What could have been an incredibly awkward moment somehow isn’t. The question is for Obama: “Do you think Bill Clinton was our first black president?”
Obama handles it with poise: “I think that Bill Clinton did have—still has—an enormous affinity with the African-American community, and that’s well earned. Like John, what I’m inspired by is young men and women who grew up in the South when segregation was still taking place.”
But more importantly, he says, “I’d have to investigate Bill’s dancing abilities before I accurately judge whether or not he is in fact a brother.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Clinton replies, laughing.
Worth noting: It’s no small feat to crack jokes about race that don’t make the entire room uncomfortable.
