Hillary Clinton has a habit of planting suggestions into the political landscape. Today she suggested that Barack Obama might be assassinated, with her waiting in the wings to take up the Democratic nomination. She invoked Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination in June 1968 during the Democratic primaries as a reason for her to stay in the race – you know, just in case.
I think there is little doubt that we have reached a new low in American political discourse. Here is a transcript of her discussion with the Argus Leader editorial board:
This is the most important job in the world. It’s the toughest job in the world. You should be willing to campaign for every vote. You should be willing to debate anytime, anywhere. I think it’s an interesting juxtaposition where we find ourselves and you know, I have been willing to do all of that during the entire process and people have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa and I find it¬¬-
EB: Why? Why?
I don’t know I don’t know I find it curious because it is unprecedented in history. I don’t understand it and between my opponent and his camp and some in the media, there has been this urgency to end this and you know historically that makes no sense, so I find it a bit of a mystery.
EB: You don’t buy the party unity argument?
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
EB: 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.
Later she apologized in a non-apology if her comments offended anyone.
This is the evolution of Hillary Clinton’s original argument that Republicans will attack Obama therefore it was ok for her to do so. At some point that argument matured into "hardworking white people" would not vote for Obama so she was more "electable". Her actions were always crouched as a response to what others supposedly would do, could do, or might do. Now, with no chance to win the Democratic nomination she is going for the Hail Mary. It’s not that she wishes that Obama were assassinated, its just that in case he is killed she would be doing a public service by being available to take up the vacancy. This is called a permission slip.
Hillary Clinton is putting the idea of an Obama assassination into the mainstream. This will generate a lot of press and a lot of discussion about the possibility of the first African American presidential nominee being assassinated. This will give that little push and the explicit rationale a nutjob needs to move thoughts into action. After all, a presidential candidate has mused out loud the possibility of an assassination altering the race. This is a permission slip of the most macabre kind. In my opinion, one doesn’t hand out permission slips like this without knowing exactly what one is doing.
Given the seriousness of her comments, and apparently this wasn’t the first time she has rolled in this muck, she needs to do more than provide the kind of non-apology she has provided. She needs to go further – she needs to apologize more fully and take affirmative steps to revoke the permission slip. And she better pray that Barack Obama remains safe.
I posted on this as well after I read about on Enigma’s post. I had not read the online articles as I never in a million years (it even being Hillary) expected a throwaway hint at KKK types to go for it. Sure, on the face of it, she NEVER suggested that he’d be assassinated.. BUT hell yea, even in 21st Century America there are those who think blacks and anything non white does not belong in gov’t, let alone in the Presidential seat. This was not just ‘low’, this was border line incitement. We don’t have cable anymore but I hope that Keith Olbermann made minced meat out of her on this one..
Ingrid
Ingrid, Olbermann had a special comment. John has it posted here.
This was filthy. I was so angry about this that I had to hold back in the above post. Given how I feel about RFK and how Obama evokes for me the best of RFK, this attack from Clinton is as filthy as it can get.
Her political career is finished. I will be more than happy to donate whatever I can to the person who runs against her for the NY Senate seat.
In 1968 the first primary was held in March. This time it started in January. So, the fact that RFK was still campaigning in June is not comparable to today’s situation.
Also, Bill Clinton had picked up the nominations by March. Even on this count the situation is not comparable.
So, insinuations aside, her reasoning doesn’t follow.
One thing I am following up from the very beginning that whole process
Is taking too much time. Now question is here tat if all those blaming games
Are giving undue advantage to McCain or not.
The whole system f USA is controlled by CIA, Pentagon and Multi nationals.
I don’t know if it is coincidence or not but It reminds me famous conflicts
Of Two Bills (Clinton& Gates) regarding monopoly of Microsoft.
So only time will say what is waiting for the future of globe?
Mash, I can totally understand your anger. There never seems to be a point where the American ‘public’ (translated that by the MSM really) has enough and publicly demands accountability. You are so right, she’s done it over and over again. No mistake or ‘oops’ about it.
Ingrid
thanks for the Keith Olbermann link, we have no cable because of all the crap that’s on directed towards kids, but of course, there are some good shows that ‘we’ miss..
The Obama camp should look past all this shrillary and on to the real election in November: and as part of that strategy, they should seriously consider helping out Ms Clinton with her debt, BUT only if she promises to mobilize her camp to vote for Obama, with the provision of the actual payments to be made AFTER the ballots have been counted… ensuring she has delivered her end of the deal (no, I’m NOT suggesting she be offered the VP deal). And yes, no matter how euphoric you might feel with his nomination becoming reality, it’s time for the Obama followers to get real… and to brace for the worst of the worst Swiftboat to be floating down the Mississipi.
It’s been over twenty-four hours and I’m STILL pissed off over this. Check out my POTW post later tonight and you’ll see what I mean.
Mash, I just posted a ‘call’ to call the DNC on Tuesday to let nancy pelosi know she needs to speak up, and out and demand Hillary get out of the race..
and I’m quoting you, kinda..smiles
Ingrid
(at 5 am not being able to sleep, yes Robster, dang woman will rob you of your sleep too)
Kaiser, absolutely right. But of course the point of her comparison wasnt really about accuracy, in my opinion. It was about planting a seed – a suggestion. That has been the MO of her campaign from the start.
NiRBashito, the swiftboating is definitely coming. We need to get past Hillary so we can prepare for the fall. Hillary is doing serious damage as she flails about trying to claw at the nomination. If she takes it to the convention for a floor fight, the Dems are finished in the fall.
The electoral map in the fall is very promising for Obama. Virginia is in play and I will do my part to carry Virginia for Obama. If Obama wins Virginia he wins the election. So, let the swiftboaters come, we are ready. We believe we have an electoral map that swiftboaters will have a hard time battling. And, dont forget – Obama’s campaign counterpunches better than I have seen any Dem candidate since Clinton in 1992.
It is so sad that RFK’s daughter Kerry had such nice thing to say about Hillary exactly a month ago on Scarborough’s show. Hopefully her delusion with Hillary has broken.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hmp5JPWIwE
The clip has some great footage of Bobby and some stills with JFK.
On the point of obamas increased likelihood of assasination wrt the other canditates.
I’m suprised she vocalised it, ive heard it in news reports from black voters and have often wondered about it myself. im sure obama has too. Is it not a factor?