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Clinton's Context
May 23, 2008 8:09 PM
"I don't think she's hoping for some tragic catastrophic event to intervene," Obama senior strategist David Axelrod told MSNBC's "Hardball" this afternoon, when discussing Sen. Hillary Clinton's controversial invocation of Robert Kennedy's assassination during a general discussion about whether her staying in the race puts party unity at risk.
Some in the Clinton campaign are saying that the media is misrepresenting the context of her remarks. She was not discussing why she's staying in the race, they say. She was saying that she doesn't think the length of the race was hurting the party.
The way it played out, Clinton pushed back strongly when the Argus Leader editorial board asked about reports that her campaign was pushing for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to take Clinton as his running mate, or that she was making plans to drop out of the race.
Flatly untrue, she said.
"Neither of us has the number of delegates needed to be the nominee, and every time they declare it doesn't make it so. Neither of us do," Clinton said, according to a transcript assembled by the ABC News political unit's Talal Alkhatib. "And I've never seen anything like this. I have, perhaps, a long enough memory that many people who finished a rather distant second behind nominees go all the way to the convention. I remember very well 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, where some who had contested in the primaries, you know, were determined to carry their case to the convention. I'm ahead in the popular vote. Less than 200 delegates separate us out of 4,400. Michigan and Florida are not resolved. No one has the nomination, so I would look to the camp of my opponent for the source of those stories."
She said, "People have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa. ... I find it curious because it is unprecedented in history. I don't understand it. And between my opponent and his camp and some in the media, there has been this urgency to end this. And, you know, historically that makes no sense. So I find it a bit of a mystery."
"You don't buy the 'party unity' argument?" she was asked.
"I don't," Clinton said. "And again, I've been around long enough. You know, my husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary sometime in the middle of June. Right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. You know, I just-- I don't understand it. And you know, there's lots of speculation about why it is, but uh..."
She was asked: "What's your speculation?"
"You know, I don't know," she said. "I find it curious, and I don't want to attribute motives or strategies to people that I don't really know. But it is-- It's a historical curiosity to me."
The debate seems to be whether Clinton was merely suggesting that previous Democratic races have gone on a long time, through June, and, "Hey, remember that horrible moment in 1968 with Bobby Kennedy's assassination was in June?" -- or whether she was saying, "Hey, anything could happen. Obama might get assassinated. No reason for me to drop out yet."
The Argus Leader editorial board issued a statement saying, "The context of the question and answer with Sen. Clinton was whether her continued candidacy jeopardized party unity this close to the Democratic convention. Her reference to Mr. Kennedy's assassination appeared to focus on the timeline of his primary candidacy and not the assassination itself."
Judge it for yourself. The Argus Leader has posted the video HERE.
-- jpt
May 23, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary | Permalink | Share | User Comments (231)
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The gaffe is one thing, the bigger problem is her lame apology, if you can even call it that. She has still not apologized to Obama, his wife and his children for discussing the possibility of his assassination in the campaign trail.
Posted by: b2 | May 24, 2008 11:41:26 AM
Add in 1968 and she cited cases where 4 out of the five elections the democrats lost!
*******
Yikes! I wonder if she realized that?
Posted by: MI VOTER | May 24, 2008 11:04:12 AM
I see the same names on here defending her that went on and on about "bittergate" and "57 states". Pathetic.
Posted by: fivepin | May 24, 2008 10:45:33 AM
****
Yes, they only feign outrage when it's something HE said taken out of context. But when she says something, they cry foul.
It's like this race should have one set of rules for Clinton and another for Obama.
Posted by: MI VOTER | May 24, 2008 11:02:40 AM
Clinton could have used many other examples of long races that continued up until the convention. The 1968 race started March 12th and the 1992 race started Feb. 18th. Bill Clinton had the nomination wrapped up after he won the New York primary on April 7th, 1992. That RFK's own son would forgive her this, I don't understand. It wasn't even a good historical reference to a "hard fought" race, as he put it.
She said the same thing in a Time Magazine article last March. Obviously, they need to improve their readership. People pay much more attention to live streaming video on the Internet, unfortunately for her.
Jake, you previously wrote a post on why the 'Bill Clinton didn't have the nomination wrapped up until June' statement was misrepresented. Why don't you speak up instead of just doing a cut and paste of all the quotes!
Posted by: Cindy | May 24, 2008 11:01:09 AM
I remember very well 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, where some who had contested in the primaries, you know, were determined to carry their case to the convention. I'm ahead in the popular vote.
Add in 1968 and she cited cases where 4 out of the five elections the democrats lost! It proves she is driving this to a hoped for loss!
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | May 24, 2008 10:59:05 AM
People forget that Hillary mentioned this reference twice. Why blamed the media and Obama when she was the one who her mouth? It is her fault.
Posted by: Dana | May 24, 2008 10:03:30 AM
********
Exactly! Obama didnt force her to say these things.
The Obama camp said the remarks were "unfortunate", they were.
The Obama camp said they have no place in this race, they don't.
What did the Obama camp say so wrong? The just stated the truth. Period.
Posted by: MI VOTER | May 24, 2008 10:55:35 AM
Hillary supporters - It sure sucks when someone's comments are taken out of context doesn't it? Well that is unless it is something one of Hillary's opponents says.
And by the way, I don't think she meant anything malicious by her statements, but I see the same names on here defending her that went on and on about "bittergate" and "57 states". Pathetic.
Posted by: fivepin | May 24, 2008 10:45:33 AM
the dem party that has vocally and tacitly suppoted bho, their affirmative action experiment, will make sure bho gets the nomination.
what they cannot assure, is how people will vote, and what the rep. will throw at him.
Mccain wins big-2008
bho gone from political scene-2008
Posted by: pp | May 24, 2008 10:39:05 AM
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH MOST OF YOU HAVE GIVEN THE NOMINATION TO OBAMA WITHOUT ONCE DIGGING INTO THE THINGS THAT HAS SURFACED IN HIS PAST.BUT I GUESS THAT IS THE WAY YOU DO IT WHEN YOU ARE SUPPORTING SOME ONE WHO DOES NOT WARRANT BEING THE ONE WHO WOULD BE RIGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY YOU CHASTISE HILLIARY IN EVERY WAY YOU CAN TO MAKE HER LOOK LIKE THE DRAGON LADY .WELL I HAD HEAP RATHER HAVE THE DRAGON LADY THAN TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS A QUESTIONABL PAST BUT THEN AGAIN HE IS ABOVE BEING QUESTIONED WELL IM CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM IF HE IS THE NOMINEE
Posted by: jim | May 24, 2008 10:20:59 AM
People forget that Hillary mentioned this reference twice. Why blamed the media and Obama when she was the one who her mouth? It is her fault.
Posted by: Dana | May 24, 2008 10:03:30 AM
In this matter there has been one (mild) statement from someone in the Obama camp and a disavowal from Axelrod himself that Clinton really meant what she said. Yet poeple are blaming the Obama camp for the flak Hillary's receiving. They've said nothing that can be remotely compared to what other analysts and commentators have said/are saying. She put her foot in it, quite simply. It wasn't the first time she menitoned assassination, when she didn't have to! She could have said (here) simply: "when Bobby Kennedy was running..." The really odd thing is the association of this long campaign with assassination. Psychoanalysts should have a field day.
Posted by: Adrian Millet | May 24, 2008 9:43:45 AM
I heard the statements to,but you know it was STUPID of her but the messgae is out there now, taking into the number of Clinton associates that are now dead due to there years in the eye of politics I woud not put a thing past this evil wench...She is a sickooooooooo that has been told you LOST.She can't be told by anyone she is finished,The Clinton name will be worth nothing after this mess is over,I PITY her.She need help...........
Posted by: older person | May 24, 2008 9:26:26 AM
After seeing the clip several times I can tell you that as soon as she said it she realized she had messed up. WHY she didn't immediately go back and correct her really bad error in judgment is one of things I dislike about Hillary. She has the same "never admit you made a mistake" attitude that I have seen in the Bush administration. No one is perfect, even presidential candidates and she needs to do some major apologizing for this one. She was way out of line. And you Hillary supporters should continue your support, but get a grip and admit that she really screwed up here regardless of what her intentions were. Let's try to be honest.
Posted by: Sharon | May 24, 2008 9:21:55 AM
No question - she is waiting for sort of ocasion like that.
Or...
somebody works hard to make it happen.
Obama should increase security ASAP.
It always dirt around clintons.
ALWAYS.
Posted by: Linda,Fl | May 24, 2008 9:11:56 AM
If the media and the Obama supporters are so sure that Hillary wants to assassinate Obama, well file a complaint, have the police arrest her that is all.
This constant belly aching every day over the most silly things is getting disgusting, I have watch talk show host night after night make fun of Hillary and McCain.
The clips are shown all over the net and on MSM daily, no one has a problem with it, its not offensive or damaging every one has a good laugh or understand what is being said.
Play or say one line about Obama and all hell break loose, seems to be like freedom of speech or expression is going out the window, everyone has to watch what they say now.
It is strange that people never know of how great life is, or enjoy the freedoms they have until its taken away, be careful what you wish for people you may not like what you get in the end.
Posted by: SJ | May 24, 2008 8:52:47 AM
So let's take Clinton's comment the way she claims to mean it. Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California BECAUSE THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY WAS HELD IN JUNE. The election calendar was far different then. Her comment was technically accurate, but another example of the Clintons' self-serving "logic" -- twist the facts and select an irrelevant few to make your case, no matter the consequences to the Democratic party. (When that doesn't work, just lie about it.)
I don't like being taken for dumb.
Posted by: Folitics | May 24, 2008 8:28:43 AM
The Obama camp is so very, very, worried. They have tried from DAY ONE to get rid of HILLARY!
Wow are they pissssed... can NOT close the deal!
She is strong, he is weak!
She has the tenacious support of many!
She has thwarted the DNC in their quest to bury her!
She is never going to give up!
She has our votes and support.
They want to push her out, they are afraid!
OBAMA is never going to win the GE NEVER! WE will NEVER vote for pastor wrights politician! They pollute our world.
Posted by: HP Boston | May 24, 2008 8:28:16 AM
Posted by: geno | May 24, 2008 8:06:56 AM
sorry, geno, no fear here, just disgust with the party giving him the political affirmative action ride to the nomination. He only won due to the black vote...90% blacks in the primary is hard to beat...the ge will be a whole new game..the rep. will eat him up and spit himout...
Posted by: pp | May 24, 2008 8:26:14 AM
This new news fiasco only helps HILLARY.
The more Hillary is derided the more resolve to never ever vote for OBAMA.
NEVER OBAMA. ANYONE BUT OBAMA!
ANYONE! OBAMA IS A FAKE AND A FRAUD!
Posted by: HP Boston | May 24, 2008 8:17:38 AM
makes you wonder if Obama knows he NEEDS the clinton voters, not the other way around
Posted by: trettine | May 24, 2008 8:02:38 AM
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