March 17th, 2008
12:45 PM ET
15 years ago

Bill Clinton: We did not play race card

CNN

Watch Bill Clinton speak with CNN's Sean Callebs.

(CNN) - Former President Bill Clinton defended his role in his wife's presidential campaign in South Carolina, disputing claims he made race a campaign issue.

"What happened there is a total myth and a mugging," Clinton told CNN's Sean Callebs in New Orleans, Louisiana, over the weekend.

"It's been pretty well established. Charlie Rangel ... the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in unequivocal terms in South Carolina that no one in our campaign played any race card, that we had some played against us, but we didn't play any."

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soundoff (344 Responses)
  1. Philadelphia

    Bill is in denial, he just doesn't get it, so he quote Charlie Rangel to validate his position and inaccurate points of view.

    March 17, 2008 10:23 am at 10:23 am |
  2. Jen

    HE DID NOT PLAY ANY RACE CARD.

    GO HILLARY

    HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT

    March 17, 2008 10:24 am at 10:24 am |
  3. k

    noobama 08.

    March 17, 2008 10:24 am at 10:24 am |
  4. Daniel

    Whoever wrote this article doesn't know English grammar: "against HE and his wife"...against HIM and his wife is the correct way. Pretty basic stuff!

    March 17, 2008 10:25 am at 10:25 am |
  5. gina

    Hillary has already said she will support Barack if he is the nominee. The person you should be questioning on their Democratic loyalty is actually the First Lady-wannabe, Mrs. Obama. She has repeatedly stated she will not commit to supporting Hillary.

    March 17, 2008 10:25 am at 10:25 am |
  6. Jay MN

    That Hillary somehow thinks that the January results in Florida and Michigan are fair enough to count simply defies logic.

    If they count, then even though I want to support Obama, I'm voting McCain, since he'll be the only candidate who was legally nominated.

    March 17, 2008 10:25 am at 10:25 am |
  7. simple thought ?

    bill, i thought you were grounded, go back to the couch.
    hillery is doing fine without you.

    missouri

    March 17, 2008 10:25 am at 10:25 am |
  8. jay lyon

    Slick Willy is one of the best liars extant. "I did NOT have sex with that woman", with a totally straight face. You and I both know what he is. Admit it!

    March 17, 2008 10:25 am at 10:25 am |
  9. Peter

    No, you didn't Bill, but Obama's blind followers are still reeling from the Reverend Wright scandal and the flaws it revealed in their flawless candidate so they have to have you to attack.

    March 17, 2008 10:26 am at 10:26 am |
  10. Fact Check

    what a joke. charlie rangel is a Clinton supporter; what do you expect him to say?

    March 17, 2008 10:26 am at 10:26 am |
  11. RENEA,PLYMOUTH,MI

    I THINK ME HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE.I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMAN!

    March 17, 2008 10:26 am at 10:26 am |
  12. Fred

    I do not beleave antthing that comes out of a Clinton mouth. Time for change and you wont get it with Clintons.

    March 17, 2008 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  13. MIKE

    You did, This is the biggest fiery tale i have ever seen.

    March 17, 2008 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  14. MoveOn

    Right. ...And, he didn't have sex with that woman, either. Now I wonder where Eliot got the phone number for the Emperor's Club. Who could be included in Clients 1 – 8???

    March 17, 2008 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  15. Max Stone

    Bill rarely mentions Hillary's Name!

    I'm not a Clinton supporter but I though Bill handled himself well in this interview. He steered a conciliatory political line this kind of interview can only help their campaign. However, I noticed he really mentioned Hillary's name reverting rather to 'her' or 'she'. What's that about?

    Max (UK)

    March 17, 2008 10:28 am at 10:28 am |
  16. Don't Vote For Billary

    God has a sense of humor. The first "black" president is a bigot. He will regret the statement he made in South Carolina. He should face the truth and admit it–which the Clintons never do.

    March 17, 2008 10:28 am at 10:28 am |
  17. SHAMEFUL

    He didn't -the media and Congressman Clyburn did. Nothing about fairytale was racist, saying Jesse Jackson won SC wasn't racist – I am black and I know when people are being racist and HE WAS NOT.
    TheLeftNUt, I agree with you – these extremist will cause John McCain to win.

    March 17, 2008 10:28 am at 10:28 am |
  18. Joe

    If he isn't trying to highlight Obama's race, why can't he stop talking about it?

    Hey Bill! What you're doing right now? That's what "playing the race card" means!

    March 17, 2008 10:28 am at 10:28 am |
  19. nittany

    Bill, keep talkin' cause it only helps Barack win.

    March 17, 2008 10:29 am at 10:29 am |
  20. ObamaMama

    Bill Clinton also didn't have sex with than woman, Ms. Lewinski.

    March 17, 2008 10:29 am at 10:29 am |
  21. joe

    Hello, my name is joe and clearly I don't have an education and am a smear monger who is campaigning for Hillary Clinton. I'm an idiot!!!

    March 17, 2008 10:29 am at 10:29 am |
  22. The Face Of Dishonesty

    Vote for Barack and take the first step to a better America and an honest White House.

    Obama 08

    March 17, 2008 10:29 am at 10:29 am |
  23. Chris, Orlando

    I know Bill:

    "I never had sexual relations with that woman."
    "Ï never asked anyone to lie."
    "We didn't play the race card."

    Anyone who believes the Clintons on anything is a total LOSER.

    March 17, 2008 10:29 am at 10:29 am |
  24. Spirit of America

    In this political game of race cards the joker must be wild, and dishing out race cards from the pulpit to a presidential candidate sitting in his pews for some 20 years. This is change we can do without.

    March 17, 2008 10:30 am at 10:30 am |
  25. Marilyn

    Neither Hillary nor Barrack can win in November! The Democrats have once again committed political suicide by nominating an unelectable candidate. John McCain will be the next president.

    March 17, 2008 10:30 am at 10:30 am |
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