January 28, 2008
Posted: 09:30 AM ET

(CNN) – Florida congressman Kendrick Meek said Monday that Bill Clinton’s words along the campaign trail have been taken out of context.
 
“The president’s not trying to make news,” Meek told CNN’s Kiran Chetry.  “The real issue is the reporting of what the president is actually saying.”  Adding, the focus needs to go back to Hillary Clinton’s message.
 
Meek, who is also chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, faced controversy surrounding last year’s CBC conference after he and Chairwoman Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Michigan) invited Hillary Clinton to speak at the annual event. Clinton was the only presidential candidate to get her own forum, fueling anger that the group’s neutrality was being undermined by its chairmen.
 
The congressman endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president back in June and was named a senior adviser to her campaign.  He is one of five key endorsements for Senator Clinton in Florida including, Rep. Corrine Brown, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Alcee Hastings and Sen. Bill Nelson, who announced his support Monday.
 
Florida’s primary is Tuesday, January 29th.
 
Related: Watch the entire interview with CNN’s Kiran Chetry.
 

– CNN’s Emily Sherman

Filed under: Hillary Clinton • President Clinton


Kay did you see Rezko with Billary and Bubba?   January 29th, 2008 3:02 pm ET

Just wait until the Republicans get their hands on the the corruption of the Clintons.

Bubba Clinton is a Convicted Liar!!! Who would believe this convicted liar?

Bubba Clinton was convicted of lying under oath. I wouldn't believe him if he told me it was hot in one hundred degree weather.

You are suporting a convicted liar to live in the white house. That means, not only did he lie to his wife Billary, but also he lied to the American people and under oath. He does not deserve to set foot in the white house.

P. Tasi   January 29th, 2008 2:58 pm ET

Kay

I am so disgusted with Main strem media's obsession with Obama. Whay are they not reporting about Obama's 17 year old relationship with Rezko, a political fixer and slumlord in Chicago who was arrested yesterday

KAY,
DID YOU HAPPEN TO SEE THE PHOTO OF BILLARY AND BUBBA WITH GUESS WHO? HINT, IT IS SPELLED REZKO. Hmmmm

CNN, WHERE IS THE PHOTO OF THE CLINTONS WITH REZKO????
YOU ARE AS BAD AS FRAUD NEWS aka Fox.

P. Tasi   January 29th, 2008 2:56 pm ET

Kay

I am so disgusted with Main strem media's obsession with Obama. Whay are they not reporting about Obama's 17 year old relationship with Rezko, a political fixer and slumlord in Chicago who was arrested yesterday

KAY,
DID YOU HAPPEN TO SEE THE PHOTO OF BILLARY AND BUBBA? Hmmmm

Kay   January 29th, 2008 10:24 am ET

I am so disgusted with Main strem media's obsession with Obama. Whay are they not reporting about Obama's 17 year old relationship with Rezko, a political fixer and slumlord in Chicago who was arrested yesterday.

Kay   January 29th, 2008 10:12 am ET

I agree with majority of the posters here. The main stream media's bias towards Obama is sickening. It seems their only agenda is to push Obama down our throats !!
I am truly hoping that majority of people will get sick of it and will vote based on issues

Nerakami   January 29th, 2008 10:10 am ET

If the focus should go back to Hillary's message then Bill Clinton should shut up. How much more simple is it than that? If people are re-acting then obviously there is something, whatever it is.. within his words that is making people uncomfortable and no one can dismiss these feelings. In addition, there is something wrong when most of the attention is being given to Bill over Hillary. Does that mean Hillary doesn't have the magnetism or the inspiration to attract people's focus? All these things add up…

Jack Berkeley, CA   January 29th, 2008 9:57 am ET

Democrats disenfranchise the voters in MI and FL and penalize them for the sins of their state party honchos. And then the demwits wonder why they lose the general elections?! duh… When the party ignores the voices of their base they end up fielding candidates like Kerry!!

GORE WON FL and had he been man enough to demand a REVOTE rather than the endless charade of recounting and interpreting the hanging chads, America would never be in this mess.

Obama advocates for change, yet solicits endorsements from the likes of Senator Kennedy and Kerry who is still trying to bail out his own row boat after being sunk by the GOP Swift boaters!!

If we can borrow the ABC Obama fans crayons, we'll draw a picture for them = imagine the tabloid headlines which would read: Obama takes campaign money from long time pal Tony Rezko in return for political favors. (Remember the full front page screaming GORE LIAR LIAR which was planted by a confessed GOP operative in 2000?!)

As the "poster boy of the new breed of non-loyal politicians" Obama needs to do the Democratic party a favor and declare his candidacy as an Independent and run with Bloomberg. That way everyone will have a candidate which they can support! AND then the media can fight over which one gets to be annointed and finally crowned President :(

MrDrunkenFox   January 29th, 2008 9:57 am ET

Bing Crosby's Horse Hasn't Come In Yet!

Amy in Cincy   January 29th, 2008 9:41 am ET

Please tell me how Bill Clinton comparing Obama's victory in S. Carolina to Jesse Jackon's is taken out of context…

The American public has heard Clinton's over the top remarks and feels he has crossed the line repeatedly. The good people of South Carlolina sent that message loud and clear.

Walt, Belton, TX   January 29th, 2008 8:05 am ET

Kendrick Meek's new book should be called "The Selling of America."

anonymous   January 29th, 2008 7:47 am ET

I agree with a majority of the comments regarding pro-Obama reporting on CNN and MSNBC. I have started turning to ABCNEWS and even FOXNEWS who seems to give all the candidates some positive reporting. CNN is really getting disgusting!!!!

glenda   January 29th, 2008 4:49 am ET

I've given up on CNN and MSNBC. It is who can say the nastyest thing about the Clintons and build up Obama. You would think after what they did to Al Gore in 2000 and what happened to Kerry in 2004, not to mention the run up to Iraq that the media would try to get it right. I think they want someone they can control. Either Obama who has to follow Hillary to see when to clap and how to vote or Romney who hasn't met a business he doesn't like. The American people are just pawns in the game and all the Obamaiacs are playing right along. Can't say anything bad about their guy, that's called racism. Sleazy dealings with an indicted 17 year friend Rezko - just look the other way folks, nothing here. Throw Alice Palmer under the bus - hey she got in my way. Write an autobiography before ever doing anything - what's that called? How about audacity of my own greatness. It is time to look at this guy but instead we are playing along with the same sad tear down the Clintons cause its just so easy. America needs to take a good long look in the mirror at our inability to see when we are being played. And the "progressives" on the blogs are now some of the worst. All the good objective reporting has gone out and it has become the land of personal destruction so we can have more of the same. We as a country deserve the type of leaders we are getting if we don't fight back and take back our airwaves. Al Gore was right to stay out.

Margarita   January 29th, 2008 2:12 am ET

REZKO WAS ARRESTED TODAY… WHERE IS THE HEADLINER?

Pat Johnston   January 29th, 2008 1:49 am ET

I agree we should boycott CNN and MSNBC.I personally saw first hand Chris Matthews start the race mess. As soon as the was called for Hillary in New Hampshire he had two black guests and immediately started saying that people lied coming out of the polls saying that they voted for O'Bama when in fact they were too embarrased to say they wouldn't vote for a black guy. Even when the poles showed he got the percentage predicted for him, no polling had been done for two days and the women (yeah) got out and voted for her. You surely have noticed they never show Michelle O'Bama's speeches and I can tell you why. She said the meanest thing one woman can say to another.She said that Hillary couldn't run the white house because she couldn't run her own. We aren't stupid Michelle .Just remember what goes around comes around and you will be very sorry that Bill's unfaithfulness was thrown up to Hillary. You will never make me believe that was the way a Christian acts. Go Hillary.This appeared on CNN for a second and was never seen again.

NYC Democrat   January 29th, 2008 12:07 am ET

Sen. Clinton seems to say different things to different audiences, and its often difficult to reconcile what she says on one day with what she says on another. I respected her far more before this campaign than I do today. While she is incredibly capable as a politician, I dont believe she has what it takes to govern by consensus and I fear 4 years under her leadership will leave us even more divided than when we started.

Best of luck to Senator Obama and God Bless America

Black Women in Florida for Hillary   January 28th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

So sweet… President Hillary Clinton '08.

Joojo   January 28th, 2008 11:15 pm ET

It is pathetic how the media treats the Clintons.Anderson Cooper, Wolf Bltzer and John King. They discuss HRC with only people who hate the Clintons.It is shameful. HRC will win the nomination no matter what!!!

Joojo   January 28th, 2008 11:15 pm ET

It is pathetic how the media treats the Clintons.Anderson Cooper, Wolf Bltzer and John King. They discuss HRC with only people who hate the Clintons.It is shameful. HRC will win the nomination no matter what!!!

Tim   January 28th, 2008 10:46 pm ET

Good that someone is speaking out about how Bill Clinton's words have been taken out of context to make him seem like he is being racist. These tactic are very low down and it 's good Kendrick Meek said something about it. The Clintons have always been good to all people.

Lightning   January 28th, 2008 10:37 pm ET

Let's not forget… Florida doesn't matter for the Democrats. Not at all. Not even a little.

Geri Sacramento   January 28th, 2008 10:25 pm ET

Save your prayers, Dee. You sound like a real piece of work, referring to Hillary as Hillbilly. At least most of us refer to Obama without turning his name into a cheap shot. By the way, as soon as I saw your references to Hillary as Hillbilly, I stopped reading. You show your ignorant bias in the second sentence and no one is interested in your views after that.

True Democrat   January 28th, 2008 10:15 pm ET

I mean biased against Hillary, not toward Hillary.

carol   January 28th, 2008 8:18 pm ET

Thank you.

Dee   January 28th, 2008 7:16 pm ET

Ha, if you think CNN is biased towards Obama, I'll pray for you. It's almost like people are going for Hillbilly every chance they can get. Would someone please tell me what Hillbilly meant when she said that Lyndon Johnson carried out MLK's dream? I'm thinking she meant to say exactly what she did. She meant to say that MLK was a man of words and Lyndon Johnson was the man of action. She didn't make any claim about John F Kennedy's dream about the moon. Why do you think the Kennedy's supported Obama? They know the deal. Clinton will say and do anything to get elected. She'll even break a promise and campaign in states she promised her party she would not. I'm sure America is not ready for Obama, and Hillbilly will win the nomination, but people keep jumping to her defense. Looking on Yahoo, they always have more picture of her on there than they do of him. The media is biased, alright, but the media is biased towards Hilbilly.

Brian   January 28th, 2008 7:15 pm ET

wow this is great Clintonites are going to watch FOX News over CNN. Right! Perhaps you all should be less biased about the candidates. Hillary is all about "experience" which means more "partisan politics." It is time for a change!

Go Obama!

independent for obama   January 28th, 2008 7:09 pm ET

People, people give me a break here. Neither Obama or Hillary have cleans hands when it comes to campaigning, or any politician for that matter. Its all cold tactics. Thats politics folks. The media isn't trying to preordain this election, they are just going with the ebb and flow. They gave Hillary good press when she won primaries, same with Obama. With Obama's recent win they are giving him good press again. But if Hillary wins another primary, the good press will go back to her. People this is just one big chess game, that at the moment Obama is winning. But hillary is not checkmated yet. So everyone, Obama and Clinton supporters alike, stop believing blindly in the innocence of these candadates. Lets keep in perspective that they are all politicians. I am picking Obama because I believe he truly has the best chance to bring a bipartisan vision and unity to our government.

Ginny CA   January 28th, 2008 7:07 pm ET

Thanks so much to Florida Congressman Kendrick Meek for speaking out. So many of us are so tired and discouraged by the anti-Hillary spin the media has been feeding us. We are sick of having Bill's comments taken out of context and spun to make it appear that he is a racist, "out-of-control", "losing it", etc. Good, honest, unbiased news would be like a breath of fresh air. And we'd love to hear Hillary's message without biased commentators putting their spin on it.

marie   January 28th, 2008 7:01 pm ET

the whole point of this story was the negative aspect of it.
sad. CNN and every other news source as far as I can tell are doing exactly what they accuse Bill Clinton of doing - they say one thing, but are wanting you to take from it something else. they don't call it a fairytale - they just call it the best in political journalism.

i don' care if they are for Obama - that 's fine - vote for him please. but please just try and be fair.

Judy McKissock, Nevada City, California   January 28th, 2008 7:00 pm ET

I totally agree that CNN AND MSNBC have distorted almost every word that
Bill Clinton has uttered. When Obama made his "Reagan" statement, I was
shocked at how it came out—-for Reagan and boo Clinton. When
Obama denied his intent, why didn't CNN and MS replay it over and over and over like they do any time they think the Clintons err. I'm sickened by the bias—–it
may backfire—I can only hope.

T. Wals   January 28th, 2008 6:58 pm ET

CNN is SO biased, it is the Obama News Network. Never a positive word to say about Clinton. Very sickening. I see right through it and will be voting for Hillary. Not all americans can be fooled by the fluff you call news.

george   January 28th, 2008 6:56 pm ET

I agree that CNN is too biased when it comes to reporting Clinton and Obama. It seems that the ad Obama paid to broadcast on CNN really paid off.

Who can tell me which news channel is better and more fair? I will switch to that channel and never come back. I lost my respect for CNN completely.

gene   January 28th, 2008 6:47 pm ET

CNN is not alone. MSNBC is doing the same. You can't believe a word being said by either of these stations. Their bias is shameless. If its not Cafferty foaming at the mouth, its Chris Matthews, on and on and on with Clinton hatred. You can even feel it in their words. I know they think we are all brain dead and they can spoon feed us their garbage, but most of us know better.

angelina_ MN   January 28th, 2008 6:42 pm ET

No matter how they want to cover it, up………..we all personally hear it….
everyone interprets it as they see it fit, can or are able to do so..how can millions of Americans not listen to what is being said……………

here we go, we Americans must be blind, deaf, and oh yes, also biased by race and gender…………….

we can not think for ourselves unless the BILLARYS do the thinking for ourselves..

CHERYL   January 28th, 2008 6:42 pm ET

TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!TWISTED ALL AROUND IS MORE LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!! BILL IS SPEAKING OUT OF FRUSTRATION AT THE MEDIAS COVERAGE OF HIS WIFE. ARE THERE THAT MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE PREJUDICED AGAINST A WOMAN? WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? A WOMAN!!!! HILLARY IS STRONG AND SHE CAN TAKE IT BUT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO!!!!!!! I PRAY THAT PEOPLE LISTEN AND MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FACTS AND NOT MEDIA HYPE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOR HILLARY SHE IS VERY INTELLIGENT AND A LEADER. GO HILLARY 2008.

Helen   January 28th, 2008 6:34 pm ET

i am so sick of all the media hype about obama,today i got a break i turned them all off,i will search the internet for my news ,but still hard to get away from obama.

Mitt Romney   January 28th, 2008 6:32 pm ET

Not a chance.

CNN is doing an excellent job. Keep up the good work CNN.

Go obama go !!!!

Romney 08

N   January 28th, 2008 6:31 pm ET

Well thanks for setting Americans straight.

NickNas   January 28th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

The congressman endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president back in June and was named a senior adviser to her campaign.

NUFF SAID!! ALL Credibilty GONE!! Talking up your Boss… didn't we used to call that Brown noseing? C'mon people ….have you EVER heard of the phrase " Consider the source"??

Dee Williams   January 28th, 2008 6:21 pm ET

Bill does need to back off. It is ok to support someone but he & she acts like he is running.for office & is very sarcastic at times. As for Hillary, she acts more like George Bush at times in how she acts & the things she says. She can't control herself &f they really messed up playing the race card. We do not need them as president. Our country would suffer.

don   January 28th, 2008 6:17 pm ET

I've watched CNN for years and it is clear that it as an entity is engaged in an intentional undermining of Hilary Clinton as a candidate. At least Fox makes no illusions of balanced reporting. What BS!

kathryn   January 28th, 2008 6:16 pm ET

Not to mention the ultimate disrespect for a former First Lady and current Stateswoman and a former President of the USA, I believe everyone should boycott CNN and MSNBC after this is all over and hold those arrogant, biased newscasters accountable for their vile comments and use of the airwaves to persuade public opinions.

Enufs Enuf   January 28th, 2008 6:07 pm ET

Quote: "The real issue is the reporting of what the president is actually saying.” Adding, the focus needs to go back to Hillary Clinton’s message.

My thoughts completely. After reading Comment after Comment, I know I am not the only viewer who is disgusted with the way the media is reporting (?) this election. Jon Stewart gets it better than anyone. He shows the actual footage and the news media always paints a totally different slant. Are the Cable News Networks ever going to read what we viewers are saying? Are they so hungry for sensationism that they actually will risk harming the American public? Please just report - don't edit or give us your opinion. It ain't worth much.

Rodney Dallas, TX   January 28th, 2008 6:01 pm ET

I am listening to what is being said and by whom. Bill Clinton is running for his third term. Let's end the family dynasties. I am not afraid of the "clinton machine" like the democratic politicians. Quit eating off the Clinton Gravy train. Vote for a change!!!!

FIRED UP!!! READY TO GO!!!!
OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!!

Mirta   January 28th, 2008 5:42 pm ET

Finally someone who makes sense. What he says is true and needs to be repeated.

He is right…LISTEN to what is being said, not how it is being reported.

E G   January 28th, 2008 5:37 pm ET

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Finally some other then me listens to what is said by Hillary and Bill rather then what the CNN bias media says.After the Iowa race Obama's wife said "no blacks there" so who called attention to his color? I can't believe the back stabbing being done to a woman who has worked so hard for the people in need.- red,yellow,black or white.

andy   January 28th, 2008 5:33 pm ET

It seems as Mr. Meek is not alone as to what we see and hear! Im a latino and like I keep saying in California and now it seems even in Florida that what the clintons are saying and doing is not at all about race but about who can win this election in november and who's ideas would best help the nation! I can honestly say there are some of us who see the truth and not blinded by what is told to us from the media or from the radio and I do believe that some not all but some of the civil rights people have also played into it maybe for there own benefit and not for the what is good for the country! I respect you Mr. Meek even if you where not a support Hillary at least you speak truth!

Mara   January 28th, 2008 5:30 pm ET

I notice that this story is buried at the bottom and no one has bothered to comment on it, so I will. I understand what Congressman Meek is saying. I've seen many comments such as Mrs. Clinton's MLK comment, the "fairy tale" comment, the Jessica Yellin incident, James Clyburn's first interview with Wolf Blitzer and President Clinton's Jesse Jackson comment either sliced and diced and edited down or taken in a direction that the speaker obviously didn't intend. And the same can be said of Obama's Reagan comment. When you hear the whole story, you get a very different take on each of these things. I'd like to make my decision in this election based on the real story, not what the media decides to tell me.

Karen   January 28th, 2008 5:30 pm ET

Quick, go to MSNBC…. they're talking about Obama….. Hurry, hurry, hurry….

California   January 28th, 2008 5:29 pm ET

Oh, it just never ends with CNN. I swear, the network bosses' heads would explode if someone ever said something positive about Clinton.

Mitty   January 28th, 2008 5:28 pm ET

Kendrick Meek, who cares about what you think about Bill & Hillary. Bill said just want he meant to say. I have no respect for the Clintons anymore, even though I voted for Bill Clinton twice. If Hillary should win the primary, your constituents will not be voting for her. Your Constituents in Miami-Dade and Broward counties are Pro -Hillary. We are very disappointed in you and it will show at your re-election.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   January 28th, 2008 5:28 pm ET

No, Meek, you need to listen to your words vs. what millions of Americans heard and understood. Don't let me take it out of context to think you're saying "we are all stupid".

Marilyn   January 28th, 2008 5:23 pm ET

of course you have to add a negative spin on this story huh.

Mitt Romney   January 28th, 2008 5:23 pm ET

I am loving this.

First off. You disallow Michigan and Florida to have a say in picking your candidate. This hurts Clinton. Helps Obama.

Second of all, ignoring Michigan and Florida is going to hand those states over to us in November. They are going to be rightly very angry about it.

Im loving it. Mitt Romney is going to win Florida and take the nomination.

Romney 08

The democratic hits keep right on coming . What a political party. Lol.

Donna F   January 28th, 2008 5:22 pm ET

I agree…..so much ado has been made of nothing…..I have a hard time getting to hear or read about issues……if Barrack is not running as a black..then leave it out of the news……as it is he is now taking advantage for his own campaign and making it a black issue…..

Bar   January 28th, 2008 5:18 pm ET

It's true-people only listen to what the media reports, which are cut, edited and taken out of context. Funny, when I was in journalism school, we were taught that a journalists' job is to report accurately, the facts. So, when ANY comment or event is not reported in its' entirety, it is not factual. So, since you do not meet the definition of journalists, what do you call yourselves?

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