to think it will further her personal quest for power. Woe to this nation if we put her in the White House.

[Hail2TheBeef]

Hillary is really a "role-playing" politician. She will be whatever you want her to be to get elected, even if it means a weekly change in position.

[Hail2TheBeef]

Hillary is really a "role-playing" politician. She will be whatever you want her to be to get elected, even if it means a weekly change in position.

[DRB]

What's wrong with what she said? What's wrong with saying that it took more than one person who agreed on a vision to bring that vision to reality? Isn't that true? I think the only thing wrong with this statement is that she left out the hundreds of thousands of people who sacrificed along the way --- going back as far as or even further than David Walker, who was IMHO one of the first civil rights revolutionaries.

[Jeanne]

Her explanation was bad enough, but was Hilary CHEWING GUM or what while she was listening to the question?!

[Tony]

Sounds to me like she was saying that Dr. King needed to ride in the back of Prez Johnsons bus to get to the Promised Land.If your a minority you will ALWAYS ride in the back of the Democrat bus. To keep you downtrodden and dependent, with just enough hope to keep you voting the Democratic ticket. Self-responsibility, individualism, opportunity for those who dare to follow their dreams... when the last time you heard any discussion of this from a liberal?

[Clinton-Diebold 2008!]

It's not surprising, Hillary is very similar to LBJ... very pro-war with a large raft of planned domestic policies. Only got where she is by riding a far more charismatic President's coattails. Very tight with the military-industrial complex. Likely to be hugely unpopular if President.

[zqll]

I don't like Hillary, Obama and other assorted type liberals. And in my opinion Hillary has done much harm to people. Something that can't be said about Obama that I know of.
Still, I find it hard to believe that Hillary was dismissing MLK's valiant efforts. I think that what she was trying to do (and this may be the charitable interpretation) is to point out that Obama's spiel on hope and change requires more than just their articulation, they require action.
Something by the way that she herself hasn't been that great at. There is no one single piece of legislation that bears her name that I know of. And she has been in office for seven years!
Having said that, it may be possible that the "uncharitable interpretation" is the correct one.
Still, for us Repubs, Conservatives and NeoCons, the Demo's fight is between an empty suit and an empty head.

[Phil]

The individual, even an individual of the stature of Martin Luther King, can never make much of a difference on her/his own.

The fact is that MLK was a member of the civil rights movement not the movement itself. His eloquence helped to popularize that movement thus helping to make it a mass movement.

It was the combined activities of ALL that movements members that led to the Civil Rights Act. It took a popular mass movement to get that done. It certainly did NOT take a president.

It's time to dispense with the mythology of the heroic individual changing the world: it's people that make movements and it's people that change the world.

I think that maybe deep down inside ALL the candidates know this. Otherwise why would they waste their precious time schlepping across all those states speaking AT all those people?

[BostonBlacky]

Actually, it took two Presidents to "get the job done" - one (white) who was assassinated and the other (white) who was unpopular. The unpopular carried out the dreams of the dead. However, Dr. King's dream began the path to reality with yet another President (white) who first sent federal troops to face down southern bigotry. A few very brave (black) children went to a white school that day.

It is easy to see that the struggle was not between white and black but between hatred and love, and the real struggle was never to succumb to hatred. Dr. King knew that God's love would overcome; his God was a God of Love, how about you?

[Adam]

It reminds me of other unsettling statements she's made - at a fundraising dinner, I believe, she made a terrible racist joke, saying that Ghandi had "run a gas station".

She made that inexcusable "plantation" remark this year.

And only yesterday in Nevada, she was speaking with Hispanic voters and compared mortgage debt, bizarrely, to "chips and guacamole".

And now the MLK remark.

Someone on her staff just today called Barack Obama an "imaginary, hip black friend."

There are more, but space permitting, I'm sure they're everywhere.

Someone needs to take a serious look at these remarks.

[Tony Starks]

The only chance of obama winning the democratic nomination is if race doesnt become an issue.Because once race becomes an issue the black/white paradox rears its head and we know there are more white americans than black americans.Its not in obamas interest to make a fuss about hillary or bills comments whether they be racial or not..it will be a shame if black people start playing the race card because that will play into the hands of hillarys people...obama has achieved what jesse jackson and al sharpton could never achieve..be seen as a candidate rather than a black man running for president.As voters who say they are goin to vote for obama because they think its the right thing to do..that phenomenon is here to stay and as such I will take any polls with a pinch of salt.May the best candidate win.

[jimbabwe]

Hillary was reacting to what Obama said. He was dismissing the role of the president and she was pointing out that it did take the president's signature to get this passed. She was not downplaying MLK's role. Perhaps Obama is racist for downplaying the role that a white president played.

[Cotrac55]

Why is it that the Clinton Campaign continues to make these sensitive and irresponsible comments toward the Obama Campaign?

It seems that an apology, the firing of staff members or the clarification of comments is not helping the situatuaion especially when Mr. & Mrs. Bill and Hillary Clinton have become the sources of such remarks.

Whoever wants to win this election must show some dignity and respect for their opponent no matter their race, gender, creed or religion.

The people of the United States deserve better.

Peace and Love

[Kemo]

I always feel that there is something of the night about Hillary Clinton. Whatever way her comment about MLK may be semantically put, the truth of it is blindingly obvious: The black man can only dream and it’s for the white man who can turn the dream to reality. The implication is that America should not elect a dreamer. If this is a view of supposedly a liberal democrat of black people in 2008, I am really concerned.

[TexasPhil]

Having lived through this period I can only say that as a Caucasian who was also going to Kent State at the time that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a hero of mine. I also know that LBJ did what he had to do because it was a culmination of events that could not be ignored by this nation or the government. Hillary is just showing her ignorance when she tries to give the credit of the Civil Rughts movement to one person or political party. She did not lose my vote - she never had it.

[John House]

Race baiters go home and stop taking such liberal approaches to interpretation of a simple statement. Hillary Clinton herself has been active in the civil rights movement, so to color (ha ha) her statements as anything dubious is just more straw-grabbing by the Obama camp.

[Stefano]

People, listen, It's obvious that a civil right movement leader cannot promulgate or enforce laws..therefore Clinton is right when she says that a president is needed to implement laws in the direction inspired by great people like Dr.King

[angel]

I am still perplexed by the Hillary haters. If she will say anything to get elected, how can you all crow at a "gaffe", actually a deliberate misinterpretation of what she said, that may cost her votes. According to Bernstein, of Watergate fame, Hillary broke down, cried and almost tore her hair out when the student activist learned that Dr. King had been assasinated. I've read a lot about and by Senator Clinton and Dr. King is one of her heroes. The way the country was back then, to those who remember, we needed the support of the establishment liberals of the Democratic Party to sponsor and pass actual Civil Rights Legislation. Hillary considers herself one of their descendants, and she will continue to fight for true equality. It takes both the great speakers and the great doers to get things done; to make a dream a reality.

[C, rOLANDO]

Come Hilary in no way meant that .
as Black person ..

I think this `100 persent insanne

[Sean]

I hope Black people finally wake up and figure it out. The Clintons are not committed to the welfare of the nation, but rather their own political dominance in modern American politics. The "first Black president" is fighting real hard to keep a real one from emerging.

Who could possibly believe that Hillary Clinton, the most polarizing figure in American politics, can lead this nation in unity and common progress? That is the fairytale.

If the Clintons truly cared about the future of this nation they would endorse Barack Obama. Senator Obama more than any other national politician embodies the best of America and is both able to articulate the American solution while inspiring the nation to work together in sacrifice and service to achieve it.

[A. Gondring]

It's amazing how poorly today's American population knows history or even how their own government works. I bet that few realize that Republicans voted 4-1 in favor of the Civil Rights Act, while it was only 2-1 among Democrats. The President signs the bill that has already been passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate--so it took more than just LBJ to make this a reality!

[Dickson F]

To rfxobrien :
You say "LBJ provided the political leadership necessary for the civil rights bills to pass in the US legislature. MLK provided the necessary moral leadership, but LBJ actually got the job done."

Would you agree however that without MLK highlighting the problem and asking for a change in the way people are being treated, and dreaming and keeping hope alive for a better day LBJ wouldn't have felt the need to act.

LBJ MLK and JFK did a wonderful job in their respective capacity and all Americans should be proud of all this great individuals and we all must make sure we do not discount any of their achievements for political gains.

This is not about any race , it is about America making the right decision not based on fear. It is time we all change this country for the better.

[angel]

Now we're playing the primary game and progressives are fighting amongst ourselves to nominate the candidate whom we like. Obama's supporters think he should get tough with Hillary and the Clinton campaign feels she should take him down a peg. Let's remember who the real enemy is. I support Hillary, and I always will, but I will not attack Barack. I think he has the poetry of campaigning down, and she has the acumen and experience. They would make a great team for change and maybe allow us to have sixteen years of progressive leadership, between them.

[James]

No, she didn't say it took a white president to get it done, but that's the strong implication. At best it was insensitive as only white men had a hope in hell of being elected president at the time. It's a sly way of saying effectively "blacks couldn't have done it without us whites." That's subtly different from saying that Johnson played an important part in implementing MLK's dream (or words to that effect), which is no doubt true and a valid point.

[Didius Falco]

The part Hillary skipped over was that without Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement acting as the catalyst, President Johnson would have had no motivation to pass the Civil Rights Bill.

Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech wasn't just the recounting of a dream, it was an explanation of the actions he was taking to achieve it.

She has her mind set on the presidency and elevates it to near deity status - Johnson set a tone, he could only sign legislation, not create it.

"35 years of experience" - doing what? Practicing spin? What a cruel joke! Hillary talks of change? The only change would be lobbyists would change who to write checks to.
She plays roles, has no real principles other than a desire to be in control.
She's the least likely to be able unite our country, and her attacking proves it.

[Nicholas]

What Mrs. Clinton said is an outrage that cannot be 'taken back.' As with her vote in support of Bush's war, she has again demonstrated how vital it is to make the right decision. A president has only one chance to get it right. Mr. Obama publicly opposed Mr. Bush's invasion; Mrs. Clinton voted for it; and so we have war. One vote, one comment, can cause good or suffering; a moment of hope or misery. She has shown she is not capable of making the decisions we count on from a president.

[Dave Z]

Interesting that the "Hill" would like to give Democrats credit for the Civil Rights and Voter Rights Acts.

1964 Civil Rights Act
Voting in Favor: Senate Dems. 62%; Senate Repubs. 82%- House Dems. 61%; House Repubs. 80%

1965 National Voter Right Act
Voting in Favor: Senate Dems. 73%; Senate Repubs. 94%- House Dems. 78%; House Repubs. 82%

Al Gore Sr. and Senator Robert Byrd voted against both Acts.

Without the much stronger Repub. support neither bill would have even reached LBJ

[Ben Smith]

Martin Luther King was the father of the Civil Rights Movement....He started it, motivated and inspired millions to join.......Had he not done that...had he not pricked the consciense of America, ...millions of blacks may still lack the vote.....Hillary Clinton well knows that and can't wish it away no matther how hard she tries.

[quix]

Most gaffes sound a lot worse out of context but this one's the other way around. She is challenging Obama's message about his hopes and dreams for the future of America by implicitly comparing herself to Johnson, a president, and Obama to King, apparently a man who had no power to make change. Obviously Obama already understands that is takes legislative action to make the hopes and dreams of a nation a reality... I presume that is why he is running for president of the USA. Johnson made the right choice only after the mounting pressures from a people informed and inspired by civil rights leaders. We wouldn't need Johnson's help if the gatekeepers cared about all of America's people in the first place.

[Please approve this contribution because Hillary must be stopped]

Hillary Clinton is a bigot, she pretends to care about Black people only to use them to get into office.What she and Bill have been saying lately reveals what is truly in her heart.
I am a Democrat and I supported Obama and her, but no more. If this nation is foolish enough to nominate her, I will vote for a Republican, whoever that may be because she is not worth a decent American's vote.

I will never vote for a BIGOT and USER!!

[Sergio]

Now Mr. Bill Clinton is saying that Obama is not a Fairy Tale, now on the radio he says that is very real and an extraordinary person, a couple of days ago, just before the casting of votes he stated that Obama was the biggest fairy tale.
Mrs Hillary Clinton, she states to be a doer not a talker, well the reality is that just a single bill which was designed by Mr. Obama to fight the corruption and bribes in Washington, this single bill shows a path to real change which itself is probably a more profund in its nature than all the alleged bills that Hillary has passed ?? which still most of us democrats do not know which bills she passed. Can some one answer this???
Mr. Obama, is a fresh character in washington , not yet contaminated with cheap politics, but yet with a tremendous wisdom, and character, his records show that even before he was into politics he was working for the people that needed the most in Chicago. Mrs Clinton and Mr. Clinton are playing a dirty politics, there is no limits of they are capable of, they will try to discredit Mr. Obama, even if it takes to undermind the tremendous sacrificy made by extraordinary individuals like MR. MLK, even if it takes lying on public only to win the race they will do anything to gain the election, time and time again they both have shown the same capability to say that they together will do anything to achieve their goals. Lets remember this: Under Clinton Administration, which where 2 periods, nothing was done against Binladen, Even after Binladen Bombed the World Trade Center, Clinton did nothing about it, under the 2 periods nothing was done to fix the Health Care system, to overview the Big Corporations and their "fake big profits", No regrets about Clinton having fornications and disgracing the White House, Our White House, which is a symbol of America, he disgrased the privilege of being in our Whitehouse, and then lying about it under oath, saying he smoke marijuana but never inhaled, lies, lies, lies, Hillary's calculated move was to stay behind Bill because she knew that if she separated from Bill, her life as a politician most likely was over. Do we want a so calculated person that leaves her moral principles aside, the decision of right and wrong, just to follow her goals, is that the character that we need in Washington.
I don't think so.

[Nixon Benoit]

I could not believe that Hillary Clinton said the following: "Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act. It took a president to get it done."
This is totally unacceptable for Hillary Clinton to say. Black people across the nation should demands an official apology from her. She covers herself under the Democratic Party to gain African America support, and votes. However she does not represent the party ideology. I am afraid that she is just a racist, hypocrite and an opportunist who fooled the black community in the past. She was right when she said that she found her voice in New Hampshire thereafter. She does even have a modicum of restraint for our most respectable hero - A man who gave his life for the liberty of back people. I could not believe that she said the following: "Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act. It took a president to get it done."
Not only she is going to loose the votes of the black people in South Carolina, but also she is going to loose the black votes across the nation. The last time I remember checking the official US census, Black people accounts for about 12.8% of the population

[Carla Thomas]

Also, if you look at what has been said over and over again, The Clintons have been telling us that Barack Obama, isn't good enough to represent any race, or class of people. That is why this is so dishearten, the since of her” Entitlement" We don't owe anyone our vote, you must first earn it! This is how the American people are being pushed into voting for the Clinton's. What was done in the past is just that, the past! What matter now is what you have done lately! We need to know Hillary’s experience, and not Bill’s experience.

Has Hillary made any major changes since she has been in the "Senate" now, did she vote for the war and the Iran resolution, what bills has she passed that has helped the American people within the last 7 years. What makes you think that anything will change, does she have the ability to work across party lines.

From what I see so far we are being had, all talk and no action. So my point is this “We the People of the United States of America,” must judge for ourselves and not what anyone is willing to say, or do to get elected.

So, Hillary if we don't have unity instead we will still have divide, and then what good would it do to elect you!

So, if Obama can bring about change then we are better off going with a new way of thinking instead of having the same old thing and expecting different results equal the definition of Stupidity!

As, to race and the gender card being played it has been played all along by the Clinton. Example: I am a woman, I sorry that you don't like me, crying to get votes in NH, what does that say about what you are willing to do to get elected. Remember their is no crying in politics, state your case and move on.

OBAMA, he's smart, speaks well, inspirational, educated, young, black, but ask yourself this, does he point this out himself our do we. That is what the Clinton campaign is "Afraid” of. That you will take the time to look at him, and see what is really wrong with American, because he doesn't fit the stereotype of what white America really thinks about black people. That is the fear that the Clinton campaign is afraid that we will see in them. That is why they have been visages in their attacks on Obama, and are trying to dismiss him. So don’t be fooled by the Clinton’s or Karl Rove, they are both using the same playbook. “Attack, Attack, Attack, Dismiss, Dismiss, Dismiss, Blame, Blame, Blame, Destroy Destroy Destroy, Defeat, Defeat Defeat”! Then we the people LOOOOSE!!!!!

So, I ask you again we are free to choose the candidate of our own choice, but don't be fooled by what you see, or hear the Clinton say. Bill Clinton, hasn't never been a black president for black people, but rather the president of the United States of America. That IS the same opportunity that Barack Obama is asking of us too!

We don’t need petty insults of Martin Luther King Jr, or any other person who was willing to lay their life on the line for America to achieve the dream of equality!

To add food for thought; perhaps we all need to look deep within our own hearts and ask ourselves the one major question. Why would you first of all be so disrespectful to someone who only wants to have a set at the table? Barack Obama, no doubt must be pretty important. I would contributed this to his up bring, teaching, character, and the inspirational message of hope that he now brings us.

What compassion and strong conviction he must have to put himself out their for so many people to look at. That takes courage and the willingness to want to bring about change.

He isn’t an empty suite but most importantly a “Man” that has the courage to run for president, and to give apart of himself too, and for others. He has demonstrated these gifts of service through his community outreach efforts, community organizer, and his works within the Illinois house of representative, and now the senate. He has achieved many great accomplishments and will continue to achieve greater successes. I hope that he’ll be the next president of the United States of America!

But, one thing that I do know; if fear rules your mind and your heart, you will never be able to appreciate the efforts of others. The goal for each individual is to give more than you take from this life, and not the other way around.

[ESSENCE_07]

Hilliary is a very smart intelligent woman therefore, she understood exactly what she was intimating about Dr. Kings role in the passage of civil rights legislation. Hilliary was indeed race bating. Also, Bill Clinton disparaging remarks about Barack Obama are by design to intimate the mindset of the Jim Crow years had on African Americans ability to vote. Lending itself to the notion that Senator Obama is not qualified. No one is making this argument about Huckabee, Juliani, or Edwards. We need to accept that this is the same Jim Crow mindset that wanted Blacks to know how many bubbles are there in a bar of soap as a prerequisite to be eligible to vote.... Shame on you Bill Clinton. At least lets hope that Senator Obama will not commit adultery, and will not sex women in the oval office. Bill Clinton has no moral authority to speak on anyones state of mind.. After all his fairy tale escapade left a lot to be desired.

[Amin Rashid]

She won in Newhamshire because 1. She cried and 2. Bill Clinton took the floor in one seesion and went to town Obama taking questions after questions with clinical percision.

Bill was so good I thought he was the one running. In fact, If he is the one running for president, he'd win.

But the fact of the matter is, Bill helped his wife (who's viscious on one extreme and cries when her back is against the wall for sympathy) get the numbers back in the black and guess what? While other male candidates thanked their spouse ( who didn't do anything but watch) for their success), this woman didn't even bother thank hers ( who did a hell of a lot to reverse the situation to her advantage) Is this the kind of president the Americans want? You might as well put Bill's face on the Clinton ballot. Heck, even I'll run that campaign!

[Tommy Ates, Austin, TX]

Tony Starks,

You are exactly right! I knew that Obama's candidacy would become more difficult headed into South Carolina and the Deep South. Barack has no choice to play his race appeal to Democratic primary voters. The Clinton's dropping racial hints puts Obama into the racial prism outside of his "post-racial" appeal to liberal Whites. The Bradley effect takes over from there.

[Jon Hopwood]

Hillary's comments are valid as it took the consummate Congressional insider Jhnson to the get the deal done, something that JFK (whom many compared Obama to) could not do. Interestingly, and uncommented upon, is the fact that when LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he said that he had now lost the South for the Democratic Party. That is exactly what happened.

[Steve]

I am a white Obama supporter. I do not want the race card being played against anyone. It should not be an issue. I do not think Hillary's remarks were racist. I think the people that criticize her are racist. I hate it when white people get unfairly targeted, and painted racist. If you look at the world through racist glasses you can find racial symbolism everywhere, it is a distraction by ignorant people, and I think it is dangerous. While we are talking about something that happened 40+ years ago, the terrorists are trying to buy, smuggle, and detonate a nuclear bomb in the US. I think the Clintons are very supportive of African-Americans. The people who criticize her are little minded, pot stirring, race card playing, racist fools.

[Mwanasiasa]

I see nothing wrong with Hillary's comments. All she meant, I believe, was that words alone are enough; you need to show that what you say has some resemblence with what you have done. Let's be honesty, there is little to match between what Obama says and what he has done.

[Yvonne]

Can we stop talking about race? Geez, the United States is not made up only of white people.

And no, it took the people, especially Martin Luther King, Jr. to turn the tide of injustice. The Civil Rights movement certainly was NOT started by a President of the United States. Civil Rights is a people's movement.

[Juliet]

Her comment is illogical and has nothing to do with what Obama. Perhaps Obama should take to quoting LBJ. Then what would Hillary say? "Only a white man can enact change?" She's a jerk.

[Mike]

Hello,
First off, I am a HUGE fan of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I have read his books, his speeches bring tears to my eyes!

However, I do not think that progressive thinkers should fall into the tirade or taking what people say out of context and exaggerating! Hilary's comment was worded badly. Her speech writers/helpers must have thrown a fit when that statement came out of her mouth the way it did hahaha. But i certainly do not think it was meant to question Dr. Kings efforts and CERTAINLY NOT to say that it takes a "white" man to get it done. C'mon ppl, this is NOT what Dr. King would have wanted us to say about her! I dont think so.

What she said had validity. Dr. King put forth unspeakable efforts and had a heart the size of our nation with a brain twice as large as that! But to be taken to the next level, for a bill to be passed, it did take political backing! And Dr. Kings accomplishments were community based and the ability to INFLUENCE THOSE POLITICIANS THAT HE HAD TO!
Hilary was just stating the fact that it did take political backing to get his ideas in motion. In law.

Calm down ppl haha

[Emmanuel]

Personally, I think the comments were badly timed and irresponsibly. First of all I respect the achievements of HRC a lot, so this comment is not to discredit her, but sometimes we have to be careful what we say not to offend people of other races. What emerged initially that brought all this discussion what the idea that Obama was compared to JFK and MLK, as to whether it was Obama who compared himself or people that compared him to these individuals is not the issue, but the timing. If at a different occasion she had made such a comment it would have been a different issue, but that it was made at a time when a black or mixed race person was competing with her and actually causing her a lot of problems.

HRC in her statement made a point about JFK, but did not raise any issues with his achievements, but then it looks as if when she commented on MLK role she seemed to down play it, because the statement read to her was that without hope or the dream the movement would have dead off, because there will be no reason to fight for what the people wanted. Therefore, as far as LBJ was concerned there would be nothing to fight for. It is like saying without Ghandi; Indian would have got independence when it did, or without Kwame Nhrumah, Ghana would have got independence when it did. Basically it is all semantics; words can be twisted around for one’s own convenience.

Lastly, the most important point is that if that is not what she meant, why has HRC not come out to state it differently, by stating MLK achievement to the civil rights movement, as the statement actually had nothing to do with LBJ, as it was the two that were under discussion, JFK and MLK, how did LBJ come into the equation there. That is the issue right there, this view is without any racial prejudice, because it was these two great individuals that the issue was about in comparism to Obama, and don’t forget Obama is mixed race; therefore it is irrelevant to him whether it is JFK or MLK he is being compared to.

We can all go on and on to defend anyone we want, but know this I believe personally that HRC comments was not intended to undermine MLK role, but that is the implication, sometimes we don’t mean something, but that is what comes out, and it should be a lesson to her, when she attacks Obama in the future, I say this because HRC knows Obama is like by all people both white and Black, and in the days preceding the New Hampshire primaries it was quite clear that she was quite desperate, it is a mistake by her camp, but we shall all live to see the effects on what has transpired in the last few days, I think Obama is trying desperately to move away from it, as he know all it would do is to make him unpopular as he wants to unite all of American.

[Antonio]

I look at all these comments people are writing and I wonder, how old are these people who has so much to say, I was around during the time of the Civil Rights Act and without the help of the president then, we blacks would not have any say in this country, we would be still demostrating or dead. So all I have to say is stop talking about nothing, find out the facts and get up and vote for a real change on anyone who has a plan on how to correct this mess we are in.

[chioma]

Can we stop talking about race and focus on how to make the U.S.A a better place for everybody in it. can we learn to live together without thinking about skin color. I think obama or clinton will make a difference. pls stop all this and focus on the issue we are all children of god and god loves everybody equally. Martin luter king is my hero if he didnt help with his movement there would probably still be more racism.I found clintons remarks very upsetting that she feels the way she does but i did write to talk about her i worte b/c I want the world to change the way they feel about different races and together in harmony and peace.

[Seth Brown]

Well I was on the fence between Obama and Clinton...I'm for Obama now. ...Unless he does something stupid

[Sophia Prather]

Dr. Martin Luther King had a wonderful dream that was REALIZED by ALL BLACK people in the day and time of the civil rights movement. Okay, a president passed the civil rights act, but it would not have been an issue about civil rights if Dr. Martin Luther King would not have done everything that he did. You would not understand if you were a white person not having to go through the things that black people have gone through. So I am not saying that she is racist, just stupid and inconsiderate to the black race.

[Stephanie]

The fact of the matter is...that Clinton basically said that MLK didn't really do anything he just said it but the Presidents did it. That's just like saying "I thought about cooking the eggs, but my mama cooked them!" I think that is a bunch of bull crap. I didn't see the Presidents out there marching, and making speeches, or influencing other to get along. MLK did all of this himself. I didn't see a president by his side at all.

[Kwame Adu-Darkwa]

It is unfortunate that somehow people do manage to defend Clinton on this, especially elected officials who are supposed to have the adequate moral judgement.

By analogy we can also say that Nelson Mandela's dream of a free South Africa was made possible thanks to De Klerk, Ghandhi's fight for India's independence happened thanks to the Queen and that same analogy can be used for health insurance companies, drug companies etc.
These comments were not racist as far as I am comcerned as it came from a Clinton, but they were certainly naive, insensitive and denigrates every non-violent struggle against the Establishment. Mme Hillary Clinton was wrong to foward such comments and should apologize not to Barack Obama but to people whose parents and relatives have suffered and died for such noble causes.

[AJ]

Once again the history is undermined by horrendous politics. when will the U.S learn. MLK would be ashamed to see the way the whole Presidential election is acted out, let alone HC's ridiculous remarks

[LORI MUHA]

Yes Dr King was a great man and yes he had a dream and at that time his dream was being made by the people for the people not just for Blacks but also for whites. Without the support of the people which by the way LBJ is one of those people things could have not been done. Just because he's was a white president did not mean he did not care about Mr. Kings dream other wise as a president would have not took it to congress and had the Act done in 1964. It takes many people to make things change not just Mr King and a President. We the people stood up for what we believed it and supporter Mr. King and his dream. I dont feel Hillarey was saying that in a way to disrespect Mr. Kings dream and the man that he was but to support was the President did to hlp get that Act in the white house. Come people lets get real!!! Mr. King is and was a great man and he did his job by the hand of god. We as humans are to love, understand and have the faith Mr. King had for all of even Ms. Clinton. Stop going backwards and go AHEAD! It does not matter black or white it's who we the people feel can do this job. It's 2008 not 1964.

[Shannel for Obama]

African Americans were determined to see equality and the dream was put to action by African American (and those alike) shank's mare!

[Constance]

She is absoutely pathetic I HATE HER..Are you kidding me I mean noone needs her to make things happen she is idiot and help she doesnt when.

[Warsame Ali]

And she calls herself a democrat? Every revolutionary movement ALWAYS comes from the people. They are the one who struggle, fight and sometime die for freedoms cause.

Finally, some president may write it his signature on a peace of paper, but the movement always comes from the people!!

This was a calculated political attack. She basically placed barack in a black/white prism - now he's seen as only a black candidate.

Vote people!!

Edwards 08

[Salvador]

Her comment was completely taken out of content and misinterpreted and presented wrongly by the Barack camp. By the way am I the only person bothered by the fact that Obama is always imitating MLK's speech patterns. I can not stand that, he is so fake and phony. I will never vote for him, not because he is black but because he doesn't have any real experience, keeps lying about his scant record, and instead of telling us what he stands for he simply complains. I also don't want a president that whines all the time.

Go vote for Hillary and get past the spin from the Obama camp on her comments!

[John Iteshi]

I have since learnt that most of the so-called White progressives or leftists as they are often referred are mainly hypocrites who find it gratifying to patronise Black people. The Democrats have done little tangible things to show that they really believe more in equality principles. From my research on US political history, I have discovered that contrary to the generally held belief, the Republicans have actually cared more for Black people than the Democrats. To start with, Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. Under the present Republican government of President George W Bush, we have had the first and second Black secretaries of state in US history and several other Black individuals holding powerful positions in the government. Where is the truth of the general belief that Republicans hate Blacks. I am most proud of George Bush for appointing competent Black individuals based on their competence not based on sentiment as Democrats and their counterpart in the UK, the labour and Liberal Democrats would usually do.

[Chris Riccardi]

MLD did have a dream as well as others before him. He was just recognized for his efforts because he was assassinated. Hillary never stated "a white president" carried out the dream. Those who are racist took this comment the wrong way. If LBJ would have been black, she would have said the same thing. Thank God LBJ did create change. At least Hillary mentions God in her speeches compared to Obama. What religion is he, by the way, does anyone REALLY know? Read up on Obama's past religious values--he may be "intelligent" but without God, he's not the right man!