A Double Standard on 'Reject and Denounce'

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But this is not about Internet crazies or campaign smears.

The issue here is Hillary Clinton's standard of conduct when it comes to comments by a candidate's supporter.

As the Politico's Roger Simon reported this week, fresh from her clash with Obama in Ohio, Clinton went to Texas, where one of her ardent Latina supporters told a Dallas TV station that blacks haven't done anything to help Latinos. "They used our numbers to fulfill their goals and objectives," Adelfa Callejo said.

Then came Callejo's kicker: "Obama has the problem that he happens to be black."

A Dallas reporter asked Clinton about her backer's remarks. Clinton danced: "I want us judged on our merits. . . . I want people though to look beyond, look beyond race and gender, look at our records."

The reporter followed up: Is this something you reject and denounce?

Clinton: "People have every reason to express their opinions. I just don't agree with that. I think that we should be looking at the individuals who are running."

Question: Do you still want her support, though?

Clinton laughed and said: "This is a free country. A lot of folks have said really unpleasant things about me over the course of this campaign. You can't take any of that as anything other than an individual opinion."

Question: "But you criticized Obama for not rejecting the support of Farrakhan."

Clinton: "I don't see any comparison at all . . . and I don't know the facts of what you're telling me over the TV."

Her campaign called the station back later that night, after word of the broadcast had spread and no doubt after it had studied the interview. Officials announced that their candidate rejected and denounced Callejo's remarks.

Message to Obama: Do as I say, not as I do.

kingc@washpost.com