April 24, 2008

An Open Letter From Maya Angelou

Dear Friend:

I am writing to tell you about my friend, Hillary Clinton, and why I am standing with her in her campaign for the presidency. I know the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be because I know the person she is.

I am inspired by her courage and her honesty. She is a reliable and trustworthy person. She is someone I not only admire but one for whom I have profound affection.

Hillary does not waver in standing up for those who need a champion. She has always been a passionate protector of families. As a child, she was taught that all God’s children are equal, and as a mother, she understood that her child wasn’t safe unless all children were safe. As I wrote about Hillary recently in a praise song: “She is the prayer of every woman, and every man who longs for fair play, healthy families, good schools and a balanced economy.”

It may be easy to view Hillary Clinton through the narrow lens of those who would write her off or grind her down. Hillary sees us as we are, black and brown and white and yellow and pink and relishes our differences knowing that fundamentally we are all more alike than we are unalike. She is able to look through complexion and see community.

She has endured great scrutiny, and still she dares greatly. Hillary Clinton will not give up on you, and all she asks is that you do not give up on her. She is a long-distance runner. I am honored to say I am with her for the long run.

I am supporting Hillary Clinton because I know that she will make the most positive difference in people’s lives and she will help our country become what it can be. Whether you are her supporter, leaning towards her, undecided, or supporting someone else, I believe Hillary Clinton will represent you – she will be a president for all Americans. It is no small thing that along the way we will make history together.

Vote for Hillary Clinton and show your support at www.hillaryclinton.com. I know she will make us proud.

Posted at 03:24 PM

Comments

Wow, pretty impressive recommendation!
Maya Angleou is one of the Grand Dames of North Carolina so I think this will be very useful to HRC's campaign these next couple of weeks.

Jan | 04.24.08 03:36 PM

"I am inspired by her courage and her honesty. She is a reliable and trustworthy person. She is someone I not only admire but one for whom I have profound affection."

You have GOT to be kidding me.

Bob | 04.24.08 03:51 PM

I am thinking Maya might have a little Dementia starting.

MeMe | 04.24.08 03:54 PM

really? she's really old and, apparently, in the nascent clutches of senility. first, we hear her nonsense about hillbilly clinton being the first black president. (amazing how the first black president turned out to be a semi-racist dixiecrat when things no longer went his way...) now, we have an open letter from her in support of hillary. maya angelou was an great and important writer. maya angelou, however, obviously has no ability to jusge character. we're supposed to believe that hillary is trustworthy and honest? does maya not own a television? has she given up following the news? or, like every other clinton supporter, are facts just another cumbersome bother to be dealt with by elitists? hillary has lied, misled, prevaricated and cheated her way to a lousy second place finish. congratulations, maya. no you can spend more time with the white aunt jemima and your first black president. (though i'm not sure bill will be entertaining any black people after the "disloyalty" they've shown him this race...)

mp | 04.24.08 03:55 PM

Dear Maya,

I am writing to tell you about Hillary Clinton, and why I am not standing with her in her campaign for the presidency. I know the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be because I know the person she has become.

I am astonished by her cowardice and dishonesty. She is an unreliable and untrustworthy person. She is someone I not only cannot admire but one for whom I have developed an intense dislike.

Hillary does not hesitate to mislead those who need a champion. She may once have been a passionate protector of families, but no longer. As a child, she was taught that all God’s children are equal, and as a mother, she understood that her child wasn’t safe unless all children were safe. She has turned into a mendacious fear-monger who supports war and advocates reckless bluster.

It may be easy to view Hillary Clinton through the narrow lens of those who would write her off or grind her down, for the simple reason that they are right. Hillary sees us as pawns, black and brown and white and yellow and pink and exploits our differences hoping that fundamentally we are all gullible. She is able to look through complexion and see an opportunity for power and personal gain.

She has endured great scrutiny, and still she dares to lie openly. Hillary Clinton has given up on you, and yet she asks that you do not give up on her. She is a disgrace.

TrueBlue Hussein | 04.24.08 03:57 PM

I came to this site off Talking Points Memo. The link to Maya Angelou's testimonial about Hillary Clinton's character and trustworthiness is just above the link to a story about her claiming ignorance on the issue of Bill Clinton's end-of-term pardons of two Weather Underground members. Some of you may remember that Obama hit back at her with that after she shamelessly kept plugging Obama's own association with William Ayers.

Sometimes, the Clinton dishonesty jokes just write themselves.

Dave | 04.24.08 04:01 PM

Dear Ms. Angelou, here is what Hillary Clinton said about me:

"I don't agree with them. They know I don't agree with them. So they flood into these caucuses and dominate them and really intimidate people who actually show up to support me."

She called me a thug because I am passionate about taking part in our democracy and performing my civic responsibilities. As you can see, Hillary Clinton gave up on me a long long time ago.

As such, I hope all your dreams and aspirations for Hillary Clinton remain failed and unfulfilled.

MNPundit | 04.24.08 04:02 PM

mp, Different black woman - It was Toni Morrison who asininely equated Clinton's dysfunctional self with being black.

cp | 04.24.08 04:03 PM

I admire Maya Angelou. She is one of America's greatest living artists. But how she can call Hillary honest is beyond me. I'm sure that Hillary has never lied to Angelou. But she is constantly lying to the American public.

Here is a list of some of the lies:

• Chelsea was jogging around the Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. (She was in bed watching it on TV.)
• Hillary was named after Sir Edmund Hillary. (She admitted she was wrong. He climbed Mt. Everest five years after her birth.)
• She was under sniper fire in Bosnia. (A girl presented her with flowers at the foot of the ramp.)
• She learned in The Wall Street Journal how to make a killing in the futures market. (It didn’t cover the market back then.)
• She didn’t know about the FALN pardons.
• She didn’t know that her brothers were being paid to get pardons that Clinton granted.
• She didn’t know that the Peter Paul fundraiser in Hollywood in 2000 cost $700,000 more than she reported it had.
• She opposed NAFTA at the time.
• She was instrumental in the Irish peace process.
• She urged Bill to intervene in Rwanda.
• She played a role in the ’90s economic recovery.
• She thought Bill was innocent when the Monica scandal broke.
• She was always a Yankees fan.
• She had nothing to do with the New Square Hasidic pardons (after they voted for her 1,400-12 and she attended a meeting at the White House about the pardons).
• She negotiated for the release of refugees in Macedonia (who were released the day before she got there).

CK | 04.24.08 04:10 PM

Maya Angelou is a great writer and artist. Her popularity with Americans of European descent is primarily a result of her poetic reading at President Clinton's first inaugural. Her honored position of Oprah's mentor solidified that place in the public's mind. I am sure the Clinton's are quite sweet to Dr. Angelou. It is the rest of us uppity nigras they got a problem with. I honor Maya, but I've never taken political advice from her and I'm not about to start now.

Anna | 04.24.08 04:11 PM

I'm an Obama supporter and agree with those who find Maya Angelou's description of Clinton's courage and honesty bizarre given the way she has conducted her campaign.

That said, let's not throw venom on Ms. Angelou. She has a right to her opinion, wrong headed though it may be.

John | 04.24.08 04:11 PM

Anna | 04.24.08 04:11 PM

"Hillary does not waver in standing up for those who need a champion."

Hmm. Then why does she stay silent about gays and lesbians unless she is specifically pandering to that group of people? Obama isn't afraid to stand up for people even when it will cost him a few votes. Gays and lesbians make it into his speeches regularly. Hillary would rather throw down a shot of whiskey, talk about shooting guns as a child, and make repeated derisive references to those San Francisco (read: gay) liberals who look down on regular folk.

Sorry Maya, you drank the kool-aid and now you're embarrassing yourself.

Robert C Michelson | 04.24.08 04:12 PM

Not sure Maya gets out much these days.

That said, she's probably a very loyal friend.
But that's not in the interest of the greater good in this case.

Hillary has gone so desperately negative recently -- she's playing straight from the George W. Bush playbook, trying to motivate the electorate through fear and not hope. The key difference I think is that the fears she is trying to evoke are frankly baseless, but I don't think our hopes are blind. Some of us do have our eyes open.

Obama is the right choice this time.

Alexander Technique | 04.24.08 04:19 PM

Sort of makes you wonder, what horrid dirt must the Clintons have on Maya?

CC | 04.24.08 04:40 PM

This is indeed a sad day when Maya Angelou, likely at the Clinton campaign "suggestion" writes such a diatribe. The Clinton's had Ms Angelou at Bill's first inauguration. She must feel like she "owes" them. I am sure they are friendly. But, look how many of the Clinton people have jumped ship and joined Obama. These are people who defended Bill and Hillary Clinton in the past. Who has jumped from Obama to Clinton.

When Bill's own cabinet members and his defense lawyer has gone to Obama, what does it say.

Ms Angelou, you are a remarkable woman. I am sorry the Clinton's desired you do this. If you were White, I don't think this is something they would have requested.

lxg | 04.24.08 04:56 PM

When Bill's own cabinet members and his defense lawyer has gone to Obama, what does it say.

Ms Angelou, you are a remarkable woman. I am sorry the Clinton's desired you do this. If you were White, I don't think this is something they would have requested.

lxg | 04.24.08 04:56 PM

I am a Hillary supporter and am appalled by the venemous comments about Maya Angelou just because she wrote a complimentary letter of support for Hillary. Calling someone senile because she happens to disagree with you is a reflection on you, the writer, not the target. I also find myself shocked into writing this comment, when I almost never get involved this way, because of the unsupported, vitriolic ravings about how horrible Hillary is.

Anne | 04.24.08 04:59 PM

Maya Angelous has done very well in her life. The woman's 80, she's allowed to lose her mind a little bit.

These aren't opinions, HRC's been caught lying, often, about stuff that matters. What about that "plantation" comment she made in Harlem? HRC is no friend to anyone.

CC | 04.24.08 05:05 PM

People seem to just project onto these candidates whatever emotions they're feeling without actually doing the dirty work of finding what they're about. Here we have one person saying Angelou claimed Clinton was our "first black president" and another person saying Obama always sticks up for gay people, as though he's never heard of Donnie McGlurkin. I'm convinced that the vast majority of internet denizens are totally confused on 99% of the issues.

Dan Asta | 04.24.08 05:08 PM

Maya Angelou remembers how the Clinton's have always stood for the African American community even if the African American community has forgotten. Obama is exploiting the African American community for his own personal political gain. For the next two weeks smooth, jive talking Obama is going to be all over North Carolina and then when he goes to Indiana he is going to be the intellectual, well dressed politician. If that is not a form of his elitist self belittling the African American community, then by all means make your bed and be prepared to sleep in it.

mona | 04.24.08 05:09 PM

"It may be easy to view Hillary Clinton through the narrow lens of those who would write her off or grind her down. Hillary sees us as we are, black and brown and white and yellow and pink and relishes our differences knowing that fundamentally we are all more alike than we are unalike. She is able to look through complexion and see community."

Sounds more like Obama's 2004 speech at the DNC or his speech on race, not like Clinton basically saying, "well, Louisiana has a high black population, so it shouldn't count"

Alyssa | 04.24.08 05:13 PM

Sorry Maya, I lost faith and hope in you a long time ago as you became more and more a Hillary apologizer. Oprah asked..is he the one? Is he the One? I said, Yes he is the One! Oprah has never apologized for Obama, made stories up about Obama, she simply made her endorsement, campaigned for him. No letter after letter speaking up for him when he has made a mistake or when he is in trouble. You Maya need to get back into the kitchen and make those pancakes for the Clintons and finaly shut up.

Karen2008 | 04.24.08 05:17 PM

Hillary Clinton quotes and her definition of who decides the election.

When she was the frontrunner: “Ultimately you have to be humble because it’s up to the voters. The voters get to decide” “Look I trust voters. Voters decide on whatever basis is important to them.”

After she lost the first state caucuses: “You know my sense of caucus states they are primarily dominated by activists; they don’t represent the electorate.”

After she lost unimportant African-American states like South Carolina and Louisiana: “In the case of Louisiana, you know, a very strong and very proud African-American electorate which I totally understand”

After she lost Iowa, Wisconsin, Alabama, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, Virginia: “I have won the big states. I’ve won the states a democrat has to win.”

When she fell far behind in the popular vote, her attention turned to the super delegates: “We do a great disservice to those who have a record of service, who have independent experience with candidates. People with those kinds of personal experiences which voters don’t have. They see us from a far, they come to a speech, they watch us on television and they vote. And that is part if the process, an important part.

Then hypothetically if a state where Obama was not even on the ballot was counted: “If you actually counted the votes that have been cast then more people have actually voted for me.”

Then if the Democratic party could change THEIR rules to fit the Clinton agenda: “If we had the same system of the republicans, I would already be the nominee.”

There you have it, when she was the frontrunner it was the will of the people. As the voters spoke and she lost, the rules changed at every turn. Now she wants the same system as the REPUBLICAN party. Enough is enough. Perhaps Hillary should run as a republican. Her “kitchen sink” tactics are straight out of the Attwater/Rove book.

The time has come for Democrats to end this vicious cycle. Look at the words of this candidate. She doesn’t care about the American people or the Democratic party. She cares about Hillary Clinton. It is time to cut bait and fish with the Clinton who believe they are owed the throne.

Obama, lead us to victory for the next eight years….

(Thanks to the “Daily Show” for Hillary’s quotes.)

Julia | 04.24.08 05:23 PM

Well, if by "reliable and trustworthy" you meant "entitled and selfish", then I totally agree. Of course, I do _rely_ on her to take whatever desperate measures necessary to steal the primary and _trust_ she will rip apart the Democratic party in the process.

The Voice of Reality | 04.24.08 05:35 PM

I couldn't agree more with Maya. We need a tough, smart and caring person in the White House. I believe Barack is all of these things. But I just believe that Hillary is more so. Certainly more tough -- I have been moved by Hillary's ability to keep on fighting when EVERY MEDIA OUTLET has been calling her out since day one. Barack has received rock star treatment and now that the infatuation is finally ebbing all I can say is Thank God Hillary has remained in there, fighting. She will be there to pick up the pieces when Barack, not quite four years removed from the Illinois state legislature, falls back to earth. I live in Illinois and the only thing I am aware of that he has done is support our farmers by promoting biofuels. It sounded like a good idea at the time. But today we now realize this is one reason why the the "bottom billion" on our planet can no longer afford to buy food.

Teaching Tolerance | 04.24.08 05:43 PM

Teaching Tolerance, your wonderful Hillary is promoting the worst kind of racism, classism and division. You'd better take another look at her, but this time do so with your eyes open.

Carrie | 04.24.08 05:53 PM

That's the worst racism you've ever seen, Carrie?

Where do you live?

Dan Asta | 04.24.08 06:09 PM

Maya Angelou is a great writer.
She's not so good at math.
I love her anyway, but I am going to pick out someone else for president.

suzy | 04.24.08 06:15 PM

I had no idea Maya Angelou supported obliterating Iran with nukes.

TommyBoy | 04.24.08 06:23 PM

Thanks to people like Maya Angelou we have Clarence Thomas sitting on the Supreme Court. She has zero credibility.

Rob B. | 04.24.08 06:39 PM

Thanks to people like Maya Angelou we have Clarence Thomas sitting on the Supreme Court. She has zero credibility.

Rob B. | 04.24.08 06:39 PM

Honest, trustworthy?
Maya, I barely knew ye.

Bill | 04.24.08 07:13 PM

Maya Angelou, I admire you dearly. But Hillary Clinton is not the candidate you should be supporting. You call her honest but after Whitewater, Monica, Bill Clinton's impeachment, her lying abou Bosnia and her husband's pardon I am sure that Hillary Clinton is not Honest!!

Anna | 04.24.08 07:29 PM

To little, too late Maya. I'm done with Hillary.
IMO she is nothing but an evil,lying dishonest windbag.....and those aren't even her worse qualities (some people say she a cynic who cares little for anybody but herself and will destroy whoever or whatever she needs to on the way to her goals---did someone mention something about the Anti-christ? Hum, I wonder.

G.Johnson | 04.24.08 07:58 PM

She would have gotten further with me if she hadn't used the word "honestly" so soon. I was laughing too hard to read the rest.

Stef | 04.24.08 08:21 PM

I saw Maya deliver the opening address at the annual convention of a large international corporation a few years back. When she was finished, I remember thinking how out in front the corporation was to have someone that challenging to corporate and establishment culture open their convention. Angelou is the real deal. Authentically human. This is an important endorsement of one great woman by another.

BillyG | 04.24.08 08:23 PM

Maya Angelou is a great poet and a great lady. I don't understand why the Obama posters are so snarky about her letter. She has a right to write a letter in support of her friend and preferred presidential candidate. As my mother would say, you folk need to get some manners.

Sandra Colt | 04.24.08 08:44 PM

Sandra Colt | 04.24.08 08:45 PM

What the hell, Maya's poetry sucks also.

Miande | 04.24.08 08:49 PM

Her honesty? Maya you are a legend and i love you but your candidate has been extremely dishonest! After she made up a false story about dangers in Tuzla, Bosnia (an insult to anyone who faced such dangers), it's laughable that you call her 'honest'.
in addition, she is trying to disenfranchising young voters, activists, black voter and anyone at ll that doesn't agree with her. Ma'am, I urge you to change your mind. I never dreamed you would stand against the first black man who had a real chance of being elected after 43 white ones...even if he wasn't the angel the Barack Obama is.

abby | 04.24.08 08:52 PM

Another lousy inaugural poem by Maya Angelou: reason #21 to vote Obama.

Roanoke | 04.24.08 10:30 PM

Dear Maya,

Back in the day, I attended a master writing seminar you held at my university. You were a witty, charming woman to be around back then. And I've admired you since. However, when it comes to Hillary Clinton, I fear you are um, well, anachronistic is the best word that comes to mind.

In a different century, I might compare you to the house servant and me to field slave. You've been up close and way too personal with the Missus to see and hear clearly all that she has been saying. Not just about us out in the fields, but all you folks up in the big house. When you're not around, she uses the same language to describe you as she does the rest of us. She's only nice because she needs you right now.

Hillary Clinton is not about helping the little person, she's not about fighting for the down-trodden. She's all about fighting for Hillary Clinton. As a mother, Hillary Clinton stood by while 800,000 men, women and helpless children -- who look like you and me -- were senselessly and needlessly slaughtered in Rwanda. Her child was safe, but those children weren't.

Hillary Clinton is begging the DNC to change its rules in the middle of the game to accommodate her. That is not fair play. When she had the occasion to insure that familites were healthy, had living wages and the protections of society when they were down and out, she and her husband supported reform to the welfare system that created the largest class of working poor this country has ever seen. While Hillary was enjoying the $109 million lifestyle the presidency bought her and her husband, those families continued to struggle with minimum wage jobs, poor benefits, no healthcare, deteriorating schools, and dimming job prospects -- jobs shipped overseas because of the success of not just of NAFTA, but fast-tracked Most Favored Nation status to China. The "balanced economy" was based on a real estate boom that has gone bust, a dotcom boom that has gone bust, an inflated stock market that is now fluctuating wildly as we teeter on the brink of recession. And although the Clintons have been out of office for nearly eight years, Hillary's vote as a Senator sent us into one of the most costly wars -- one that was not necessary -- we have ever waged. At $12 billion per month, and more than 4000 lives lost, we are a nation crippled by debt. And Hillary voted for it. Unlike other Democratic Senators (and even some Republicans) who have recognized the gravity of their error and admitted to a mistake, Hillary continues to ratchet up her hawkish talk, now claiming she will "obliterate" Iran.

I could go on, Maya. But it is far better to say that we have a choice in this election: to continue the status quo, to foolishly create a rotating dynastic system of trading a Bush for a Clinton. We can continue to make the same mistakes by re-electing the same kinds of politicians and getting exactly the same results. Or this year, striking out on a bold new course.

Once upon a time, in a different century, brave men and women, with little more than the clothes upon their backs and a little nourishment tucked kerchiefs and pockets, struck out on an impossible journey. They followed paths marked by stones, or natural landmarks, or tattered quilts that pointed the way north to freedom. They moved in the dark of night. They moved in the heat of the day. They did not look back longingly at the comfort of the big house and the Missus, they looked forward to freedom.

I cannot go back to Hillary or Bill Clinton. I must go forward to, and with, and for Barack Obama.

Jade7243 | 04.24.08 10:55 PM

I applaud Maya's support for Hillary Clinton. She is CLEARLY THE BEST qualified candidate to lead and run this nation. There is no question that Obama has neither the experience nor the fortitude to run this country. He is the media darling and has enjoyed the public's infatuation. He is on the whole an unknown commodity and for this reason, americans project their ideal of the perfect politician onto him. HOWEVER, over the past few weeks the perfect exterior has begun to crack...we are just now discovering who he truly is and that is an out of touch elite-ist with undeniable ties to a radical pastor with racist and bitter views about this country. Hillary will emerge the nominee in the end and I for one will feel a lot safer with her as our commander and chief.

JJG | 04.24.08 11:10 PM

Dr. Angelou: I was sad to read your letter. From the voice of the girl in "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" to the voice of the woman in this letter is a leap I am unable to make. With all of my deep respect for you, I will force myself to remain in this place of confusion and find the compassion to understand your position. I will not agree with it and I am certain of that. I deeply and forcefully disagree with almost all of your perceptions of Ms. Clinton. It is what she has become that is loathesome--an ego driven woman pretending she is motivated by duty---- repulsive and dangerous.

Aghast | 04.24.08 11:55 PM

Aghast | 04.24.08 11:56 PM

With all due respect Dr. Angelou, one would have to be death, crippled, and blind not to see that the Clintons have used Blacks for their political gain. What are prominent African Americans such as yourself, saying to our Black youth when they see their leaders sacrificing the Black race for the Clintons. You are entitled to support Hillary or
Bill Clinton, but to not denounce the racist and
vicious attacks that they are leveling against this man's character is hurtful to many blacks who have supported and respected you over the years.
I have heard many people who support Obama admonish him for his relationship with his controversial pastor. What is too far for Hillary
to you? Can she say or do anything for the sake of the nomination, including lie about being under sniper fire or her connection with some of the same controversial people she trys to link with Obama? Have you forgotten what she said about Dr. Martin Luther King? If that is not bad enough, she and the Republicans have countless White radio and news personalities openly involved in a witchhunt to destroy the character of Obama and that of any young black child who might even think about dreaming of being President in America one day. Dr. Angelou, It appears as if your letter was a humble attempt to garner support from the Black community for your friend Hillary and tell us why you like her so much. With all due respect it is a hard sell when we see a contrast to the picture you paint of her playing out during this election.

LRamirez | 04.25.08 12:06 AM

If Hillary Clinton would agree to move to Hell forever, I would gladly pay her rent.

Mark F | 04.25.08 12:28 AM

If Hillary Clinton would agree to move to Hell forever, I would gladly pay her rent.

Mark F | 04.25.08 12:30 AM

Funny. When I read her comments I thought "She MUST be talking about Senator Obama, not Hillary, right? Every point she makes about why she supports Hillary applies at least equally, if not more so, to Barack...

Kurt Klapkowski | 04.25.08 01:20 AM

How does such an amazing writer produce such standard campaign endorsement fair? Any amateur pol could write this thing, assuming she actually wrote it -- seeing as she's a Pulitizer Prize winner, I'd hope she did -- you'd think she'd try to add a little pizazz.

HiFi | 04.25.08 01:41 AM

I know why The Caged Bird Sings, and Sings and Sings, and even though it takes flight it never makes it to the Mountain Top. Thanks Ms. Angelou for clipping our wings once again.

Ms MBC | 04.25.08 02:48 AM

"I'm an Obama supporter and agree with those who find Maya Angelou's description of Clinton's courage and honesty bizarre given the way she has conducted her campaign.

That said, let's not throw venom on Ms. Angelou. "

Thank you!

The things that some people say here are no better than what they're accusing Hillary Clinton for. I suggest you all stop supporting Obama simply because everyone else is. Go look at what both candidates stand for -- then choose. If it's still Obama, go for it.

Hilldawg 08!

Aaron Andersen | 04.25.08 05:00 AM

I,too, am a great admirer of Maya Angelou and I think we all agree she is America's "national treasure". I am surprised and dismayed by her letter of support for Senator Clinton, especially the reference to Clinton's "honesty" and as a "trustworthy person". How many well-documented lies and distortions will it take to convince people that Hillary is out to win, at any cost? I, too, once supported Sen. Clinton--but not any more.

Linda | 04.25.08 08:45 AM

Dear Friend:

I am writing to tell you about my friend, Hillary Clinton, and why I am standing with her in her campaign for the presidency in 2012 after she ruins Senator Obama and the Democratic party this year. I know the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be because I know dozens of the personalities she has assumed over the years.

I am inspired by her insincerity and her dishonesty. She is a reliable and trustworthy opportunist. She is someone I not only fear but one for whom I have profound worry regarding stability.

Hillary does not waver in standing up for her prerogative. She has always been a passionate protector of her husband's sexual appetites. As a child, she was taught that all Iraq's children are politically expedient, and as a mother, she understood that her child wasn't safe unless all Iranians were obliterated. As I wrote about Hillary recently in a praise song: "She is the slayer of every hope and every man who longs for fair play, botcher of health care, champion of NAFTA and Wal-Mart."

It may be easy to view Hillary Clinton through the narrow lens of those who would ask her to explain her lies. Hillary sees us as we are, black and brown and white and yellow and pink and relishes our differences knowing that fundamentally we are all exploitable. She is able to look through complexion and see hollow wedge issues.

She has endured great scrutiny, and still is barely scrutinized. Hillary Clinton will not give up on you, unless you are a caucus-goer or black. She is a long-distance runner even though she previously agreed that the race should be a sprint. I am honored to say I am with her until her loss is so obvious that it would be an act of transcendent madness for even Carville to claim otherwise.

I am supporting Hillary Clinton because I know that she will make the most positive difference in the lives of corporate donors and she will help our country continue to be what it currently is. Whether you are her supporter, leaning towards her, undecided, or supporting someone else, I believe Hillary Clinton will never forget anyone who didn't fall in line - and she will make you pay. It is no small thing that along the way we will repeat history together.

Vote for Hillary Clinton and show your support at www.hillaryclinton.com. I know she will make use of her power.

I. Conoplastic | 04.25.08 01:31 PM

Dear Friend:

I am inspired by her insincerity and her dishonesty. She is a reliable and trustworthy opportunist. She is someone I not only fear but one for whom I have profound worry regarding stability.

Vote for Hillary Clinton and show your support at www.hillaryclinton.com. I know she will make use of her power.

samboo | 04.25.08 04:22 PM

Maya, baby, it's time to stop drinking the kool-aid and get back on your meds. Even better, why not spend some time with the Bard and reflect upon your galpal's alter ego--Lady MacBeth.

April Campbell | 04.25.08 05:56 PM

As Obama supporters we stand for a campaign of HOPE and UNITY - a new kind of politics. We reject the negativity of others.

That's why when someone like Maya Angelou writes such beautiful, kind words about her close friend Hillary - we tear them apart and mock a gentle woman. If you don't support Barrack, you are despicable or insane. There is only one truth, and it's ours.

Join the campaign of Hope and Unity - we call it a new kind of politics.

Blinded by the Light | 04.25.08 06:29 PM

It wasn't Maya Angelou who called Clinton the first black President; it was Toni Morrison. And there's a qualifying explanation for that statement, not worth going into here.

Meanwhile... it's sad to see Maya Angelou praising Hillary Clinton's honesty and integrity. Ugh.

LynnDee | 04.26.08 12:58 AM

You negro folk need to stop. You aren't slaves, this isn't pre civil war, and Maya Angelou isn't some dumb colored woman fooled by the master. She isn't a mami, and she isn't a goddess. She's a woman, a woman with her own opinion. Perhaps you all should get one of your own and stop following what the media wants you to do.

Clinton in 08! A vote for Obama is a vote for Osama!

Uncle Tom | 04.26.08 01:18 PM

Dear Ms. Angelou,
As a Black woman raising Black daughters, I will be proudly casting my vote for Senator Obama, here in Indiana. Not because he is Black, but because he is a superior candidate, from the policies that he holds, to the superior organization that he has built, to the fundraising apparatus that he has put into place, to his strategic brilliance in how he chose to run based on the rules that were originally set forth, to his authenticity. Ms. Hillary did not display the same brilliance whatsoever, and relied on her name brand more than anything else.

Also, as you should be aware, Obama has the distinct disadvantage of not being able to respond to Ms. Hillary's twisted attacks on him in kind, because he wisely understands that in the not so distant past, black men were lynched for even whistling at a White woman. Yes, even this subliminal aspect of our two contenders permeates this contest, and the media have been waiting to jump him if Mr. Obama gets uppity and out of line with Ms. Hillary. In the meantime, Ms. Hillary takes full advantage of her female victimhood every chance that she can. It is all very unfair, but unless pointed out, his having to fight with two hands tied behind his back (one because Ms. Hillary is a White woman, and two, because she is another Democrat) isn't always apparent whenever Ms. Hillary goats Mr. Obama by implying that he is a coward and a wimp.

I am deeply disappointed that you have chosen to back an individual's who's greatest "hope" is that enough White People harbor enough prejudice in their hearts not to feel that they can vote for a Black man, simply based on his skin color. Ms. Hillary and her campaign have encouraged this approach to voting, and in fact count on it to make her the Nominee (although it is mathematically impossible). Hillary Clinton has set race relations back 20 years, by promoting racial prejudices as being "OK". Had she not done this, the Democratic party as a whole would have had a great argument against the Republicans, had they tried it, as it really isn't an acceptable argument to make in the 21st century.

For you to support a candidate of this type is mind boggling. But then, to some degree, nothing surprises me anymore. This makes you part of the problem, no matter your pretty prose. It is one thing to believe one is color blind, it is quite another when one's depends on others who are not to determine one's future.

The world is watching this campaign, and how we choose to resolve our nomination process will say more about who we are as a nation, than anything that will ever be said, including anything coming from you. People are not blinded, and most see exactly what type of campaign Ms. Hillary has been running, and it isn't impressive the least.

I can now only pray to hope that just and kind wisdom prevails and is rendered by all types of Americans who populate this nation and want to move forward instead of back to the 1990s.

C.M. | 04.26.08 06:27 PM

Dr. Maya,
I am so disappointed in you and this pitiful letter of support! As for me and my house, we will be voting for Obama, who I truly believe is an Agent of Change...which these United States of America so desperately need!!

tejas | 04.27.08 12:02 AM

tejas | 04.27.08 12:03 AM

I absolutely disagree with Maya's support of Hillary, but she like many have had Bill Clinton call in his IOU's. In 1990, Maya Angelou was requested by Bill Clinton to compose and read a historical poem at his first inaugural swearing-in. Her wonderful poem set the tone for his administration and is an extraordinary work. It was the first time a African American poet had been asked to compose a special poem for a Presidential swearing-in. I am sure Maya feels she owes the Clintons. Many of those early endorsers of Hillary Clinton are currently holding their noses trying to continue their support for this woman who has turned out to be such a huge disappointment. Maya is brilliant but she is not infallible. I honor her, but am in deep disagreement with her. I think the lateness of her endorsement probably says quite a bit about how it was obtained.

mjee | 04.27.08 11:21 PM

Well, Miss Angelou. I guess your understanding of Sen Clinton's trustworthiness must be crushed by now. If not, we will continue to wonder about your people perception skills. How can you find her acceptable and trustworthy when we cannot even tell from day to day which Hillary we are seeing / might see?

Which Hillary is it today? | 04.30.08 01:09 PM

Ms Angelou you are not being a part of the struggle. And please non African Americans this is not your issue to comment. WE dont tell you about how to handle the Kennedys in the Irish Catholic community or Clinton in the Working Blue Collar Class. Ms Angelou you are respected for your work, and entitled to your opinion, yet history will see you on the very wrong side, at least to the African American community in general

charles Devenworth | 04.30.08 03:19 PM

wow - the only thing I have learned here is how utterly rude Obama supporters are. Really astonishing.

alissa | 04.30.08 05:40 PM

wow - the only thing I have learned here is how utterly rude Obama supporters are. Really astonishing.

alissa | 04.30.08 05:41 PM

WOW again - so the race IS about race and race alone - these comments display that loud and clear - Tho Obama supporters like to cry 'Hillary plays the race card!' - I am greatly disheartened. There isn't such a big struggle any more - If you can't make it in the United States - you simply can't make it.

alissa | 04.30.08 05:48 PM

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April 24, 2008

An Open Letter From Maya Angelou

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