12 Apr
Clinton, de Blasio racially charged joke draws barbs
Clinton, de Blasio racially charged joke draws barbs
A Hillary Clinton joke about Bill de Blasio’s support is drawing a racial backlash.
© David Handschuh/The Inner Circle Via AP New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, perform at the 94th annual Inner Circle Dinner at the New York Hilton Hotel in Manhattan on Saturday, April 9…
During a weekend press/political dinner that traditionally features skits, Clinton joked to de Blasio about the New York mayor’s tardiness in supporting her, saying “thanks for the endorsement, Bill … took you long enough.”
“Sorry, Hillary,” de Blasio said. “I was running on C.P. time” — a comment that some believed referred to “Colored People time,” drawing gasps from the crowd.
Leslie Odom Jr., an African-American actor in the hit Broadway play “Hamilton” who was also part of the skit, replied: “I don’t like jokes like that, Bill.”
To which Clinton jumped in with the kicker: “Cautious Politician time — I’ve been there.”
Watch the video below — Clinton makes her entrance around the 8:20 mark.
The bit did not go over well. New York magazine called it “amazingly unfunny” and “terribly executed,” while some Bernie Sanders supporters have called it downright racist.
Reports The New York Times:
“Speaking on CNN on Monday evening, Mr. de Blasio said that the exchange was part of a scripted event and that all parties were in on the joke, with “cautious politician” being the intended punchline.
“‘I think people are missing the point here,’ he said.
“The joke came just days after Bill Clinton clashed with Black Lives Matter protesters who accused him of advancing policies during his administration that hurt African-American communities. A day later, the former president said he ‘almost’ wanted to apologize to the activists.
“Mrs. Clinton has overwhelmingly won the support of black voters and will be counting on them again next week in New York.”
