Hillary Clinton Apologizes

[yardwork]

It's important to note that Clinton has stated that she "repudiates" Ferraro's comments. That's important. This is more than Barack Obama did in response to Donnie McClurkin's homophobic statements while McClurkin was emceeing an Obama event.

It's impossible for candidates to entirely control what everybody in their campaigns say. In this electronic world, it's easy to "catch" folks saying disgraceful things and then attribute those comments to the candidate they support. Let's not fall into that trap. Ferraro's comments were undeniably racist and unacceptable. She's resigned from Hillary's campaign and Hillary has publicly repudiate the statements. Let's move on.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/03/multiple_mea_cu.html

[yardwork]

1. The specific apology

Clinton told the National Newspaper Publishers Association that "I certainly do repudiate it and I regret deeply" remarks by Geraldine Ferraro, who caused an uproar by suggesting that Obama would not be where he is in the Democratic presidential race if he were a white man or a woman of any color.

[roguevalley]

27. fire ferraro. fire her or samantha should come back.

[yardwork]

35. Ferraro resigned yesterday.

[elixir]

56. No, Samantha is a monster.

[krkaufman]

50. the non-apology statement of repudiation and regret

I don't think there's any doubt that she regrets the comments, and am glad to hear her finally get around to repudiating them. But the apology is yet to come.

Exactly where in her statement did she say she was "sorry" or where she "apologized" to a person or group? Her statement was certainly conciliatory, in nature, but fell far short of an apology.

[Changenow]

2. No she didn't apologize

She rejected the comments, very different. Hillary never says she is sorry.

[yardwork]

3. "I certainly do repudiate it and I regret deeply."

That's an apology. That's as far as anyone can go - Hillary didn't make the statement. Ferraro did. Hillary says she repudiates it and regrets that it was said.

[Drachasor]

6. She should have said the comments were completely wrong and baseless

Her language is too soft.

[rodeodance]

12. Nothing would satisfy you would it. be honest.

[Drachasor]

16. I just said what would satisfy me!

Reading Comprehension: Get some.

[rodeodance]

26. no need to insult me--i read what you said--What is BO made an

apology and us Hillary fans said--no not good enough. we want more blood??




shame on you.

[Exilednight]

15. Reject and repudiate means nothing more than you don't agree, but she does.....

need to say she is sorry that due to the sheer fact that Ferraro was a member of him campaign.

On the other hand, Ferraro needs to apologize for her remarks.

[krkaufman]

46. Not an apology.

Her words were certainly conciliatory, but they did not constitute an apology. To whom, exactly, did she say she was "sorry" or to whom did she "apologize."

She repudiated Ferraro's comments and regretted them. This statement apologizes to no one.

[elixir]

57. Sounds like an apology to me.

[DarienComp]

4. "Sorry if you were offended"

is not an apology.

[yardwork]

5. That's not what she said.

[DarienComp]

8. That's exactly what she said.

"I want to put that in context. You know I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive," Hillary Clinton said.

http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_8554735

[Exilednight]

17. ouch

[DarienComp]

18. and no reply, I see.

Well, it was to be expected.

[yardwork]

29. That was in reference to Bill Clinton's comments, not Ferraro's.

How dishonest of you to switch the context of the comments. The exact quote:

Her biggest apology came in response to a question about comments by her husband, Bill Clinton, after the South Carolina primary, which Obama won handily. Bill Clinton said Jesse Jackson also won South Carolina when he ran for president in 1984 and 1988, a comment many viewed as belittling Obama's success.

"I want to put that in context. You know I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive," Hillary Clinton said. "We can be proud of both Jesse Jackson and Senator Obama."

And, what do you mean, "it's to be expected" that I don't respond to your lie immediately? I'm at work. And how do you know anything about me to "expect" anything? I'm not a Hillary supporter, if that is what you are ASSuming.

[krkaufman]

48. Ah, thank you. Dar's note was confusing me ...

... because I hadn't seen HC apologize whatsoever for GF's comments. Thanks for clearing it up.

[elixir]

59. Well done, Yardwork. I guess they don't ahve a reply to that.

[krkaufman]

47. (deleted)

[Raine]

55. Any "apology" that has *IF* Or *BUT* in it

is NOT an apology at all because it throws it back at the offended party as being too sensitive. The offender becomes the victim of someone who is too sensitive.x(

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. Accepted.

But this shit better stop.

[rodeodance]

13. Thank you. You are a good example --wish they all would.

[krkaufman]

49. Just as soon as HC apologizes, I expect many people would accept it.

The clock is still ticking...

[elixir]

60. MOnster.

[krkaufman]

66. I certainly wouldn't, and haven't, called her that, and I reject your doing so.

Even if her campaign tends to play one for TV.

[yardwork]

30. I agree - it had better stop right now.

It's bad enough watching the way Republicans behave. I am disgusted to see it from Democrats.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Damage is done. Now the GOP has picked up Geraldine's comments

and are using them against Obama--because a Democrat said it first, it must be OK, and TRUE!

[SeaLyons]

10. Agreed

Let's move on God's sakes.

[Exilednight]

20. I'm not letting a member of my party off the hook for the doing the work of repugs without a ....

true apology.

As DarienComp pointed out, she didn't truly apologize.

"sorry if you were offended" is not an apology.

"I want to put that in context. You know I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive," Hillary Clinton said.

[DarienComp]

21. Her original apology was even worse than that.

She did this mealy-mouthed semi-apology for inappropriate comments "on both sides". That's an O'Reilly apology, if you ask me.

[SeaLyons]

22. whatever!!!!

:puffpiece:

[DarienComp]

24. that's all you've got isn't it.

[DLnyc]

25. She was talking about something else there.

I believe those words had to do with Bill's comments about South Carolina. I am no fan of Hillary's, but this obsessive pounding on her for having had Ferraro on some committee is a little over the top. Read the whole speech. It was contrite and a good attempt to lower the level of vitriol. Now people here are as much "doing the work of repugs" as Ferraro did. Ferraro was an idiot for bringing up race in a volatile and offensive way. But taking her bait and continuing to pound Hillary is not exactly brilliant either. Sorry to jump on you, but a lot of people are doing it.

[elixir]

61. Keyboard vigilante, keeping DU posters on the straight and narrow.

[mtnsnake]

11. Thanks for posting this although I'm sure that half this place will find a way to trivialize it n/t

[yardwork]

31. Check.

:-)

[rodeodance]

36. yup---this is the 3rd post on this topic--most just come on board to say vile things.

[MethuenProgressive]

14. The DUbamas don't care she apologized. They'll continue to pretend to be outraged...

...until instructed to pretend to be outraged other the next "issue"

[quiet.american]

19. Your post sure doesn't help. nt

[rodeodance]

37. he only has to look at the posts from many obamafolk--(3rd thread on this)---his is spot on.

[quiet.american]

39. Not questioning whether accurate or inaccurate -- "DUbamas" just feeds the flames.

[DeadElephant_ORG]

53. Hey - give it a break - I didn't "pretend" outrage. I am outraged. And yes a repudiation helps.

[kdpeters]

23. I can certainly accept that much.

Ferraro's comments have been repudiated explicitly by Clinton and Ferraro has removed herself from the campaign. You're right. Now is the time to move on from the Ferraro flap...and that goes doubly for those who have continued to hang onto the McClurkin mess thus far. I think that whether or not Clinton's response amounts to "more than" Obama's response is in the eye of the beholder and likely colored by which candidate one supports. It's time to put both behind us. They've been dealt with as much as we can or should expect. One can only hope that each campaign has learned something from each of their respective mistakes.

[yardwork]

32. Why does it go "doubly" for those offended by McClurkin's comments?

And why isn't ever Democrat offended by McClurkin's comments?

[kdpeters]

58. Because it's been lingering around more than twice as long ...

Come on. I'm trying to meet you in the middle here and you're pouncing on a single word choice.

[Levgreee]

28. She only told the National Newspaper Publishers Association, once again, she doublespeaks

she'll say she's sorry when she has to, when she's in front of leaders of black newspapers, but, in front of the whole nation, in an official campaign manner, she won't reject the remarks.

I still don't see her apology to everyone. I see an apology to a smaller group of people... perhaps she 'hopes' the rest of the nation will pick up, but that is definitely not the case. It's easy to make everyone read/hear your apology, if you want, and she hasn't made sure everyone hears it.


It's like saying it's fine, if a person offends a whole school, and they apologize in front of one class, they have apologized to everyone... when they obviously avoided the loudspeaker where they could've easily told everyone.

[yardwork]

33. Speeches like this are "an official campaign manner."

Candidates don't get to preempt local programming to give a speech to the nation. Their campaigns are made up of speeches like this to various groups, issued by invitation. This counts. Hillary has officially apologized for Ferraro's comments.

[rodeodance]

34. Did BO come out and apologize on national TV?---did he?

[Levgreee]

38. Most surely, whenever asked... I do know Powers resigned immediately, and herself gave a sincere

apology. Having a resignation and letter of apology, is about as apologetic as a person, and the campaign they represent, can get. The Obama campaign was completely apologetic for the remark, they are in the clear.

Clinton did not sever the links after Ferraro's remark, and when she responded initially to the comment, all she said was "she disagreed". That is avoiding an apology, or distancing from the remarks.

Clinton dodged, Obama didn't. And Ferrara's comments are worse than Powers, even. Apologizing to a small group, but making a weak remark of "I disagree" on national TV, does not mean Clinton is sincerely being apologetic.

[rodeodance]

40. I asked if BO himself made a Public apology.---

[Levgreee]

41. Yes, he did so by having Powers resign immediately and having her issue an apology

saying what she said was regretful and distancing himself and his campaign from the comment by having her resign, instead of taking a weak stance on it.

Nothing more needs to be done, but Hillary did none of this.

[rodeodance]

42. But very good that Hillary herself comes out to make a public apology.

[From The Left]

43. When will she "apologize" for her Iraq war vote???

[denem]

44. Thats the point:: This IS and an opology from a woman who doesn't aplologize.

It's significant.

[Levgreee]

45. But why not apologize in front of a larger group? Why have weak rhetoric in front of 99% of people

and only strong rhetoric in front of black newspaper editors?

[From The Left]

64. Huh?

[Catherina]

51. Where's the apology?

"I want to put that in context. You know I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive," Hillary Clinton said. "We can be proud of both Jesse Jackson and Senator Obama."


"I certainly do repudiate it and I regret deeply that it was said. Obviously she doesn't speak for the campaign, she doesn't speak for any of my positions, and she has resigned from being a member of my very large finance committee."


I deeply regret that it was said? LMAO.

[SKKY]

52. Why can't a political candidate just come out and say....

..."Look, I absolutely do not condone, support, not share any of the opinions expressed by Geraldine. I have spoken to Geraldine today and expressed my dissatisfaction at her remarks. On behalf of me and my campaign, I would certainly like apologize for these comments, and furthermore I have asked Geraldine to step-down from her position in my campaign."

[DeadElephant_ORG]

54. that would be much better. yes.

[NastyRiffraff]

62. And it would be better still if she..

rends her garments and slashes her wrists, right?

[jenmito]

63. "Sorry IF anyone was offended" about Bill's remarks and went on to repeat what Bill said.

:eyes:

[milkyway]

65. The "tell": the day after the controversy started Ferraro came back with more controversial remarks:

"They're only attacking me because I'm white."

By this time her comments had created quite a controversy and generated a lot of public attention. Undoubtedly, somebody high up in the campaign, if not Clinton herself, would have spoken with her if they had disapproved of her comments. Yet Ferraro came back the next day with another controversial comment, claiming she's a white person being victimized by blacks--speaking to, and for, every pissed off white person who thinks they haven't gotten a job, or accepted to a college, because of the lucky blacks who have been given everything without having to work for it.

Why was Ferraro not told to cool it after the controversy had started? Did no one from the campaign speak with her? If so, was this intentional, to let her know they approved of what she was doing, or was it an oversight and yet more evidence that Clinton is a terrible manager?

Ferraro's initial comments may have been spontaneous, but certainly her subsequent comments came with the approval of the campaign, whether directly or indirectly.

[From The Left]

67. When Will She Say, "I'm Dropping Out of the Race?"