Braun: Clinton Betrayed Minorities By Backing Emanuel
CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) -- Mayoral candidate Carol Moseley Braun is repeating her accusation that former President Bill Clinton has betrayed blacks and Hispanics by endorsing his onetime aide, Rahm Emanuel.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Regine Schlesinger reports, Braun's campaign issued a statement saying Clinton's decision to stump for Emanuel amounts to a betrayal of minorities.
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But when asked about the statement while on the campaign trail Wednesday, Braun said, "Did we say that?"
Braun says her accusation has nothing to do with race, but with loyalty and gratitude. She also made reference to the controversy over whether Emanuel meets the residency requirement to run for mayor.
"The African-American community stood by Bill Clinton when he had his toughest times, with Monica Lewinsky and other issues," Braun said, "and for him to parachute into Chicago to support a candidate who probably does not live here is just bad."
After receiving the endorsement of the National Organization for Women, Braun had breakfast at Ann Sather's, 909 W. Belmont Ave., with leaders of the gay community whose support she is trying to win.
Emanuel worked on the Clinton presidential campaign in 1992, and then in the Clinton White House as a senior adviser.
At the event at the Cultural Center, Clinton said Chicago has big challenges and will overcome them, but he said the city needs a big mayor. He called Emanuel fiercely honest, someone who cares about doing good, and up to the task.
"If you want a big mayor, if you want to be faithful to the spirit of Carl Sandburg's poem, if you want to reinvent yourself one more time and come out better than ever, if you want the Windy City to have a gale force of leadership, Rahm Emanuel is your mayor," Clinton said.
As for Emanuel's residency issue, the Illinois Appellate Court is hearing arguments Wednesday.
