Clinton's Reason to Stay in Race: RFK Assassination?

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Sen. Hillary Clinton referred Friday to the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968 Democratic campaign as a reason she should continue to campaign despite increasingly long odds.

Clinton was responding to a question from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader editorial board about calls for her to drop out of the race.

"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 the idea of dropping out.

Linky.

This is getting a lot of coverage, and she later gave a sort of "apology" that really wasn't much of an apology.

Of course, I give her the benefit of the doubt. I am pretty sure she was placing more emphasis on the timing of it happening in June, than on the idea that something like that would happen.

Of course, it is a rather odd example. And many claim that this has been a pattern for her.

But if Obama said this, he would be called politically inexperienced and naive. Yet all the commentators are going out of their way to call Hillary politically savvy and skilled.

 

[SpitfireIX]

Apart from the acute attack of disease, it was a stupid analogy. The primary schedule this year is far more front-loaded than it was in 1968, or even 1992.

 

[WildCat]

 

[BenBurch]

I see these remarks as being intended as encouragement for some unstable person to do just this.

 

[Molinaro]

I see these remarks as being intended as encouragement for some unstable person to do just this.

That was my first thought. Uh, I mean, Uh.. never mind.

 

[Complexity]

The Clintons would so love for that to happen.

Her statement today was one of the biggest political blunders I've seen.

So glad it will help to bring her down.

 

[T.A.M.]

Guys please.

Do you really think after all Bill and Hillary have done for the USA, after all their support for African Americans and Women, that they would intentionally suggest assassination. Yes to even invoke the term, as a politician in a presidential campaign was stupid, short sighted, likely out of fatigue, but I think these suggestions that it was intentional in any way, or that they would want such a thing to occur is a bit malicious.

I think Hillary was just tired, and I agree it was likely more of a time reference.

TAM

 

[Complexity]

Guys please.

Do you really think after all Bill and Hillary have done for the USA, after all their support for African Americans and Women, that they would intentionally suggest assassination. Yes to even invoke the term, as a politician in a presidential campaign was stupid, short sighted, likely out of fatigue, but I think these suggestions that it was intentional in any way, or that they would want such a thing to occur is a bit malicious.

I think Hillary was just tired, and I agree it was likely more of a time reference.

TAM

I don't think that the Clinton's have done anything for anyone except for themselves. I think that either of them would stop at nothing to regain power. I think she was tired and accidently said something that approached the truth.

 

[BenBurch]

T.A.M.

None of their good works can stand up to that statement. They have all melted like sand castles in the tide

Tired?

I think desperate.

Sorry that I cannot muster more charity than that, but she has exhausted my goodwill towards her in recent weeks. Now, I freely admit that I am a cynic who expects very little good from those in a position of power and privilege, but that's how I see this.

I'm glad you can maintain a more positive view of humanity than can I.

-Ben

 

[ZenFountain]

By that logic every Democratic nomination since 1968 should have gone into the convention, with the trailer staying in 'till the bitter end. They haven't though and ironically the only time it did happen was at the 1980 convention when Ed Kennedy tried to finagle at nomination against a hugely unpopular Jimmy Carter.

Hillary is becoming more of an enigma by the day. I still respect her desire to stay in until the end of the primaries, but after the voting is over and the superdelegates shift she will find herself isolated and politically ruined if she continues.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Perhaps Hillary let slip more than she intended.

Exactly where was she when RFK was assassinated? Or JFK, for that matter? Does she have a blue dress of her own, with grass stains on it?

 

[corplinx]

She could have picked a better way to say "anything can happen, myself or senator obama could get hit by lightning tomorrow"

 

[balrog666]

I don't think that the Clinton's have done anything for anyone except for themselves. I think that either of them would stop at nothing to regain power. I think she was tired and accidently said something that approached the truth.

 

[Texas]

By that logic every Democratic nomination since 1968 should have gone into the convention, with the trailer staying in 'till the bitter end. They haven't though and ironically the only time it did happen was at the 1980 convention when Ed Kennedy tried to finagle at nomination against a hugely unpopular Jimmy Carter.

Hillary is becoming more of an enigma by the day. I still respect her desire to stay in until the end of the primaries, but after the voting is over and the superdelegates shift she will find herself isolated and politically ruined if she continues.

Since that time you have Carter, Dukakis and Bill Clinton. One thrown out after a single term, one a landslide loser and the other the only elected 2 term democratic POTUS since FDR.

 

[Texas]

I see these remarks as being intended as encouragement for some unstable person to do just this.

Damn you folks are getting into some serious paranoia here.

 

[Kaylee]

There is something wrong with her, I think the chances are excellent that she is a bit of a sociopath.

At this point all her public reasons for continuing to stay in the race have most likely been well-vetted and role-played with her campaign staff. I think this statement that slipped out is a crack in the façade and shows the real Hillary Clinton.

Don’t forgot her Bosnia sniper fire statements. And don’t forget Travelgate. She was callous enough to toss out employees who had decades of service under many administrations of both parties just to attempt to give the White House Travel business to personal friends. These employees were later proved to be innocent and they were later able to get reemployed – but I think that episode indicates shades of sociopathism also.

 

[hgc]

She could have picked a better way to say "anything can happen, myself or senator obama could get hit by lightning tomorrow"

Yeah, but that's not even what she meant, IMO. She was using shorthand for: Hey, remember RFK getting shot in June the night of the California primary? Well that was at the height of the primary battle of '68. So the lesson from history is that this primary battle isn't settled yet.

Problem is it's a blindingly stupid point to attempt to make. Not just because it's tasteless, but also because, like so much that has issued forth from the Clintons and their surrogates, it's an insult to intelligence. It used to be that the primary season spread through the Spring into the Summer, with California, the largest state, coming near the end. This year, California's and the lion's share of the delegates were awarded in Febuary. That's why this thing is settled way before June.

Please, Hillary, Bill, Lanny, Terry, and the rest: Stop spinning fairy tales about how you aren't already beaten. Leave the fairy tales to the pastors and Libertarians.

 

[corplinx]

IMO

And people think I read too much into Obama speeches.

 

[hgc]

And people think I read too much into Obama speeches.

And your proud tradition continues.

 

[Brainiac]

Over the last several months Hillary has successfully changed a lot of people's opinions about her. She's always been very articulate, and she has been at her best in giving prepared speeches and scoring points in debates.

Too many people have forgot exactly why she was so unpopular before her campaign for President began. She was a disaster as First Lady when she tried to act like a Cabinet member. Her health care plan was so ridiculously bloated and unworkable that it was never even voted on in Congress. Her mismanagement of simple affairs as First Lady led to the whole Travelgate fiasco. She was a walking disaster, and everyone forgets that.

This Freudian slip was just a reminder of what we would be in for if she were ever elected President. She is completely unqualified for the job.