"Smears" seems to imply that the criticism was unwarranted - I disagree. The Clintons invited that kind of criticism when they repeatedly invoked race throughout the campaign: the Jesse Jackson comment, the MLK/LBJ comparison, insisting Obama "reject and denounce" Farrakhan, Mark Penn continually mentioning drug use, invoking the spectre of assassination, etc. I could write off any one of these remarks as a slip of the tongue. Over the course of the primary, though, this became such a pattern that I have a hard time believing the Clintons didn't know what they were doing. And judging from the comments by Ferraro and others ("inadequate black male"), it sounds like Hillary's supporters got the message loud and clear. At best, the Clintons were guilty of being incredibly tone deaf.

If you want to know why Bill Clinton is still pissed, this quote by Joan says it all:

It's still fashionable to blame zealous pro-Clinton PUMAs for the schism, and call them menopausal, cranky freaks. There are a few out there. But I think there are also rational Democrats still shaking their heads over how the civil-rights-championing Clintons were turned into racist white scapegoats.

In other words, Bill Clinton's history with the black community should make him immune from criticism for his own assinine remarks. After all, we know the Clintons aren't really bigots. They were just doing what they felt they needed to do to win.

And that justifies everything.

Hillary's got the handle on health care, so hey put that know how to work.

You think obama is reaching out to Bill Clinton? I imagine begging is more accurate. obama & karl axelrod peed in their whiskey with half the Democratic voters & a good many Independents with their demonization of the Clintons, especially Bill. Say what you want, he's still the Big Dog in the Democratic party. obama thinks he's an international rockstar, look at the receptions Bill gets everywhere & has for 15 years. obama may be getting attention now because he's a novelty, but to earn respect & maintain it on a global level will take more than campaign stunts. obama hasn't shown any real substance. So far he hasn't been outstanding in anything he's ever done except run for office. It remains to be seen if he has any true staying power. People are already seeing through his crafted facade & turning away. The only way he can win is to put her on the ticket, but his ego will never allow it. And with obama, it's all about the ego.

Why do you keep perpetrating the lie that Bill Clinton said Obama was a fairytale? Does it make you feel better somehow for all this hate you Obamatons are spewing! I won't even go into what he really said because you and the rest know it. My question is, how do you think all this venom on the part of his disciples is going to work out for Obama? More importantly, for the country?

I was just reading an article which epitomizes the hatred by some black people for Pres. Clinton. In the recent AIDS conference in Mexico Bill was talking about the recent statistics about AIDS in America and its disproportionate impact on the black community and how he'll be putting some of his foundation's focus on that. Immediately a black man at the conference claims he was angry at Bill Clinton not focusing his AIDS fight on the black community in America seeing as how his office is in Harlem. The obvious reason is the same as why Oprah built the school in South Africa, why charitable groups have been focused on that continent and not the US, the wealthiest country on earth!! I wouldn't be surprised if they don't start blaming Bill Clinton for AIDS in the black community, if they haven't already. My God!!!

lilybean.

....who the Vice-Presidential pick will be, but THIS I know: At the end of Bill Clinton’s speech, there will not be a dry eye in the arena. The place will erupt in an orgiastic explosion of tears and cheers heard around the world. As Michael Corleone said to Carlo Rizzi just before having him killed, “All family business was settled today.”

…….and millions of previous Obama Clinton Haters will be streaming into their churches and synagogues to try and wash the sins from their souls.

Michael Corleone? Am I gonna wake up with a decapitated horse's head in my unmade bed?

The word racist has definitely lost a lot of its sting. It now just sounds like something you call any white person your mad at.

Not money (why should he repay millions that HC spent weakening Obama for the general election?);

Not loyalty (just one example: during the campaign HC credited McCain's experience above Obama's, derisively saying all Obama had ever done was give a speech in 2002.);

Not fealty (Thank you for your past service, but, Mr. President & Madam Senator, the fact is he won & she lost.)

Not pandering (if cognitive dissonance drives her apostles to vote against their own interests & against Obama so be it. We have a name for people who vote against Democrats: Republicans);

The Clintons, who I used to admire, have done nothing of late but try to drag their party's nominee down, reinforcing the worst & least ethical aspects of the political machine & endangering the chances of Barack Obama to secure & establish an agenda to make America stronger- an agenda the Clintons themselves more or less espoused.

What to make of the Clinton's cynical & twisted maneuvering? Simple: If they cannot win they believe no one should. If they cannot be loved they will be feared. If they cannot preside over history they will fight progress into the future.

With friends like these, who needs Republicans?

Obama is right not to trust them. He is right not to court them. If they wish to be a part of their party's future they need to set aside their bitterness, see beyond the Clinton universe in their navels & work tirelessly for their party's nominee.

This is not their party anymore - it is bigger & better & it is going to win, with or without them.