Hillary Clinton And The RFK Assassination Reference

Saturday May 24th, 2008

Is it just me or is this issue being blown out of all possible proportion?

As Time and some other media outlets note, Hillary has referenced the June candidate selection before using her husband’s ‘92 selection as candidate and the Bobby Kennedy candidacy that went on until he was shot in June 1968 as markers. This seems to be the same thing she was doing in answering this question.

But, my God, last night people were calling her race effectively over, with no hopes of the VP slot, for making the same reference… one even Bobby Kennedy’s son insisted should not be construed as offensive.

Kate Chase  

 

3 Comments »

1. Vinny says

   I think the remark deserves the attention it has been getting.

   If she was making some point about celebrity campaign contributions, would she point out that Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated by an actor? The fact that the assassination reference can be tangentially tied to an arguably legitimate point does not make it any less ghoulish or inappropriate.

   May 24th, 2008 | #

2. Katherine says

   Hillary: Why I Continue To Run

   This past Friday, during a meeting with a newspaper editorial board, I was asked about whether I was going to continue in the presidential race.

   I made clear that I was - and that I thought the urgency to end the 2008 primary process was unprecedented. I pointed out, as I have before, that both my husband’s primary campaign, and Sen. Robert Kennedy’s, had continued into June.

   Almost immediately, some took my comments entirely out of context and interpreted them to mean something completely different - and completely unthinkable.

   I want to set the record straight: I was making the simple point that given our history, the length of this year’s primary contest is nothing unusual. Both the executive editor of the newspaper where I made the remarks, and Sen. Kennedy’s son, Bobby Kennedy Jr., put out statements confirming that this was the clear meaning of my remarks. Bobby stated, “I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense.”

   I realize that any reference to that traumatic moment for our nation can be deeply painful - particularly for members of the Kennedy family, who have been in my heart and prayers over this past week. And I expressed regret right away for any pain I caused.

   But I was deeply dismayed and disturbed that my comment would be construed in a way that flies in the face of everything I stand for - and everything I am fighting for in this election.

   http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/05/25/why-we-continue-hillary-and-me/#more-2698

   May 25th, 2008 | #

3. Doug says

   Big Tent Democrat of Talk Left summed-up the reason why so many of the Clinton’s fellow Dems are so eager to pounce on any benign statement made by Hillary:

   It seems there is a whole class of pundits, Democrats and Obama supporters who really really despise the Clintons sooo much that they are willing to risk the Presidency to drive the Clintons out of the Party.

   Oh they will couch their arguments in terms of baggage and Bill Clinton (as if the only two term Democratic President of the last 50 years would somehow be a problem for a Democratic campaign, it is mind boggling). But what they want is the Clinton Wing of the Democratic Party gone - dead and buried.

   My fear is that, in terms of the game show Survivor, these people would rather throw their own allies off the island to prove their strength than do what’s right to win the ultimate prize. I sometimes wonder whether the ultra leftwingers hope McCain will win so they can continue blogging and ranting. Some people are happiest when they’re miserable.

   May 25th, 2008 | #