Clinton Blames Obama for Assassination Uproar
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Photograph by Otis P. Motley
Posted May 27, 2008 – This long holiday weekend has kept Sen. Hillary Clinton on the
defensive, explaining away her reference to the June 1968 assignation of Sen. Robert Kennedy as her reason for remaining in the race.
In other words, something could happen that would force or eliminate her rival Sen. Barack Obama from the race, and if she were to quit, who would the Dems have to carry on? [But she says this was not her rationale … She says the only reason for her reference was that Kennedy was in the race in June – not that she would be around in the event that something happened to Barack.]
Is she serious?
But putting all that aside, why is her campaign blaming Obama for the reactions to her comments? It’s not as if this is the first time she’s alluded to a tragedy befalling Obama. It’s just that this time, when she was speaking to the editorial board of The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, S.D., that it created media frenzy.
I recall her campaign dropping similar hints to columnist Robert Novak back in December, 2007, and he reported that the Clinton campaign had “scandalous information” that would be harmful to the junior senator and force him from the race.
Clinton has also made it a practice of using code words, like “working-class” for “poor White folks,” whom she maintains won’t vote for Obama. Even one of her staunch supporters, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), urged her to stop with the “poor White people” comments.
And now, even after having eliminated all the other men who sought the Democratic nomination, she and her husband are charging sexism and unfair media coverage as the reason she trails her rival.
But this latest “spin” on the assassination gaffe tops them all: blaming Obama for something she said.
This is what she said: “You know, my husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.”
So some folks thought she was back to her coded messages again, and this message sounded like she was implying that her competitor might be harmed.
If she wasn’t suggesting that, why not come clean and say so? In a letter she sent to The New York Daily News, she wrote: “I pointed out, as I have before, that both my husband’s primary campaign, and Senator 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.”
On Sunday, her campaign continued to pounce on the Obama camp rather than offer up an apology. Howard Wolfson, a Clinton spokesman said on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” that “it was unfortunate and unnecessary, and in my opinion, inflammatory, for the Obama campaign to attack Senator Clinton on Friday for these remarks, without obviously knowing the full facts or context.”
But it looks like the Kennedy family isn’t buying it either. The New York Post reports that the Kennedys are infuriated by Clinton’s remarks. They quote a family member as saying, “That comment may be the last nail in her campaign’s coffin.”
Admitting the family’s priority is the health of the ailing senator, the Post reports an insider saying, “I think people really felt that a line was crossed.”
“She no longer has only her husband to blame for the ill-chosen comments coming from her camp,” another family member told the Post.
Her widely perceived insensitivity couldn’t have come at a worse time, close to the 40th anniversary of Robert Kennedy’s death.
This isn’t the first time Clinton has created ill will with the Kennedy family. It’s believed the endorsements by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and daughter of President John Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy of Obama were prompted by Clinton’s earlier comments that the Civil Rights Act was President Lyndon Johnson’s doing. In essence, it diminished John F. Kennedy’s role as well as that of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Over the weekend, Obama gave the commencement address at Wesleyan University, filling in for the patriarch of the Kennedy family, Ted Kennedy, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor earlier in the week.
Obama spoke to the graduates on the lawn of the campus and called for the young graduates to commit to public service, a similar call made by the late John F. Kennedy in his 1961 inaugural address.
Obama continues to stay above the fray, letting his campaign manger, David Axelrod, respond to Clinton’s chargers. Axelrod told reporters that the incident is over and that Obama’s campaign in ready to move on.
On to the primary races in Puerto Rico this coming weekend, then to South Dakota and Montana which, on Tuesday, June 3, will be the last states to vote.
Hillary, Hillary, you keep showing us ‘your red neck’…No vote for you!!!
What a sad thing to say especially the challenges the Kennedy’s are facing right now. Hillary needs to give up her bid for presendincy asap.
Everyone thinks because Mr. Clinton did goog for black that Mrs. Clinton is going to do same, but you must remember she is a different person him. They may be married but I think they share different points of veiw.
I knew all along that Hillary was racist, and yet the african american community still continues to support her, I don’t want to see another pale faced american in the white house, it is “white” enough, I want someone in there who looks like me, ( in my life time) when the rubber meets the road we see all kinds of things a person will doand say to get to the top ( thanks Hillary) QUIT NOW and save FACE!
Dang Hillary!!
Hilary Clinton is starting to really get on my nerves with all this nonsence she’s putting out. Im not saying that she can’t win the whole sha-bang but who would vote for her and she is coming out with these remarks. The campaign is really getting to her since Obama has won the primaries in some states. CHILL OUT HILARY, ITS GONNA BE FINE!
Sharita: I guess you would know a racist, because it takes one to know one - right? Just because your candidte looks like you and acts like you does not mean that they will represent you. If you want to be successful in this world, stop judging people by their skin tone.
HAHAHHHHAHHAAH!!!! OBAMA 08 NO MONKEY SHIRTS PLEASE!!!!!
Hillary:
“Stop it” what is wrong with you…
Your better than that…………..
Bow out greatfully…………………
support change……please vote
under republican rule president ,congress,senate,cia,fbi , home land security, and fema ..we have watched all these
agencies not working together..for 8 years america has went from a super power to borrowing money from china and selling our land to foriengn
intrest. if you want world war 3,10.00 gas prices
high crime rate vote republican…spending 12 billion dollars a month means you can not properly take care of home or the the people in it..just vote they work for us and give every body 4 years term limits and thats it ..to many fat cats sitting on boards for 50 years ..we need change pls vote…
ARE THERE ANY BLACK PEOPLE OUT THERE STUPID ENOUGH TO VOTE FOR HER? I WAS WONDERING BECAUSE SHES DONE EVERYTHING TO INSULT BLACK PEOPLE BUT SAYING THE N-WORD………………………….
I CAN’T TAKE IT ANY LONGER! SPELLCHECK, PEOPLE…get a dictionary! You know who you are…
This is nothing new a lot of people think this way. I had a neighbor who is elderly white made the same statement. Not only that he said Barack Obama shouldn’t be president, i replied why because he is black and the neighbor changed his statement saying i hope he get in there and serve 8 years. I thought in my mind yeah right, you really don’t mean that.
Anna, i agree with you and i said simular what you have said. It seems as if she has something against black people. Most people says well her husband was president, but i say they two different people. Trust me i won’t vote for her if the moon talk.
I’M TIRED OF THE BLAME GAME, I HAVE SAID IT ONCE I’LL SAY IT AGAIN, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAD IN PUBLIC BECAUSE THE MEDIA CAN TWIST YOUR WORDS TO SUIT THEIR NEEDS. HELL THEY HAVE U AND OBAMA FUELING SO THEY CAN BE NUMBER ONE WITH THE TV OR NEWSPAPER HEADLINE.
Check out this related story on the ABC News homepage: http://abcnews.go.com/
Barack, watch your back, bro! And don’t depend on the Secret Service! (Ask JJ - Jesse Jackson about this) Remember: RFK was shot in the BACK of the head…
I dont know what her intentions were but the comment was completely out of line. And why is it that everytime she or her husband says something wrong, they turn it around and blame the Obama camp? That I truly dont get.
Hill ole girl…………give it up, U LOST, U LOST, U LOST. And this is why; because u r not true, u r not real, your true colors have really out shined u LOL…..Keep going Barack. Keep going baby all the way to the white house.
I just don’t get it, how can you blame someone else for something that came out of your mouth? You know dang on well you were wrong and you said what you meant and meant what you said. I know this race is making or has made history but it’s getting out of hand now.
Keep letting the media fuel your racists prejudices people….I don’t think Obama would like to have followers who say things as ignorant as Sharita. How can you call Hillary racist when you are spewing more racist hatred than she ever has. Is this the “CHANGE” Obama is talking about? I don’t think so.
She’s been campaigning for McCain since she has been behind. I use to respect her. Can somebody please tell me what the hell the Clinton’s did for black people.
My granny always said, they will act black as long as it benefits them, but at the end of the day they will return to thier original form.
Obama 08
Hillary,HIlary, Hilary…. just take a bow and go sit with Bill at your brownstone in Harlem. She is a step away from saying the N word and if she’s still in the race when and if that happens , she just needs to wrap it up and retire
I think Hillary knew what she was saying because if she cared anything about the Kennedy family, there is no way she would have even let that come out of her mouth at a time like this with them dealing with Sen. Ted’s condition. I just think she is desparate and can’t see losing to Sen. Obama because of what he is, not who he is. That was code for crazy people to come out and try what she is hoping will happen to Obama.
we hope anothing happen to Obama, if any thing happen. would be Hillary doing it to Obama. God bless Obama.
wow we…..so petty
Hillary is not going to be the canidate so why dont she just sit down
That is really bogus and i can’t believe that hillary really felt that way and i can’t believe i voted for her. I am glad that it came out right away than later.
I am so sick of her why does she blame everyone else for her mistakes?
I am not for Hillary but when this story broke about her comments about Kennedy I didn’t see what all the fuss was about.I can’t believe that people are up in arms about this but not up in arms about the Curious George shirt with Obama on it.I don’t see the media on top of this racist story.The media was just waiting to deflect attention away from the real story.Whites are devils and nothing will ever change that.Just look at how much they have shown their true selves in the past year or so.Imus,Bush,Pat Buchanan,Sean Hanity and the list goes on and on!
WHY IS IT THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA JUST BECAUSE HE’S BLACK. YOU ALL KNOW IF HE BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATE HE WILL ACT LIKE HE DOESN’T EVEN NO US ANYMORE. I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE ISSUES AND NOT THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN. OBAMA KEEPS TALK ABOUT CHANGE, BUT HE DOESN’T HAVE ANY SUBSTANCE TO GO ALONG WITH THE CHANGE. “ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE MILLIONS OF JOBS, CAN YOU BRING RESTORATION TO A NATION THAT BEEN THROUGH TO MUCH UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH POLICY”. WHAT HAVE OBAMA DONE FOR ILLINOIS SINCE HE BECAME THE SENATOR? JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE SKIN TO ME DOESN’T MEAN YOU WILL HELP ME.
WELL….HILLARY WAS AND STILL IS UPSET THAT SHE DID NOT WIN THE VOTE IN IOWA….YES IOWA DOES HAVE BLACK FOLKS(I AM ONE OF THEM)I MEAN NOT ALL OF US ARE COUNTRY BUMPKINS AND LIVE ON A FARM AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE SHE MESSED UP. SHE NEVER REALLY CAME TO THE CITY (DES MOINES)TO SPEAK NOR VISIT PLACES LIKE OBAMA DID! HE WAS AT THE FAIR TALKING TO PEOPLE AND RIDEIN ON RIDES AND STUFF, I EVEN HAVE PICTURES OF HIM, HE WAS AT THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND EVEN BUSINESSES SPEAKING. HE EVEN CAME TO THE LIL THING THAT WE CALL A HOOD LOL! WHERE HILLARY JUST DROVE RIGHT PAST IT! I HAVE WAY MORE RESPECT FOR OBAMA BECAUSE HE TOOK THE TIME TO MEET THE VOTERS AND EVEN THE LITTLE KIDS WHO WILL HAVE TO GROW UP AND VOTE ONE DAY…. BUT ANYWHO, SHE IS TRYING TO USE MR. BILL AS A WAY TO GET INTO OFFICE BECAUSE SHE KNOWS HOW MUCH MOST OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY RESPECTS HIM. ALL OF HER REMARKS LATELY HAVE BEEN A HOT MESS! THEN NOT ONLY DOES SHE TRY TO DISTROY OBAMA, BUT SHE LOOKS LIKE AN A$$ DOING IT…IM VOTEING FOR OBAMA NOT BECAUSE HE IS BLACK, BUT BECAUSE I LIKE HIS VIEWS AND I FEEL HE CAN DO SOMETHING FOR ME AND MY FEAT. CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN! RACE DOESNT ALWAYS COME TO PLAY IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS…PLUS WE NEED TO GET BUSH OUT CUZ IM TIRED OF PAYING $4.00 FOR GAS, SHOOT A SISTA IS TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL AND PAY BILLS LOL!
ummm… alrighty then… I don’t know what her problem… but the sad thing is that she is making herself look more and more wicked everyday. Is it Obama’s fault she doesn’t know when to shut the hell up? I mean, I’ve heard people say that either way its good history “first black person, first lady”… Not anymore, now its “God, if Hillary wins I’m just not voting period, let the republicans get it”… I mean she is no longer a lady and has lost soooo much respect… ughhhhh!!! She makes McCain look freakin good… keep up the good work Obama. : )
obama
Hilary is showing herself to be the virulent racist that she is, and any black folks who would defend her, and vote for her, regardless of how “conscious” they think they are, and claim to be, are nothing more than bootlicking sellouts, and uncle toms to the worst degree. Yeah I said it, and am not ashamed to say it again. Hilary is a cold stone, racist devil.
are you serious do you really think that they are gonna vote a women as president? um…..no i dont think so. so get over it!!!!!!
I will be very glad as I am sure many, many, others will be also when this is over It has been a very long and frustrating campaign. We need to be focusing on how we can survive with these gas prices and home heating problems. people loosing their jobs. Tornado’s,floods,fires all destroying the country our homes and lives. We are in so much trouble today and these bickering candidates are not helping our stress levels at all as I am writing this I am listening to a radio program talking about grocery store prices and saying that people will soon be fighting for food which they are in so many places now. I could go on but I won’t I guess I just needed to vent here..sorry I got off the subject…bye…..
why won’t my comments be posted……some times i hate this blog.
bet why are yall not posting my comments
Nicole, if it were a white woman, running against a white man, then it would be totally about gender. HOWEVER, seeing as how it is a white woman, running up against a black man, many white folks right now are willing to put aside the gender issue, on behalf of racialty loyalty-AND VOTE WHITE, REGARDLESS OF THE GENDER, JUST AS LONG AS THE GENES ARE ON THE MARK!
Hillary is nothing but a republican trying to be a Democrat. She is doing everything in her power to destroy the democratic party. When a person talk about a sinister act as someone being murder subconsciously Hillary and Bill Clinton have killed before. (Vince Foster and Ron Brown are two individuals that come to my mind) The list is very long.
People need to recognize that Obama isn’t just African American and understand he represents for all racist in America. He’s very intelligent and I hate when I turn on CNN and them other stations they always blasting Obama (for not wearing a pin). It’s senseless, I never see them blasting McCain or Hillary. Regardless of his color he will make a great President, we need change, it’s either now or never. The bible said that we would somebody have a Black Ruler, now is the time
I meant RACES in AMerica
I meant he represents for all RACES in America
This is really ubsurd what’s happening right now. If Hillary really cared about our country and not just winning, she would be out there trying to unite everyone not dividing everyone. Her character has really shown that we are not what matters but herself with these shameless plugs.
It’s time for Hillary to stop with these types of cruel and evil tatics, she should know better all she’s doing is making herself look stupid and uncaring. Hillary has stooped to poor white trash and she is taking everyone down with her with her sad quest to get something she rightfully doesn’t deserve to be President I hope Chelsea Clinton doesn’t go into politics because the Clinton name is damaged thanks to Hillary’s dirty campagin.
She is at the end of the road her boat has sunk and she taking her supporters down with her. Along with her campaign aids.
Look folks, Obama didn’t make the statement, so you folks stop hatin and own up to a BIG BLUNDER once again my Hillary and now she and Bill want to put the blame and shame on Obama. You Hillary folks need to quit trying to throw your ugly evilness off onto Obama. He is not that kind of person and when you do it, that poison bounces off of him back to the Clintons where it belongs.
Hillary, it’s not going to happen, It’s a mans’ world remember?
Clinton need tah sdfu in stop blammin black pplz fa stuf now u know whut kind of president she is now.. =|
The Secret Service does not have Barack’s back, y’all:
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/FedCrimes/story?id=4866932&page=1
Write your Congressional delegation ASAP and demand that these fools will have to bounce…
‘They’ are laying traps for the brother…but we ain’t going out like that (MLK) again (to quote Chuck D).
It takes a nation of millions to (try to) hold us back!
I guess my comment was too deep to be posted to this forum, huh? But like the group G. MoB said “In the end we’ll see”. Thanks alot BET.
choc-lit, it is not so much a “man’s world” more so than this country is WHITE FOLKS WORLD (at least from where they’re standing). In the end, white folks who are prejudiced against black folks, would rather vote for another white person who shares their genetic material, even if that white person is of a different gender, than they would someone who’s black.
Why do you think you have Hilary supporters threatening to boycott Obama if he’s the nominee, in favor of voting for McCain, to where you have some silly black folks,especially black women, jumping on the bandwagon? BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT GENDER, OR STANCES MCCAIN PROPAGATES-HE IS STILL A WHITE MAN!
It’s not a White Man’s world. White people are the majority in this country, but they are the minority in the world. The world has more people of color than caucasion.
And as for the silly black folks jumping on the bandwagon….I’m black and I’ve been a supporter of Hillary Clinton even before she announced she was running and I’m black and highly educated. Does that make me racist too? I think some of you are so ignorant that it’s a shame!
White people are not the majority in this country. Actually, Hispanics are the majority.It’s time all ethnics band together. What a force that would be. It’s time to get rid of separate agendas and to unite with common grounds.
BILL CLINTON DID DO SOME GOOD THINGS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS MAYBE,MORE THAN MOST OTHER PRESIDENTS HAVE DONE. HOWEVER, HE ALSO DID SOMETHINGS THAT WILL HURT AFRICAN AMERICANS LONGER.
Bill never put a Black person in his Cabinet, but Bush did. So what did Bill really do for Black people but to go along with the notion that he was a “Black” president? and with his racist remarks against Obama, I as well as many Blacks see that it was all a politics game.
Angelica, Bill did have Blacks in his cabinet.
The Clintons and the Bushs there are no differences. They are all jumping under the covers with one another