IAP Political Forum

Civil Rights Icon Calls Obama Too Young
By ERRIN HAINES – 1 day ago

ATLANTA (AP) — Civil rights icon Andrew Young says Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is too young and lacks the support network to ascend to the White House.

In an interview posted online, Young also quipped that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton has her husband behind her, and that "Bill is every bit as black as Barack."

"He's probably gone with more black women than Barack," Young said of former President Clinton, drawing laughter from a live audience. Young, 75, was quick to follow his comment on Bill Clinton with the disclaimer, "I'm clowning."

Young, a former United Nations ambassador and lieutenant of Martin Luther King Jr., made the comments at an appearance at "Newsmakers Live," an urban media forum that interviews prominent Atlanta personalities and political figures.

Excerpts of the interview were posted on Newsmakers Journal, the Newsmakers' Web site, though the date of the appearance was not included with the video posting. Young had been scheduled to appear on "Newsmakers Live" on Sept. 5, according to a press release.

Repeated efforts by The Associated Press to reach Young were unsuccessful. Obama campaign officials declined Saturday to comment on Young's remarks.

Young's comments were prompted by a member of the audience who inquired about his opinion on Obama's candidacy.

"I want Barack Obama to be president," Young said, pausing for effect, "in 2016."

"It's not a matter of being inexperienced. It's a matter of being young," Young said. "There's a certain level of maturity ... you've got to learn to take a certain amount of (expletive)."

Young went on to say that Obama needs a protective network that he currently lacks — a quality that could hurt him if he were to be elected. He said Hillary Clinton already has that kind of network, including her husband to back her up.

"There are more black people that Bill and Hillary lean on," Young said. "You cannot be president alone. ... To put a brother in there by himself is to set him up for crucifixion. His time will come and the world will be ready for a visionary leadership."

Because this is the type of rhetoric that should not be taken seriously

Why is that? This guy was a mayor, congressman, and ambasador to the UN. If that's the case though, how did this guy keep getting elected?

Why is that? This guy was a mayor, congressman, and ambasador to the UN. If that's the case though, how did this guy keep getting elected?

Because this criticism doesn't add anything to the debate. It's a "clever" joke... but nothing substantive. You can't debate it... just survive it

I personally don't take this rhetoric seriously.

By some measures, Andrew Young is an American hero. The former mayor of Atlanta, Young was a champion of the civil rights movement and a close ally of Martin Luther King in the 1960s, he was a popular mayor of Georgia’s biggest city, he was a successful member of Congress, and drew plaudits as Jimmy Carter’s ambassador to the United Nations.

But Young has not yet realized that his best days are behind him. Instead of gracefully exiting the public stage, Young hangs on and ends up embarrassing himself. It’s a genuine shame.

The first inkling that Young had lost his way came in 2001, when he joined with the Bush White House to tout the president’s “faith-based initiative.” Shortly thereafter, he accepted a big paycheck to become a shill for Wal-Mart. Young’s career took a turn for the worse in 2006 when he was forced to resign from Wal-Mart after telling a reporter that “Jews,” “Koreans,” and “Arabs” have been “overcharging [African-American customers], selling us stale bread and bad meat and wilted vegetables.”