Clinton radio ad in South Carolina features poet Maya Angelou

[DeepModem Mom]

December 10, 2007
Clinton camp answers Oprah with Angelou

WASHINGTON (CNN) — On the heels of media mogul Oprah Winfrey's high profile Sunday visit to the crucial primary state of South Carolina for Democrat Barack Obama, rival Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign is launching a new radio ad there featuring noted African American poet ­and Winfrey pal ­Maya Angelou.

Angelou, who first announced she was backing the New York senator's presidential bid earlier this year, calls Clinton a "strong woman and a protector of families," in the 60-second spot running on stations across the Palmetto State.

"Each generation of African Americans stands on the shoulders of those who came before," Angelou also says in the ad. "Today, the challenges facing us threaten the dreams we have had for our children. We need a president with the experience and strength to meet those challenges."...

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/10/clinton-camp-answers-oprah-with-angelou/

(NOTE: I object to the insistence on the part of the press on setting endorsers of candidates against each other as battlers. Both Bill and Chelsea Clinton, individually, and now a poet have been presented as endorsers sent in to battle Oprah. None of these people are Oprah, nor, in my view, are they really similar to one another: a television megastar, a husband/former President, a daughter, a poet. I welcome the participation of all of them, as well as endorsers of other candidates, in the campaign -- as participants, not as WWF-type competitors.)

[Joe the Revelator]

1. "My Girl"

Just sounds so freaking stupid and childish.

[durrrty libby]

4. I heard it. It as quite lovely.

[Beacool]

12. It's a motherly expression since Hillary is young enough to be her daughter. n/t

[oasis]

2. Maya the wise one. Her pupil, Oprah doesn't realize the value of experience.(eom)

[lvx35]

3. That's another incredible endorsement.

First Clark, now Angelou. Hillary has some extremely good people behind her.

[MADem]

7. Don't forget "Buttah" Barbra. But, IMO, it's NOT a contest. Anyone who totes up

who has the most celebrities on their team is just missing the fucking boat.

Screw politicies, screw platforms, screw viewpoints...it's all about who has the coooooolest celebrities!!!!!!!!

We get the 'gubmint' we deserve with that kind of thinking, I guess.

[lvx35]

8. Well the celebrity angle is pretty bad...

Being as I don't think most are qualified to say anything, actors and musicians and the like. Who cares? I vote on policies, which is why I am backing Kucinich. But I will tell you that some worries were lifted about Hillary from the Clark and Angelou endorsement: these people ARE qualified to say things, about military matters and civil rights respectively.

[emilyg]

9. Yes. She has me.

;-)

[Purveyor]

5. I would be surprised if even 5% of the US populace could tell you who ­Maya Angelou

is or what she is famous for...

Sad commentary on the US intellect, but I'm sure I'm not to far off with my polling projection.

[saltpoint]

6. Hi, Purveyor. You are right to say that most Americans likely do not know

who she is. And I join you in lamenting that sad fact.

Poets aren't big on the tabloid covers when I go through the grocery line checkout.

I think of the (then-named) Czechoslovakia electing a playwright as their president and then it hurts to think how low we've gotten with the Bush administration. Poetry is beyond his reach, certainly. English is a challenge for Dubya.

Pre-1964, no U.S. president asked a black poet to read for his Inaugural. Bill Clinton did. The call went to Maya Angelou.

Her endorsement here is a gesture of community and belongness more than a political act, IMO.

[question everything]

10. Angelou, of course, wrote a special poem

that she read during Clinton's first inauguration.

[Beacool]

11. Ms. Angelou, classy as always!

Here's a link to her website in case some of you don't know who she is.

http://www.mayaangelou.com/

[Colobo]

13. Maya Angelou is great, even though she's supporting the wrong candidate.

[sandnsea]

14. They're old friends, it's understandable

Both from Arkansas. And besides, you don't turn your back on someone who had you speak during a Presidential inauguration. Ya know?