PrintJanuary 10, 2008
Hillary, 'spadework,' and Democrats
It seems that Hillary Clinton Campaign's recently use of the racially charged term "spadework" on the Today Show in referring to Sen. Obama was not a one time event.
Back on July 24, 2007, the Clinton campaign attacked Sen. Obama for his remarks during a debate where he stated he would be willing to meet with leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea. In a post-debate rebuttal of Sen. Obama, reported by CBS, a member of Sen. Clinton's inner circle had this to say:
"I would think that without having done the diplomatic spadework, it would not really prove anything," former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said in a conference call with reporters set up by the Clinton campaign.
Hillary has been said to have a political "tin ear" earlier in this campaign, but she and her senior people chose their words very carefully, particularly in press releases and television appearances. This was an obvious unvarnished racial message, insulting an accomplished black man. The repeated use of it is not a coincidence. So much for gratefulness for years of black voter loyalty.
I believe it was Brent Scowcroft who paraphrased Oscar Wilde by stating that, in politics, a friend is someone who stabs you in the front. The African-American community has just been stabbed in the front twice by the wife of "the first black president." I would propose Sen. Clinton can make amends for this breach of faith with the black community in only one way: an affirmative action set-aside.
In keeping with Democratic party ideals and practices, Sen. Clinton should step aside and let Sen. Obama have her delegates. After all, the Democratic Party asks white firefighters and bank clerks to step aside for affirmative action to make up for hundreds of years of slavery and Jim Crow Laws, and those regular working people haven't insulted anyone in the press by making racially charged references to "spadework." It is only fair (no, I'm not auditioning as a Democrat speechwriter) and justice will only be served if Sen. Clinton resigns from the presidential primaries now. She owes it the people who have loyally supported her party for so many years in their struggle for equality. They deserve a chance at the brass ring.
What I just suggested will obviously not likely happen. However, as Sen. Clinton keeps aggressively attacking Sen. Obama, in ways considered by the public both fair and not so fair - and if she wins the nomination - a significant number of black people just may decide that they have better places for their hand on November 4th than on the Hillary Clinton lever in a voting booth.
In keeping with Democratic party ideals and practices, Sen. Clinton should step aside and let Sen. Obama have her delegates. After all, the Democratic Party asks white firefighters and bank clerks to step aside for affirmative action to make up for hundreds of years of slavery and Jim Crow Laws, and those regular working people haven't insulted anyone in the press by making racially charged references to "spadework." It is only fair (no, I'm not auditioning as a Democrat speechwriter) and justice will only be served if Sen. Clinton resigns from the presidential primaries now. She owes it the people who have loyally supported her party for so many years in their struggle for equality. They deserve a chance at the brass ring.
What I just suggested will obviously not likely happen. However, as Sen. Clinton keeps aggressively attacking Sen. Obama, in ways considered by the public both fair and not so fair - and if she wins the nomination - a significant number of black people just may decide that they have better places for their hand on November 4th than on the Hillary Clinton lever in a voting booth.
(Jack Kemp is not the politician of the same name.)
