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AP article latest to mischaracterize Clinton comment on civil rights

January 15, 2008 6:57 pm ET
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SUMMARY: An Associated Press article reported that House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn "expressed disappointment with Clinton after she said it took President Lyndon B. Johnson, a white politician, to finally realize King's dream of racial equality by signing the Civil Rights Act." But that is not what Clinton said.

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A January 15 Associated Press article reported that "House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn [D-SC] said Tuesday the Democratic Party needs to move past a recent dustup involving Hillary Rodham Clinton's comments about Martin Luther King Jr." The article added: "Over the weekend, Clyburn expressed disappointment with Clinton after she said it took President Lyndon B. Johnson, a white politician, to finally realize King's dream of racial equality by signing the Civil Rights Act." But that is not what Clinton said. She made no reference to Johnson's race, and she noted that Johnson accomplished what President John F. Kennedy had been "hopeful to do."

Following is Clinton's full quote, which numerous news outlets have truncated:

CLINTON: I would point to the fact that Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he was able to get through Congress something that President Kennedy was hopeful to do, the president before had not even tried, but it took a president to get it done. That dream became a reality. The power of that dream became real in people's lives because we had a president who said, "We are going to do it," and actually got it accomplished.

From the January 15 AP report:

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Tuesday the Democratic Party needs to move past a recent dustup involving Hillary Rodham Clinton's comments about Martin Luther King Jr.

Clyburn, who was influential in getting this state of South Carolina the first Southern Democratic presidential primary, told reporters during a conference call that he still doesn't plan to endorse a candidate.

Over the weekend, Clyburn expressed disappointment with Clinton after she said it took President Lyndon B. Johnson, a white politician, to finally realize King's dream of racial equality by signing the Civil Rights Act, as well as former President Clinton's remark in New Hampshire about Obama telling a "fairy tale" in his opposition to the Iraq war.

— Media Matters staff
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    • Author by atheist (January 15, 2008 7:03 pm ET)
         

      He was a sucker for the spun story.  What a shame.  Write to him and let him know how you feel:

      http://democraticwhip.house.gov/contact/ 

      Report Abuse
      • Author by atheist (January 15, 2008 7:09 pm ET)
           
        I take back my comment. I suspect that the AP writer editorialized, I don't think Clyburn mentioned "white".
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    • Author by eweston8542983 (January 15, 2008 8:14 pm ET)
         

      I'd really like to see a blow back on this story. Another strike against MSM.

      I will maintain a regular respration while I wait.

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    • Author by alboy562410 (January 15, 2008 10:56 pm ET)
         
      If the corporate media can keep attention diverted from the issues by manufacturing these "controversies", then perhaps their fondest wish can become a reality. That wish being  that while the democrats are engaged in infighting over non-issues, one of these low-life republican Bush-clones can steal the executive office in November. The deck is so stacked against the American people that, if a democrat is elected President, it will constitute nothing  less than a miracle.
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