Olbermann Slams Clinton Over RFK Assassination Comment
In South Dakota yesterday, Hillary Clinton made a very unfortunate comment during an interview with the Editorial Board of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader newspaper.
While discussing why some people want her to end her campaign, Clinton said the following:
I don’t, because again, I’ve been around long enough. You know my husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere around the middle of June.
We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. Um you know I just I don’t understand it. There’s lots of speculation about why it is.
This video of MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann is the most passionate criticism of Clinton’s statement that I have heard:
See these related links:
- Sioux Falls Argus Leader - Clinton Apologizes for Bobby Kennedy Remark - Read a Transcript of the Discussion.
- New York Times - Clinton Remark on Kennedy’s Killing Stirs Uproar.
My commentary on this controversy:
I agree with much of Keith Olbermann’s commentary. It seems that every time I write something positive about Hillary Clinton, the next day she sparks a new, unfortunate, ill-advised controversy. I have always had a “soft spot” for Hillary Clinton because I don’t like the way she has been unfairly demonized over the years. Sadly, her 2008 campaign has alienated many people unnecessarily.
These recent remarks by Clinton cross a line, touch the third rail. Obviously, her comments were not intentionally meant this way. But it shows a lack of judgment. She should know better than anyone else to be more thoughtful in presenting her political messages. Everyone makes mistakes, and when we do, it is important to correct them as effectively as possible. Her “apology” was oblivious to the seriousness of her mistake.
I have gone out on a limb by advocating an Obama/Clinton ticket. I’ve always had doubts about this, but I have thought the potential upside outweighs the downside. Today I am much less enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton.
I do believe in redemption. Hopefully, her next attempt at an apology will invoke her “better angels”. Hillary Clinton needs to prove that she can transcend her own narrow political ambitions. She needs to do this because it’s the right thing to do instead of weighing the potential political consequences.
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Comment by Vinny
Posted on May 24, 2008 at 1:09 pm
If she was making some point about celebrity campaign contributions, would she point out the fact 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.
Comment by Peg
Posted on May 25, 2008 at 9:20 am
OK OK - I have been a strong supporter of Hillary until now. There is a line that can be crossed with me and she has crossed it. This statement really had little to do with me pulling my support. It’s an intangible - a one-more-straw thing and now Hillary has done it - at least with me. We older white Democratic women (of a certain age)remember Bobby’s assination as the big turning point in our political lives - the “Oh,-no,-I- give- up-I hate Nixon-what’s-the-use-now-Watergate” moment. I guess I felt we might have another chance to find someone just a little like Bobby - I guess I thought it might be her - but for me, who had already given her up - this reference to this dark moment in out recent history was the straw. Besides she is really messing up the party and must now just bow out while she still has some dignity. It’s over Hill and I never thought I’d say that and I guess, the real truth, I cannot stand Bill and for some stupid reason, I thought you might be different than him. Birds of a feather ….. now on to Obama - and may the gods and angels keep him safe.
Just ask me who I thought killed Jack and Bobby - !!!!!