Clintons Not Welcome in South Central

As President, Bill Clinton made many a stop to predominantly African American churches such as First AME. Parishoners found him to be as nearly proficient at sermonizing as the best of the preachers. Indeed, some have declared Bill Clinton to be the "first Black President."

However the welcome mat has been withdrawn as Capitol Weekly reports that the Clintons were told they could not appear before the congregation at First AME last weekend. Pastor Dr. John J. Hunter told his members that he had not allowed the visit which drew applause from several hundred in the church.

African Americans nationally are not comfortable with the tone of the attack Hillary Clinton took towards Senator Barack Obama in the South Carolina Primary and it appears that mood has expanded to Los Angeles. Representative Diane Watson, a Clinton supporter, stated that she had warned the New York Senator the South Carolina campaign could hurt her in South Central Los Angeles. "I've had people tell me they would support Hillary until the attack," Watson said. "I told her, ‘Don't take South Central for granted."

Though African Americans are a shrinking part of Los Angeles' population they still make for a significant part of the local Democratic electorate. Their support for Obama will have a chilling effect on the Clinton campaign.

Ironically, the person who originally declared Clinton "the first Black President," author Toni Morrison, has endorsed Obama.