Black leader flays Bill Clinton’s remarks on Obama

Clinton was widely criticised by black leaders after he equated the eventual victory of Obama in South Carolina in January to that of the Rev Jesse Jackson in 1988 a parallel that many took as an attempt to diminish Obama’s success in the campaign.

In a radio interview in Philadelphia on Monday, Clinton defended his remarks and said the Obama campaign had “played the race card on me” by making an issue of those comments.

In the interview with the Times late yesterday, Clyburn said Clinton’s conduct in this campaign had caused what might be an irreparable breach between the former President and an African-American constituency that once revered him.

“When he was going through his impeachment problems, it was the black community that bellied up to the bar,” Clyburn said. “I think black folks feel strongly that this is a strange way for President Clinton to show his appreciation.”