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Dick Morris: If not for Sen. Clinton, Americans would be afraid of "the first black man ... running for president"

April 10, 2007 5:42 pm ET

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Appearing on the April 9 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, syndicated columnist Dick Morris, referring to Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), said: "You have to ask yourself, the first black man is running for president and nobody's afraid of him, because everybody's afraid of Hillary." Host Sean Hannity replied, "Well, that's pretty interesting." Morris gathered this conclusion from a new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll in which 26 percent of respondents reported that they would be "scared" if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) were to "become the next president," while 11 percent said the same of Obama.

From the April 9 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:

COLMES: Well, a new Fox poll shows that most Americans think the next person to move into the White House will, in fact, be a Democrat. But there's one Democrat in particular that frightens the American people more than the others. Is there? Well, that person: Hillary Clinton. Twenty-six percent of the people polled are scared of her becoming president. What do these numbers really mean for her candidacy? Joining us now, former Clinton adviser Dick Morris. I have a feeling he was polled on this.

[...]

MORRIS: But you know, back to your question of scared. You have to ask yourself, the first black man is running for president and nobody's afraid of him, because everybody's afraid of Hillary.

HANNITY: Well, that's pretty interesting.

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    • Author by worrierking (April 10, 2007 5:47 pm ET)
         

      Not all Americans are afraid of women. Not all Americans are afraid of someone whose skin is different than their own.

      But those "Great Americans" (Bedwetters-R_US) who appear regularly on the Fox Opinion are afraid.

      And can someone explain how Morris's statement and the fact that Hannity responded to it as if it were sane is not considered a racist comment?

      Report Abuse
      • Author by soros (April 10, 2007 5:57 pm ET)
           

        "Not all Americans are afraid of women."

        Americans are not afraid of a woman president, period.   What they are afraid of is Hillary Clinton, not because she is a woman but because she is the master politician.  Masters of the politic like Hillary leave truth and honesty by the wayside and will say anything, do anything and pander to the voters in the sleaziest ways to fulfill her selfish ambitions.   That is what americans are afraid of.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by funnymanpants (April 10, 2007 6:32 pm ET)
             

          You must have reached this conclusion the same way Morris reached his: by just making up somthing that sounded good to you.

          Report Abuse
        • Author by Kaleun (April 10, 2007 7:07 pm ET)
             

          O'Really? And what are Bush and Rove doing? Bending the truth? Unless you can prove when exactly senator Clinton was lying, I'm going to assume it's because she is a women.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by soros (April 10, 2007 7:51 pm ET)
               

            Bush & Rove don't lie, they adjust the reality distortion field that surrounds them like forcefield and the wingnut media spins it to create a "new truth."

            Now for Hillary.   Let me quote what Hillary said about the impending invasion of Iraq in 2003, 

            " There is a very easy way to prevent anyone from being put into harm's way, that is for Saddam Hussein to disarm. And I have absolutely no belief that he will. I have to say that this is something I've followed for more than a decade. If he were serious about disarming, he would have been much more forthcoming. I ended up voting for the resolution after carefully reviewing the information, intelligence that I had available, talking with people whose opinions I trusted, tried to discount the political or other factors that I didn't believe should be in any way a part of this decision. I would love to agree with you, but I can't based on my own understanding and assessment of the situation. "

            Now let's examine what she is saying in 2007 about her decision to vote for authorization of the Iraq invasion.

             " I said that we should not go to war unless we have allies. So he took the authority that I and others gave him and he misused it, and I regret that deeply. And if we had known then what we know now, there never would have been a vote and I never would have voted to give this president that authority.  "

            She's singing a new song these days.. blame Bush and peddle her new line of b.s. on the voter.   She hopes you'll forget what she said just a few years ago, she's depending on it.. go ahead and slurp it up if you want.

            Report Abuse
            • Author by soros (April 10, 2007 8:05 pm ET)
                 

              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_KEWUU33Lg

              Hillary, 2003.  Enjoy.

              Report Abuse
              • Author by valentinian (April 10, 2007 9:20 pm ET)
                   

                You had me at "reality distortion field."

                Report Abuse
                • Author by HuntingtonBeachLefty (April 11, 2007 12:37 pm ET)
                     

                  Val, you,re pretty damn funny lately. Making up for the conspicuously absent Rusty Shackleford. thanks.

                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by valentinian (April 11, 2007 12:53 pm ET)
                       

                    Yeah, where is Rusty? I always felt that I would be better off posting less and just letting Rusty say what I thought far better than I evercould...

                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by HuntingtonBeachLefty (April 11, 2007 1:11 pm ET)
                         

                      Lot of good posters here, but along with the main purpose of this site, I appreciate all the laughs (you, neon, worrierking, others), not to mention the unintentionally hilarious dittohead posters. 

                      Report Abuse
                    • Author by solon (April 11, 2007 2:36 pm ET)
                         

                      Where is Rusty? I miss him. The guy has realy style

                      Report Abuse
                      • Author by worrierking (April 11, 2007 3:06 pm ET)
                           

                        I miss him too. He did say he was going to be taking the plunge soon. Maybe he's on his honeymoon.

                        Report Abuse
                        • Author by Pithaughn (April 11, 2007 3:13 pm ET)
                             

                          He's out camping with Hank and Bobby, recharging his batteries, catching up on his nicotine uptake.

                          Report Abuse
            • Author by Kaleun (April 11, 2007 7:38 am ET)
                 

              But are her two statements really mutually exclusive? Everyone was citing allies, and Bush kept saying there were enough...

              Report Abuse
            • Author by hollowdog (April 11, 2007 10:12 am ET)
                 

              It looks to me like you're vindicating Clinton. When she said, " I ended up voting for the resolution after carefully reviewing the information, intelligence that I had available."

              To me that mirrors her statement, "And if we had known then what we know now, there never would have been a vote and I never would have voted to give this president that authority."

              In all reality, it comes down to Bush, Cheney and Rove hand-picking intelligence (and making some up) and presenting it to the congress and the UN.  They fooled a lot of people (including Clinton, which she admits here) and they, unfortunately, continue to fool about 30% of America.

               Why anybody still believes anything that comes out of this White House is beyond me.

              Report Abuse
        • Author by valentinian (April 10, 2007 7:22 pm ET)
             

          So let's hear it for the brave American people, who polls consistently show prefer Hillary Clinton over all comers.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by redking75687 (April 11, 2007 1:26 am ET)
               

            You can't say that reflects well on the American people. She's hardly a paragon of liberal virtue. Just shows that Americans tend to be very gullible and easily led by brand loyalty. I could run a country far better than she ever could. I just don't have the politico's talent for schmoozing with the big money. We don't elect the best and brightest, we elect those who are best at begging money and selling influence from the rich.

            Report Abuse
            • Author by valentinian (April 11, 2007 12:22 pm ET)
                 

              No, I think most people just looked at the list and pick the name they recognise. If Noelle Bush was running, I'm sure she'd be in the high double digits.

              I'm only voting for Hillary if it's mad close in California and her opponent is McCain or Duncan Hunter or Hannibal Lecter. Otherwise I am spending Election Day in a series of bars. 

              Report Abuse
      • Author by duncan12347948 (April 10, 2007 5:59 pm ET)
           

        Hannity and Morris are kooks.

        Bill was the first black President any way.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by wzwriter (April 12, 2007 2:39 pm ET)
           

        Dick Morris and Sean Hannity should be getting the Don Imus treatment right now.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by dave_chicago (April 10, 2007 5:56 pm ET)
         

      A seemingly bewildered Morris proclaims: "...nobody's afraid of [Obama]"

      Projecting much, Mr. Morris? 

      Report Abuse
    • Author by mr. l (April 10, 2007 6:10 pm ET)
         

      #22: Which is most like former president Reagan? Answer: Who cares? #36: Should grass roots groups control your party? Answer: No, please leave that to Big oil and the pharmacuticals. And as to that 'scared' question... the scale goes from enthusiastic, pleased, nuetral, displeased, scared. Now. i don't know about you, but I feel the last one would be more appropiately labled 'angry', or, maybe even 'bitter'... Next Fox poll may just end it with 'HORRIFIED!!!'

      Report Abuse
    • Author by nerzog (April 10, 2007 6:16 pm ET)
         

      What do the Troglodytes fear most...an uppity woman or an uppity black man?

      Report Abuse
      • Author by eweston8542983 (April 10, 2007 6:48 pm ET)
           

        Fear is their stock and trade. Fear Gore, Fear Kerry, Fear liberals,Democrats, and progressives in general. Fabricate a fuzzy guard of rhetroric, and shout, "We'll save you!" I'm speaking of folks in favor of a homegrowm tyranny. Its been sucessful before. Why change now? 

        Report Abuse
    • Author by neondesert (April 10, 2007 6:21 pm ET)
         

      Hannity's comment parsed:

      Thank you Dick for that enlightening, completely made up, and hardly plausible analysis of the dynamics beyond that poll question of which you have no comprehension.  It furthers the republican agenda and because it was stated here as an offhand opinion cannot be challenged, nor used against you as evidence of your complete disconnect with reality.  Side by side, you almost make me look logical.  I look forward to having you on my show to spew more uninformed opinions about this as I attempt to drag the subject out for the next week or so.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by jrundin (April 10, 2007 6:22 pm ET)
         

       

      What amazes me about pundits like this who just pull things out of their butts is that they have the arrogance to assume that everyone thinks just like them.

       I think that Morris really thinks that his own morbid obsession with the Clintons is held by everyone.

       Tim Russert and Chris Matthews seem to work on the same principle. 

       These people don't have to investigate how people feel. They, from their well-paid perches, just intuit it psychically like some awesome oracle. 

       

       

      Report Abuse
      • Author by HuntingtonBeachLefty (April 10, 2007 6:45 pm ET)
           

        I think Dick Morris speaks to an audience made up of people like the CAPSLOCK QUEEN who has been posting here the last couple days.

        They can't even conceive of the possibility that everybody isn't as racist/homophobic/ terrified of everything slightly different than the world inside their little bubble.

        The assumption is that everybody is as screwed up as they are, the rest of us just aren't honest enough to admit it.

        Or we're too "PC".

        Report Abuse
      • Author by draftedin68 (April 10, 2007 6:58 pm ET)
           

         

        Speaking of "morbid obsession"...

        I'm guessing Hillary never wore sandals and certainly never went barefoot when Dick was around.

         

        Report Abuse
      • Author by MNmommy (April 11, 2007 10:49 am ET)
           

        Why does Chris Matthews hate Hillary Clinton so much?  Yeesh, the disdain that drips off of him when he refers to her oozes off my TV screen.  Even Tucker is more respectful of her.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by wesley (April 10, 2007 6:25 pm ET)
         

      There is only one reason for connecting a black candidate with Hillary...race baiting...by Morris with his remark and mmfa with their rebuttal headline.

      A couple of other nuggets from the poll:

      Pres.Bush has a slightly higher favorability rating than Pelosi...his rating is also higher than congress...and 300% higher than Moveon.org.

      94% of the respondents have never read DailyKos...wonder where that leaves mmfa? 

       

      Report Abuse
      • Author by funnymanpants (April 10, 2007 6:29 pm ET)
           

        Hey, question mark Tommy! I like your use of eliipses...they make no sense...but they are a nice attempt to hid when you have nothing to say...especially when you have been trapped saying something that makes no sense...my question is, if over 90 percent of Americans don't know of dialykos, what is your approval rating...?

        Report Abuse
        • Author by wesley (April 10, 2007 6:44 pm ET)
             

          In the poll cited by mmfa, Pres. Bush had a higher favorability rating than Pelosi, Congress, and MoveOn.org.

          There you go...that's not too hard to understand...or is it? 

          Report Abuse
          • Author by neondesert (April 10, 2007 6:49 pm ET)
               

            I'm curious, because I haven't seen the numbers.  But just exactly what were Bush's favorability ratings according to the Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll?

            Report Abuse
            • Author by wesley (April 10, 2007 6:51 pm ET)
                 

              Pres.Bush - 38 -

              Pelosi - 37 -

              Congress - 30 -

              MoveOn - 12 -  

              Report Abuse
              • Author by neondesert (April 10, 2007 6:56 pm ET)
                   

                That's interesting.  You left out some other numbers which may give some insight into the validity of this poll such as:

                Dick Cheney has a 34% favorablity rating, contrasting with all other polls which give him an approval rating of somewhere around 18%.

                You also left out the fact that 30% of the respondents had never heard of Karl Rove.  That's 1 in 3, in case you're having arithmetic problems.  Yeah, there's an informed group of folks who's opinions I really value...

                Report Abuse
                • Author by wesley (April 10, 2007 7:44 pm ET)
                     

                   - You left out some other numbers - neon

                  Well certainly I did...I've learned my lesson well from mmfa...the one about only citing facts that support their position... 

                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by funnymanpants (April 10, 2007 8:50 pm ET)
                       

                    Hey, it's questin mark Tommy posting under a false name and admittin he is not arguing in good faith. What a suprise. Why don't you admit you always mislead?

                    Report Abuse
              • Author by redking75687 (April 11, 2007 1:29 am ET)
                   

                Looks like all of DC is polling pretty bad with the public right now...as it should. Can't say any of them have done anything for us in the last 6 years.

                Report Abuse
          • Author by loonz (April 10, 2007 7:54 pm ET)
               

            In the poll cited by mmfa, Pres. Bush had a higher favorability rating than Pelosi, Congress, and MoveOn.org.

            - wesley / Tuesday April 10, 2007 06:44:40 PM EST

            -It looks like Bush is up by one point in favorability rating but did you take a look at the unfavorable rating? It is 59 to 31 percent.  By almost a two to one margin, Americans despise Bush.

             

            -The favorability rating of the Democrats in Congress is 51 percent.  The republicans are dragging down the ratings for Congress.

            Report Abuse
            • Author by wesley (April 10, 2007 10:06 pm ET)
                 

              From the poll in this thread the approval ratings of congress are as follows:

              Democrats 38%

              Republicans 28%

              Independents 22%

              Yep, those respondents from the democrat party think just as highly of the congress as the American people think of Pres. Bush....at 38%. 

               

              Report Abuse
              • Author by loonz (April 10, 2007 11:47 pm ET)
                   

                Bush's approval rating is 33% with 61% disapproving; his favorability rating is 38% with 59% finding him unfavorable.  The Democrats approval rating is 38% with 46% disapproving; their favorability rating is 51% with 37% finding them unfavorable.

                Report Abuse
          • Author by funnymanpants (April 10, 2007 8:48 pm ET)
               

            WTF? I asked you what your approval ratings were, not anything else. Why do you post under Welsey when you are question mark Tommy?

             

            Report Abuse
      • Author by rivercitymadman (April 11, 2007 10:38 pm ET)
           

        First the reason "first black man..." is in an ellipsis, and am somewhat surprised this wasn't brought out. 1988 Jesse Jackson, 2000 Alan Keyes (on the Gop side no less) 2004 Rev. Al Sharpton. As much as I like Sen. Obama and even support him, he is by no means the first African American to run for president.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by eweston8542983 (April 10, 2007 6:57 pm ET)
         

      Oh you and your pols. Somehow I suspect someone might find a differant not to say totally opposed opinion from that same pol.

      I'll bite , which pol, date, questions are you regaling your inferiors with this time?

      Report Abuse
      • Author by wesley (April 10, 2007 7:37 pm ET)
           

         - Oh you and your pols -ewe

        No, actually it's mmfa and their polls...the one cited by mmfa in this thread...get it? Try reading it for yourself and make up your own mind. 

        Report Abuse
      • Author by eweston8542983 (April 10, 2007 9:19 pm ET)
           

        Can't get my computer to open it. Was that singular or pural pols and it belongs to mmfa? I didn't know they did poling. Pease staighten your english a little bit.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by wesley (April 10, 2007 10:14 pm ET)
             

          If you can't read the poll...there's no need to discuss it with you.

          Try downloading Adobe...and you can join in all the fun. 

          Report Abuse
          • Author by OmegaHunter (April 11, 2007 1:13 am ET)
               

            Wesley, if you're not going to actually read the article, then there's no point discussing it with you.

            MMFA didn't cite the poll to prove a point they cited it to provide a reference to what Dick was talking about. It's not "their poll" as you put it, it's a Fox "News" poll; and that's not just any Fox poll, it's the infamous "are the Democrats wussy for not appearing on Fox" and "do you think the Democrats are controlled by lobbiests" poll.

            Nowhere in the article does MMFA even argue with the poll in question, they simply point out that Morris thinks that everyone should be afraid of a black man running for president but they are too busy being afraid of Clinton.

            Why is it that every time a poll is posted on here you manage to show up to point out what you read in the poll, or what you read into it? And you're not even trying to contend points being made by other posters. You, for whatever reason, pointed out Bush's approval versus Pelosi et al's. Yet when presented with their corresponding disapproval ratings showing Bush's to be much higher than the others you repost the approval ratings.

            Report Abuse
          • Author by worrierking (April 11, 2007 8:51 am ET)
               

            Adobe?

            Did you mean Photoshop? Illustrator? InDesign? Premiere? Acrobat?

            Report Abuse
            • Author by valentinian (April 11, 2007 12:25 pm ET)
                 

              I think Adobe maybe has become a generic term, like Band-Aid, for any PDF reader.

              Or maybe he's just really, really into ColdFusion. Join the fun! 

              Report Abuse
    • Author by pbg (April 10, 2007 7:09 pm ET)
         

      The first black man running for President? Was Jesse Jackson just an hallucination? Or, you know--really white?

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Kaleun (April 10, 2007 7:17 pm ET)
         

      What about Al Sharpton? Didn't he run in '04. Granted, I was just a weeny sophomore in High School then, but I heard it mentioned later on..

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Sean C (April 10, 2007 7:35 pm ET)
         

      I think Morris actually may have a point in that incoherent spiel of his.  There hasn't been as much racist backlash against Obama as one would expect.  In this day and age, lots of people still freak out whenever they see a black person, and the fact that this reaction has not transpired yet is interesting.   Perhaps we have to wait until later when the jungle drums start playing in the NRC radio ads like they did with Harold Ford Jr (some of that crap has started already when it comes to Obama's church and all). 

      On a personal level, some of my Republican-leaning friends have taken a liking to Obama and say that his policy positions make a lot of sense.  In fact, their main concern is that some white-supremacist is going to shoot him or something.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by heru (April 11, 2007 9:38 pm ET)
           

        I never freak out when I see a black person and don't know anyone else who does. What rock are all these afrophobic cowards hiding under?

        Report Abuse
    • Author by RINO Hunter (April 10, 2007 8:17 pm ET)
         

      Why did MMFA just make up something that Morris didn't say? They claimed that Morris said, "If not for Sen. Clinton, Americans would be afraid of "the first black man ... running for president." Morris never actually made this statement! How can MMFA twist his words around like that? That might have been his overall point, but that wasn't the quote he used. Media Matters should use exact quotes rather than putting words in people's mouths. The quote that MMFA put up makes what Morris said sound worse than what it actually was.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Brabantio (April 10, 2007 9:46 pm ET)
           

        The part that they put in quotes he actually said. The part that they didn't put in quotes he didn't say, but reflect his point (which you admit).  Did you not understand that?  Have you really never seen that done before?

        Report Abuse
        • Author by RINO Hunter (April 12, 2007 2:11 pm ET)
             

          "Have you really never seen that done before?"

          Only on this website.

          Report Abuse
    • Author by ramsquire (April 10, 2007 8:21 pm ET)
         

      First black Man running for President?

      Sharpton, Jackson, Keyes, Dick Gregory... If you're analysts are going to be so unprepared, and wrong, why have them?  Geeze! 

       

      Report Abuse
      • Author by redking75687 (April 11, 2007 1:33 am ET)
           

        You expect tv pundits to be informed?!?! *gasp* Remember what country you live in! TV "experts" know more about Anna Nicole's love life than the history of the last ten years. The dumbing down of America starts with dumb people being sold as intelligent to the masses....creates a low standard of reference.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by heru (April 11, 2007 9:41 pm ET)
           

        I take exception to Keyes on your black list. He's an honorary white man.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by iwarrior (April 10, 2007 8:58 pm ET)
         

      It always kills me when people white or black suggest that I as a white person should be afraid of a black person in a position of power. As if he's really gonna stick it to me.

      Oh who am I to talk? I'm being racist and classist also. After all, I want to vote for him simply because he's not a WASP or old money. :)

      Report Abuse
    • Author by dluster218952 (April 11, 2007 6:08 am ET)
         

      This is an example of the kinds of intellectual idiots FOX Noise puts on it's nightly skits!!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Andra (April 11, 2007 9:14 am ET)
         

      The fact that he's the challenger to Hillary Clinton DOES help Obama get past a lot of resistance that might have, in some way, a racial angle.  I wouldn't call it fear.  Maybe its inertia, keeping things the way they've always been.  Once past that, how many voters will embrace a change? 

      Report Abuse
      • Author by redking75687 (April 11, 2007 12:57 pm ET)
           

        Only those who vote minor party are voting for change. Those who vote for the Big Two are for total maintanence of the status quo.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by whispering (April 11, 2007 9:14 am ET)
         

      Actually, Jesse Jackson was the first black man to run for president (1984)

      Report Abuse
      • Author by ramsquire (April 11, 2007 1:45 pm ET)
           

        I don't think that's accurate.  In 1968, Dick Gregory ran as a write in candidate for one of the minor parties.  And I believe there may have been other minor candidates.  But yes, Jackson was the first one to have a successful campaign (in that he made it to the convention and participated in most or all of the primaries before conceding).

        Report Abuse
    • Author by jimmyg869 (April 11, 2007 11:51 am ET)
         

      Nobody is afraid of Hillary or Obama

       Translation:  "You're nobody"

      I'll remember that come poll time.  That is if you let me in.  I'm kidding, don't get too uptight.  Switch to decaf.  Or get a bigger size pants and panties :)

      Why doesn't the Media (ABC, CNN REAL POLLS) do a poll asking people what they really feel instead of polarizing the country.  We have enough problems why trickle it down? 

      Report Abuse
    • Author by jfrivera9336 (April 11, 2007 5:04 pm ET)
         

      Dick Morris lives in a toilet bowl. He's swirling around and around as long as he spews nasty things about Hillary every chance he gets. Bad karma. Hillary will have her hand on the flusher as soon as she wins. Bye, traitor Morris!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by factsrstubborn (April 12, 2007 1:09 am ET)
         

      This just proves the bigoted wingnut brain is so tiny it only has the capacity to viscerally fear one candidate at a time, based on race or gender.  (Pick one prejudice, please.)

      Yet wingnuts think their Leader and Decider has the mental capacity to successfully fight two wars at once, while planning a third.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by gramgilmore1 (April 12, 2007 10:36 am ET)
         

      Mr Morris and other "conservative" commentators are among the most offensive "analysts" on t.v today.  He should meet the same fate as Don Imus and be removed from the airwaves as should Limbough as well  It's time the American public express their displeasure with their disgusting comments illustrating racism and disrespect for women and other minorities. The best way to do it is to boycott the sponsor which I will do, as well as become more vocal in my displeasure ,which I also will do.  Enough is enough.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by gramgilmore1 (April 12, 2007 10:38 am ET)
         

      Why does Fox host a man who is so morally repugnant to women and minorities? He has NO credibility and is used as a tool for racism and other disgusting behavior. Get rid of him

      Report Abuse