Hillary Celebrating Martin Luther King

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   Hillary's hardball

In MLK day speech, Sen. Clinton slams the Bush team, saying GOP Congress is 'run like a plantation'

Evaluating Hillary (NEWSDAY / RICHARD CORNETT) 

BY BRYAN VIRASAMI AND GLENN THRUSH

STAFF WRITERS

January 17, 2006

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton sparked a Martin Luther King Day political firestorm yesterday by describing the GOP-controlled Congress as a "plantation" during a speech before an African-American congregation in Harlem.

"When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what I'm talking about," Clinton (D-N.Y.) told an audience at the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ during an event sponsored by the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network.

"It has been run in a way so that nobody with a contrary view has had a chance to present legislation, to make an argument, to be heard," she added to thunderous applause.

It was a rare bout of bombast for the Democratic presidential frontrunner, who often dodges far less combustible topics when pressed by reporters.

Clinton's comparison - likening Republicans to slaveholders - prompted a furious reaction from the congressional GOP, which has been beset by lobbying scandals recently and the indictment of Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-Texas) last year.

"It's always wrong to play the race card for political gain by using a loaded word like plantation," said Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), who has enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Clintons. "It is particularly wrong to do so on Martin Luther King Day."

A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee said, "On a day when Americans are focused on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Hillary Clinton is focused on the legacy of Hillary Clinton."

Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines defended her comments, saying Congress was "a top-down system that is fundamentally at odds with how the people's House should operate."

In her speech, Clinton also took a swipe at the Bush White House, predicting, "This administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country."

Clinton's performance may have made the gathering of fellow Democrats in attendance wince, but it pleased the event's host.

The senator's remarks echoed "what a lot of us have been saying a long time about the Bush administration," Sharpton said.

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a potential candidate for governor, left the event before Clinton arrived, his campaign spokeswoman Kim Devlin said, adding that he was unavailable for comment.

This isn't the first time the former first lady's utterances have provoked an uproar. In 1992, during a "60 Minutes" interview about her husband's infidelity, when he was running for president, Clinton said, "I'm not sitting here as some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette." Wynette complained and Clinton apologized.

A few weeks after the interview, Clinton defended her decision to practice law after the birth of her daughter, saying, "I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas." She also apologized for those remarks.

In the same campaign, Bill Clinton criticized rapper Sista Souljah for using racially inflammatory language in the wake of the Los Angeles riots.

_____________________________________________________

Ah, what a wonderful day to pull out the old race card!

Boy! You know your b-day is important when it's politicized.

Hey Marty, hope you have enough room in that coffin to roll over in. You're going to need it!   

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marktheshark Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 24 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1695	Topic: Hillary Celebrating Martin Luther King Posted: January 17 2006 at 23:42
	Hillary's hardball In MLK day speech, Sen. Clinton slams the Bush team, saying GOP Congress is 'run like a plantation' Evaluating Hillary (NEWSDAY / RICHARD CORNETT) BY BRYAN VIRASAMI AND GLENN THRUSH STAFF WRITERS January 17, 2006 Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton sparked a Martin Luther King Day political firestorm yesterday by describing the GOP-controlled Congress as a "plantation" during a speech before an African-American congregation in Harlem. "When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what I'm talking about," Clinton (D-N.Y.) told an audience at the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ during an event sponsored by the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network. "It has been run in a way so that nobody with a contrary view has had a chance to present legislation, to make an argument, to be heard," she added to thunderous applause. It was a rare bout of bombast for the Democratic presidential frontrunner, who often dodges far less combustible topics when pressed by reporters. Clinton's comparison - likening Republicans to slaveholders - prompted a furious reaction from the congressional GOP, which has been beset by lobbying scandals recently and the indictment of Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-Texas) last year. "It's always wrong to play the race card for political gain by using a loaded word like plantation," said Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), who has enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Clintons. "It is particularly wrong to do so on Martin Luther King Day." A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee said, "On a day when Americans are focused on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Hillary Clinton is focused on the legacy of Hillary Clinton." Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines defended her comments, saying Congress was "a top-down system that is fundamentally at odds with how the people's House should operate." In her speech, Clinton also took a swipe at the Bush White House, predicting, "This administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country." Clinton's performance may have made the gathering of fellow Democrats in attendance wince, but it pleased the event's host. The senator's remarks echoed "what a lot of us have been saying a long time about the Bush administration," Sharpton said. Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a potential candidate for governor, left the event before Clinton arrived, his campaign spokeswoman Kim Devlin said, adding that he was unavailable for comment. This isn't the first time the former first lady's utterances have provoked an uproar. In 1992, during a "60 Minutes" interview about her husband's infidelity, when he was running for president, Clinton said, "I'm not sitting here as some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette." Wynette complained and Clinton apologized. A few weeks after the interview, Clinton defended her decision to practice law after the birth of her daughter, saying, "I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas." She also apologized for those remarks. In the same campaign, Bill Clinton criticized rapper Sista Souljah for using racially inflammatory language in the wake of the Los Angeles riots. _____________________________________________________ Ah, what a wonderful day to pull out the old race card! Boy! You know your b-day is important when it's politicized. Hey Marty, hope you have enough room in that coffin to roll over in. You're going to need it!