Bill Clinton and the “cracker vote”
posted at 5:15 pm on September 24, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
This should win over that bitter, clinging vote in small-town America. Bill Clinton told Larry King that he’s willing to do some campaigning for Democrats in battleground states like Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In fact, he thinks that the Obama campaign has chosen him wisely for his ability to attract … crackers:
“You know, they think that because of who I am and where my politic[al] base has traditionally been, they may want me to go sort of hustle up what Lawton Chiles used to call the ‘cracker vote’ there.”
After Barack Obama managed to alienate suburban and rural voters with his recorded remarks on Billionaires Row in San Francisco about small-town voters bitterly clinging to their guns and God, some of us called that incident Crackerquiddick. That got some mild criticism for using what some see as a racist term as a label for what Obama meant as a class argument. Apparently, though, the Obama campaign and the Democrats don’t have a problem referring to white voters in the South and in the Rust Belt with that racially-tinged pejorative name.
We warned Obama about having Bill on his side as a campaigner. Look what he did for the seemingly-invincible Hillary Clinton in the primaries — and that was his wife. This once again makes Democrats snobs and elitists, and this time it’s the other big party leader.
Blowback
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Is Bill throwing Obama under the bus!?!
LMFAO I think Bill is! Go BILL!
upinak on September 24, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Black Bill and his plantation protege. What a photo.
Hening on September 24, 2008 at 5:18 PM
OMG, unbelievable.
capitalist piglet on September 24, 2008 at 5:19 PM
huh?
Chudi on September 24, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Crackers of the world, unite!
Slack jawed yokels FTW!
McCain-Palin 08
lorien1973 on September 24, 2008 at 5:23 PM
CRACKER PLEASE
spypeach on September 24, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Does this mean we can now use the term ‘spearchucker vote’?
fogw on September 24, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Ok… I’m a novis… what i smeant by the term “Cracker”?
CynicalOptimist on September 24, 2008 at 5:25 PM
I believe you mean ‘novice’ (not to be a jerk, just thought you’d like to know), and “cracker” is a derogatory term used for white people, not entirely unlike the “n” word for black people.
Ordinarily, you’d hear it out of someone like Chris Rock – not a former POTUS. But, this is a Democrat we’re talking about.
capitalist piglet on September 24, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Biden and Clinton. Slow Joe vs. Slick Willy. It’s a tie. I can’t choose which I love more.
This is all the proof we need that shotgun weddings and politics don’t mix.
Terrie on September 24, 2008 at 5:29 PM
cracker = “whip” cracker
get it?
lorien1973 on September 24, 2008 at 5:30 PM
This is not helping Chris Rocks’ kids.
The Ugly American on September 24, 2008 at 5:31 PM
I never realized it meant “whip cracker”. I always thought it was more like “white bread”, which I have heard black people use to disparage things connected with whites.
You learn something new every day around here.
capitalist piglet on September 24, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Means not an oreo.
dragondrop on September 24, 2008 at 5:33 PM
How do they advertise for these rallies with Bill?
Attention Crackers! Drop your bible and your gun and come on down to Clinton for Obama Rally.
Elizabetty on September 24, 2008 at 5:33 PM
He’s an RNC agent!
lodge on September 24, 2008 at 5:34 PM
I thought it referred to color, as in a Saltine cracker’s whitish hue.
I guess I can’t learn if I’m not first ignorant.
pugwriter on September 24, 2008 at 5:35 PM
An epithet with origins in colonial Virginia and the Carolinas that refers to rural squatters and all around ne’er-do-wells. These days it is a derogatory term for poor and working class white people.
ManlyRash on September 24, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Thank you, CP, never Knew that one… yes, I did mean “novice”… I didn’t consider you a jerk. I apprecaite the catch… to paraphrase a thought, a fool rebuffs constructive criticism…
CynicalOptimist on September 24, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Sure, hasn’t Biden thrown around a few epithets? Whats good for the elite coastal Limey is good for the Arizonan Mic/Hillbilly wilderness hoochie ticket.
Benjamin9 on September 24, 2008 at 5:38 PM
GOT IT!
CynicalOptimist on September 24, 2008 at 5:40 PM
That’s one thought! That is, he’s trying to throw the election to McCain (for whatever reason). The problem is that things like this don’t play without MSM support. He ain’t gonna get it.
Tommygun on September 24, 2008 at 5:40 PM
…his racist pastor…his bombastic Catholic priest friend…his bomb-throwing colleague…his anti-American wife…his tongue-stomping running mate…Harry Reid…the most unpopular Speaker of the House in history…Hollywood…now Bill….
…Obama has real issues when it comes to his friends….
…mind you, in Florida, the word “cracker” hasn’t got quite the venom that it has in the national “urban” lexicon. It’s another way of saying “redneck”…and coming out of Chiles’ mouth, it’s sort of like Jeff Foxworthy talking about rednecks…it’s not the equivalent of “white trash”…exactly….
…they would say “hillbilly”, for instance…except that there are no hills in Florida…none…any….
…still, saying that Bill Clinton is a “cracker”, or can talk truth to the disempowered “crackers”, is an insult to white trash Americans everywhere!
…besides…we prefer to be called “Appalachian-Americans”….
Puritan1648 on September 24, 2008 at 5:44 PM
So we have a NEW Crackerquiddick.
.
The other will need a new moniker, maybe BITTERQUIDDICK.
.
Crackerquiddick. Anti-white Elitism
and
Bitterquiddick. Religion/gun clingy Elitism
.
M JO K Still unavailable for comment.
shooter on September 24, 2008 at 5:46 PM
I refuse to be offended by the term cracker. Although, in this case, I will make an exception for cynical political reasons.
VolMagic on September 24, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Is this for tonight’s show?
If so, it will be intersting to see if this little tidbit ends up on the CNN cutting room floor.
Elizabetty on September 24, 2008 at 5:52 PM
I’ve been called worse, by far better people than he.
Alden Pyle on September 24, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Does anyone really believe Bill Clinton wants Obama to win?
Anyone, Anyone, Bueller?
AndrewsDad on September 24, 2008 at 5:56 PM
A…..Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! Go Willie, it’s your birthday, sink Obama, it’s your birthday!
NukeBerkeley on September 24, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Yoo go on naow Bhill, ‘n hustle up them thar cracka votes!
Bill Clinton … Black Man trapped in a White Mans body.
FlatFoot on September 24, 2008 at 5:59 PM
in the the south it is blacks that call whites “crackers” It would be like whites calling blacks “nig****”. Ask 10 whites what the term “cracker” means and you might get 5 of them to know wht it means. Ask 10 blacks what it means and all 10 will give you the answer.
unseen on September 24, 2008 at 6:00 PM
During our days of slavery, the man who sat on a horse that was an overseer of those slaves would “crack” his whip to make the slaves work harder/faster, thus the dreadful and racist term “cracker” was born. It is always used for white folks by the way.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 24, 2008 at 6:00 PM
We need to get SLICK WILLIE a couple of stogies,cases of hooch,some chicks ( political assistants/community conscious babes),and a bus and send him on the road 24/7.
Bubbah is a great asset to both of the candidates,if we are lucky Jimmah will wade in and “splain’ the wall street mess (anyone remember 21% interest)?
Lots of good ole boys is gonna get a real thrill outa Slick on the road.Keep the mics open fur some really good sound bites.
J.Wm.
Col.John Wm. Reed on September 24, 2008 at 6:06 PM
The Dems could invited voters for Chicken Wings at an event called, “Honkies and Hooters.”
Elizabetty on September 24, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Cracker BJ Clinton crackin’ wise, eh…?
CliffHanger on September 24, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Once again the democrats remove all doubt that without racial hatred and class envy they could not exist. The party of hate strikes again.
volsense on September 24, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Holy crow, ol’ Bubba is as good as Biden!
Operation Humidor….Bubba, talk to the “crackers”.
Gaffetastic!
HornetSting on September 24, 2008 at 6:26 PM
New party song, (sung to jimmy crack corn)
I’m a crack-er, and I don’t care.
I’m a crack-er, and I don’t care.
I’m a crack-er, and I don’t care.
My master’s gone a-way.
Geronimo on September 24, 2008 at 6:27 PM
The worst of both races. And not just them.
You were probably using it already anyway.
baldilocks on September 24, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Maybe Bill wants to hit on Michelle?
Or if she blows him off (probably a poor choice of words) then Obama girl?
Know hope?
Mr. Joe on September 24, 2008 at 6:35 PM
This is one Keebler Cracker, who just loves his Mossburg 12G along with his Holy Bible. The only way to take them away from me are to pry them from my cold and bitter hands.
USMCDevilDog on September 24, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Cracker is a racial slur aimed at whites and I don’t find anything humorous about it. How ever I will say that its origins go back to the times of slavery and it had nothing to do with saltines.
mindhacker on September 24, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Ment to say my dead cold body and bitter hands
USMCDevilDog on September 24, 2008 at 6:37 PM
There’s a t-shirt I’ve seen that has a giant saltine on it – I’ve always thought it was funny, because I always thought the term cracker was like ‘white bread,’ a reference to pale skin.
It doesn’t offend me – I’ve been called much worse. But there’s something surreal about such a distinguished political figure using that term. Who knew there was room under the bus for Obama himself?
Anna on September 24, 2008 at 6:42 PM
You can say a lot of bad stuff about Clenus, and he’d deserve it all, but the guy is one political master mind.
The guy has a huge IQ.
To bad he did not work for the good side of the force.
TheSitRep on September 24, 2008 at 6:47 PM
I think it’d be awesome if one day Bill snapped and came right out and said the Dems picked the wrong candidate and told everyone that Barry sucks and to vote for McCain. Talk about heads exploding!
Big John on September 24, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Cracker
So Obama is a cracker with peanut butter on top? :-D
SouthernGent on September 24, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Shazam! This crackerboy cain’t wait to line up an’ catch a Moon Pie from the Great White Dope.
whitetop on September 24, 2008 at 7:05 PM
fogw:
I was thinking the same. BTW, who does the “lesbo vote” go to? Is it fair to group them with the “homo vote”?
I guess I would be part of the “beaner vote,” in that case.
USMCDevilDog:
I am right beside you on that subject.
freedom_nut on September 24, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Goes to show, when we play along with the lefts politically correct game, they can say whatever they want and we cannot. Cracker is racist, but who will call Bill Clinton on it?
Maxx on September 24, 2008 at 7:11 PM
George Jefferson Clinton
SoulGlo on September 24, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Explain yourself.
fogw on September 24, 2008 at 7:24 PM
I prefer “Saltines” but who knew Clinton was Jewish…?
d1carter on September 24, 2008 at 7:33 PM
Res ipsa loquitur.
mushroom on September 24, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Regardless of the disputed origins of the word, in the south “cracker” is among what are known as “fightin’ words.” We can and do use redneck as an affectionate term amongst ourselves (I wouldn’t suggest an outsider try it though.) But if you are anywhere and hear the term cracker being used, look for the exit or get under the table, cause the fight is about to start. Bill being from the south and all you’d think he’d know that. He might as well have called every white in the south “white trash.”
raylisa on September 24, 2008 at 7:39 PM
By the 1760s, this term was in use by the English in the British North American colonies to refer to Scots-Irish settlers in the south. A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth reads: “I should explain to your Lordship what is meant by Crackers; a name they have got from being great boasters; they are a lawless set of rascalls on the frontiers of Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas, and Georgia, who often change their places of abode”. A similar usage was that of Charles Darwin in his introduction to The Origin of Species, to refer to “Virginia squatters” (illegal settlers)
Buford Gooch on September 24, 2008 at 7:40 PM
If Bill Clinton keeps this up, I’m going to have to stop bad mouthing him…. and I wouldn’t have ever imagined that happening.
Hog Wild on September 24, 2008 at 7:48 PM
From your website baldilocks ………….
Why is it OK for you to inject humor into race, but not others.
Clinton used the derogatory phrase “Cracker”, and I countered ‘humorously’ with another derogatory phrase offensive to the black race.
How does that make me someone who uses the phrase in their daily life? Have a crystal ball do you? You’ve been around here long enought to know I will point my finger of sarcasm at anyone for any reason. I was poking fun at the stupidity of what Clinton said, not an entire race of people.
You know nothing about my personal life, who are my friends, who I have helped when they were down and out, who I admire or who I despise.
Why so sensitive? Chill.
fogw on September 24, 2008 at 7:54 PM
And so you did.
fogw on September 24, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Hey Barry, how’s that knife feel in your back?
Remember……always keep the Klintons in front of you.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 24, 2008 at 8:12 PM
It’s okay for him to say ‘cracker’… you’re allowed to hit your own group. That is the rule, isn’t it? Or is that just for hosers?
andycanuck on September 24, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Billy Jeff discloses his marching orders…
Cracker attack!
This is better than a good SNL skit.
T J Green on September 24, 2008 at 8:54 PM
I’m not going to go through and read all of the comments… but please tell me that I’m not the only one who sees this for what it is – deliberate sabotage on the Obama campaign. We’ve all known, and Dick Morris spelled it out very clearly, that the Bill will do a lot of stupid stuff to undermine the campaign, in hopes that Barry loses, so Hillary can swoop in for the nomination in 2012.
This couldn’t be more clear, especially after the “I don’t know if anyone can be ready” for the White House, stuff, etc. Then the interviews the other day where he practically begged to be part of the Palin family. He praised all of them, went on and on about how Todd Palin is so awesome and his “kind of guy” and how he “can’t get over” him completing 500 miles of that snowmachine race with a broken arm, called Palin “hot”, etc. etc.
Obviously my comment isn’t going to influence anything here, I’m just hoping to open the eyes of people who may just think Billy Jeff is losing his mind. This is all very calculated. As Morris said, Hillary will pretend to make some effort in helping stump for Obama, because she kind of has to, but Bill will keep doing little things on the side to undermine Obama… and it’s quite clear he has been.
RightWinged on September 24, 2008 at 8:56 PM
I’m from IL and I don’t like the word “cracker.” Been called cracker many times by our “diversities” here in Chicago. Multiculturalism is not what it’s cracked up to be, especially in a “sanctuary city” like Chicago. Sigh.
UnEasyRider on September 24, 2008 at 9:31 PM
OMG…..Clenis is so in the tank for McCain!
Winebabe on September 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Which means the whip “cracker” and overseer saw black people as sub-human. Thus the term is actually applied to white racist everywhere generally. Not southern whites who are not racist. There are “crackers” in NY, VT, CA, OR, etc. And in Philadelphia where I grew up and still have family and friends there. The majority of the white people in my South Philly neighborhood contain about 70% “crackers”. BTW I am white.
That shows the difference in which word is more powerful/hurtful.
That is exactly why some blacks use the term “nigga” for each other. Also there is another affect. After some time, using the N word by blacks is taking the sting out of the word.
I’m sure you are correct that was the origin of the word. But when “cracker” has been used for the last 100 years, 99.99999999% of the time it didn’t reflect the original meaning you put forth.
Chimpy on September 24, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Um, nobody is having a feces fit but you.
And no names were called in my one act play.
baldilocks on September 25, 2008 at 12:09 AM
I doubt that you are a Marine.
baldilocks on September 25, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Amazing how Bill Clinton using a racial slur against himself prompts all the pinheads to use equivalent slurs against blacks.
baldilocks on September 25, 2008 at 12:18 AM
There’s a t-shirt I’ve seen that has a giant saltine on it – I’ve always thought it was funny, because I always thought the term cracker was like ‘white bread,’ a reference to pale skin.
It doesn’t offend me – I’ve been called much worse. But there’s something surreal about such a distinguished political figure using that term. Who knew there was room under the bus for Obama himself?
Anna on September 24, 2008
This is what infuriates the black racists out there (yes, they do exist, Jesse Jackson notwithstanding). They keep looking for a perjorative that will offend white people equally as much as any black perjorative and they haven’t found one yet. I think they don’t understand that we (mostly) are not so insecure about our identities that we allow that crap to get so deeply under our skin. The real breakthrough will come when the majority of black Americans are no longer offended by stupid namecalling. That would be one sign that we have become the colorblind society we wish we were.
SKYFOX on September 25, 2008 at 4:51 AM
Actually, I don’t see that particular quote as evidence of O’s bigotry. But I guess that just proves I’m a “typical white person”.
Squiggy on September 25, 2008 at 6:17 AM
Puritan1648 is right. Here in FL, “cracker” is the equivalent of “redneck” when used by white folks.
Having said that, Bill Clinton won’t be of any help in FL. He campaigned here for Bill McBride in 2002 (taking on Jeb Bush) when the polls were tight, and that faux pas sent Jeb WAY UP in the polls, where he won by about 13%. Bubba also campaigned for Kerry here in 2004, and Kerry wound up losing by 5%.
So PLEASE, Bubba…come on down here to FL!
crushliberalism on September 25, 2008 at 7:18 AM
So in your view, I guess calling someone a racist isn’t name calling. You used that term at least four times in your play.
Yeah, you make perfect sense. One set of rules for you, another set of rules for everyone else.
Try again.
fogw on September 25, 2008 at 8:33 AM
Is this what you do when all else fails? Make things up. When did he call himself a ‘cracker”? Better go back and read the article again. In his reference to Chiles he was calling a portion of the voting electorate ‘crackers”, not himself.
This is fun. Try again.
fogw on September 25, 2008 at 8:39 AM
When someone accuses me of something I have never done in my life, I’m not going to sit idly by and ignore it. You made it personal, I fired back.
Now STFU.
fogw on September 25, 2008 at 8:44 AM
At least you hear of Bill campaigning for the ‘zero’, even if it’s all negative campaigning. Has anyone even heard of anything Hillary has done for the ‘zero’?
Hussein is just too arrogant to think others would doublecross him after he has trashed them. This is the inexperience you show when you are in your first real campaign.
TomJW on September 25, 2008 at 9:34 AM
I’d like to see the entire interview before passing final judgement.
As I listened to the interview I can’t say I disagree with your take on this Ed. But I also couldn’t help but think (know) Couric put on the air the portion of the interview that would shed Palin in the worst possible light. That’s her job as an Obama surrogate. Rest assured, the best parts of the interview will end up on the floor of the editing room at CBS.
I still think Palin should avoid these media piranhas like the plague. They want her there for target practice and no other reason. She will never gain any stature giving in to their demands for an interview. If she comes off badly, they will point it out. If she comes off as a viable candidate, they will say she didn’t. It’s always a lose, lose proposition.
Keep her in front of the folks and away from the enemy.
fogw on September 25, 2008 at 9:52 AM
sorry, wrong thread.
fogw on September 25, 2008 at 9:53 AM