Hillary defends staying in because of assassination.

Terralthra · Post by **Terralthra** » 2008-05-23 06:41pm

HILLARY RAISES ASSASSINATION ISSUE
DEFENDS LONG-RUNNING CAMPAIGN
By GEOFF EARLE

May 23, 2008 --

Hillary Clinton today brought up the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy while defending her decision to stay in the race against Barack Obama.

"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said, dismissing calls to drop out.

Obama's camp immediately fired back.

"Sen. Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," Obama campaign spokesman said in a statement.

Clinton made her comments at a meeting with the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader's editorial board while campaigning in South Dakota, where she complained that, "People have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa."

Obama, the first African-American to advance so far in the race for the White House, has faced threats, sources have said.

Robert Kennedy, the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy, was gunned down in 1968 after winning the California primary. He had been a hero on the left for his civil rights agenda and calls to end the war in Vietnam.

Barack Obama, who leads Clinton by nearly 200 delegates and has already secured a majority of pledged delegates, has been the subject of threats. Early in the campaign, the Secret Service gave him a security detail at the request of Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Illinois).

Clinton criticized an "urgency" to end the campaign prematurely, saying, "Historically, that makes no sense."

She later issued an apology for the remark.

"I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and in particular the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever," the former first lady said.

Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson defended the comments to The Post, "She was talking about the length of the race and using the '68 election as an example of how long the races in the past have gone -- she used her husband's race in the same vein."

Terralthra · Post by **Terralthra** » 2008-05-23 06:42pm

source

LMSx · Post by **LMSx** » 2008-05-23 07:02pm

I saw the video and Clinton particularly emphasized the word June when referring to RFK's assassination. It was dumb to start off by mentioning his assassination, but it's really more harmless in context and a bit understandable considering Ted Kennedy has been mentioned a lot in the news.

Link to Video

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-05-23 07:09pm

She all but winked at a white supremicist, for crying out loud!

Cecelia5578 · Post by **Cecelia5578** » 2008-05-23 07:11pm

She should be held accountable for her shit-she shouldn't be allowed to say whatever she wants, then issue a retraction, as if that in and of itself should suffice.

LMSx · Post by **LMSx** » 2008-05-23 07:13pm

Hmm on further investigation actually Hillary has mentioned RFK's assassination before:

Link

TIME: Can you envision a point at which--if the race stays this close--Democratic Party elders would step in and say, "This is now hurting the party and whoever will be the nominee in the fall"?

CLINTON: No, I really can't. I think people have short memories. Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual.

I see this and think "for the love of god choose a less awkward example of a June campaign", I still don't see "Obama could be assassinated so I should stay in".

Resinence · Post by **Resinence** » 2008-05-23 08:01pm

How can you not see it? It's pretty fucking obvious that shes hoping some lunatic is going to off Obama for her. What else would you stick around for "because of that guy that got assassinated, historically I mean"?

The Spartan · Post by **The Spartan** » 2008-05-23 08:04pm

Oh for Christ's sake, just give it up bitch!

You are not going to be President. Ever.

Civil War Man · Post by **Civil War Man** » 2008-05-23 08:31pm

When I heard this, I actually thought the person who told me was joking (mostly because that guy's a smartass). I mean, perhaps I had too much faith. I knew she could be that stupid, but I didn't think she would actually be that stupid.

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-05-23 08:37pm

Well, the votes of Assassin-Americans should count, too!

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2008-05-23 09:35pm

"Hey Kennedys, I know you guys are all upset about Teddy and all, but I just want to remind you Bobby got shot as well!"

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2008-05-23 10:07pm

Yes she emphesis June, but the reason she did was obvious
Maybe something will change, prehaps everyone will embrace Rove Math so 2+2=Whatever the person with the most money wants it to equal.

Or yes, perhaps Obama will be shot.
I mean, I'm sure it was a harmless mistake right?....
Except....
Except....

Bobby Kennedy was a man who dreamed of finishing the mission Dr King died for, and JFK helped. He ran on Hope, on opposing a unpopular war and on civil rights and reforming the then failing economy he also ran on the youth vote. A man who was wildly popular and considering the events of 1968 election might well have gone on to defeat Nixon except he was assassinated on June 6th.

Meanwhile we have black man running for president. A person who Ted Kennedy has compared to his brother Bobby and his other brother JFK. A man running on stopping an unpopular war, who runs on Hope, economic reform and the dream of the civil rights movement who has gotten more young people to register than ever.

So gee, really, you don't think LMsx that was not exactly the fucking comparison she wanted to make?

You don't see it?
Let me spell it out for you.

I am Hillary Clinton, I have no mathematical chance of winning but maybe just maybe, Obama like Bobby Kennedy will get assassinated so I can become the President. You never know.. June is around the corner, it's almost here, he still could get shot making me President...

That is what that fucking CUNT, is saying. But perhaps Keith will make it clearer for you.

Keith Special Comment Part I on this
Keith Part II

This is no harmless mistake, this is everything but her shouting, "Won't someone rid me of this troublesome Priest!"

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-05-23 11:08pm

Mr Bean wrote:You don't see it?
Let me spell it out for you.

I am Hillary Clinton, I have no mathematical chance of winning but maybe just maybe, Obama like Bobby Kennedy will get assassinated so I can become the President. You never know.. June is around the corner, it's almost here, he still could get shot making me President...

Of course, what Hillary is also skipping over is the fact that the man who got the nomination after RFK fell, Hubert Humphrey, went on lose and badly to Nixon and the GOP. That of course is nowhere near the big problem with her turn of late to shadow-Republikanism. Or the fact that she is essentially pinning her "qualification" to get the nomination on her husband's late-campaign win back in 1992.

I am listening to Olbermann's commentary even as I write and damn he is unloading on her. And it is well-deserved.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2008-05-23 11:53pm

Wow, just when you thought she couldn't get any shriller, she invokes the specter of RFK's assassination and the disastrous 1968 Democratic convention.

What next? "Vote for me or I'll tie the party up in court proceedings!"?

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-05-23 11:55pm

Uraniun235 wrote:What next? "Vote for me or I'll tie the party up in court proceedings!"?

I'm sure it will be.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-05-23 11:59pm

Uraniun235 wrote:Wow, just when you thought she couldn't get any shriller, she invokes the specter of RFK's assassination and the disastrous 1968 Democratic convention.

What next? "Vote for me or I'll tie the party up in court proceedings!"?

Well, it wouldn't exactly be without precedent.

Zablorg · Post by **Zablorg** » 2008-05-24 12:24am

I seem to recall Hillary saying she was awesome because she went to some foreign courtry without fear of assassination?

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2008-05-24 12:40am

Patrick Degan wrote:I am listening to Olbermann's commentary even as I write and damn he is unloading on her. And it is well-deserved.

I just saw it too. He's definitely gonna need his railguns rebarreled after this one. He is Royally Fucking Pissed, as we all should be. This, along with Bush's intended attack on Iran, is indeed the Nuclear Nightmare Scenario because that's where it ultimately leads.

cosmicalstorm · Post by **cosmicalstorm** » 2008-05-24 03:39am

Wow I knew she was an idiot but that is a pretty impressive remark, she is all but begging for someone to kill Obama.

Zablorg · Post by **Zablorg** » 2008-05-24 04:33am

GHETTO: I see that my comment actually has no relevance to the article. I mis-understood the context, and somehow thought that Hillary was saying that if she pulls out she could be assassinated. Sorry bout that.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-05-24 12:32pm

cosmicalstorm wrote:Wow I knew she was an idiot but that is a pretty impressive remark, she is all but begging for someone to kill Obama.

In keeping with her appeal to the white racist vote her speech translates as: "Who will rid me of this turbulent nigger?" Saying she's pond scum is unfair to pond scum.

CaptainZoidberg · Post by **CaptainZoidberg** » 2008-05-24 02:44pm

I think that she was just trying to make the point that there is a historical precedent for primaries going on this long, and when she started to list some historical examples, she realized mid-dialogue that there weren't any great examples.

So she did the only thing she could do, and mentioned the only other time she could think of where an election hadn't wrapped itself up before the summer - and unfortunately for her, the example happened to be completely irrelevant and inappropriate.

I couldn't imagine that bringing up Kennedy was any way thought-out or planned-out on her part.

This is more of a slip-of-the-tongue in my mind, and pales in comparison to the ridiculous and intentional dishonesty of some of her others comments (Kosovo, in particular, comes to mind).

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-05-24 02:48pm

CaptainZoidberg wrote:I think that she was just trying to make the point that there is a historical precedent for primaries going on this long, and when she started to list some historical examples, she realized mid-dialogue that there weren't any great examples.

So she did the only thing she could do, and mentioned the only other time she could think of where an election hadn't wrapped itself up before the summer - and unfortunately for her, the example happened to be completely irrelevant and inappropriate.

I couldn't imagine that bringing up Kennedy was any way thought-out or planned-out on her part.

This is more of a slip-of-the-tongue in my mind, and pales in comparison to the ridiculous and intentional dishonesty of some of her others comments (Kosovo, in particular, comes to mind).

Who gives a shit if it was a slip of the tongue or not? The fact that she made excuses instead of immediately apologizing makes any reason she might have had for saying it be incredibly questionable. Assassination is not something you glibly bring up in politics, and anyone running for any office who isn't a complete imbecile should realize this.

KlavoHunter · Post by **KlavoHunter** » 2008-05-24 02:50pm

I would sooner see George W. Bush in for a third term, than to elect a murderer to the White House.

And don't be a fucking smartass and post "GWB *IS* a murderer!".

CaptainZoidberg · Post by **CaptainZoidberg** » 2008-05-24 03:02pm

General Zod wrote: Who gives a shit if it was a slip of the tongue or not? The fact that she made excuses instead of immediately apologizing makes any reason she might have had for saying it be incredibly questionable. Assassination is not something you glibly bring up in politics, and anyone running for any office who isn't a complete imbecile should realize this.

I agree with you that she shouldn't have brought it up, and that frankly I'm amazed that she made excuses rather than apologizing immediately. I would've imagined her using the "misspoke" defense that she used on the Bosnia issue.

But nonetheless I think there's some moral distinction between having a premeditated plan to say something rude and selfish, and saying it in the spur of the interview to avoid making a fool of oneself (which is what would happen if she had no examples to back up her claim).