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Andrew Young Praises Bill Clinton: He's Probably "Had More Black Women than Barack Obama"

Andrew Young—civil rights icon, former mayor of Atlanta and ambassador to the United Nations—has some explaining to do after his ringing endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Sen Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama that included an off-color joke about her husband and former president Bill Clinton.

At a "Newsmakers" event held in Atlanta, Young joked that author Toni Morrison may have been on to something when she referred to former President Bill Clinton as the "first black president." "Bill is every bit as black as Barack," Young quipped on the live television interview. "He has probably gone out with more black women than Barack." The ambassador immediately added that he was joking.

Before making the left-handed compliment, Young said "I want Barack Obama to be president," then paused and added, "in 2016." The ambassador declared, "It's not a matter of being inexperienced. It's a matter of being young" and accused Obama of having "very few" black advisors. That latter charge has been discussed elsewhere, such as HERE.

According to the New York Post, "Clinton's campaign had no immediate comment, nor did Obama's. Jesse Jackson, who has boasted that Obama 'has my vote,' wouldn't touch the political hot potato with a 10-foot pole. 'He has no comment,' spokeswoman Rashida Restaino said. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who hasn't yet declared his choice for Dem presidential nominee, likewise had no immediate comment."

Just as an aside, one could make are any number of arguments to endorse Clinton over Obama, but, age should not be a factor. At 46 years old, Barack Obama is three years older than John F. Kennedy was when he ascended to the presidency ... and exactly the same age that Bill Clinton was when he won the White House in 1992.

Wesley Clark Endorses Hillary

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (NY) was endorsed by retired Gen. Wesley Clark, the former supreme allied commander of NATO who sought the party's nomination in 2004 and "whose sterling military credentials could bolster her bid to be the first female commander in chief." From the general's statement:

"The world has reached a critical point, and we need a leader in the White House with the courage, intelligence and humility to navigate through many troubling challenges to our security at home and abroad. I believe Senator Clinton is that leader, and I whole-heartedly endorse her for President of the United States. Senator Clinton and I share a worldview in which diplomacy is the best first-strike tool in our arsenal; in today's complicated global system, the United States should be making more friends than enemies."

Steve Clemmons at The Washington Note observes some of the conventional wisdom by noting "Clark has no doubt put himself in contention for a VP slot possibility—or perhaps would be high on the list to be Secretary of Defense." It's certainly to her credit that Sen. Clinton is lining up the military brass and big guns in her camp.

More Wesley Clark here. More Hillary Clinton here.

Hillary Wins Wesley Clark's Endorsement [TWN]
Wesley Clark Endorses Clinton [NYT]

Did You Read ... ?
YearlyKos: Day Two [R20]
Poll: Clinton Leading Giuliani on Security Issues [R20]
White House Attacks Clinton Commercial [R20]
News: Hillary Clinton Ad, Lutherans, Adrian Fenty [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Guest Commentary: Rod McCullom [Logo]
The Advocate: Clinton vs Obama [R20]
YearlyKos Day 3: Hillary Clinton [R20]
HRC/Logo Forum: Richardson: Sexuality a "Choice" [R20]
HRC/Logo Forum: Obama Conference Call [R20]
Rod 2.0 on Logo [R20]
Clinton Doubles Lead, Attracts More Blacks [R20]
HRC and Logo to Host Presidential Debates [R20]
Democrats Debate Homopohobia, Racism,HIV [R20]
Democratic Candidates Debate Gay Issues [R20]
Clinton Names Prominent Gay Supporters [R20]
Clinton, Edwards Oppose Surgeon General Nominee [R20]
Clinton Camp Targets Gay and Lesbian Donors [R20]
Memo to Mr. Geffen: Get Over It [R20]
Hillary Big Brother "Ad" [R20]

YearlyKos: Day Two

General Wesley Clark

This morning, Gen. Wesley Clark addressed YearlyKos 2007. NATO's former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe struck all the right notes in a muscular speech—video HERE—that attacked the Bush Administration's abysmal domestic policies and "reckless" non-strategy in Iraq. However, the general was very specific on confronting terrorism—and Iran if need be.

Clark is "very solutions-oriented," explains noted intelligence and foreign policy blogger Steve Clemmons. "He has clear-headed views on how complex military, political, and economic systems need to be molded to achieve results. And he is open to the feedback of failure."

At 8am, the main conference hall at McCormick Place was packed to the rafters with hundreds of people to hear this speech. Quite impressive because most of us are not morning people. Here is a look-see at the crowd waiting to be seated:

McCormick Place, Main Hall

Is the religious right dead? "No," say three distinguished panelists at a packed session at this afternoon's Yearly Kos. "Not only is it not dead," adds Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, the distinguished progressive theologian and president of the Chicago Theological Seminary. "But the religious right capable of multiple rebirths

"The congress has changed a bit," says writer Frederick Carlson. "But the state legislatures have not changed. It's very important no to lose sight of this."

Chip Berlet—one of the most prominent right-wing researchers in the country—was more blunt. After the 2006 elections, he says, more "white evangelical Protestants told pollsters they voted Democratic because they opposed the war in Iraq and they opposed corruption in the Republican Party. But they didn't change their position on abortion or gay rights one inch." Berlet emphatically says reaching out to evangelicals—as Pam noted yesterday—means changing message but not priorities. "I respectfully refuse to consider women’s rights and gay rights as a commodity to be traded for votes from evangelicals.”

Sen. Hillary Clinton will personally Q&A with bloggers in breakout sessions after her Saturday speech to the convention. Last night, there was some confusion about her schedule but team HRC confirms the candidate will take questions from invited bloggers, including this one.