Video: Luntz focus group clashes over Hillary and Obama; Update: Obama’s pastor says Clinton treated blacks like … Monica
posted at 1:27 pm on January 16, 2008 by Allahpundit
Just 90 seconds but it’s a nice window into where everyone stands. We’ve been preoccupied with the GOP so we haven’t been following the standoff in Nevada between the Hillary-supporting teachers union and the Obama-supporting culinary workers union, but Obama fan Steve Sherman has. In brief, the culinary workers want caucus sites set up on the Vegas strip to make it easier for them to leave work and vote; the teachers are suing, claiming that the sites are illegal. Obama’s people naturally blame Hillary and are using it to motivate supporters. Who cares, you say? Well, you do, if you’re even vaguely weary of the left screaming about “voter suppression” every time they run against a Republican. Hillary’s hands here are about as clean as Huckabee’s are vis-a-vis those push-polls so just file it away for the general election, much as you’re filing away the many “shuck and jive”-type comments emanating from the halls of Clintonian tolerance these days.
The other thing happening here is racial politics, in the form of the guy who warns Obama’s team not to expect the culinary workers to break overwhelmingly for him just because the union’s endorsed him. Why not? Because, a la David Brooks’s concluding thought yesterday, 30-40% are Latino. And what’s the significance of that, wonders Luntz and a fellow focus grouper? No reply.
Update: A double bonus insofar as it’s not only a right hook to Clinton’s jaw but it turns media attention back towards some of the more “eccentric” aspects of this guy’s preaching.
On Sunday morning – amid intensified crossfire between Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama over the use of race in the Democratic presidential campaign – Wright was preaching from the Gospel of John, using his powerful style to link the story of the loaves and fishes to a contemporary political message…
Some argue that blacks should vote for Clinton “because her husband was good to us,” he continued.
“That’s not true,” he thundered. “He did the same thing to us that he did to Monica Lewinsky.”
Many in the crowd were on their feet, applauding – amazed, amused and moved by the fiery rhetoric of their preacher, who is about to retire.
Blowback
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Focus groups are pretty worthless. Take a poll with a laughably small sample and ask the non-randomly selected participants about their feeeelings and you’ve got a “focus group.”
Big S on January 16, 2008 at 1:31 PM
I think that last lady’s reaction gave us the answer….
unamused on January 16, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Voting along racial lines? Who da thunk it.
ChrisM on January 16, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Because Hillary said “No woman is illegal.”
Brat on January 16, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Racism….plain and simple.
Hey, Latinos are people too.
omnipotent on January 16, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Heh the weakness of identity politics, all your identities needs to get along. The MSM will not play up Obama not getting a stron push from latinos, but it will not be lost on the Black community. Go into a barber shop and mention illegal immigration and you’ll know what I mean.
Oh well more leverage for Obama in South Carolina.
Theworldisnotenough on January 16, 2008 at 1:39 PM
This has been the democratic strategy since the 1960s to divide and conquer. They make americans identify themselves along racial and ethic lines and then pander to each group seperately.
The problem is they cant always juggle all the balls they have in the air and one or two of them end up crashing into each other because its not about equal treatment but preferentual treatment and they all know it.
William Amos on January 16, 2008 at 1:39 PM
The significance if that most are probably here illegally and shouldn’t be voting.
Blake on January 16, 2008 at 1:40 PM
The significance is
Blake on January 16, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Heh! Color blind.
ronsfi on January 16, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Yeah, blacks are more homophobic than any group of people. They also tend to be pretty racist against Latinos and vice-versa (Latinos tend to be pretty racist against blacks).
White people in this country are so busy apologizing that we don’t really have time to be racist. . . but ‘white racism’ makes such good TV. . . right Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson?
ThackerAgency on January 16, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Gotta love the hypocracy of the party of Robert Byrd
William Amos on January 16, 2008 at 1:45 PM
There are a a lot of Hispanics in SC in the metro area of Charlotte. Now, how many of them can vote, I don’t know. Monroe, NC (right near the SC border) has a enormous population of Hispanics, and I believe they are drifting South.
SCGOPgirl on January 16, 2008 at 1:45 PM
The theme of this years election isn’t change, it is the year of Democrat special interests beginning to war with each other! They are forced to ask some real questions of their party.
The status quo has been broken and now the “rats” are going have to choose which special interests trump the others….. Is being black more important than being a female? Is the union representing culinary workers more important than the union representing teachers? Where does Edwards’ populist message fit into the mix? Far more entertaining than asking if Senator Clinton wears boxers or briefs. ;-0
highhopes on January 16, 2008 at 1:45 PM
I just love how, everyday, the Obama and Clinton apparatchiks somehow find the ability to wage war amidst their classless societies.
OhEssYouCowboys on January 16, 2008 at 1:46 PM
I was beginning to fear that the Democrats might control themselves enough at least to appear reasonable, at least for the sake of winning the election. Instead, it looks like there’s only as much danger of that as of the Republicans getting their act together.
CK MacLeod on January 16, 2008 at 1:51 PM
There is definately a division between Latinos and Blacks.
bnelson44 on January 16, 2008 at 1:53 PM
I’ve been thinking about something lately that to many people sounds controversial. Barak Obama will not get the nomination because Latinos will not vote for a black man. The facts are that the fastest growing voting block in the nation is Mexican Latino. The fact is that there is a significant racism towards black people amongst that demographic. I’m not saying all Latinos are racist. All I’m saying is that its there and its a reality. This is the elephant in the room (in my opinion) and it comes as no surprise to me that the MSM and the liberal talking heads around the country are not saying a peep about it. For them to talk about that would put them in a bit of a pickle. It would make it difficult for them to continue to perpetuate the theme they push daily about the white man oppressing his fellow darker skinned citizens. For as we know, according to the MSM, only a white man can be racist. They are going to attempt to sweep this undeniable reality under the rug for as long as they can.
This election season is going to be a blast. I hope we are taking some good notes along the way.
Zetterson on January 16, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Holy shnikes, that’s hysterical. All aboard the crazy train!
Dash on January 16, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Yesterday on Hannity and Spock, Dick Morris said that stirring up racial conflict is a part of the Clinton strategy. His reasoning was that blacks were likely to break for Obama so why not create a little racial backlash and get whites, and you could add hispanics maybe, to look at Obama as the candidate of blacks and not them.
Bill C on January 16, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Gang warfare does that to people.
BKennedy on January 16, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Once the blacks vs Latino conversation begins it is going to snowball like nothing we’ve seen in a long time. Get Hillary to comment on it NOW!
Zetterson on January 16, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Ew. Ew. Ew.
Frozen Tex on January 16, 2008 at 1:58 PM
It’s nice to see the truce is still holding.
infidel65 on January 16, 2008 at 1:58 PM
I’ve had a few discussions that gave me the impression that blacks and latinos are generally pretty racist towards each other. I never really expected to see it on the news anytime soon, but racism unmasked might be better than the alternative. The good news is that as long as latinos and blacks convert to Islam they’ll be getting along great in 5 or 10 years…if it takes that long.
blankminde on January 16, 2008 at 1:58 PM
There has always been a struggle in the black community whenever a white liberal runs against a black male. Liberals fostered the alienation of blacks and they payback is when push comes to shove blacks wont stick with the liberals but back a black person.
I find it absolutely hilarious that the Clintons the masters of liberal race warfare are now falling victim of it.
William Amos on January 16, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Because the people rejected Bill Richardson. With Obama in office, they will be the forgotten minority. They will vote for the glacier.
broker1 on January 16, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Hillary began about 7 sentences with “this is a black and brown issue and we all know it.” Half the people didn’t have any clue what she was saying and as usual she’d change the subject after that sentence.
Griz on January 16, 2008 at 2:01 PM
This just proves my theory that democrats have an average IQ of 80.
TheSitRep on January 16, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Now that I’ve picked myself up after falling out of my chair, time to stock up on popcorn and peanuts and watch the show. Who knew it would be the Dems that would ignite an all out race war in this country? Unfortunately, somehow the MSM and Clintons will find a way to blame the Republicans.
Brat on January 16, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Yep.
If the ‘black’ candidate runs on being black, it will piss off the latinos. This bad blood goes way way back. It’s segregating out the other minorities…kinda.
shooter on January 16, 2008 at 2:10 PM
2008 stock tip:
JIFFY POP +50% by Q4
With all this dem vs dem simmering up to a boil (and it IS just getting going), the msm, the DNC, and America as a whole is ignoring the elephant in the room. Once Hillary is crowned, and once the Republicans have anyone…that’s when it’s game on. Those debates could be pay per view.
Hillary vs McCain…yeah, let’s talk about that Woodstock memorial
Hillary vs Thompson…”why Hillary, why aren’t you wearing the blue dress tonight?”
Hillary vs Romney…”Sen Clinton, I may know business, but I have to tip my hat to you on that Whitewater investment. If you can do kind of growth for America, then there truly is no limit to how much this country can profit”
Hillary vs Rudy…”Sen Clinton, I never did get to thank you for getting that $40bn in aid to NYC after 911. What’d you do with it?”
Hillary vs Ron Paul…”like my blimp?”
scottm on January 16, 2008 at 2:11 PM
I as a Christian black am opposed to race centered priority Christian churches like Mr. Wright’s and generally woudn’t agree with nothing he would say other than in this comment about Bill Clinton’s use of black people. That’s why I don’t vote Democrat. Blacks were assumed by the Democrat party and the Clinton Administration and except Democrat black leaders the masses received no benefit from their vote. Clinton the first Black President gave blacks nothing of note but his condesending presense. They were used; like Monica.
apostle53 on January 16, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Someone, smarter than I, needs to look into the new language of…’Spanish Ebonics’.
PappaMac on January 16, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Come to think of it, how specifically have the “authentic” black leadership, like the pastor himself, treated their constituency ANY differently?
CK MacLeod on January 16, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Its called Spanglish.
geckomon on January 16, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Hillary is taking advantage of tensions between Hispanics and blacks, espescially in Cali and NY. She has no problem throwing away the black vote, since she’d lose it to Obama anyway, as long as she picks up the Hispanic vote.
This is our American future; identity trumps character or principle. And dividing the country into ethnic and religious enclaves is the key to political power.
billy on January 16, 2008 at 2:19 PM
If I recall correctly, isn’t that the home town of my hero, Jesse Helms?
ThackerAgency on January 16, 2008 at 2:20 PM
whooops,
so where do the latino’s fit into this?
OBAMA’s CHURCH
they don’t. Neither do any other non-black persons.
So who is the real B. Hussein Obama? I haven’t heard much from him on what appears to be his highest source for spiritual inspiration, a racist ‘pastor’ and seemingly ‘black only’ church.
shooter on January 16, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Monica worked into the Gospel of John. This ‘preacher’ should run out on a rail. More like what he did to the Gospel is what Clinton did to Lewinsky.
Racist theology and Satan, get ye behind me.
Hening on January 16, 2008 at 2:40 PM
The border will be enforced because black Americans are sick of having to compete with illegal immigrants.
Bill C on January 16, 2008 at 2:42 PM
That’s Spanish & English…not Spanish & Ebonics. It would have to be something like ‘Sponics’.
PappaMac on January 16, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Wow! The Luntz focus groups on the Demo side are getting exciting! I thought they might have a fight. Maybe Fox needs to give this gig to Geraldo and see if he can get someone to throw a chair.
One of things that does amuse me about the focus groups is how different the Democratic groups are from the Republican. For the most part, the Republican groups discuss their perception of the candidates stances on the issues or their ability to lead. The Democrats talk about how the candidate makes them feel with almost no discussion of issues. I guess when there isn’t any policy difference among your candidates, the only thing left to discuss is feelings and race/gender issues.
TX Mom on January 16, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Sponicish?
Hening on January 16, 2008 at 2:47 PM
These people are insane.
I am starting to pine for the more quaint, rustic, mellower days of AlBore and John Vietnam Kerry.
benrand on January 16, 2008 at 2:57 PM
why wont they vote for Obama? the guy didnt say…
Drunk Report on January 16, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Now that’s a sticky accusation.
ErikTheRed on January 16, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Bill Clinton put black people in a stained blue dress? Wow, he’s worse than I thought.
BKennedy on January 16, 2008 at 3:26 PM
The sentence before he said a large percentage of the culinary workers were Hispanic. So the big turd floating in the air was that Hispanics would not vote for a black guy. The man who said this wouldn’t come out and say it after Luntz pressed him and that is why the black woman said she wanted to hear his explanation. Very ugly racial stuff. If Hillary is doing this on purpose she is playing with fire.
No it’s much worse than you thought. Blacks people were i the blue dress and Bill “stained” it. EEwwwwwww.
Bill C on January 16, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Am I the only one who believes we can’t blame this on the Clintons?
This election is simply shining the light on America’s putrid underbelly.
12thman on January 16, 2008 at 3:40 PM
No you’re not.
baldilocks on January 16, 2008 at 3:59 PM
What ever happened with that guy that appeared in two of Luntz’s “random” focus groups? I remembered seeing it on HA after the NH primarys but didn’t follow up to find out what the deal was.
Buttercup on January 16, 2008 at 4:29 PM
But how many of the culinary union workers themselves are illegal?
Tzetzes on January 16, 2008 at 5:57 PM
I loved it when the “latino” guy from the union stated that the reason Obama wouldn’t get most votes is because a large segment of the union was latino. Basically, what he said was “latinos” wouldn’t vote for the “black” guy. It was amusing watching him trying to explain it.
And also loved the exit polling that indicated black men, by about 90%, indicated they would not vote for a woman.
Security Mom on January 16, 2008 at 6:16 PM
I say we leave chains and brass knuckles under the chairs of Democratic focus groups…and get reeeeaaaaaddddddyyyyy to ruuuuummmmmbbbbbllllle.
right2bright on January 16, 2008 at 6:18 PM
I thought this was 2008? What year do Democrats live in?
Resolute on January 16, 2008 at 6:59 PM
You guys are pretty good. You rock so hard that I want to make a donation. Just tell me what size?
The Race Card on January 16, 2008 at 8:04 PM
I don’t think the Hispanic guy was saying that Hispanics won’t vote for a black. I really don’t. The stories earlier this week, before all the racism crap came out, were all about Hillary doing campaign stops in heavily Hispanic areas around Las Vegas, and the huge amount of support that she had there, people running out of their houses to see her, etc.
I think this guy was just questionning why anyone would assume Obama will get all the votes of the Culinary union members, just because the leadership threw him the endorsement. We’ve asked the same question of blue collar union workers every four years; many vote Republican despite the knee-jerk union support of lib Dems.
We shouldn’t assume racism without a good reason.
Jaibones on January 16, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Aw, come on tRC.
Jaibones on January 16, 2008 at 8:43 PM
So blacks are still supporting the democrat party beause…? It’s like blind-folded sheep being led to the slaughter. Baaaaa! Baaaa! Baaaa!
On a slightly better note, I truly believe the tide is starting to recede as more and more blacks realize what the democrat party’s policies have done to the black family.
SouthernGent on January 16, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Is anyone watching these democrat idiots on FOXNews right now?!?!?! My god! These people get to vote…it’s scary! Their hatred for Bush even makes them LOOK insane!
SouthernGent on January 16, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Conservatives in America say “keep the n&%^*(s in their place,” they are like wolves, with them you know they hate you and you know where they stand. Liberals in America say “keep the knee-grows in their place, but treat them a little better, throw them a few tokens,” they are like a fox; they will trick you into believing they care and by the time you figure it out you will be half-digested. ~Malcolm X (possibly misquoted a little, but the idea is there)
BKennedy on January 17, 2008 at 5:42 AM
It is so much fun watching dem self implode.
Keep your eye on the ball and make sure no one takes it away from you.
Dem people knows ya aint goin to win the game if you aint got no balls.
MSGTAS on January 17, 2008 at 9:06 AM
Which one are you?
The Race Card on January 17, 2008 at 1:04 PM
I would be the wolf.
Anyway, I pulled that quote from memory from his autobiography. Naturally, the quote is from over forty years ago and Malcolm X was justifiably angry when he said it.
Thing is, conservatives have for the most part had a change of heart. Liberals are still the foxes they’ve always been, only now it’s affirmative action, victim mentality, and class warfare instead of Jim Crowe.
BKennedy on January 17, 2008 at 1:43 PM