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Obama Snubs Hillary

January 29, 2008 11:42 AM

The caption to the New York Times photograph reads: "Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton greeting Senator Edward M. Kennedy on Monday night as Senator Barack Obama turns away."

And the Chicago Tribune's blog says that "At the SOTU, Obama's Clinton snub was the news."

Obama strategist David Axelrod was asked about this on Morning Joe this a.m.

"Now, there's a picture that we're seeing, that we saw across the wires from last night's State of the Union address," Joe Scarborough said, "where it appears that Barack Obama turns his back on Hillary Clinton, snubs her, and people on the floor said that it was -– appeared to be intentional, that he didn't want to be around, didn't want to shake her hand when Ted Kennedy was there. Can you comment on that picture?"

"No, I don't think he snubbed her at all," Axelrod said. "First of all, they acknowledged each other as they entered the chamber. But I think he knew that Senator Kennedy and Senator Clinton were friends. This was obviously an awkward day from that standpoint, and I don't think he wanted to stand there while Senator Kennedy was greeting Senator Clinton. And I think that was an appropriate sentiment. Unfortunately, the camera caught it in a different way, and so it got interpreted that way. And that's the kind of environment we're in right now. It's a very competitive race, so every little thing is going to be interpreted in that way. But it was really a matter of letting Senator Kennedy have his own conversation, his own greeting with Senator Clinton without him hovering over them."

Continued Axelrod, "in this environment, every single thing can be – can be inflated and interpreted and will in a political – in a hyper-political light. But it is what I suggested. I think it's understandable that he would not want to stand there with Senator Kennedy as if he were lording it over her. You know, I understand that."

Speaking of Senator Kennedy, while its most famous resident backed Obama yesterday, Cape Cod's newspaper went with Clinton.

- jpt

UPDATE: ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports that Obama has pooh-poohed any idea that he was snubbing Clinton. Read more HERE.

January 29, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (84)

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Hillary was looking for a photo op with Obama and Kennedy. I would not be surprised if Obama's people warned him in advised him she may try something like that. It's the "no hard feelings" shot. Obama wants it to seem like a big blow to Hillary. Hillary wants the opposite.

Alternatively he may just hate the Clintons for their race baiting.

Posted by: David | Jan 29, 2008 9:56:38 PM

Obama is too mean to be president. Snubbing Hillary, shame on you; act like a gentlemen, not a unkuth dope.
Obama is too ugly to be president.

Posted by: Rosa | Jan 29, 2008 9:44:42 PM

THIS IS NOT NEWS!

This is something I would expect to see on the front page of a tabloid at a supermarket. Surely ABC could focus its energies on something more relevant as opposed to catering to the sensationalism that runs rampant through the news today. Please do us a favor and find something of value to fill the last few minutes of the newscast. Leave this kind of stuff to TMZ.

Posted by: Brian | Jan 29, 2008 7:14:44 PM

Finally someone remembers that Ted Kennedy is not "Camelot". Ted Kennedy will never be like Jack. Jack atleast had a spine and an a** to back it up with. Turning his back on the Clinton's after they both have always been there for him ---- well, that proves how much of a jerk he really is. Wonder if he'll get a spot on the Oprah Show now. Everyone should flood his email and let him know what a back stabber he is!

Posted by: cjiscro | Jan 29, 2008 6:48:28 PM

Everytime I see Ted Kennedy I also see pictures of a young woman, Mary jo,do you remember her. And if the Kennedy torch was passed to Obama, then the women will be coming out of the walls, the Kennedy men didn't make the best husbands. So Clinton hater's it is tit for tat. Bill didn't kill anyone and his affair in the WH is not different than what JFK did.

Posted by: S. Arabia | Jan 29, 2008 6:26:36 PM

Ted-- It's "Paine," not "Payne." Perhaps the first person who should (re-)read, and apply, "Common Sense" is yourself. Great book.

Posted by: Alex | Jan 29, 2008 6:13:33 PM

thomas payne wrote a book called common sense. i think if everyone were to read it,and apply it, then you would have to vote for huckabee.

Posted by: ted | Jan 29, 2008 6:04:32 PM

Wow. ABCNews has really lost all credibility. First, it offers fawning coverage of GW Bush last night, with nary a hint of criticism following Bush's usual dishonest, divisive, and manipulative speech. Now, a piece of non-news made into an attack piece on Obama's character.

I think the corporate class is in panic-mode right about now. Well, let their true colors continue to fly. If ABC does not serve the public interest in reporting honest, balanced, and critical news, as is its solemn oath, then let us pray that citizens will continue to serve that interest in the voting-booth.

The morality of the Clintons is in doubt, now on the left and the right. Meanwhile, politics is becoming something positive and exciting again. Not a moment too soon for the Republic.

Posted by: Alex | Jan 29, 2008 6:03:56 PM

any woman in her right mind would divorce her husband for cheating on her. it just shows you the selfish ambition of hillary to stay married. when you go to the polls, ask yourself "do i want to vote for somebody who doesn't care much about our country and is only interested in her selfish, egotistical ambition?" you may vote for whom you wish of course, but please read between the lines first. thank you

Posted by: ted | Jan 29, 2008 5:58:03 PM

and i guess that makes hillary jezebel. lol

Posted by: ted | Jan 29, 2008 5:50:09 PM

i think bill clinton may possibly be the anti-christ.

Posted by: ted | Jan 29, 2008 5:46:54 PM

Obama is a liar. He snubbed Hillary because he is a bitter, nasty, ugly person. He is so fake and has an evil soul. He also lied. Now the story is Claire asked him a question. Yeah right. She was clapping and so was he. No question asked in any of the pictures I've seen! He snubbed Hillary and leaned over to Claire to avoid Hillary.

Obama is a repulsive human. If you would call him that.

Posted by: JB | Jan 29, 2008 5:01:03 PM

Arrogance and immaturity are two words that come to mind as I looked at Senator Obama snubbing Senator Clinton for all America to see... is this the kind of different politics Senator Obama is promising to deliver? I am certain that Chris Mathews and all the other media supporters of Obama will find a way to criticize Hillary for being a class act last night as Obama's behavior spoke louder than any of the words he reads of the teleprompter. Lots of words but no actions to match for Senaotr Obama.. last night snub is just another example of says one thing and does another.

Posted by: Vicky | Jan 29, 2008 4:56:57 PM

Quote,I WILL NEVER LIE TO YOU. Obama says that he didnt know Rezko was indicted when he did the house deal. Rezko had been indicted for a year when bought this mansion with Rezko help. I guess Mr. Obama wasnt reading the Chicago newspaper. Maybe he was too busy voting "present".

Just remember he will never lie to you.

Posted by: frankie | Jan 29, 2008 4:53:12 PM

As a black male, it's disheartening that the media continues to claim Hillary's campaign played racial politics against Obama. The reverse is more accurate.

Obama's South Carolina campaign chair, Jesse Jackson Jr., crassly declared that Hillary never shed tears about Katrina victims in response to her famous "welling-up" incident in New Hampshire. Isn't that playing the race card?

Soon after, Obama's staffers released a memo implying that Hillary's campaign was "racially insensitive." For proof, the memo referenced Hillary's MLK-LBJ gaffe and Bill's "fairly tale" speech. Hillary's comparison was clunky and ill-advised but hardly racist. The fairy tale Bill referred to was Obama's Iraq war vacillation, not to race. Yet rather
than criticize this dirty trick, pundits bought into the lie that the Clintons are bigots.

It's disappointing that reporters are too politically correct to confront Obama about his campaign's abuse of racial politics.

Posted by: DJK | Jan 29, 2008 4:49:51 PM

Are you people a bunch of shallow 8th graders? This is the stupidest non-news story of the political season so far.

Posted by: Howard B. | Jan 29, 2008 3:53:10 PM

Shame on obama..he has no class..I'm sorry don't want a man like obama being my president, imagine him acting like he has no class in front of other presidents from other countires

Posted by: jessica | Jan 29, 2008 3:51:39 PM

So lets see, Barack Hussein Obama turned because Senator Claire McCaskill was asking him a question and in this attempt to deny he snubbed Hillary Diane Clinton neither he nor Senator McCaskill can say what the question was. Now who will, ” Say or Do Anything” to get elected? This is what happens when you endorse a child to do a mans hob

Posted by: edenz21 | Jan 29, 2008 3:48:56 PM

"edt" was correct above; Obama would be much more hypocritical to act all nicey-nicey after the Clintons' treatment of him (and I have always been a Clinton fan). A cropped photo does not tell the whole story. Too bad someone doesn't have a video, which would tell more of the story. As it is, when the rest of the photo reveals that Obama is in conversation with Ms. McCaskill, it is a no-brainer. And as for class, Obama is quite classy for allowing Ted Kennedy and Hillary to have their space and for not raining on her parade. Hello!!

Posted by: Vera | Jan 29, 2008 2:52:21 PM

ahania-Are they communicating telepathically? because their lips are closed and she is looking at Hillary.

Nice try. He is not talking to anyone. Barack Obama is merely a man and a very flawed man at that.

Posted by: geevill | Jan 29, 2008 2:51:46 PM

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