Kerry's remarks upset civil rights group

[telos2000]

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The Associated Press
Updated: 12:52 p.m. ET March 10, 2004WASHINGTON - The head of a civil rights and legal services advocacy group wants Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry to apologize for saying he wouldn’t be upset if he could be known as the second black president.

“John Kerry is not a black man — he is a privileged white man who has no idea what it is in this country to be a poor white in this country, let alone a black man,” said Paula Diane Harris, founder of the Andrew Young National Center for Social Change.

Last week, Kerry told the American Urban Radio Network: “President Clinton was often known as the first black president. I wouldn’t be upset if I could earn the right to be the second.”

Kerry’s spokesman Chad Clanton said: “This was intended as a light-natured remark about President Clinton’s strong legacy with African Americans. It is a legacy that John Kerry would like to build upon if elected president. John Kerry has a record of fighting for civil rights and as president he will continue this fight.”

Harris also criticized civil rights leaders who “sit back and ignore these types of comments, a practice that further insults African Americans.”

“It seems that all these leaders care about is their personal agendas in how a ’John Kerry’ will keep up their personal causes,” she said.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., who is black, was asked by the Kerry campaign to weigh in on the issue. He said Kerry’s remark shouldn’t be taken as a jab at blacks.

“He is saying that he wants to be an activist president resolving many issues that are important to the African American community,” Meeks said. “Kerry was simply stating that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Clinton in addressing issues that are important to African Americans.”

The Andrew Young National Center for Social Change, based in Harrisburg, Pa., provides legal services to the poor.

[Rockabillie]

that's a shame that someone who wants to help minorities like Kerry ends up taking flack when it's the conservative politicians who have always fought hard against equality.

[ShainaT]

I have to say that that was a dumb comment for such a smart man (Kerry) to make. When I first heard that he said it I was surprised.

Politicians- there is only ONE Bill Clinton. Nobody else has the charisma he has. Nobody else can talk like he can. Deal with it.

[pandybat]

Much ado about nothing. Completely taken out of context.

The republicans make just as big a deal about stupid stuff about Kerry as democrats do about Bush. Does this stuff really matter???

[monkee]

You're right, pandy, it shouldn't matter. People (all people) say stupid things without thinking all the time. Which is not to say that sometimes they shouldn't be called on it, but I think we've all grown way too sensitive about things like this. Bush says dumb things. Kerry says dumb things. Was it his intent to offend someone? If so, he should be called on it. If not, chalk it up to him not thinking on it too deeply and move on. I can't imagine why anyone would want to be thought of as the next Bill Clinton, but I think we have bigger issues facing us these days.

[ShainaT]

Clinton connected with people. He didn't have to work at it even. Came naturally.

Kerry is trying to associate himself with Clinton any way he can. I don't blame him. But he doesn't have the charisma. You've either got it or you don't.

[monkee]

Originally Posted by ShainaT

Clinton connected with people. He didn't have to work at it even. Came naturally.

Kerry is trying to associate himself with Clinton any way he can. I don't blame him. But he doesn't have the charisma. You've either got it or you don't.

Oh, I certainly wouldn't deny that Clinton had charisma. However, no matter how much people may have liked the guy, I think we'd all have to admit that there were an awful lot of negatives attached to his term in office. That's why I don't understand why anyone would want to be associating himself too closely with Clinton.

[pandybat]

Stuff like this just gripes me. I have never heard of this Andrew Young National Center for Social Change but since they've taken something completely out of context and decided to make a stink about it, they get a fair amount of free advertising because of it. Sometimes I think people and groups just balk at anything to get noticed.

[Brendabutt]

Monkee--couldn't have said it better!!!!!!!!

[telos2000]

Kerry's response,

"Yo bro, whad's wit da dissin' me dawg!"

as per Jay Leno

[blueaguave]

its the typical racist liberal bs that all minorites have to be Democrats.
I am glad it backfired on him, I hate that racist thinking.

[blueaguave]

Originally Posted by pandybat

Stuff like this just gripes me. I have never heard of this Andrew Young National Center for Social Change but since they've taken something completely out of context and decided to make a stink about it, they get a fair amount of free advertising because of it. Sometimes I think people and groups just balk at anything to get noticed.

Andrew Young was a UN Ambassador, and the mayor of Atlanta for decades. He was a well known left wing liberal, and one of the South's pioneering African-American leaders.
Frankly, I praise the Andrew Young Center for the intellectual honesty and courage to criticize their candidate when he is wrong.

[pandybat]

Originally Posted by blueaguave

Andrew Young was a UN Ambassador, and the mayor of Atlanta for decades. He was a well known left wing liberal, and one of the South's pioneering African-American leaders.
Frankly, I praise the Andrew Young Center for the intellectual honesty and courage to criticize their candidate when he is wrong.

Intellectual honesty??????

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., who is black, was asked by the Kerry campaign to weigh in on the issue. He said Kerry’s remark shouldn’t be taken as a jab at blacks.

“He is saying that he wants to be an activist president resolving many issues that are important to the African American community,” Meeks said. “Kerry was simply stating that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Clinton in addressing issues that are important to African Americans.”

[crazytimes]

Question, I don't want to sound dumb, but what issues ARE important to African Americans?

And do they care about issues that the rest of us don't or something?