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Barack Obama Responds to Hillary Clinton's RFK Remark

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May 24, 2008 5:42 PM

ABC News' Tahman Bradley and Kate McCarthy report: Sen. Barack Obama gives Hillary Clinton the benefit of the doubt that she had no hidden meaning when she invoked the assassination of Bobby Kennedy as an explanation for remaining in the Democratic presidential race.

"I have learned that when you’re campaigning for as many months as myself and Sen. Clinton have been campaigning that, you know, sometimes you get careless in terms of the statements that you make.  And I think that’s what happened here," Obama told the Puerto Rico radio station Isla Saturday.

"Sen. Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it, and I would take her at her word on that."

Word of Clinton's remark made to the Argus Leader sparked a less gracious response yesterday by the Obama campaign. Spokesman Bill Burton said the remarks were "unfortunate." Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Hillary Clinton supporter, issued a statement last night saying Clinton's words should not be interpreted for more than they were.

Obama spent his day campaigning in Puerto Rico where he held a rally at La Plaza del Quinto Centenario in advance of next Sunday's primary. Obama told the cheering crowd, "If we do well in Puerto Rico, there's no reason I won't be announcing I'm the Democratic nominee for president."

Obama also told the crowd he thought his campaign was "on the brink of winning the Democratic nomination.”

May 24, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (149)

User Comments

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Is Obama kidding? Everything she says is planned and orchestrated.

I guess he is a hustler under all that smooth.

Posted by: louise | May 24, 2008 6:51:20 PM

The only thing that Hillary is sorry for is that she's taking heat. Her excuse is that she was thinking heavily about Kennedy this week, yet she said he same thing several months ago, before Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer. Another lie... but then again, what else should we really expect from her. At least now we know why she's staying in the race - she's got her fingers crossed that her opponent will just go away, somehow.

Posted by: Namako OH3 | May 24, 2008 6:52:30 PM

Hillary had no business in comparing herseslf with her husband or RFK. Before, their contests got in CA they were leading and not in second place that she currentry occupy and badly trailing. It is comparison of oranges with apples in order to justify an illusionary idea. Then unfortunately her tounge sliped and said what was in her heart rather than what was in her manipulative brain. She refused a graceful exit and now she is on the verge of shameful one.

Posted by: jesse | May 24, 2008 6:53:11 PM

USmarine0331, I would never beg anyone to vote for Senator Obama, everyone here has their one vote to use as they see fit.

What I find amusing is the many people here that think they speak for millions of Senator Clinton's supporters, predicting that they too, will not vote for Senator Obama. Do you really think that the people here are a good representation of how people will vote in the GE?

Posted by: bailey | May 24, 2008 6:53:22 PM

Michelle Obama said he could get shot at a gas station. The media said nothing . I guess they are trying to chamge the subject of Obama's Gaffes and McCain good health report. what about chain smoker, drug user Obama's medical records?

Posted by: geevill | May 24, 2008 6:53:39 PM

Hey USmarine0331... you've got it 180 degrees wrong, as many Hillary supporters do. Thanks to Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos", there are hundreds of thousands of Republicans voting for Hillary in all the primaries just to keep the nastiness between Obama and Hillary out in the open even longer. She would have been dispatched weeks ago if it weren't for Republicans keeping her in the race because it amuses them to do so...

Posted by: Fred Garvin | May 24, 2008 6:55:06 PM

I don't understand why OB's supporters make her statements is a big deal. She doesn't mean anything about this. If Obama takes it offense, then he's afraid to loose her supporters in Nov.

Posted by: stephanie | May 24, 2008 6:56:19 PM

His campaign spokesman said within minutes that Hillary's comment had no place in the campaign. And Obama says the next day she was careless because of a long campaign.

That's good hardball campaigning, but it's not different politics, as the above Obama posters claim it is.

Hillary was not careless, there's nothing wrong with referencing campaigns that went into June, including the memorable trauma in June of Bobby Kennedy's California win and the aftermath, she's done it repeatedly, and she was answering a question from the newspaper editors about you Obama thugs and the liberal media trying to force her out of the race. Unprecedented is what she calle dit, and cited those examples.

I'll hand it to Axelrod that he's an SOB at sticking the knife in and letting Obama twist it, but that's all the credit I'll give you Obama people.

As I post regularly, we Hillary supporters want nothing to do with Obama and Axelrod and will be voting for McCain if we can't get Hillary on the ballot as president.

Obama will do better than McGovern, about the same as Dukakis and Mondale, but not nearly as good as Kerry. He will be soundly trounced and the Democratic party will no longer be viable with what's left of you.

Hillary '08

Posted by: rd | May 24, 2008 6:59:51 PM

I am a woman over 50 and I find Hillary to be mean-spirited, divisive and a liar. To vote for her just because you want a woman president is ridiculous. I am a Business Manager and have had several women bosses. Some of them have had the same lust for power and lack of integrity as Hillary and those traits almost destroyed our department; just like Hillary is about to destroy the Democratic Party. I agree it would be great to have a woman President, but she is not the right person.

Posted by: Adrienne | May 24, 2008 7:01:32 PM

It would help the HIllary suporters to look into the question Obama was responding to when he stated that he took Hillary at her word. I'm pretty sure the question was framed from his reference point. Needles to say it would not matter what Obma said or did, because these blogs are toxic blasts to each other. If Obama takes Hillary at her word, he is bad. If he doesn't he is bad. Ferraro says that Obama just "let" the media crucify her. He tried to help her with her pin and he was labelled a sexist, but he is supposed to know to come to her aid when the media is persecuting her? Help, I would hate to be a man in today's climate because I don't know the rules and I'm a woman. I think back to the first theory - this is a very toxic campaign and if you aren't for the candidate anything they do is bad.

Posted by: shannon | May 24, 2008 7:03:06 PM

Let me see 50 states ,then you have all the islands and provinces to the US ------count them and see what you come up with.......Remember Guam that Hily said she would seat to vote in the election ..CAN'T to small.... gee Go back to your history book .

Posted by: older person | May 24, 2008 7:08:49 PM

I am also amused by pundits who think that the vast majority of Hillary supporters will unite behind Radical Obama if he becomes the nominee.

Obama supporters might think that their nasty comments about Hillary and her supporters will be forgotten by November, but the truth is John McCain is a moderate Republican, who is closer to the center than Far Left-Wing Obama.

If the super delegates hope to see a Democrat win the White House in November, they will vote for Hillary.

If not, get ready for President McCain.

Posted by: USmarine0331 | May 24, 2008 7:10:28 PM

Well I am a womwn over fifty and I find Obama to be arrogant and a fake I will not vote for him. It's Hillary or Mccain I also find his supporters to be mean spirited,divisive and rude.And I own my business.

Posted by: Bishop | May 24, 2008 7:11:45 PM

In the PA primary Hillary was shown taking straight shots of whiskey and polishing her shotgun...

Maybe she just let it go to her head.

Obama's response is just what I'd expect from him, though. Gracious, smooth... he got his pitch from W's victory in 2004 and 2000, without picking up the smirk.

But he's lying. He's delighted that people are talking about Vince Foster again instead of Black Power "theology" and Trinity United Church and Chicago political machinations. BHO and HRC are both struggling and grasping for power. They have no higher motivation.

Posted by: OregonEngineer | May 24, 2008 7:12:23 PM

Obama takes the high road. Good for him!

Posted by: Brandon | May 24, 2008 7:18:15 PM

It was a totally inappropriate analogy for Senator Clinton to make when there were so many other examples of long primaries that she could have used. I am tired of her lack of judgement and discretion. She does not seem to consider the impact of her words - that is not a particularly comforting quality in a President. Vote for who you want to, but please spare us the condecending threats about leaving the democratic party - as if we would feel punished - I already have a Mom and I'm not a kid anymore. REALLY, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO.

Posted by: Rob | May 24, 2008 7:19:09 PM

Rob, great-- that's the kind of response I hope to hear from you and other Obama supporters up to Election Day.

Don't hold back!, Obama supporters.

Tell us how you really feel about Hillary Clinton and her supporters!!!

LOL

Posted by: USmarine0331 | May 24, 2008 7:21:55 PM

Hillary's going to vote for Obama in November and the majority of her supporters are going to follow suit. As much as they dislike Obama and his people Hillary supporters are much too smart to hand McWar the presidency.

Posted by: J.C. | May 24, 2008 7:22:31 PM

As an Obama supporter I am so sick to death with Hillary's supporter telling me who they will vote for in November.
Your vote is your choice and may the best man win. If not we all will live with the choice, just some better than other like it has been for the last 8 years.
This is America you get one vote! but please stop threatening me with your vote.

Posted by: pdgc | May 24, 2008 7:23:09 PM

Sadly, IF OBAMA WERE WHITE, no one would vote for him.

Posted by: E.Stone | May 24, 2008 7:23:29 PM

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