At Clinton Rally, Talk of Breaking Barriers - and Those Awkward White House Years

Elizabeth Smith holds a photograph of Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) as she attends a campaign rally at Wait Chapel on the Wake Forest University campus April 18, 2008 in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Getty Images)
By Perry Bacon Jr.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Appearing with African American author Maya Angelou, Hillary Clinton not only praised Barack Obama, but said the pair's candidacies helped break barriers for any American seeking the Oval Office.
"Because of what we are doing, I honestly believe we have broken one of those invisible barriers ... never again will any little boy or girl in America not believe that he or she -- black, white, brown, whatever -- cannot grow up to be president," Clinton told a crowd of more than a thousand at Wake Forest University Friday evening. "Because that is now over. We have created that possibility in this moment of time."
"Barack and I are instruments of this historical happening," she added, "but it is much deeper and broader than both of us."
While Clinton has before noted both she and Obama are surprising candidates, her tone was more optimistic, particularly in a week when she and Obama have exchanged sharp charges. Whether either has overcome racial or gender differences remains to be seen, particularly following a debate this week in which Obama was asked about controversial racial statements by his pastor and reminded audiences of Clinton's remarks in 1992 about not wanting to spend her life at home baking cookies.
While the audience was mostly white, Angelou, who delivered a poem at former president Bill Clinton's first inauguration, noted her own daughter backs Obama. Clinton usually avoids sharp criticism of her rival with black audiences.
But in the midst of a question and answer session with the audience at an event where Clinton seemed unusually relaxed, a topic came up she did not want to address.
A woman who was given the microphone for a question started with "Hillary, I love you, I always have and I always will."
Then she added, "I felt so sorry for you when, you know, Bill had his affair," said the woman, leading to loud gasps even as she continued her question.
"And I know nobody wants to talk about it, but I felt very sorry. But I think now the best way to overcome it is to become president."
Without Clinton saying a word, the woman then moved to her question, namely who Clinton would pick as vice-president. The senator from New York focused on the latter half of the the woman's comments, saying she could not talk about who she would pick as a running mate because she had not won the nomination.
Posted at 10:20 AM ET on Apr 19, 2008
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Posted by: Luke Anderson | April 20, 2008 11:43 PM | Report abuse
Questions ABC should have asked Mrs. Clinton:
1. Senator Clinton, you have been sleeping and keeping house with a known adulterer who also lied with his hand on the Bible. Why have you not denounced and rejected him? Does this mean that you approve of, even are yourself an adulterer? Why have you no respect for and do not believe in the Bible?
2. You kept your chief strategist, Mark Penn, on your payroll, although he had been working to pass free trade agreements with Columbia, also you continue to remain married to Bill, who also received $900,000 for such support, and millions more from China, Saudi Arabia, etc, known breakers of human rights and for China now with aggression against the Tibetan people. Are you therefore really for free trade and approve of China's and other nations' bad human rights record? Are you in fact a free trader and dictator at heart? Why have you not denounced and rejected Mark Penn and Bill Clinton?
3. Your daughter works for a hedgefund company on Wall Steet. Are you therefore a candidate for a hedgefund front and will take Wall Street over Main Street and over blue-collar workers? Why have you not denounced and rejected your daughter, Chelsea?
The ABC debate was disgusting--it was like watching a set-up/ambush/lynching of Senator Obama with the three on the stage doing a mob attack. It was more like a bunch of hoodlums against one honest man, with Hillary slugging him from behind. I am a senior citizen feminist who will never vote for Mrs. Clinton. Hillary believes she is entitled to her husband's ex-job, but most Americans dislike and distrust her, and on good evidence. We've watched Hillary lie with a smile on St Patrick's Day about coming under sniper fire in Bosnia. Watched her smile as she knee-caps Obama with distortions on words taken out of context. Watched her smile as she lies to blue collar workers about NAFTA and about her working class identity, she of the multimillions from shady off-shore corporations and with a Yale law-school degree put to the service of union-busting Wal-Mart. Senator Obama shows restraint and class in steering away from negative attacks on her, and whoa! is there a pile of *hit on record with the Clinton dynasty. Pardons in exchange for payback from criminals, Saudi millions for the Clinton Foundation, hundreds of thousands for support of the Colombian free trade treaty, etc, etc. Hillary cries for the camera to get the sister votes, chugs down whiskey chased with beer for the machismo barflies, and keeps intimate company with an impeached president caught lying with his hand on the Bible about not having sex with that woman. What does her sleeping with a proven adulterer and lying-under-oath President say about the company she keeps? The more we watch Hillary, the more we distrust her. The more we know Obama, the more he becomes our candidate to change dynastic business as usual in Washington. We citizens of the American Republic denounce and reject the Clinton dynasty. We want our democracy back.
Posted by: lyn | April 20, 2008 11:36 PM | Report abuse
Now he is the Anti-Christ???!!!!. Are you THAT afraid of people that are not like you? It is unbelievable that you can be so ignorant.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 20, 2008 7:48 PM | Report abuse
Role Model for Children - Obama
A few days ago Obama gave the 'finger' to Hillary on national television and smugly laughed about it with his audience. Is this type of malicious immaturity what you want your children to learn: lack of tolerance, vengeance and the bully mentality? After that one event, besides the mindless and uneducated, how could anyone seriously consider this Obama for any office?
Also, Obama's state-senate candidacy was launched at Weather Underground bombers Ayers house in 1995. Ayers who advocates the violent destruction of America may have much more to do with promoting Obama than we know. The organization MoveOn has aggressively intimidated delegates to vote for Obama and to shun Hillary and is likely closely connected with Ayers. Ayers finally got his bomb - Obama.
Obama also rigged his election to become senator by unfairly disqualifying his opponents. He did this by meticulously finding fault with each of the other candidates signed petitions until each of the contenders had to drop out, Obama was the last one standing, there was no election. This was another finger gesture towards the American public by Obama.
If this isn't enough, look at Obama's affiliations:
Wright
Meeks
Ayers
Abongo "Roy" Obama
Rashid Khalidi
Robert Malley
Hamas
McPeaks
Rezko
Auchi
And the list goes on...
This may be the time of the Anti-Christ, but do you want to be on the list of people who voted for him?
Posted by: Natalie Martarn | April 20, 2008 3:02 PM | Report abuse
-----CLINTON SLEEZE FATIGUE WILL INVIGORATE GOP, DISPIRIT DEMOCRATS AND SINK DEMOCRATIC TICKET-----
-----OBAMA / KERRY TO WIN-----
It is possible that Senator Clinton is the best candidate. However, even though many may like the policies that Senator Clinton proposes, they should also consider her record, just as Senator Clinton insists.
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The last Clinton Administration, when faced with the fact that protection rackets where assaulting, torturing and murdering people with poison and radiation, chose to avoid its responsibilities to incarcerate the criminals and to protect the citizenry.
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Instead, they made a deal with the criminal gang stalker protection rackets to leave them alone and to consequently abandon the citizenry.
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Do we want a President who sells out the citizenry for votes?
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Do we want a President who sends a "crime does pay" message to society?
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Would you vote for a President who signed nonaggression deals with the KKKlan or the Nazi party? Gangs that torture with poison and radiation are much like the KKKlan and Nazi Party.
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We do not need a sellout President. We need a principled leader President.
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If you are one of the few who do not know what the above refers to, do a web search for "gang stalking" to see the tip of the dirtberg. Please do it before you decide to reply to my post. Here let me make it easy for you: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22gang+stalking%22.
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Posted by: avraam jack | April 20, 2008 10:00 AM | Report abuse
NO TO OBAMA.
We had it with him. He can no say Bill Clinton was bad President. NO NO NO.
NO TO OBAMA.
Posted by: Mrs. Rivera | April 19, 2008 11:43 PM | Report abuse
We don't even listen to the Obama ads on tv anymore. First off, there are too many of them and secondly, they aren't exactly representative of that new kind of politics he keeps promising to bring to Washington. We think he's a total empty-suit who will be, at best, a mediocre figure-head kind of President if he gets elected. We will vote for Hillary. At least she knows what hard work is all about and she can take a punch with the best of them.
Let's take our country back everyone!
Posted by: Mel | April 19, 2008 11:41 PM | Report abuse
My wife and I will be voting for Senator Clinton because we have, unfortunately, lost all trust in Senator Obama. We've been inundated with his ads all day and evening long and they are absolutely negative ads against Hillary, and the reason we supported him in the first place was because he vowed he would not run a negative campaign. We also gave him two hundred dollars that we had to save up for.
It's just money and I don't care about that so much, but I do care very much that Senator Obama turned out to be a complete disappointment.
Posted by: Tom and Barb | April 19, 2008 11:35 PM | Report abuse
All "Democrats" who consider voting for McCain because :a. Obama does not get the nomination or b. Clinton does not get the nomination, are not democrats in the first place.
Posted by: Bob | April 19, 2008 11:11 PM | Report abuse
DON'T BE DUPED !!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. With Hillary Clinton you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. "Carpe diem" (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see's a beautiful world of plenty for all. She's a woman, and a mother. And it's time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children's future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don't want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama's. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON'T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton's have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton's. Only the Clinton's are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
"This is not a game" (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith... Working Class :-)
Posted by: jacksmith | April 19, 2008 8:27 PM | Report abuse
MY FELLOW "BITTER", STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE :-)
If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of "BITTER"!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)
Best regards
jacksmith... Working Class :-)
p.s. You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...
You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)
Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. And I could go on, and on...
Posted by: jacksmith | April 19, 2008 8:26 PM | Report abuse
Hillary Clinton's candidacy has less to do with women and more to do with end-running the Constitution and celebrity politics. I cannot think of a single time that I have heard her say anything that had an inspirational touch. Its been "Make me the first woman president!" Thats not breaking barriers; its one person's quest for fame.
Posted by: M. Owen | April 19, 2008 7:22 PM | Report abuse
Personally, I do not care if Hillary bashes or praises Obama or McCain.
BUT, when 'THAT woman' alienates or threatens the whole world in the process does scare me.
Her China bashing, personal attacks on Putin and Medvedov, talks about massive retaliation against anyone who attacks Israel or withdrawal of troops from Iraq in 60 days regardless of the consequences, Bosnia story, etc. - are really not funny.
Perhaps she should see Dr. Phil before she says another word.
Posted by: Eva | April 19, 2008 1:47 PM | Report abuse
How about the Clintons breaking barriers with some family counseling on Dr. Phil? They can start on issues like ego, lesbians, money and the pursuit of happiness.
Posted by: Matt | April 19, 2008 1:16 PM | Report abuse
Hillary, stop pandering already! You try to scorch Obama; now you praise him. Go back to the Senate well and work on some meaningful legislation.
Posted by: black and Bitter like Coffee | April 19, 2008 12:44 PM | Report abuse
Why doesn't anybody ever ask good old Bill why he disgraced the office of the presidency? Why don't they ask him how he could have put his wife and daughter in such a publicly humiliating position. And how about asking him about why he lied time after time to the American people? You could follow up with questions about the repugnant possiblity about an impeached president and disbarred lawyer representing this country as first (ugh!!!) "gentleman".
Posted by: Sueb2 | April 19, 2008 12:25 PM | Report abuse
The only barrier Hiliar-ry has broken thus far is low depths to which she will stoop, to get her entitlement.
Posted by: tydicea | April 19, 2008 12:13 PM | Report abuse
True of False? Was Hillary Clinton Fired from Watergate Investigation for Unethical Misconduct and Then Lying About It?
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Did her boss in the Watergate investigation fire her, refuse to give her a letter of recommendation and said she was a liar who did highly unethical things?
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Does her boss say that she conspired to violate the Constitution, the rules of the House, the rules of the committee and the rules of confidentiality, that she was an unethical and dishonest lawyer; that he should have reported her to the bar association for disciplinary action; that she wrote a fraudulent legal memorandum which if submitted to a judge would have gotten her disbarred; and that he could not recommend her for any subsequent position of public or private trust?
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Check it out for yourself at the websites below, what do you think?
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http://www.jzeifman.com/
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/hillarys-crocodile-tears-in-connecticut
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If it is not true, wouldn't the Clintons' have shut these sites down?
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Posted by: swuzy | April 19, 2008 11:03 AM | Report abuse
Speaking of breaking through barriers. Will she be able to break through this one;
Obama vs Clinton-
Social Bookmarking Sites & the Web:
http://newsusa.myfeedportal.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=83
Posted by: Dave | April 19, 2008 10:32 AM | Report abuse
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I am a Minnesotan, an independent voter who supported and voted Ron Paul in the primary and I am adamant on returning our troops home from Iraq. I have never in my life voted for a Democratic presidential candidate.
Now that Congressman Paul is apparently out of the race, it looks like my choice will be between McCain on one hand and either Clinton or Obama on the other.
If Obama is the Democratic nominee, I will vote for him. He treats the public as intelligent adults and I have listened to his speeches (especially the New York address on financial policy) where I have found his positions to be rational and surprisingly moderate.
Despite McCain's detestable position on Iraq, I would easily vote for him over Senator Clinton for one simple reason:
I CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT OF YOUNG AMERICANS GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE IN 2012 HAVING KNOWN NO PRESIDENT OTHER THAN A "BUSH" OR A "CLINTON."