New York, NY —
Harlem has been the New York pulse of support for the Clintons. But with the emergence of Barack Obama as a formidable opponent for the Democratic presidential nomination, the community's loyalty is now torn between their senator AND the man who could become America's first black commander in chief. WNYC's Elaine Rivera took a walk up 125th street this week.
REPORTER: The Clintons have long had ADORING support from New York's African American artistic, cultural and civic hub. President Clinton chose Harlem to place his headquarters. Congressman Charles Rangel, the dean of Harlem politicians, was the first to suggest that Hillary Clinton seek the late Patrick Moynihan’s Senate seat after he chose not to run again.
But what appeared to be a guaranteed support base for Hillary Clinton changed when the Obama phenomenon rolled over the nation.
REPORTER: Three months after Obama appeared before thousands at the Harlem's famed Apollo Theater, writer and Harlem resident Ricky Niles walked down 125th street as she headed home. She stops to consider the choice.
NILES: There are aspects of Barack Obama that I really respect but the other part of me tugs at Hillary because there are some things she stands for that I can identify with
REPORTER: Down the street, Harlem resident and street vendor Henry Clark presided over a long card table. He was selling rows of brightly glazed artistic light switch covers adorned with African American figures.
CLARK: I like both of them to tell you the truth personally...
REPORTER: But he repeats Obama’s mantra: it’s time for a change
CLARK: I have to vote Barack just for the fact that I'm Afro American and I'd love to see a black president before I die.
REPORTER: A few blocks away standing in the chilly air, Reverend Princess Thorbs, a Queens resident was in Harlem for a meeting.
THORBS: I like Hillary, I like Hillary I would like to hear more of Barack's platform I would like to hear more of what he has planned the ideas that he has… the days of long speeches are over we need brass tacks
OSEI – right now I’m looking at an article – I printed..
REPORTER: Daniel OSEI (O-SAY) was browsing Clinton on his computer at Harlem’s Hue-Man bookstore. He clicks on a story he has forwarded to friends. It's a news report stating that the incarceration rate of African American men increased under the Clinton era.
OSEI: (BRING UP IN THE CLEAR) Their policies hurt us black people despite the fact that they've done a few things to help us they're not in it for our best interests, they're not....
REPORTER: But for Harlem resident Adrienne Starks, Hillary’s marriage to the former president makes her a better qualified candidate. As she perused winter caps on a table outside of a street stall, she said sympathizes with Clinton.
Starks: A lot of voters don't like a woman you understand but Hillary's been there already she's been there with Bill so she knows what's going on I feel more like she would have a more inside track…
REPORTER: Harlem’s black political establishment is counting on that sentiment. The community’s top officials, including former mayor David Dinkins, and Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, and Congressman Rangel have thrown their support behind Clinton.
REPORTER: Rangel, however, understands Obama's pull and tips his hat to the candidate's political gifts.
RANGEL: He is just good he would be good whether he was white and black but the fact that he's black and is able to demand the respect of white folks I don't know whether it's ambivalent as to whether they would vote for or against him but one damn thing we all have to feel a sense of pride...
REPORTER: Bill Lynch, a former top aide to Mayor Dinkins now has his own consulting firm based in Harlem. Lynch explains why Clinton ultimately won the support of Harlem's influential movers and shakers.
LYNCH: This is not a move to dismiss Barack this is not an anti-Barack movement this is a pro-Hillary Clinton effort and we'd like to be loyal to our friends who have helped us in the past....
REPORTER: But State Senator Bill Perkins questions that loyalty. He is the one major Harlem politician who broke ranks and gave his support to Obama early on. Perkins who says that he had supported Clinton’s bid for the Senate seat felt betrayed when she supported the war in Iraq – a war that he says disproportionately hurts young blacks and Latinos.
PERKINS: Loyalty suggests I owe you she needs to be loyal to us and if she was loyal to us she would have listened to us as we resoundingly said no to war - she did not she listened to Bush
REPORTER: Back on 125th street, Freddy Harris was among the bustle of shoppers right around the corner of the Apollo Theater. He says he's confronted by a tough choice.
HARRIS: I love the Clintons, love them he did an excellent job. If she were to get in she would do an excellent job but like I said, I’m for Barack right now – but if Hillary wins, it’d be a good thing if she made him vice president…
For many torn voters like Harris, an unlikely Clinton/Obama ticket would be the ideal win/win for them. For WNYC, I'm Elaine Rivera
OUTRO: Barack Obama's campaign is scheduled to open its Harlem headquarters this Saturday.