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English is sometimes confusing to those who have limited use of it or can't comprehend the meaning.

From my own understanding, what Mrs Clinton is trying to convey is that Dr. Kings Civil Right dream was implemented by a noble president(Lyndon Johnson) that share the dream. In a way, she is saying that if she wins the Presidency, she will follow the footsteps of Lyndon Johnson. It takes a great President like President Johnson to do great things and she is going to be one of those great presidents.

That is what her statement means from my own understanding of that statement from her.

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I would like to preface this blog with my credentials, I have an undergraduate in Political Science, currently finishing my M.S.ed in adult education with a specialization in community empowerment. As a graduate assistant I teach a cultural sensitivity course. I said all that to make a plea. That is, please do not let fear, disbelief and/or conspiracy theories sway such an important decision and contribution to YOUR OWN EMPOWERMENT.
First and foremost, the U.S. is a democratic republic form of government, meaning it is of the people,for the people, by the people and representative. The point in giving a brief history lesson is this, the only way one can be counted and heard in such a system is through the electorate.
When we vote, essentially what is occuring (at the very least anyhow) is that we are sending a message to our representatives that we stand firm on some issue(s) and if you fail us, the same vote that put you in will ideally take you out.
What has been a persistent problem in getting our issues to the forefront is multifaceted and interrelated.
1. upon the conception of this nation we were never envisioned as equal nor citizens. In fact we were considered three fifths of a human being, and only acknowledged as that much because the southern delegates would not participate in the union unless thier SLAVES could some how be counted.(refer to the 1787 constitutional convention)
2.Therefore the values, norms, and belifes of the founders was that we were worth nothing more than our labor abilities. Slavery was ended in June 1865. In 1867 congress passed the Military Reconstuction Act giving Black men the right to vote (arguably only for the purpose of fighting in wars, but I digress). All women were granted the right to vote in 1920.
- the idea has always been to secure enough support from the populous to get elected. what occured was for decades political machines began to arise(Boss Tweed and Mayor Daley, to name a couple), granting favors to people who helped get a particular candidate elected.
3.A common observation by politicians and sociologist alike, was that minority and ethnic groups tended to stick together and secure their peice of the American corona.
4.In the 1960's Blacks became empowered and decided to fight for recognition, equality and justice. many strides towards our social mobility occured:
- the supreme court ruled separate but "equal" facilities were unconstitutional ending segregation and Jim Crow laws.
- Other minority groups were inspired by our resolve and joined the movement and/or created their own (Native American"red power" and Hispanic American 'Chicanismo').

5. The government realized that we were determined UNIFIED people....and therefore they sought to contain and disband us (refer to COINTEL PRO).....Cocaine and guns were pushed into our neighborhoods and the welfare system was created.....Unfortunately we took the bait. As a result:
- our faith and trust in each other died as we looked at our brothers as our competitors to stay afloat in this cruel economy.


- our Black leaders and organizations were either conspired against and/or murdered (Malcolm, Martin, black Panthers...etc)
-our faith in the Justice and political system further diminished.
- we have become so accustomed to not trusting one another and having no concern for anything or anyone outside of our immediate housesold (and sometimes not there either). how quickly we hurt one another and give endless chances to those who hurt US repeatedly.

Presently less than 50% of the entire population votes. The numbers for black people is extremely low. politicians know this and for years they have devised creative strategies to get us to the booths to vote in a representative that does not represent us.
If the only reason you choose to not vote for Obama is because it is a republican strategy, then think of it this way; if blacks came out in record numbers to help forge a new history (first black president),at the very least we are sending a message to the U.S. that we can unite for purpose. once they see that we are a force to be reckoned with then they have no other choice but to start putting our issues on the agenda. Have you ever wondered why getting a felony prevents you from participating in the electoral system? Now couple that with the number of brothers with felonies....a conscious effort to prevent us from participating in the only process in the U.S. where we a literally counted.
In Georgia, yes the republicans used a similar strategy of voting in the dem primary as independents against the Honorable Cynthia Mckinney to get her out because she was the first to shine the light on more than 70,000 minorities being disenfranchised in Dade County,Fl during the 2000 election.They succeeded, however, they are a majority in georgia because blacks do not take advantage of the system. Now we know and we can never go back to not knowing!!!!!!!!

Last but not least, I would like to borrow a line from a movie, "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist".
The enemy has used divide and conquer since the begining of time (Jesus and Judus, Ceasar and Brutus, Adam and Eve, House ni**er and Field Ni**er).
Let us resist partaking of the apple and stick together so that we become empowered and not taken for granted! OBAMA '08

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I'd like to paraphrase the first comment: BLACK PEOPLE, THE CLINTONS FEEL THEY OWN YOU AND YOUR VOTE! PERIOD.
Bill Clinton moved his office into the middle of the Black community allegedly to save the government money, since the Fed Govt pays his rent. The real reason was so he could play the plantation owner in the manor house to whom fealty is paid by the slaves.

Why so many Black women support Hillary on the woman thing is beyond me. White women have always had it made. If they were every held down it was because of their fathers, brothers, uncles, sons and all the other men in their lives who controlled everything, especially us. I always think about both versions of the movie "Imitation of Life" which shows the relationship between a Black woman and a White woman. They supposedly are best of friends, but it is the White woman who has all the best of everything except soul. She could feed off of the Black woman's soul. That is what both of the Clinton's do. They fee off of Black people for political expediency.

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I am an African American and had a negative reaction to the Clinton MLK/LBJ remarks well before the issue became a political hot potato. While some may think that I was offended by the characterization that it was the actions of the great white father (LBJ) versus the awakening of the American spirit (through MLK and thousands awakened) that allowed the Civil Rights Act to come to fruition, I realize that misses the mark. It also misses the mark to think that I view Ms. Clinton as being motivated by race in her remarks.

The Civil Rights Movement took heroes. Johnson was a hero. King was a hero.

My reaction was part this: how dare Ms. Clinton reduce the hero status of King, simultaneously raising the hero status of Johnson in making a political point to attack Obama?

My reaction was more visceral than on point as I applaud Johnson. I don’t think Ms. Clinton intended for me to have that visceral reaction and I don’t think she actually quite understands it. I certainly don’t think she was making a racist commentary even though I admit to having this visceral reaction.

While both King and Johnson were required for the Civil Rights Act to pass, the genesis of the Civil Rights Act was in the Kennedy Administration and in the movement started years before. I have little doubt that Bobby Kennedy would have gotten the job LBJ is credited with achieving done.

Again, I do not believe the statement by Ms. Clinton is racial. I just think it was bound to lead to visceral reaction as it is faulty both historically and factually when trying to make a point.

Her campaign talking point was that words matter but action is required. I agree in principle but the point is lost in the poor example that raises a visceral reaction. In the narrative of her talking points, it came across as an effort to say that if not for Johnson, all of King’s talk was just talk. It disregards the sacrifices of Americans that gave their life in the movement and is insensitive to that American sacrifice as the catalyst of the change.


Words DO Matter

Arguably Kennedy was well on his way to the Civil Rights Act. And historical revisionists that we are inclined to be, we forget that the Civil Rights Act passed before the voting rights act. But the voting rights provisions of the Civil Rights Act were gutted in Congress before ever getting back for Johnson to sign.

Or put into perspective the Civil Rights Act (with voting rights stripped) was passed BEFORE the historically significant and bloody “we shall overcome” march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights

Now Mr. Johnson initially thought that the voting rights act was not really needed because we had the 15th amendment.

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Technically he was right but the states had used clever devices to get around the law’s obvious (though escaped by literal devices, for you strict constructionists out there) intent.

Johnson recognized that the newly minted Civil Rights Act and the 100 year old 15th amendment were not enough.

“Experience has clearly shown that the existing process of law cannot overcome systematic and ingenious discrimination. No law that we now have on the books-and I have helped to put three of them there--can ensure the right to vote when local officials are determined to deny it.
In such a case our duty must be clear to all of us. The Constitution (15TH amendment) says that no person shall be kept from voting because of his race or his color. We have all sworn an oath before God to support and to defend that Constitution. We must now act in obedience to that oath.” -LBJ to Congress

Again words matter,

Quoting again from the speech Johnson gave introducing the Voting Rights Act right after the Bloody Sunday Selma to Montgomery March.

“There is no Negro problem. There is no Southern problem. There is no Northern problem. There is only an American problem. And we are met here tonight as Americans--not as Democrats or Republicans-we are met here as Americans to solve that problem.”

Obamaesque you might agree. I thought Obama borrowed this in his red state blue state message (though that’s beside the point).

Johnson noted that,

“The last time a President sent a civil rights bill to the Congress it contained a provision to protect voting rights in Federal elections. That civil rights bill was passed after 8 long months of debate. And when that bill came to my desk from the Congress for my signature, the heart of the voting provision had been eliminated.
This time, on this issue, there must be no delay, no hesitation and no compromise with our purpose.
We cannot, we must not, refuse to protect the right of every American to vote in every election that he may desire to participate in. And we ought not and we cannot and we must not wait another 8 months before we get a bill. We have already waited a hundred years and more, and the time for waiting is gone.
So I ask you to join me in working long hours--nights and weekends, if necessary--to pass this bill. And I don't make that request lightly. For from the window where I sit with the problems of our country I recognize that outside this chamber is the outraged conscience of a nation, the grave concern of many nations, and the harsh judgment of history on our acts.
WE SHALL OVERCOME” –LBJ to Congress

Note the fact that Johnson said “WE SHALL OVERCOME” is not a small point to me. It was the rallying cry of the March and of the movement. It mattered. WE Became America, not just the Negro.

My point is that the Clinton message on this point is just flawed and insensitive to many like me. Sure LBJ had to go the next step with the Voting Rights Act. But Clinton’s point addressed the already passed Civil Rights Act as a past tense on having the dream become reality with the Civil Rights Act.

Again the visceral reaction is not warranted by the literal though cynical factualness of her statement. “the dream began becoming a reality with the 1964 Civil rights act” Nor is the fact that Johnson himself embraced the very words of Dr. King in imploring Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. The problem became one of “hero shifting”. Johnson himself discounted his position as hero in the cause:

“The real hero of this struggle is the American Negro. His actions and protests, his courage to risk safety and even to risk his life, have awakened the conscience of this Nation. His demonstrations have been designed to call attention to injustice, designed to provoke change, designed to stir reform.”

Johnson understood my point at the level where it matters. Clinton seems to miss Johnson’s point and used Johnson to score political points to advance the “experience over talk” talking point. I even like Hillary (or certainly Clintons versus the Republicans on Civil Rigths) but was quite disappointed in the tactic.

I’m rambling perhaps but just to have you understand my visceral reaction as an African American. The reaction is much more about King versus politics --not about Obama.

This discussion is just wrong to say that without Johnson the 100 year old 15th amendment would have never been enforced. The courts would have done it through the Supreme Court as the conscience of the nation awakened by King and the movement would have forced them to.

But the time for the voting rights act had immediately arrived because of King’s Bloody March the day before. The day after the march the act was introduced by Johnson to Congress with the text of his speech imploring.

WE SHALL OVERCOME.

We will.

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Dr king's dream started taking shape when Pres Johnson signed the Civil Rights Acts.In order for the dream to continue. We need someone who shares it and has the power to ACT. She no way showed disrespect for Dr King.Like Pres Clinton said we need to look to the real future and stop this pipe dream with all the open racism present in this country today .A black man would not be elected President.One Day but not now not OBAMA

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Many black people are missing the point divide and conquer in the political sense is good. What white people have effectively done was to equally divide themselves up into two parties where their voices are equally heard. We have failed to do the same. The Dems have played like they were our friends and the Reps played like they was not. I believe this race between Barak and Hillary will open the eyes of a lot of black people and force them to vote Republican if Hillary becomes their choice, I know I will and I encourage at least 50% of the black voters in america to do the same. Lets seen them a message that we understand their game.

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all of a sudden this democratic race has been a so called racial issue,remember 1 thing obama won iowa,99% white and close 2nd in NH 99%white,hasnt been a race campaighn until now, the troublemakers and we know who they are,its starts with 1 bigmouth??need to shut up,or it could become a divided campaign,1) the day before NH primary hillary did not cry,she simply displayed an emotional side not seen before. 2)hillarys win in NH had nothing to do with sympathy,she simply displayed her ability,HER EXTENSIVE REC0RD OF EXPERIENCE AND CIVIL RIGHTS EFFORTS,in the debate last weekend,hillary cleary shined ,and this is why hillary won NH.3)the so called clinton machine has always been backed 100 percent by the african american people, now a black obama with oprah endorsement enters the race and mr obama suddenly seems to have the black vote and hillary is cast aside,y?because obama is black?keep in mind mr obama is half white raised by white mom and white grandparents,his african dad left, when obama was 3. and returned to kenya...now the media is making this big obama ,kenya connection,and how kenya is behind OBAMA,why isnt the fact that obama is HALF WHITE rarely mentioned.....obama is charming and he reads well the speeches THAT ARE WRITTEN BY SPEECH WRITERS,but he rarely if ever holds answer question forums,but obama constantly compares himself to MLK and JFK this is not even close to a fare comparison,obama lacks experience....hilllary at all her rallys holds Q AND A forum and answers all questions with detail,based on EXPERIENCE and had a solid detailed plan,to bring this country back,during clinton years....deficit lowered and turned into surplus,300,000 new jobs,MADE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAIL TO MINORITIES hillary and bill cleary go on there record,was nt he called the first black president,in fact in arkansas a huge black org,hall of fame,made bill clinton an honorary black man.....why?because the clinton machine has done way more for blacks in america then all presidents combined.on bet tv thers constantly an ad for obama on the bottom of ad is a big sentence which reads...OBAMA, WHATS IN IT FOR US? my answer is this....very little. obama can only do so much whatever bill or policy a president brings forth must be passed throo congress,obama will not be the black peoples president he would be forced to serve all the people as 1,doing anything else would cause obama to not be reelected,make no mistake about that.i would urge all blacks in SC to take this primary very seriously///// not by race,but by record...obama speaks of change,hillary has demonstrated through her experience and past effortsfor 35 years that she doesnt speak of change,hillary clinton is an AGENT OF CHANGE...please please please.....this isnt a horse race for ego,this is about our health,our future,our ability to thrive, world peace, opportunities for all. even if hillary loses SC because the blacks have turned to obama,i know hillary will still win all the way to the white house,gauranteed.lets do whats right for us as a people,the american people.....john edwards is a phony and an opportunist....at debate last week hillary complimented mr edwars,he turned around and attacked hillary,y?because he wanted hill out the way,to make it a 2 man race between edwards and obama,and look what happened edwards took a distant 3rd in NH,edwards lacks experience only a 1 term sents seat...i was very impressed with obama not attacking hillary....and who knows if the jerks stop putting race in the mix here,we may see a clinton obama ticket which either way would be impossible to beat by any republican

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I heard her statements. They were accurate historically. JFK and Dr. King did speak of the vision of things. But, true action occurred when you had a President, LBJ, who was a bull dog to get people in Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Civil Rights Act of 1964. These legislations were the necessary tool to legally end segregation and allow blacks the ability to fight Jim Crow with teeth. I just thiink because Obama is black, everyone is not understanding the context of what was said. People, apply the same rational to Ron Paul who uses MLK in a sentence but then writes in 1992 paper that he is friends with MLK and Rosa Parks. PLEEAAASE!

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edwards lacks experience only 1 term in senate,and hes clearly an opportunist.....obama?lacks experience,speaks well....and is likable however clinton cleary is most qualified to run this counrty.when bet runs ads for obama it says whats in it for us,well we dont really know do we?clinton machine...we know whats in it for all of us,because when in the white house the changes made were broadsweeping and the country thrived in a positive direction and this isnt just words written by a savy speechwriter the improvements made in the clinton administration? as a country we were hurting from poppa bush whitehouse until clintons took the whitehouse in 93 the contry went forward rapidly we saw this and lived it and the numbers dont lie ,documented facts, change happened we all saw this and lived it.....do we want to gamble?promises made with little detail..or do we go by a PROVEN RECORD OF CHANGE CLINTON CLINTON CLINTON .....this isnt a game this is our future lets put it in the hands of proven results,expertise and fareness for all.its not about race....is it heading that way ?who knows. but lets vote on issues,ECONOMY.AFFORDABLE HOUSING,JOBS,and EXPERIENCE and a solid detailed plan to put this country in the direction it was in in the 90s before poppa bush......the only way we can get there?a clinton whitehouse,its on the record.fact.

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I'm tired already of the blackaty black,blaclk, blah blah blah, I.m telling people right now, Obama & Ewards threw hay makers with the "Status Quo " "Lobbyist & Special interest" issues. Issues people issues, PAY ATTENTION!!! bLACKITY BLACK BLACK CRAP MAKES ME SICK... Obama & Ewards were so good, Hilary & the opposition, Got so scared, They had to mud sling to distract from the issues.. People realize that for every domestic national issue we face, The Bush administration & conservative media starts pulling out the deceptions//&\\destractions stories, Like the BS surge(we out gun the Iraqis 20 to 1 in guns)But illegal immigration, Border fences,Predatory home mortgages, Katrina funds are on the (DL)FOR THE LOBBIST & SPECIAL INTEREST ((PROFITS))..The NFL told Terell Owens "forget all that inzone crap. Act like you SCORED a touchdown before".. Before you bring out the 1955 civil rights parade, Forget all that blackity black shat, "Let stick to the issues", If they say fried chicken & watermelon, Ask they about the hedge fund profits.., If they (memory lane) you about MLK OR Al Sharpton, Ask them about the 30 million plus illegals that Special interest profit off thier labor, while (u.s.citizens) people lose thier homes.. comedian Jackie Mason said Barrack Obama (slams) doesn't know the business., "No Jackie he doesn't" We know CHANGE!!! dontworryyourforeignaidwon'tgetcutoff...

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