Add systemic racism to the list of #WhichHillary.
Hillary talks about systemic racism now, but in the past, she said absolutely nothing about it when she was directly confronted with the issue. She did a complete 180.
When the Jeremiah Wright controversy erupted in 2008, it was the most difficult time for the Obama campaign. Hillary at this point could have condemned Rev. Wright’s offensive statements, while also recognizing there was anger in the black community because of systemic racism. But nope. Instead, this is what Hillary said to reporters:
I think given all we have heard and seen, he would not have been my pastor. You don't choose your family, but you choose what church you want to attend."
Then, she said this at a debate even AFTER Obama gave his historic speech on race:
It is clear that, as leaders, we have a choice who we associate with and who we apparently give some kind of seal of approval to. And I think that it wasn’t only the specific remarks but some of the relationships with Reverend Farrakhan, with giving the church bulletin over to the leader of Hamas, to put a message in. You know, these are problems. And they raise questions in people’s minds.
And funnily enough, here’s what McCain said about the situation:
MCCAIN: I think that when people support you, it doesn't mean that you support everything they say. Obviously, those words and those statements are statements that none of us would associate ourselves with, and I don't believe that Sen. Obama would support any of those, as well.
HANNITY: Would you go to a church that — where your pastor supported Louis Farrakhan?
MCCAIN: Obviously, that would not be my choice. But I do know Sen. Obama. He does not share those views.
Here’s what Huckabee had to say about the situation:
I think that, you know, Obama has handled this about as well as anybody could. And I agree, it’s a very historic speech. I think that it was an important one and one that he had to deliver, and he couldn’t wait. The sooner he made it, maybe the quicker that this becomes less of the issue. And I thought he handled it very, very well.
And he made the point, and I think it's a valid one, that you can't hold the candidate responsible for everything that people around him may say or do.
And one other thing I think we've got to remember: As easy as it is for those of us who are white to look back and say, "That's a terrible statement," I grew up in a very segregated South, and I think that you have to cut some slack. And I'm going to be probably the only conservative in America who's going to say something like this, but I'm just telling you: We've got to cut some slack to people who grew up being called names, being told, "You have to sit in the balcony when you go to the movie. You have to go to the back door to go into the restaurant. And you can't sit out there with everyone else. There's a separate waiting room in the doctor's office. Here's where you sit on the bus." And you know what? Sometimes people do have a chip on their shoulder and resentment. And you have to just say, I probably would too. I probably would too. In fact, I may have had a more, more of a chip on my shoulder had it been me.
When Huckabee is able to talk about systemic racism, and Hillary was talking about Farrakhan and Hamas, that's not good.
Then, Obama started getting attacked for this comment about rural, small town America: “And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment.” Hillary could have taken this opportunity to agree with the statement, and acknowledge that systemic racism is a problem in America. Instead Hillary said this:
I was taken aback by the demeaning remarks Sen. Obama made about people in small town America. Sen. Obama's remarks are elitist, and they are out of touch. They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans. Certainly not the Americans that I know — not the Americans I grew up with, not the Americans I lived with in Arkansas or represent in New York.
Americans are fair-minded and good-hearted people. We have ups and downs. We face challenges and problems. But our views are rooted in real values, and they should be respected.
I don't think it helps to divide our country into one America that is enlightened and one that is not. People don't need a president who looks down on them.
That sounds like more of a denial of systemic racism.