Hillary Clinton explains -- again -- about her RFK assassination remark

Hillary Clinton's campaign is in full damage-control mode after her remarks on Friday that referenced the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in a way that some perceived as offensive to Barack Obama.

Sunday's New York Daily News has a two-page "exclusive" from the candidate herself "to set the record straight" about her comments, which she said were taken "entirely out of context and interpreted ... to mean something completely different -- and completely unthinkable."

And her communications director, Howard Wolfson, and campaign chairman, Terry McAuliffe, used their appearances on the Sunday talk shows to blame Obama's campaign (along with the media) for the resulting firestorm.

Clinton says that in her appearance ...

... before the editorial board of the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, S.D., she was using the examples of her husband's campaign in 1992 and Kennedy's in 1968 to explain why she would not drop out of the race for the Democratic nomination before the final primary votes were counted. The last primaries in this year's nomination contest -- South Dakota and Montana -- are June 3.

"I want to set the record straight," she wrote in the Daily News. "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.' "

On "Face the Nation," Wolfson castigated the Obama campaign for the language in its rapid e-mail response, which said her comments were "unfortunate" and "had no place in this campaign." The e-mail was sent soon after a New York Post reporter (who was listening to the editorial board meeting via an online video link) posted a short-lived article on the paper's website that called her remarks "an odd comparison between the dead candidate and Barack Obama."

"The Obama campaign did put out a statement almost immediately condemning the remarks," Wolfson told host Bob Schieffer. "There's no question that it was unfortunate and unnecessary, and in my opinion inflammatory, for the Obama campaign to attack Sen. Clinton on Friday for these remarks, without obviously knowing the full facts or context.”

(McAuliffe, on "Fox News Sunday," used more direct language: "Friday they were all part of this process," he told host Chris Wallace. "The press secretary came out and attacked Sen. Clinton and got it going so the story would be around for three days. It's nice to get a story going and then, you know, let it go for three days over the weekend and say, 'Oh, she didn't mean anything about it.' ")

Wolfson did go on to say that he welcomed the words of Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod, on ABC's "This Week": 

"As far as we're concerned, George, as far as we're concerned, this issue is done," Axelrod told host George Stephanopoulos. "It was an unfortunate statement, as we said, as she's acknowledged.  She has apologized. The apology, you know, is accepted. Let's move forward."

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Comments

[wolf]

This isn't a media spin. We can all watch the video and determine for ourselves what the implication was. And for just about all but the most die-hard Clinton supporters... it made us sick.

[S. A.]

We can watch the videos and determine for ourselves what Michelle Obama meant when she said (in 2008 this is a mean country, for the first time in my adult life I feel proud to be an american). Ugly words comming from someone who wants to sit in the white house. If you want to attack Hillary for unintended so called insults, then attack the Obamas for their true intented insults on the USA. Vote McCain and keep the obamas out of the white house.

[billy]

i still think that she is as bad a liar as her husband was,,, take it to the bank,, they robbed the public once ,,and to think she could again,,, get real people,

[Ericmiami]

Doug McLeish for Vice-President. Most powerful, beautiful and accurate observations, eh?

[Mark]

Thank you Kithra for the post above. You summed up my feelings very nicely with the following comment;

Yes, once again She screws up, and it is everyone's else's fault, because we took her comments "entirely out of context." That's why we should offer our complete apologies to Her (really, how could we be so thoughtless?!).

[Bill]

I have not seen a polititian as abhorent as Ms. Clinton since Nixon. She is sick and could not be considered electable by any stretch of the imagination.

The better part of this year she has claimed to be the stronger democrat to run against the republican candidate. This is in no fashion the case today. Hillary's own unethical tactics have sullied her reputation. Hillary has herself to blame, not her opponent, not all the male voters, not the press, and not a vast right wing conspiracy.

I would expect Hillary to continue her campaign for the sake of vanity despite the good that could be accomplished for the democratic party if she instead chose to now help unite all democrats.

[TomasW]

I will support the Democratic nominee. Senator Obama will surely be that nominee. HRC's comment on the June assassination was obviously said with a timeline in mind. She did not even vaguely infer that a possible assassination of Senator Obama was the reason for her staying in the race. Only those who previously detested HRC could have drawn such a conclusion. Keith Olbermann made far more inflammatory statements in his self-serving, ugly "analysis" than Clinton or Obama have made during the entire primary. Supporters of the Democratic Party should be outraged by his words. Compare Senator Obama's remarks to those of Olbermann---KO's are revolting at best.

[Virginia]

RFK, Jr. is planning to run for Hillary's Senate position if she is elected President, that is the ONLY reason RFK, Jr. did not object to Hillary's malicious comment.

Posted by: Virginia | May 25, 2008 7:38 PM

[Michael]

Clinton's remark was utterly accurate and needs no explanation or apology. In fact, I'm upset because she apologized.

Otherwise, this is so rich.

I've speculated that an elected Obama would be nothing more than Jimmy Carter's second "term." I see that I'm correct in thinking so.

Obama, along with his followers, are apparently the types that will paralyze the government with their handwringing, peevish, blatantly ignorant,nonsense, i.e. "crap" like this.

This is the horrible type of government we'll all have to suffer through if he's elected, dealing with the language Nazis and the PC Nazis on a daily basis.

NO, NO, NO.

M

[Sharon]

I am so disappointed with Hilary Clinton for not honorably taking responsibility for her own words. Her attempts to psychologically redirect blame upon Barack Obama campaign are highly questionable actions. I was quite alarmed when I first heard about her comments Friday. My mind was racing with visions and thoughts of what no one in the United States wants to ever have happen again. I calmed down and started my research. This couldn't be. I was shocked at what I found out. English word usage and sentence construction appeared to me to validate what I had heard. Legally and otherwise. I attempted to defend her. I continued researching comments made during course of her campaign. And more - same type similar comments using word "assassination," all low key subtle word comments suggestive, and psychologically leaving reader with implied reference visions. She went away from this talk for awhile. Last Friday she brought up again. She is an attorney. She is a seasoned politician. She practices word insertion and word usage for implied impact on intended as her life's work. What ever all voters want to think is their personal opinion. I honestly know I researched well to help me understand and arrive at my own opinion. I really tried to defend, but I can't. And oh, how I wanted to. Then I waited for Hlilary Clinton responses and comments. Not good for her. It would have been so appropriate if she had sincerely apologized to everyone, and I mean everyone. Unfortunately she didn't do. And now she is blaming Barack Obama. Sad. Actually it is public and news publication and Hilary Clinton that is keeping this going. It's not Barack Obama. He is keeping low profile. Now because of the highly publicized word "assassination" security is at all time high for Barack Obama. But unfortunately this applies to Hilary Clinton as well, because of what she said. We all have to accept responsibility for our spoken words every day. And how we accept and take responsibility reflects upon ones own character.

[Hobo Joe]

NOBAMA IN NOVEMBER

I would urge all Hillary Democrats who are dissatisfied with her treatment by the media to forget party loyalty and vote the Republican Ticket in November, if by some quirk of fate, or by some underhanded means Obama gets the Democratic nomination in August. Remember, not voting is a vote for Obama.

NOBAMA IN NOVEMBER MEANS: NO NEW TAXES, NO APPEASMEMT OF OUR ENEMIES, NO MUSLIM TAKEOVER OF THE UNITED STATES, NO SCIMITAR & CRESCENT FLYING OVER THE WHITE HOUSE, & NO RACIST WHITEY HATING FIRST LADY.

[ted in pdx]

I counted about 15% of the posts coming from the codependents of Senator Clinton. I have been amazed reading these comments at how many Americans have finally brought her into focus. Five months ago, I was seriously listening and considering voting for her, and that meant giving her a complete pass for her "do it my way or else..." campaign to socialize health care in 1993. During this campaign, I've watched the old Hillary re-emerge, but in a much more formidable and dangerous form than 15 years ago.

Fortunately, lots of people are coming to the same conclusions about her. But the damage has been done. She's managed to construct a framework for a stubborn minority of pathologically bigoted folks to oppose Obama, regardless of issues. She's made her own gender a divisive issue, even though she contradicts all the stereotypes which supposedly mitigate against a female candidate for President. In terms of temperament and psycho pathology, she's emerged in this campaign as a sort of a scary blend of Madame Mao and Josef Stalin. (As for her political ideals, I mentioned Stalin in part because he had none, and neither does she.)

What is most extraordinary is the denial by her supporters of the significance of this Robert Kennedy reference. Senator Obama is a threat not only to the ignorant and bigoted, but to a variety of very sophisticated and powerful special interests. That's a dangerous combination. By gratuitously bringing up the subject of this assassination in 1968 (three or four times now), she has quite recklessly allowed the despicable thought out of it's dark little room in her head, and into the light, where it can do nothing but give encouragement to those who have already been consumed by it.

I applaud Senator Obama for downplaying it. I just hope he's got his own backup security arrangements. I wouldn't want to count entirely on Secret Service agents who's paychecks are issued and signed in Washington D.C.

[Derk Pippin]

Once upon a time, a reporter baits Hillary Clinton with a question that we all know the answer to: Is she going to drop out? Hillary, replies with a history lesson that includes the tragic assassination of then-front runner Bobby Kennedy. Her comments are then taken by said reporter - and many other reporters - and twisted into the ridiculous notion that she was somehow calling for an attempt on the life of her opponent. The opponent, Barak Obama, when asked by even more reporters how he felt when he heard the comment, didn't take offense and suggested we move forward. But the reporters couldn't stop themselves, and continued to beat the drum of one of the most vile, racist notions that there could ever be ... they kept printing the same words over and over and over again. Until one day, when the people got so tired of the reporters taking the distracting people from the real issues, that they stopped buying newspapers and looked to alternative sources to discover the truth. And finally there was peace in the land.
(I so wish fairy tales were true, but alas, you probably will never stop printing this garbage ...)

[kali]

Obamamania is Brainwashing. You cant even post any comments that are not anti-clinton on many of the major sites (CNN-Wahington times-NY Times)
I guess noone has a problem with the MEDIA picking their candidate for them (and blocking out all voices that are not in unison with their own).
Way to go Democracy.
Way to go America.

[jennifer potenciano]

the obama people are to blame for all the flap w/c they forced out of hillary’s rfk reference re her continued stay in the dems race.

the editorial of the paper where hillary explained her reference, the new york daily news, advised panicky, if ill-intentioned, people not to read too much, or try to inject something foreign or malicious, into hillary’s allusion.

actually, this is one forte of the obama camp, to wring any issue of all the juices favorable to their master, &, conversely, destructive of hillary. to complete the process of hillary’s destruction, the obama camp then faults hillary for the resulting flak.

neat, huh? what a fiendish proclivity this obama psywar tactic is (not to mention his good-cop-bad-cop ploy). & i thought obama flaunts “change” as his slogan, including change in his campaign “style.” in the philippines, we call it “stayl mo bulok!” (your style is rotten!)

[jennifer potenciano]

what "full damage control mode" does heffeclker is talking about?

the obama people are to blame for all the flap w/c they forced out of hillary’s rfk reference re her continued stay in the dems race.

the editorial of the paper where hillary explained her reference, the new york daily news, advised panicky, if ill-intentioned, people not to read too much, or try to inject something foreign or malicious, into hillary’s allusion.

actually, this is one forte of the obama camp, to wring any issue of all the juices favorable to their master, &, conversely, destructive of hillary. to complete the process of hillary’s destruction, the obama camp then faults hillary for the resulting flak.

neat, huh? what a fiendish proclivity this obama psywar tactic is. & i thought obama flaunts “change” as his slogan, including change in his campaign “style.” in the philippines, we call it “stayl mo bulok!” (your style is rotten!)

[Gerry]

John McCain is a Celebrity

Barack Obama is a Scholar

HilLIARy Clinton is a Professional Victim

[Peggy McGilligan]

Hillary Clinton will blame those who cry foul over the RFK remark. Hillary will decry that she's being accused of playing the assassination card – an unfortunate remark taken out of context. People will feel sorry for her, make excuses. She's so well-meaning, yet so misunderstood. Besides, wouldn’t yet another Kennedy (JFK Jr.) have been a shoe-in for her senate seat? Before the Clinton’s began their end-run around the 22-Amendment, both of them knew there was a fatal flaw. The mere mention of a Hillary Clinton nomination should send paroxysms of moral indignation up and down the nation’s collective spine. The Clintons: truly in a class by themselves: http://theseedsof9-11.com

[El]

As a woman, I find it horrifying that other women would ignore the realities of who Hillary Clinton is--simply because she's a woman. Both Clintons are corporate hacks who have sold their souls for "power". Bill balanced his budget on the backs of poor people and gave away the jobs of the working class. Hillary can be counted on to do far worse. She's threatened to "obliterate" Iran and voted FOR the war in Iraq--both out of political expediency. Now she's inciting the assassination of her opponent. Gaffe? Hardly.

[Jack]

If Hillary becomes president, the part of the world that doesn't already hate us because of George W. Bush, will hate us because of her.

I don't want a loose cannon like her handling delicate foreign policy. No thanks.

[LMMB]

This is the bottom line: I understand that Hillary wanted to make a comparison about a current lengthy primary with lengthy primaries in the past. However, what does the assassination of RFK have anything to do with lengthy primaries?!

[Michael]

I just read the Kennedy family are fuming over Hillary's remarks, so much for this story going away any time soon.

[jane smith]

Hillary Clinton is announcing suspension of her campaign tomorrow.

[Mr Reasonable]

Hillary and Bill have had a long night, fighting over blame and cleanup. Look for the victim to step down in tears within the next few days.

[NM]

I will never, under any circumstances, vote with Obama's supporters, who've displayed a higher level of misogyny and viciousness than the Hillary-hating right wing loonies of the 90s.

Keith Olberman and the other media hacks who've been so biased against Hillary have given this lifelong Democratic CA Latina yet another reason to vote for McCain.

I hope Olberman and Obama go into the sunset together on Nov 5. Maybe Oprah will join them.