Another Failed 'Farrakhan Test'

It was clear he was talking about Farrakhan.

But that was then.

Ten years later, miles away from Washington and the national press corps, perched comfortably in his Harlem office, Bill Clinton had a decidedly different take on Farrakhan.

In a May 2005 interview with the black weekly newspaper the New York Amsterdam News, the former president said that he supported the efforts of Louis Farrakhan and the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to organize a Million More March in the nation's capital that fall.

During his presidency Clinton made a distinction between Farrakhan and the marchers, but Clinton the New Yorker commended the Nation of Islam leader and the two black preachers for coming together to focus the country's attention on problems confronting African Americans.

"Jesse [Jackson], and Mr. [Louis] Farrakhan and Rev. [Al] Sharpton probably have internal domestic political differences," Clinton is quoted as saying, "but they've agreed on this, and I think it's a good thing."

Clinton said: "I like the idea of a march, but I think it would also be good at the march for them to say, 'We want to call your attention to this problem, and here's something else you can do. And that it's fine to be concerned about [homeland] security, but we also have to keep trying to make America strong and better here at home."

Post-White House Clinton found no fault with Farrakhan's leadership. There was no mention of Farrakhan's "malice and division" during the interview.

There was also no mention of a Farrakhan speech given that year, on Feb. 26, in which he reportedly told a Chicago audience: "Listen, Jewish people don't have no hands that are free of the blood of us [blacks]. They owned slave ships. They bought us and sold us. They raped and robbed us."

No matter. Bill Clinton, sitting with the Amsterdam News and enjoying his first full day in the office since his second operation, was good to go with Farrakhan's leadership of the Million More March -- a fact he was willing to share with . . . a black audience.

And, pray tell, what was Hillary Clinton doing then?

She was, as she is now, a U.S. senator from New York.

Did Hillary get on Bill's case, too?

Hush my mouth! Now I've quit reporting and gone to meddling.

kingc@washpost.com