Hillary Clinton’s recent comments that Lyndon B. Johnson had more to do with passing civil rights laws than did the civil rights movement grants us an insight into her thinking and the thinking of a major faction of the Democratic Party.
Clinton’s view of change and power is top down. From her view, civil rights legislation wasn’t simply the endorsement of a movement that had brought together millions of ordinary Black and White folks to fight for an end to segregation and discrimination. Rather, it was the accomplishment of a political leader who was motivated by little more than his conscience. Why LBJ’s conscience didn’t prevent escalation in Vietnam is another question I guess.
The Clintons have consistently demonstrated a paternalistic attitude toward the American people. They and their supporters like to point out how much Bill Clinton has done for poor people and people of color. As someone who was involved in anti-poverty work during the Clinton presidency, I don’t know what they’re talking about, but that’s not the point.
It is not politicians alone who can bring about real change. We’ll start moving toward a more economically just nation and world when a broad based movement comes together to demand the government we deserve, not when some careerist politician decides to grant it to us.
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