Posted on 11/05/2004 9:02:08 PM PST by Libloather
100 Blacks to be Honored for Influencing Clinton Career
Thursday November 04, 2004 5:50pm
Little Rock (AP) - Bill Clinton is a member of the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame and has been called "our first black president.''
Now, it's time to celebrate the black people who welcomed the former president into the fold. One hundred blacks who were "unsung heroes'' of Clinton's political success will be honored as a part of the festivities leading up to the November 18th opening of the Clinton Presidential Library.
On November 16th as many as 1,000 people are expected to attend a reception in the Robinson Center, the same building where the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is scheduled to perform to honor Clinton later that night.
The honorees were selected for influencing Clinton's career and his strong belief in racial reconciliation without serving in his administrations. Some, like actresses Whoopi Goldberg, Cicely Tyson and Sheryl Lee Ralph and trend-setting music producer Quincy Jones, are far from unsung.
Whoopi slams GOP
Calls outrage over Prez bashing 'a little fake'
Originally published on July 16, 2004
WASHINGTON - Whoopi Goldberg lashed out at Republicans again yesterday, branding them hypocrites for trying to "punish" her for joking about the President.
Fired from her gig as SlimFast spokeswoman, the salty entertainer hit back at Republicans who threatened a SlimFast boycott over sexual puns she made about President Bush's name at a Democratic fund-raiser.
"America's heart and soul is freedom of expression without fear of reprisal," she said in a statement.
"I find all this feigned indignation about 'Bush bashing' quite disingenuous," she said, noting the Bush administration has savagely gone after critics like former Sen. Max Cleland, Iraq whistleblower Joseph Wilson and ex-terrorism chief Richard Clarke.
"For the Republican Party to pretend this is new to them seems a little fake," she said.
"The fact that I am no longer the spokesman for SlimFast makes me sad, but not as sad as someone trying to punish me for exercising my right as an American to speak my mind."
The Bush-Cheney campaign has been making a lot of hay out of Goldberg's set at last week's celebrity gala at Radio City Music Hall, professing shock at her blue jokes.
Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman called the event a "hatefest" that proves John Kerry doesn't "share the same values" as the rest of America.
Kerry, who is trying to woo swing voters, did not stand by his celeb supporters. On the defensive, he distanced himself from Goldberg and said through spokesmen that he thought her comments were inappropriate.
Running mate John Edwards was asked about the flap yesterday by Fox News. "They weren't speaking for me, and they weren't speaking for John Kerry," he said, adding the ticket is "focused on our positive, optimistic vision of hope."
Mehlman has repeatedly demanded that Kerry's camp release a video of the event, even going so far as to promise not to use the footage in ads.
Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill said tartly that he could have the video after Bush releases his military records and details of Vice President Cheney's secret energy task force.
Diversity promoter Asa Khalif, who has made headlines for accusing celebrities of insensitivity, cried foul in the Goldberg firing. "I smell racism from beginning to end," said Khalif, head of Racial Unity USA in Pennsylvania. "SlimFast must realize that black women have every right to voice their views."
Meanwhile, the average black person will be at work and not able to attend while their loafing "leaders" hang out with brother Bill.
Maybe they can find some of them who might have showed him how to do the cigar thing, the flasher thing, or even the "Put some ice on that" craze...
If I was a black man who influenced Clinton, I would threaten to sue any group that tried to link me with him in any way. The insult of assuming the title "first black president" after his behavior is still lost on people even today.
Oy vey... even when the awards are going to other people, it's all about the Clintons.
how many out of the 100 are hookers from Little Rock ?
Is self-professed African-American Mama T. (Kerry's S.O.) on the list?
ping!
This is he most disgusting display of pandering yet from this pathetic fake. I don't know if I should laugh, or barf.
Let's see, what Steve Martin movie was it. Oh yeah, The Jerk: "I was born a poor black child. . . ."
My favorite line from that movie is "this is sh**, this is shinola" and Clinton never knew the difference!!
IIRC "our first black president" supposed to mean that his father died when he was young, talk about lowering the standards.
hmmmmm Didn't see Ron Brown's name.
LOL! She'll be at the bar.
The biggest black contribution to Clinton's career was by Ricky Ray Rector. They ought to dedicate a bust of him at this event.
Stings, don't it, Whoopi?
"Freedom of speech without fear of reprisal" means: the government will not throw you in jail. However, what the rest of society does, by exercising OUR right to free speech, is what got her. But as usual, she just doesn't "get it."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.