I've been expecting this for some time.  Via Politico:

Racial tensions roil Democratic race

A series of comments from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, her husband and her supporters are spurring a racial backlash and adding a divisive edge to the presidential primary as the candidates head south to heavily African-American South Carolina.

The comments, which ranged from the New York senator appearing to diminish the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement — an aide later said she misspoke — to Bill Clinton dismissing Sen. Barack Obama’s image in the media as a “fairy tale” — generated outrage on black radio, black blogs and cable television. And now they've drawn the attention of prominent African-American politicians.

“A cross-section of voters are alarmed at the tenor of some of these statements,” said Obama spokeswoman Candice Tolliver, who said that Clinton would have to decide whether she owed anyone an apology.

And here comes Obama's defenders:

Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones, a prominent Obama supporter, echoed those sentiments.

"It’s very unfortunate that the president would make a statement like that," he said of Bill Clinton's criticism of Obama's experience, adding that the African-American community had "saved his presidency" after the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

"They owe the African-American community — not the reverse," he said. "Maybe Hillary and Bill should get behind Sen. Barack Obama."

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., through a spokesman, used even stronger language. "Following Barack Obama's victory in Iowa and historic voter turnout in New Hampshire, the cynics unfortunately have stepped up their efforts to decry his uplifting message of hope and fundamental change. 

"Regrettably, they have resorted to distasteful and condescending language that appeals to our fears rather than our hopes. I sincerely hope that they'll turn away from such reactionary, disparaging rhetoric." 

...

The black blogosphere was even less diplomatic, with the widely read site MediaTakeOut calling Clinton’s comment on King “explosive” and the blog Jack and Jill Politics saying it “pretty much solidified the image that, whatever happened in the '90s, you are now some out-of-touch rich white folks.”

“There’s a concern about that kind of stuff — especially in the black community,” said Bill Perkins, a New York state senator who is among Obama’s leading supporters in Clinton’s home state. “The dynamic changed in New Hampshire, and all these little mistakes contribute to the general sense that this isn’t a mistake.”

Clinton’s supporters dismiss the hubbub as the Obama campaign’s strategy to woo African-American supporters in South Carolina.

“Some of the Obama people are clearly trying to use Hillary’s comments about Martin Luther King and distort them into something she did not say, which is outrageous,” said former Pennsylvania Rep. William Gray. “It’s a hot issue in South Carolina, and they’re spreading the word all over. I hope that the good senator will make sure that none of his people are doing that. We don’t need to have a debate about race or gender.”

Let the games begin.

The truth is that the players here are looking for excuses, and in the turmoil of an uncertain campaign, anything goes.

We'll have to wait and see how far it goes....

Nest to last word goes to Sister Toldjah: 

First things first, as ya’ll know, I’m no big defender of La Clinton. However, if you read her remarks, she’s pretty close to the mark - and the comments don’t sound racist at all. Both hers and her husband’s comments were made in the context of Obama outrageously comparing himself to JFK and MLK, with Hillary and Bill saying (in so many words) that yeah, MLK did great things, but in the end it took a president (LBJ) with experience to make those civil rights a reality … which was MLK’s goal in the first place.

That said, I don’t feel one ounce of sympathy for the false implied allegations of racism against her, not after what she and her party have done over the years to advance the myth that conservatives are nothing but cold-hearted racists, a vicious tactic liberal Democrats like Hillary Clinton have used routinely for shameless political purposes. I will never forget when Hillary Clinton, along with her husband, piled on during the Trent Lott/Strom Thurmond “praise comment” controversy about how what we heard from Trent Lott in his supposed “praise” of segregation was what the Republican part does on the “back roads” all the time. Here were Bubba’s exact reprehensible remarks:

NEW YORK (CNN) — Former President Clinton said Wednesday it is “pretty hypocritical” of Republicans to criticize incoming Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott for stating publicly what he said the GOP does “on the back roads every day.”

Here’s what Hillary spouted off at the time:

“If anyone thinks that one person stepping down from a leadership position cleanses the Republican Party of their constant exploitation of race, then I think you are naïve.”

And show of hands from anyone who thought the Obama campaign was above playing the race card in an attempt to gain traction against Hillary going into South Carolina later this month, where the NAACP’s economic boycott against SC over the Confederate Flag contoversy is still in effect, and where both Obama and Hillary both will be marching on January 21st in honor of MLK’s birthday, which will be reminiscent of the Selma march both Hillary and Obama walked in last February?

I take the last shot here from last March, reminding everyone of Hillary's southern fried speeches last year, and some of Obama's truth shortcuts where they both attempted to be all things to all people:

Hillary has earned a new nickname-  The Kentucky Fried Yankee.

In a speech in Selma Alabama this weekend, Hillary and Obama took a turn to the south in their focus, in their speeches- and in their accents.

Hillary, the Senator from New York adopted a noticeable southern drawl, as did Obama.

I can't say too much about it in outrage really, I have seen countless people do the same thing.  A southern accent is almost contagious.  In Gore's case it is hilarious.

But It bears noting that the only reason they did was to seem more earthy and appealing to that southern audience, making them Gasp!:

Politicians.

Go figure.

Obama may have pushed the truth buttons a little hard, evoking several images and stories, which were later shown to be false.  Reminds me of Gore in 2000 with the Internet claim and the union label song.  Not to mention his picking tobacco stories.

He excused it as speaking rhetorically.  You must appreciate the effective use of nuance, making him a Gasp!:

A Politician.

Next up for Hillary, a concentrated effort to get women involved in her campaign.

Again, no real surprises.  So why mention it?

Just keeping track of the exploits of the chosen ones.  I wonder if they are ready for the Goracle?

All things to all people.

Bottom line campers:  This is politics.

Trackposted to ST, Meme, Outside the Beltway, Rosemary's Thoughts, 123beta, Right Truth, Adam's Blog, Shadowscope, The Amboy Times, Cao's Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Allie is Wired, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, Stix, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate's Cove, Celebrity Smack, The Pink Flamingo, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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