Trump launched political career on ‘racist lie’ over Obama: Clinton

HEMPSTEAD, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on September 26, 2016 in Hempstead, New York. The first of four debates for the 2016 Election, three Presidential and one Vice Presidential, is moderated by NBC's Lester Holt.   Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP
HEMPSTEAD, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on September 26, 2016 in Hempstead, New York. The first of four debates for the 2016 Election, three Presidential and one Vice Presidential, is moderated by NBC’s Lester Holt. Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP

HEMPSTEAD, United States (AFP) — Hillary Clinton accused her Republican White House rival Donald Trump Monday of launching his political career by supporting a “racist” theory that questioned Barack Obama’s citizenship.

“He tried to put the whole racist ‘birther’ lie to bed,” the Democrat said as the pair clashed in their first presidential debate, referring to Trump’s recent admission that Obama was born in the United States.

“But it can’t be dismissed that easily. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen,” she said.

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