Hillary Brings Up Kennedy Assassination, Press Freaks Out
BRANDON, SD - Another example of the power of the Drudge Report today, as a NY Post story pointing out that Clinton brought up the assassination of Robert F Kennedy in 1968 during an editorial board meeting sent reporters traveling with Clinton into a frenzy.
Asked by South Dakota newspaper the Argus Leader why she didn’t buy the argument that the party was fracturing because of the prolonged contest, Clinton said “my husband didn’t wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June.”
“We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California,” she continued. “You know i just dont understand it.”
Almost instantly, the Post story was circulated to the press corps via blackberry and Drudge, and reporters here at Clinton’s town hall meeting abandoned any pretense of listening to the event — flocking around the first Clinton flack they could find for a response to the quote.
After a brief off the record defense of Clinton’s comments, Campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee gave reporters what they were looking for. “She was simply referencing her husband in 1992 and Bobby Kennedy in 1968 as historical examples of the nominating process going well into the summer,” he said. “Any reading into it beyond that would be inaccurate.”
The ‘reading into it’ they might be worried about is speculation that Clinton would deliberately bring up talk of assassination to raise fears that, as an African American candidate, Obama might face the same danger as Kennedy. Before his big win in Iowa, many African Americans in the South cited the danger of assassination as a reason not to support Obama.
But Clinton has made a similar “long primaries are fine” argument before — once with a more oblique reference to the Kennedy assassination. “If you look at successful presidential campaigns, my husband didn’t get the nomination until June of 1992. I remember, tragically, Senator Kennedy won California near the end of that process,” she said at a DC fundraiser on May 7th. “It has often gone on. And we have a lot to work out here. Because we have to figure out who would be the stronger candidate.”
UPDATE: After the uproar, Clinton came to the TV cameras to make a brief statement on her remarks.
“Earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history, and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Senator Kennedy waged in California in June in 1992 and 1968. And I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nomination, primary contests that go into June. That’s an historic fact. “
“The Kennedys have been much on my mind in the last days because of Senator Kennedy, and I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. i certainly had no intention of that whatsoever.”
“My view is that we have to look to the past and to our leaders who have inspired us and give us a lot to live up to. And I’m honored to hold Senator Kennedy’s seat in the United States Senate from the state of New York, And have the highest regard for the entire Kennedy family. Thanks.”
Tags: bobby kennedy, hillary clinton, south dakota
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I fully expect the Obama fanatics to take this as some sort of threat. Not everything Hillary says is all about Obama.
Here we go again - it’s a racial thing - sick of of it - get over it- grow up and move on.
Really? This is somehow the media’s fault? Hillary brings up the RFK assassination as justification for staying in the race and this is somehow a perfectly acceptable rationale. Wow….
If Obama really does win, are all of us going to have to watch every word we say for fear that they may be interpreted as offensive to someone?
So what if she did bring up the assination of Robert Kennedy…. You Obama racists need to get real!!!
Hllary I outrage . RFK assassination has nothing to do with you.Shame on you.
Well she does have a good point, that is about the only way left for her win.
The Kennedy statagy.
I can’t believe she apologized for it.
FOX FAIR AND BALANCED THANKS SO MUCH FOR NOT POSTING MY COMMENTS.
Why don’t people get it, she is staying in to the end. Lets talk about issues not whether she should drop out, or who’s a racist. Talk about the issues at hand. I support either of the two Dems, and NO she wasn’t sending out a message to have him taken out!!
Al
Good point. And the issue’s are between McCain and Obama. Not her.
Cripes, can’t anyone say anything without it being taken out of context. She was only talking about June and how campaigns can drag on. Must the medai and Obama folks always have to try to tie things into him.
Non-issues and stupid
The media is going to take everything either candidate says and try to spin it into somethine negative.
I can’t believe the absurdity of what people are trying to make of this. I may not be one of those HIGHLY EDUCATED OBAMAITES, but I do have a degree and I DO HAVE a lot of COMMON SENSE> It was very clear to me what Senator Clinton was saying. She was saying why all the rush to end the campaign before June. President Clinton didn’t win the nomination until up in June and Senator Kennedy was still campaigning in June when he was assintated. To try and make anything more of it is stupid. The Obama camp must have someone stalking Senator Clinton everywhere she goes. She can’t even say the word Black without them having fits and now they’re trying to say she wants him assinated??????????? This is the ultimate stupidity point. I, for one, wishes she would tell the DNC where to go and run on the Independent ticket. I am very close to changing my party affiliation and my entire family for generations have been democratic, but if my father were alive today he would be ashamed of the DNC>
Hillary hold a press conference with every news outlet from around the world and let them know you are in it to the end. Then talk about Iraq war and your plans to fix it, then talk about the economy and how you are going to fix it, then go into your healthcare issue and how you are going to fix it. Then look at them all and ask them if they have any questions regarding the issues that were just discussed if not, then let them know you need to head out and discuss them with the people that want to hear about it. Then give them the old Stone Cold Steve Austin Salute.
she truly is a…..WITCH!
she mis-spoke it was 3am and she thought she had a chance to win this thing!!
Sick,sick SICK of the media excusing everything obimbo says and jumping on anyone else running. It makes me want to vote for ANYBODY else, and I will.
Al
Then give them the old Stone Cold Steve Austin Salute.
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I might be a little older than you, But I would go with the Dusty Rhodes Bionic Elbow
LOL@ the responses………..
I really dont think she meant any harm…..wow, someone called her a witch….
Thought~I grew up on wrestling when it was “real”!!
A vote for Obama is a vote to sell out the American way of life. He wants to give away our hard earned lifestyle - because he says Americans have it too easy. Really? Who paid the price for his easy life? Americans before him gave blood, sweat and tears for him to be where he is today - and to give it away to terrorists and communists - Cuba, Iran, Venezuela - is unpatriotic. Vote for McCain to protect our American way of life.
Comment by Jaiye
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
LOL@ the responses………..
I really dont think she meant any harm…..wow, someone called her a witch….
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Welcome to american politics, anything you say can and will be taken out of context,
and used against you in the court of public opinion.
Its NOT a racial “thing”! The “Thing” is the stupid comment that came out of her mouth! Why in the world would she say such a thing knowing that her “friends” the Kennedy’s are going through a hard time right now. It was a heartless comment.
I think the media is all on drugs. I really do. I am so embarrassed of all of them.
Our daughters 25, 18 and 14 cannot believe the disrespect they have for Senator
Clinton.
When did the primaries start in 1968 and 1992? Did they start as early as January as this year and went on till June? Or did they start later and expected go on late? When did the Republicans wrap them up in 1992 and 1968? Had they wrapped them up already in Feb or March as John McCain did this year?
Hi all…nice folks and not so nice folks. Anyway, I’m an Obama supporter (former Clinton supporter, but that was months ago)…and, in short, see no reason for any uproar re the RFK comment. Nothing sinister meant by it. So, calm down and let’s move on.
Hattie
Just a curious question, how is Obama going to give away our way of life?
Anyone who has watched a political campaign for more than a week would know that “NOTHING” a politician says is an “accident”. It is always thought through. Especially, pros like the Clintons.
How gulible can you people be?
Chaos!!!!
Everything Hillary does is caculated for a desired effect.The party leadership needs to put her down like the horse who came in second.
I can only imagine if she threw out a wink after she said it. Then it would be news worthy!! Other than that stick to the issues of America. I don’t care about endorsements of pastors or what a pastor says. Quite frankly the media I believe is going to destroy America before any President.
First, Huckabee mentioned assassination, last week, as a joke, now Hillary.
I understand Hillary’s point, about the nomination process going into June, but I hate all this assassination talk.
More amazing, is how every misspoken word by the candidates, especially by the Dems, gets so overblown. I just wish the media was more interested, in reporting issues & policy, than silly *gotcha* moments.
You can obviously tell Obama supporters…no matter what Hillary does or says it is wrong. She has every right to stay in the race. If it were Obama most of these people who are quick to diss Hillary would be feeling the same way us Hillary supporters feel. I wonder though how much sexism has to do with all this rhetoric from the media and the Obama supporters. Hillary is the first woman to viably run for President. May I remind all of you, black men got the vote 50 years before women. It is two historic moments in history, the first black American and the first female American to viably run for office. Give us a break……Go Hillary.
Naughty, naughty. Doesn’t matter what they’re say’in about ya, as long as they’re talk”in about ya!
she is proving to be useless and shameless as she has been ever
The witch as someone called her is showing this generation that you can try to change the rules in the middle of the game. That is what her Michigan and Florida play is. She has shown no class and in the process has shown her to be who she is. Remember she is the one calling the voters in Virginia and Kentucky poor and uneducated and that she fights for them, but not with her $$$$$. She is poor! in her dealings with real americans. Dean you disrespect your kids by not giving them the full picture of what she is trying to do.
SusanYC
Here’s a good article on why Hillary lost (and it doesn’t bash her), It made good sence to me.
http://www.observer.com/2008/clintons-fate-was-sealed-calendar
http://obambi.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/225/
One of the Kennedy’s likes Hillary
I’m no Clinton (or Obama) supporter but it is a legitimate argument if she was suggesting in a historical perspective an assination of an opponent as a reason to keep campaigning. This is especially true given the convoluted way the Democrats nominate their party leader. Anything can happen to a candidate. If something did happen to her opponent we can be sure that the conspiracists will have a hay-day.
Its how she said it that makes the difference. It didn’t sound right, its as if the words were carefully chosen so she could deny her true intent, she rehearsed these lines, and now is delivering them. I find it incredible sickening, struggle to contain my anger. Remember Huckabee just made a joke about this the other day. And USA Today ran images of Obama with fawning young white women and a quote from a Nobel prize winner saying Obama would be assasinated. The next day they showed a picture of an unknown hand reaching out to Obama showing how accessible he was. This all reflects the establishment’s back room conversation as the only way of resolving this to their satisfaction is through the assasination of Obama. We should be thankful for these mentally unsound people for revealing the thoughts of the establishment. We need a revolution in this country otherwise we will collapse in a sea of greed and beauracracy! Obama is a giant step in the right direction.
Hey Dean, get a grip. you really want your daughters role model to be Hilliary? teach them to change the rules after you agree to them, lie about experience and events, say anything /do anything to win.??? That’s just not right…
Al
How long has it been since wrestling was real.
LOOK, I CAN’T STAND HILLARY BUT AS AN OBAMA SUPPORTER I SAY ON THIS ONE, GIVE THE WOMAN A BREAK!!!
I FELT SORRY FOR HER WHEN I SAW HER GIVING HER APOLOGY. SHE LOOKS EXHAUSTED AND SIMPLY HORRIFIED AT THE IDEA THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ANY MORE PAIN TO THE KENNEDY FAMILY THEN WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. SENATOR CLINTON HAS NOTHING BUT ADMIRATION FOR THE KENNEDY’S, AS WE ALL DO. SHE NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE SUCH A THOUGHTLESS COMMENT ON PURPOSE; NO ONE WOULD.
I DO TAKE HER AT HER WORD THAT SHE WAS SIMPLY REFERENCING THAT JUNE IS NOT TOO LONG INTO THE NOMINATING PROCESS. POORLY CHOSEN WORDS BUT WITH NO INTENTION TO HARM.
I SAY LET’S JUST TURN THE PAGE ON THIS.
Politicians and their representatives never say anything they have not rehearsed and when it involves the Clintons “Polled”.
How gulible can people be.
Chaos!!! Chaos!!!
Who’s to say that Spanky and Alpha from the HE-MAN woman haters club won’t take her out? Could be a matter of Hillary breaking their hearts!!
Unbelievable, Indefensible, Pathethic and Inexcusable. You Hillary i am ashamed of you. You are pathetic for saying such thing and therefore you do not deserve to be VP. Unbelievable. I am speechless.
You Obama people are so completely out of your minds. She meant nothing. Please grow up! She has done NOTHING for you all to vilify her to this extent.
LEAVE HER ALONE RABID DOGS. I am sick of it.
Thought~ I have a hard time being sarcastic!!
I remember 1992 B Clinton was running against 2 other people. A Republican and an Independent. Perhaps H Clinton should consider swithcing to an Independent if her party fails her in 2008.
Mary Gray,
You are one Gulible person. It is easy to see how Bill one the first time when listening to people like you.
The Press wants to make this into a story to destroy Hillary Clinton. The press really shows how bias they for Obama, especially Chris Matthews and MSNBC.
Come on lady, do it. Keep it short, keep it sweet, the curtain is closing, take your bow.
There is a sunset just for you.
ps. I’m a white male engineer with IQ of 120. I’ve been watching this contest assidiously; its been like a movie, I’m just hoping for a good ending!
Instead of the media freaking out, the headline should read “FREAKING MEDIA IS OUT OF IT’S EVER LOVIN MIND” Report the facts, don’t try to take a word or two and try and make a couple of million $$$$ minipulating the news for the next couple of days. I’ve loved FOX news for years but since you’ve become #1 you’re becoming the National Inquire of cable news. You’re losing me…
Ken
Al
Thought~ I have a hard time being sarcastic!!
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Got ya, it is hard to be sarcastic when people can’t hear you say it.
Connie,
You have a good point. Hillary should run as an independent. I am sure she would be willing to do that since it would give her “ZERO” chance of becoming president.
You people have given me an idea about a book to write. I will name it “The Gullible American Electorate”.
Only one week remaining to investigate Larry Sinclair allegations…then the Republicans take it for the general election.
I guess they are making a big deal out of it because they think Hillary might actually get the nomination. Otherwise, why care? They’ve been ignoring her all week and acting like Obama is the nominee.
TruthisGold,
With an IQ of 120, you would think you could spell “assiduously”…
Comment by Thought
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Al
Thought~ I have a hard time being sarcastic!!
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Got ya, it is hard to be sarcastic when people can’t hear you say it.
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Yeah sorry about that
She could have said, RFK campaigned till june , rather then saying till assassination. What you say matters when you are running for the highest office, did they not make an issue when obama spoke about people in Pennsylvania clinging to guns and gods due to economic misery ( which off course made sense). White or Black, man or woman Hillary is inherently corrupt and ambition to seek the highest office is not for service but for position, and that is true with everyone. If she is saying she is in it for the service , thats just BS.
Superdelegates need to reconsider
I believe I asked you yesterday if that story was ever proven factual, or do you just post lies and run.
Comment by Jake
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
TruthisGold,
With an IQ of 120, you would think you could spell “assiduously”…
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LOL LOL
Hillary Clinton was so RIGHT, the people in the media who are brainwashing you guys to be anti-Obama, all have good jobs, good healthcare etc. You people can’t even SPELL or compose a coherent sentence, imagine that, as you continue to bash Obama.
It’s unbelievable how childish the Obama side is. Is this what your leader has given you? I mean what is wrong with you really? Is this new politics? I want nothing to do with it. Thank god I switched to ‘independent’ today.
Setting aside the implication of bringing up RFK, (wow), her logic is flawed. In 1968, the first Primary was held in March. This cycle, the first primary was held in January. By her logic, she should have dropped out in April. Also, in 1992, Bill Clinton had the delegate lead mid-April. So, she’s either very calculating, or very, very, stupid. More likely, she thinks that all of us are stupid.
If this is news we are in TROUBLE!
She probably should have brought up Ted Kennedy taking it all the way to the convention, but I guess that would have been taken badly as well. Most everything she says gets twisted.
How many delegates was he behind again?? 700 or so?
Wake Up People,
Obama thinks there are 57 states in America. How is that for coherency?
I think what bothers me about all of this is that we need to be careful what we say and how we say it because it is always about perception and as a politician and one who claims they have been in this for a LONG TIME should have known better. If you have great respect for Ted Kennedy nothing should have come out of your mouth about Bobby, NOTHING! If you want to talk about your husband then do that. But you went there and so yes people are going to question it ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.
From what Sen. Clinton told us is that she was staying in the race until all the votes have been counted including Florida and Michigan, that was the biggest reason she was staying in the race so I feel she should have stuck with that and all would have been ok.
This whole process has gotten ridiculous and we need to be honest about it. We have two candiates with totally different followers but I am telling you because Obama is ahead IT IS THE TRUTH DEAL WITH IT and he by rights is going to be the nominee, if this is taken from him I think I would be more afraid of his followers then hers. They would be in the right more than hers. If she was such a great canidate she should have had this in the bag a long time ago. The media put Obama through HELL with the Rev. Wright nonsense and yet he rose above it and the people spoke, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE and he is ahead. So what does that say?
On an ending note we tend to forget this man is not entirely black he is white also and yet we don’t want to ever mention that. Why is that America?????
Comment by Wake Up People!
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Hillary Clinton was so RIGHT, the people in the media who are brainwashing you guys to be anti-Obama, all have good jobs, good healthcare etc. You people can’t even SPELL or compose a coherent sentence, imagine that, as you continue to bash Obama.
Hillary Clinton was so RIGHT. The people in the media who are brainwashing you guys to be anti-Obama, all have good jobs, good healthcare etc. You people can’t even SPELL or compose a coherent sentence. Imagine that, as you continue to bash Obama.
The media should be covering the story of Obama and Larry Sinclair, but they are probably be paid off by the Obama camp.
Comment by Amy
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
It’s unbelievable how childish the Obama side is. Is this what your leader has given you? I mean what is wrong with you really? Is this new politics? I want nothing to do with it. Thank god I switched to ‘independent’ today.
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Did you just say, “Things aren’t going my way I’m leaving”. And you call Obama supporters childish.
What she was really saying was “attention all the nut-jobs who still support me please do me a favor and take this guy out”. If the tables were turned Obama would be in handcuffs right now. What a crock of sh#$!
Out of the abundance of the mind, the mouth speaks. That is exactly what she is expecting. Perhaps, who knows if she has a plan? It is sad.
Wake Up People,
You pretend that Obama is sooo much smarter than everyone else. Why, because he can read some words written for him on a piece of paper?
Give me a break.
Obama thinks there are 57 states in America. How is that for smart?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws
Obama has to blame the media and the hard core obamites if he loses the election in fall for they have successfully divided the democrats. After this being blown out of proportion I don’t think any sane hillary voter is going to for obama.
Oh for crying out loud! She may be awful but I really don’t think she meant any harm to the Kennedys or Obama.
How frustrating for the Democractic party. If the media was interested in getting one of these two elected they would allow them to talk about the issues and none of this nonsense.
Ted Kennedy supported Obama. Do you really thinks she gives a rats behind about him after he stabbed her in the back?
Get a clue people!
Every statement made by hillary is is always turned around to satisfy the Obama lovers. What a bunch of brainless individuals. Hey Thought. Your staement about wrestling sounds like agood idea.
Comment by Core
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Obama has to blame the media and the hard core obamites if he loses the election in fall for they have successfully divided the democrats. After this being blown out of proportion I don’t think any sane hillary voter is going to for obama.
**** You got that right!
Jake, and Hillary thought she was under sniper fire. Who cares, talk about the issues at hand. I don’t care if they “mis-spoke” who they are affiliated with. I want them to talk about issues and how they are going to fix them.
No words can put what Hillary said in the right light. She and Mike Huckabee hopes something will happen to Obama. Huckabee said something devastating to that effect. Superdelegates need to put Hillary out of her misery!
Comment by Jaime
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
The media should be covering the story of Obama and Larry Sinclair, but they are probably be paid off by the Obama camp.
*** Yes they playing dirty and buying their votes because that is really the only way he could win.
Still LOL……………wow
Hillary regrets being exposed with her words, not in what she said!
Obama Resign,
What are you talking about? Do you really believe Hillary, after all these years as a pro politician, did not know what she was saying would be taken?
How gullible can you be?
Obama Resign
Ya right, 99% of all Hillary supporters will vote Obama, No question, your all a bunch of liars just like your candidate.
correction…
did not know how what she was saying would be taken?
Follow the Flights of September 11, 2001 http://www.kerman94.com/911-Flights.HTM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dtXfUyir2d4
John Ondrasik (the singer-songwriter who is Five for Fighting) is one of the most pro-GI people in pop music. And in this video, it shows. You may have heard the song before but this video is new. In the beginning, he goes into a pawn shop to pawn a flag… the pawnbroker is in his sixties, and over his shoulder you see a photo of a young Vietnam era warrant officer with aviator wings and the MOH.
Yes, that’s really a Medal of honor winner–not an actor.
http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/706270
Come on people! She had the appology ready before she even said it.
Geesh you people are gullible!
Chaos!