According to a report in The New Yorker, former President Bill Clinton allegedly made racially insensitive remarks about then-candidate Barack Obama in 2008. The report claims that Clinton said to Senator Ted Kennedy "this guy would have been carrying our bags" in an effort to convince Kennedy to endorse Hillary Clinton over Obama for the Democratic nomination. Similar remarks were also attributed to Clinton in a 2010 book. The article discusses backlash from Obama advisers to keep Clinton from having a prominent speaking role at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, but Clinton threatened to boycott unless given a major role.

1. Bill Clinton made racist remarks about Barack Obama in 2008: Report | ... http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/bill-clinton-made-racist-remarks-abou...
Press Trust of India | Updated: September 03, 2012 23:45 IST
New York: Former US President Bill Clinton had taken a racial jibe at Barack Obama in 2008, saying "this guy
g
would have been carrying our bags", a report claimed on Monday.
Mr Clinton allegedly made the racially insensitive remark to Senator Ted Kennedy as he tried to convince the
liberal to endorse his wife, Hillary Clinton, Mr Obama's rival, for the Democratic nomination, according to The
New Yorker.
Only days before he will nominate President Obama for re-election in the November 6 presidential polls, the
report claimed that in 2008 the former President had reportedly said: "A few years ago, this guy would have
been carrying our bags."
The reported comment was similar to the one attributed to Mr Clinton in a 2010 book.
"A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee," Mr Clinton was quoted as saying in Game
Change, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.
Mr Clinton's speech to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte isn't until Wednesday night, but the
former President is getting attention for remarks he has already made, the New York Post reported.
Mr Clinton has, for example, on earlier occasions called Mr Obama "incompetent" and "an amateur" who has no
, p , a
according to an article in Sunday's Post by Edward Klein, author of The
clue about how the world operates, a
Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House.
"Obama doesn't know how to be president," Mr Clinton told friends and political advisers last year, the article
added.
"He doesn't know how the world works," Mr Clinton had said. Mr Klein said Mr Clinton had convened a meeting
at his Chappaqua, Westchester, home to urge his wife to challenge Mr Obama for the 2012 nomination.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Mr Obama's Secretary of State, rejected the advice, Mr Klein said.
1 of 2 9/26/2012 9:31 PM

2. Bill Clinton made racist remarks about Barack Obama in 2008: Report | ... http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/bill-clinton-made-racist-remarks-abou...
Bill Clinton has not commented on the issue. Mr Obama advisers had tried to keep the former president off the
big stage this week, a
big g
g , according to Mr Klein, wanting to relegate him to a minor, non p
g , g g , prime-time speaking role. But
Bill Clinton threatened to boycott the convention unless he was given a prominent role.
Mr Obama's chief p
political strategist, David Axelrod, argued that Mr Obama needed Mr Clinton more than Mr
g , d
Clinton needed him, according to Mr Klein.
Story first published: September 03, 2012 20:30 IST
2 of 2 9/26/2012 9:31 PM