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Walkabout Foundation Inaugural Gala With Special Guest Bill Clinton - Reception

Source: David M. Benett / Getty

Almost a week after Democratic Presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton surprised Black women at Black Girls Rock telling the crowd how much they matter to her, her Bae, former President Bill Clinton aka “The First Black President,” did what he’s been good at as of late. Putting his foot in way in his mouth.

Stumping for HRC at an event in Philadelphia on Thursday, Mr. Clinton was interrupted by Black Lives Matters supporters, CNN reported. As one protestor said, “We are not super predators,” referring to Mrs. Clinton’s phrase in a 1996 speech about crime. They also later “heckled” Mr. Clinton for his own 1994 crime bill that disproportionately impacted African-Americans, CNN noted.  The another protestor said that Mrs. Clinton should be charged with crimes against humanity, the Washington Free Beacon said. 

This all led to a testy and disappointing 15-minute exchange where Clinton defended his wife and their questionable stances and policies, while making some potentially problematic statements and making sweeping generalizations about Black people and Black crime.

I don’t know how you would characterize the gang leaders who got 13-year-old kids hopped up on crack and sent ‘em out onto the street to murder other African-American children—maybe you thought they were good citizens. She didn’t. She didn’t. You are defending the people who kill the lives you say matter. Tell the truth,” he said defending his legislation. 

Um…President Clinton come again?

Sadly, he wasn’t done. According to Gawker, some other condescending and tone-deaf verbal gems included:

  • “Here’s the thing. I like protestors, but the ones that won’t let you answer are afraid of the truth.”
  • “Hillary spent her time trying to get healthcare for poor kids—and who were they? Their lives matter.”
  • “I don’t know how you would characterize the gang leaders who got 13-year-old kids hopped up on crack and sent them out into the street to murder other African-American children. Maybe you thought they were good citizens—she didn’t.”
  • “The reason they know it’s true is [the protestors] won’t hush. When somebody won’t hush and listen to you, that ain’t democracy. They’re afraid of the truth. Don’t you be afraid of the truth.”
  • “I’ll tell you another story about a place where black lives matter: Africa.”

Just messy.

Oh and Twitter has been on a rampage since this footage came out.

This isn’t the first time Former President Clinton has talked sideways about and to Black folks. Most recently, Mr. Clinton had to clarify some potentially shady comments he made to voters about President Obama’ presidency.

He said “If you believe we’ve finally come to the point where we can put the awful legacy of the last eight years behind us and the seven years before that.” HRC’s reps quickly clarified that her husband was referring to the “Republican obstruction” of Obama’s tenure, not the tenure itself. Oh and there was that one time in 2008, when Mr. Clinton allegedly said  “A few years ago, this guy would have been carrying our bags,” the NY Post noted. “This guy” he is believed to have been referring to was President Obama.

Either way, HRC shouldn’t let her husband speak on her behalf anymore. You see how that worked out for her in 2008.

RELATED LINKS: 

#NotWithHer? Black Twitter Not Feeling Clinton’s Appearance At Black Girls Rock

Bill Clinton Tries To Clarify Shady Comments On Obama After Calling The Last 8 Years ‘Awful’

Best Frenemies? Bill Clinton Speaks Out Against President Obama…Again

#BoyBye: Bill Clinton Tells BLM Protestors They Are “Defending The People Who Killed The Lives You Say Matter’  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com