Some People Say Dumb Things

This is one of those people.

Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton's most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black.

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in Tuesday's paper.

To buttress his point, Rendell cited his 2006 re-election campaign, in which he defeated Republican challenger Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star, by a margin of more than 60 percent to less than 40 percent.

"I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was — well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking — but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so," he said.

(sigh) And knowing what's coming, it's not a rap on Hillary, okay? I just think what this guy said was completely out of bounds. Putting Obama in the same category as Lynn Swann is like putting Hillary in the same category as Jean Schmidt. Stop throwing that card on the table. Just stop it. You're not doing the people of Pennsylvania - or Hillary - any favors.

Comments

[Steve]

Not trying to be glib here, but if he'd said, I probably would have lost, and been humble about it, I'd have been a lot less upset.

Actually Lynn Swann is more popular in Pennsylvania than almost anybody else almost anywhere else. it's not based on merit, not a "put down" of comparison that way. I think he's saying, "Here's someone who's beloved, who should have gotten more votes."

That having been said, it sounds really crappy, no question about it. You're right to mention that it's not about Hillary, but I've always had a positive impression of Rendell, and he sounds like Peter Boyle in "the Candidate", more interested in the strategy than in behaving like a mensch.

[oldgringo]

Like it or not, the man was stating a demonstrable truth: if you don't believe it, take a swing through DIXI, or NYC, or D.C., or anywhere you choose to go the come tell me that this sort of racism no longer exists.

[jedinate]

"it's not a rap on Hillary, okay?"

Sorry Hoff, THAT will NOT fly. I'm sick to DEATH of the ANTI-Clinton bias in OUR Party! I NEVER see any NEGATIVE stuff about Obama supports on this sight and BELIEVE ME there IS! I LIKE Obama, but a FEW of his supporters don't support HIM but are AGAINST Hillary. Huffington Post is a PIG TROUGH of this SWILL! Both Obama AND Hillary would be GREAT Presidents over John "100 more years in Iraq" McCain. What IF it's Hillary who is the nominee? Knee cap her some more? Tell Bill to shut up? ENOUGH! I want a Democratic President in the White House..... er as long as it WASN'T Gravel:P

[BKLN]

Geez jedinate. Have some chamomile tea or something. How is it that you're thinking that screaming in here is doing anything constructive? Why not take some of that wild-eyed energy to call and write your Reps and Senators about that abomination of a FISA bill or to get them to support Rush Holt's paper trail voting bill?

Gov. Rendell, while acknowledging an ugly reality that still exists in 21st century America, stuck his foot in his mouth. Clinton doesn't control him and while his gaff shouldn't reflect negatively on her, another ugly reality that still exists in 21st century America is that for some, it will reflect negatively on her because Rendell is one of her prominent supporters. Such us life.

It's absolutely healthy for OUR Party to debate Obama vs Clinton. Currently Obama is winning that debate.

[C.P.T.L.]

It's healthy that we debate health care plans, energy plans, war plans... ideas. And in that process, we raise the subject of the failures caused by the Republicans, and keep the pressure on them.

This horse race prattle, and racial talk, and whosaidwhat crap is failure. It is Democrats taking things for granted. It is personal failure that we entertain it, party failure that has lost focus, and election failure if we waste what we have, our embarrassment of riches, the great energy Democrats have will come to nothing, if we take things for granted.

Did our liar government not just get caught attempting to falsify an incident in the Persian Gulf? My prediction is that fighting in Iran will happen, that Israel will do Bush a return favor and time the attack they wish to do in Iran to our election cycle... or an incident will occur that will remind the right of their fear and we will see a stronger McCain than anyone can imagine now. If this is how we continue, a shift in perception will take place and we'll be caught with our pants down; then get ready for a McCain presidency.

And right on about HuffPo jedinate, it's silly-rumor city over there, that website seems to have been taken over by high school kids.

[lawton]

Oldgringo it's apparent it takes the old and feeble like us to actually read the writing on the wall. I will vote Obama if he's nominated but I have little hope of him ever sitting in the Oval Office.
I have lived in the South, North and West of this bountiful nation but there is no where that I've seen the signs of this country ever electing a black man, in my lifetime at least.
I just don't believe we've come that far! Maybe we never will.

[lawton]

C.P.T.L. That's the only thing that will keep the Bush-Cons in power. Wait a minute! They are still in power. They've paralyzed our democratic congress with simple, age old, parliamentary procedures the Democrats would not use to stop BushCo for seven years.

A mini 9/11 or another good old fashion invasion of a sovereign nation would work wonders for the so called vanquished republican party.
McCain could stay in the Middle East for his hundred year war. He probably thinks he'll live that long!