Campus The Relationship Between African Americans and CHnton Despite recent scandal, African Americans still seem to show a
great deal of support for President Clinton. By Jonathan Friday
t is quite clear that a majority the right time. In July 1997, Assistant Attorney General for of African Americans support Clinton spoke before the NAACP Civil Rights after conservative IPresident Clinton. In regard to while his presidential opponent politicians criticized her views on that support, one question Bob Dole neglected to do so. affirmative action. He also remains: amid the sexual scan Also on Nov. 2 of last year, the received criticism after his dals, misleading and impeach Sunday before the congressional Welfare Reform Bill was passed - ment, why do African Americans elections, Clinton attended a bill that many felt would only continue to support the presi- - dent of the United States? From the beginning, Clinton knows the importance of most African Americans and Clinton have had a positive rela making himself available to African tionship. It was Clinton who appeared on the “Arsenio Hall Americans at the right time Show” to play his saxophone, asked Maya Angelou to read her poetry at his first inauguration and appointed African Americans church services at an African- make it harder for those on wel to cabinet positions. As seen American church in Baltimore, fare to survive. recently, he called on two African Md. His main message: go out Given the fact that on Americans, Vernon Jordan and and vote. African Americans Aug. 17, 1998, Clinton appeared Jesse Jackson, to advise him. It responded to this. The 1998 elec on television and admitted to his was Clinton who created the Race tions resulted in what some called affair with Monica Lewinsky. Initiative, which travels around a democratic victory, although. Kenneth Starr’s highly available the country hosting dialogues on Republicans retained more seats report, which was released to the racism in America. Furthermore, in both the House and the Senate. public, documented the salacious in the summer of 1998, Clinton It seems only on a couple details of that affair and Clinton’s took a 12-day tour of six African of occasions have African subsequent impeachment. The countries, culminating in what Americans been angry with question still remains: Why do some say was a quasi-apology for Clinton. In June of 1993, a lot of African Americans still support slavery. African Americans were angry Clinton? Maybe it’s because the Clinton also knows the with him when he withdrew grass is not greener on the other importance of making himself Harvard Law School professor side. available to African Americans at Lani Guinier’s nomination for
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