Clinton’s astonishing statement came in South Dakota when she said:
“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. I don’t understand it.”
It is a particularly ironic new claim given the news reports that Clinton’s husband and staff are putting considerable pressure on Obama to make her a vice presidential candidate: a move that would enrage many voters who have come to deeply dislike Clinton either before or during this campaign, click here Indeed, it is statements like this one (and others like her ambiguous response to the question over Obama being a Muslim) that have alienated many of Clinton former supporters in this campaign.
The statement in South Dakota is so shockingly insensitive and opportunistic, it is breathtaking. It makes it sound like almost hopeful thinking: either a scandal or an assassination. When one starts to factor in the possibility of the death of one’s opponent, you know things are not going well.
After first defending the comments and expressing surprise by any offense taken, the campaign has now referred to the remarks as unfortunate. Clinton has come out and explained that she was merely thinking of the Kennedy’s because of her concern for Ted Kennedy, click here. She stated
“Earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Sen. Kennedy waged in California in June in 1992 and 1968, and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nominating primary contests that go into June. That’s an historic fact. Watch more of Clinton’s comments to the editorial board. The Kennedys have been much on my mind in the last days because of Sen. [Edward] 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.”
The problem is that she said the same thing back in March before she was filled with angst over Ted Kennedy:
TIME: Can you envision a point at which–if the race stays this close–Democratic Party elders would step in and say, “This is now hurting the party and whoever will be the nominee in the fall”?
CLINTON: No, I really can’t. I think people have short memories. Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn’t wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual.
TIME: Can you envision a point at which–if the race stays this close–Democratic Party elders would step in and say, “This is now hurting the party and whoever will be the nominee in the fall”?CLINTON: No, I really can’t. I think people have short memories. Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn’t wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual.
For the March statement, click here.
For the video of the original statement, click here.For the full story, click here.