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Emanuel Says Kennedy Clinton Comments Out Of Line

The New York Times   |  Adam Nagourney   |   May 11, 2008 07:11 PM

Read More: 2008 Election, 2008 Elections, Rahm Emanuel Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy Rahm Emanuel, Ted Kennedy Rahm Emanuel Hillary Clinton, Politics News
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On a day when it seemed that everybody was beating up on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton -- even "Saturday Night Live" had run a skit making fun of her -- one person came to her defense on Sunday: Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the No. 3 Democrat in the House.

Mr. Emanuel called to assail Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, for remarks he made when asked about the possibility of Senator Barack Obama of Illinois choosing Mrs. Clinton, of New York, as his running-mate.

"I have a lot of respect for Ted Kennedy, but I don't know how the hell he comes off saying that," said Mr. Emanuel, who has ties to Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama and has not endorsed in the race. "The gratuitous attack on her is uncalled for and wrong. He is a better senator than that comment reveals."

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collapse SCG See Profile I'm a Fan of SCG

Rahm Emanuel isn't fit to shine Sen. Kennedy's shoes , let alone lecture him.

Piss off Rahm, and join the rest of you're DLC sell outs.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:32 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse Teri See Profile I'm a Fan of Teri

he should just support his favorite candiate, hillary clinton and then say goodbye to his seat in congress when barack obama is president. rahm emmanuel can stay with "ole miss" if he wants to, but the train to be on is the one that kennedy is on and that is the obama train!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:58 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse finlandstation See Profile I'm a Fan of finlandstation

i'd like to know where my posts have gone to. is this part of a conspiracy to weed anything even remotely critical of obama from this blog.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:50 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse bigbingtheory See Profile I'm a Fan of bigbingtheory

Yeah that 's it. I've had posts disappear too and I am usually very pro Obama, he being the nominee and all.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:42 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse ched See Profile I'm a Fan of ched

Rahm is well able to back-peddle and eat crow when necessary, at least where the Clintons are concerned, as he demonstrated last week after correctly calling Obama the presumptive nominee, then having his press girl "clarify."

This time, he needs to apologize to Ted Kennedy, whose statement in no way directly disparaged Hillary, and which pales in comparison to the insults hurled directly at Obama by Herself. Rahm seems like a smart enough guy, and is clearly ambitious. But as the only member of the Illinois dem delegation not to endorse his fellow Illinoisan, and a well known DLC tool whose inflated credit for the 2006 dem takeover of Congress is fading fast.he's already treading on thin ice. Add to this his insult of Kennedy - whose boots Rahm ought to be licking, instead of spitting upon - and Rahm's future could start to look less than rosy come November. If he wants to get right with the new boss, he needs to have his press girl issue another "clarification" post-haste.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:19 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse leftoflennon See Profile I'm a Fan of leftoflennon

Well Said

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:16 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse finlandstation See Profile I'm a Fan of finlandstation

with all due respect, it is very likely that emanuel will be the next speaker of the house. as one of the central strategists behind the party's victory last year he stands a good chance of unseating nancy pelosi next year following obama's landslide defeat this fall. we'll see then who will be licking whose boots.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:08 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse bigbingtheory See Profile I'm a Fan of bigbingtheory

Highly doubful unless he swings to the left. We are re-taking our party.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:50 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse Jammer See Profile I'm a Fan of Jammer

I can only take solace in the fact that Obama and his advisors are infinitely wiser and smarter then his supporters. Poised at the edge of victory, his supporters demonstrate the most ungracious uncivilized winning behaviour I have seen in quite a while. Obama knows he needs to unify the party and bring Clintons voters to his side and thank God for that, because left to their own devices his supporters cant help themselves from piling on and piling on in increasingly negative and nasty ways and angering her supporters more and more. Thank god someone here knows how to play this game. "Monster", "liar", "creep" "indirectly responsible for Vince Foster's death." You people ought to be ashamed of yourselves. How can such rude uncivilized cretins be supporting a candidate of hope and unity?

One more thought if your brains can stand it: if you want to blow apart the Democratic party, get your guy to appoint some OTHER woman as VP. Then you really will go down in flames and you will deserve it. But there is no chance of that, Obama is too clever to go down that road.

Again, thank God your candidate can run intellectual circles around the lot of you.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:14 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse bigbingtheory See Profile I'm a Fan of bigbingtheory

Well, sorry but Hillary CLinton has burned some bridges in the Democrqatic Party with her campaign. I, like many others, was an ardent and loyal supporter of the Clintons during the 90s. I never read one post where an Obama supporter speculated about Vince Foster's death. It may have been brought up as something the Republicans will do but I think you ranimosity is misplaced. It's been Hillary, who lost this thing 2 months ago and her supporters that have been trashing the supporters of the nominee. If we seem angry at Hillary it's because she sold us out, is tearing down a fellow Democrat and seems willing to split the party in two for her own selfish wishes.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:37 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse joeinvt See Profile I'm a Fan of joeinvt

As a fellow Obama supporter, it is sad to say but there were many Vince Foster comments, etc. posted on HuffPo. Just because Bill was stupid enough to give the Republicans something to get him on, doesn't mean that there wasn't really a vast right wing conspiracy---which is aiming it's sights on Obama at this very moment. The Clintons are fair game for criticism, but if we give credence to the lies and bullshit, we are inviting more of it on Barack. Remember Jerry Falwell hawking the Clinton Chronicles on his "Gospel" hour? How many people was that Clinton murdered to cover up his international cocaine smuggling operation?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:27 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse knosiswar See Profile I'm a Fan of knosiswar

Obama/Boxer or Sebeilus 08

Good Also. BUT NO NO NO with HRC. Remember the Brady Bill.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:05 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse knosiswar See Profile I'm a Fan of knosiswar

Obama - Clark 08' is good for me

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:02 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse Testtubebaby See Profile I'm a Fan of Testtubebaby

Go suck a grape...the sour one of course.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:41 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse ObamaEdwards See Profile I'm a Fan of ObamaEdwards

Gallant and sweet--but stupid. Kennedy's remarks are well founded. Both Clintons have shown us their dirty underwear in this campaign, proving that our government will be better off if the Clinton do not get another chance to tear up Washington with sexual scandal and distracting side issues. The Clintons have a ton of money. Before Hillary blows all of it on a hopeless campaign, they ought to retire.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:09 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse CallMeDeaconBlues See Profile I'm a Fan of CallMeDeaconBlues

Does anyone really care what Ted thinks?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:07 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse ched See Profile I'm a Fan of ched

Does anyone really care what Rahm thinks?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:21 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse CallMeDeaconBlues See Profile I'm a Fan of CallMeDeaconBlues

Think we got it covered.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:23 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse GodisHateSpeech See Profile I'm a Fan of GodisHateSpeech

Does anyone care what you two think?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:13 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse coloneblog See Profile I'm a Fan of coloneblog

Emanuel's rebuke of Kennedy and Kennedy's comments on Mrs. Clinton aren't newsworthy. It's only the media that makes it so; they feed on, then fuel controversy for the sake of expanding editorial content. Case in point; in an earlier primary, Massachusetts' Democrats voted for Senator Clinton despite Obama endorsements by Kerry and Kennedy, himself. People aren't listening to this type of phony story-telling.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:57 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse jah2008 See Profile I'm a Fan of jah2008

"The gratuitous attack on her is uncalled for and wrong."

Where was the gratuitous attack? All he said was that it wasn't a good idea.

"how the lose loses will determine how the winner wins"

How about having the galls to say what you mean Rahm, instead of dancing around the obvious?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:40 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse bobo209 See Profile I'm a Fan of bobo209

Rahm emannuel??a porn star??damnn

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:06 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse 111 See Profile I'm a Fan of 111

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahm_Emanuel

"On the night after the Clinton election, "Emanuel was so angry at the president's enemies that he stood up at a celebratory dinner with colleagues from the campaign, grabbed a steak knife and began rattling off a list of betrayers, shouting 'Dead! ... Dead! ... Dead!' and plunging the knife into the table after every name."His "take-no-prisoners attitude" earned him the nickname "Rahm-bo"

Mr. Emanuel is no judge of what is and is not appropriate behavior.

Rahm declared, "Winning is everything" and the candidate he has supported, who has used his tactical approach, focusing attention on key districts to ensure victory - lost. Obama who used Dean's 50 state strategy has won, has beaten Clinton in popular votes, pledged delegates and soon with superdelegates, proved Rahm's tactics ineffective.

Rahm was silent when Clinton said Obama was not qualified to be Commander in Chief. I believe the only reason he has spoken out now is that the remark was made about Hillary Clinton, not the remark itself.

The DLC is against single-payer universal health care. The DLC supports both NAFTA and CAFTA. During the 2004 Primary campaign the DLC attacked Presidential candidate Howard Dean as an out-of-touch liberal because of Dean's anti-war stance - the DLC supports the war in Iraq. This is why our congress continues to fund the war.

Thank you Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Obama for having courage to stand against this group.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:08 AM on 05/12/2008
collapse PKSSK See Profile I'm a Fan of PKSSK

Very enlightening and so true. Again, thank you Senator Kennedy and Senator Obama for standing up and speaking the truth to what the American people need and want! The DLC is the past and we the people will support and participate in the philosophy of the DNC, which supports the needs of all the people!!!!

Obama/Boxer or Sebeilus 08

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:38 AM on 05/12/2008
collapse castlerider See Profile I'm a Fan of castlerider


Rahm, you're such a tool... Boooo Hooo.

Oh, we are all so Booh-Hooh with you... NOT!!

What a pansie. It's absolutely embarrasing that dwwebs like him can't shut the hell up and stay out of the picture. He's like the irritated brother-in-law at a wedding who can't stand that everyone isn't as miserable as he is...

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:17 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse gun See Profile I'm a Fan of gun

Honesty is so refreshing...and threatening, in a witness.

So congratulations, Senator Kennedy, you've said it again
-- when in the midst of a Bullworth moment --

You said what so many of us feel:
No deal with that wheel and her sometimes Big Heel!

Cause it won't be fair, square or new.
No, we ain't going down, that road again
-- didn't their foreplay lead us into the Bush?

Doesn't hindsight clearly reveal their sins, i.e. using America to self-medicate?

Obama is a new piece of paper;
has a different operating system, is a totally different cat.

What does she have that he wants or needs?

Oh, the herd loyalty of women like her? -- but where are those Clintonistas going to go? Isn't McCain everything they've been fighting all their life? A not-very-bright-white male who wants to rule: General Macho.

Chill ladies, there will be many women presidents...should America survive the Republicans and its rancid talk-show pundits;

Just look at the bumper crop coming up -- but they will be oh so much better than Hill: who, remember was planted into the political soil next to Goldwater and once embraced "tactical nuclear strikes."

& BESIDES, ANOTHER NEW YORKER would be such a better BARACK pardner.

WOW...Isn't it exciting watching America happen?
...Get on the new road... .. Just as the wheels threaten to come off...think it's a coincidence?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:32 AM on 05/12/2008
collapse DTGB See Profile I'm a Fan of DTGB

what she HAS that Obama WANTS is 49% of Democratic voters in the primary. Something that it seems Obama supporters continue to forget. judging from the posts on Huff Post, i guess none of you care to bring that 49% back into the General. you beat up not only HRC but those of us who support her and you will NEED us to win, so i would strongly recommend a change in tone as you cannot win w/out her half of the party and the constant insults long ago became unbearable.
the utter lack of reason and insight into this historic campaign has become tedious. you guys just want to crucify Hillary, doesnt seem to me that you want to win a presidential election. OTHERWISE, all of you would be working to bring the very same Clinton supporters into your camp that you enthusiastically push away w/ every hateful, emotional, irrational post.
i want to beat McCain and i support Hillary. my concern is the depth to which i see Hillary supporters digging in.
so you want Obama to win? REALLY? well, you should start thinking about it since 49% of the 35 + million voters in this primary support her. YOU NEED THEM.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:39 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse bigbingtheory See Profile I'm a Fan of bigbingtheory

and another thing, you are projkecting what you are doing on to me. I am trying to build a coalition, have been for two months now when it was obvious Hillary could not catch Obama. I want to crucify Hillary because she is destroying th eparty, she's alienated former supporters of hers like me with her tirelss and petty attacks on Obama. And I share your concern fo rhow hard Hillary supporters are digging in. What would you have me do? I can't make them see that theior candidate lost the nomination. I can't make them see she would be ripped to shreds by the Republican machine. I can't make them see that their support for her, and enabling of her to stay int his race, is hurting the party. I've been trying. So please climb down from the ivory tower and roll up your shirt sleeves like a good Demcorat or get the hell our of our way.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:33 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse bigbingtheory See Profile I'm a Fan of bigbingtheory

DTGB,
There is no speculatio who the Republican sprefer to run against and who is the more polarizing candidate. Hillary Clinton. I choose Obama becuase he's the nominee. I was an Edwards supporter and was content to vote for the winner of the remaining two. Hillary has done a good job of alienating me however and though I would vote for her, I wouldn't campaign for her like I would Obama. If Hillary suporters are going to remain bitter and petty and enable Mc Cain then I don't have time for them. I'd like to think they'd act like Democrats first, consider what's best for the country and support the nominee than be so selfish.
When did I demonize you? You're trying to build a coalition by tearing down the righful nominee of the party. Good luck with that.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:28 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse DTGB See Profile I'm a Fan of DTGB

bigbingtheory, we wont ever really know but for all the speculation, so far there is no evidence that republicans are swaying the nomination.
i guess it is your choice to hang on to your animosity towards Clinton supporters who might say the same thing about your choices as well.
i guess you really dont want to win in Nov OR you're just fine taking your chances w/out the other half of the 35 mill or so who have participated in the election. i guess staying mad is a better choice. i guess pushing people away is the Obama way. i guess it's more important to you to appear to be right than it is to actually be right. i guess assumptions about people you dont know makes you much brighter than the rest of us. i guess that you believe there are only 2 sides to every story when there are actually 3, your side, the other side and the truth. i guess demonizing people like me who are ACTUALLY trying to build a coilition makes you superior.
my guess is that you really dont care as long as you get your way. AS YOU CAN see, i'm really tired w all of this but unlike you, i'm not stooping to the Rovian BS that you are, nope, i'm trying to beat mccain, not dig my heels in against people who i agree w on the issues just maybe on the person i want to lead them.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:18 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse bigbingtheory See Profile I'm a Fan of bigbingtheory

I'm willing to bet that after you deduct the Republican dittoheads that voted for her, and the many Democrats she's pissed off, that number is significantly lower.
Unfortunately there are still some Hillary supporters blinded by her. Unable or unwilling to recognize that she is not the candidate she claims to be, and that she lost this thing 2 months ago. She has alienated a large chunk of the party with her campaign tactics, her lies and smears of the nominee. Animosity exists towards her supporters because they became part of the problem and remain that way. Sorry you haven't figured out that you are being used. It took me a while to figure it out too.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:46 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse finlandstation See Profile I'm a Fan of finlandstation

well, this is one voter in that 49% who will not be voting for obama this fall. by the sound of the comments of his constituents they don't really want anything to do with us. our support for hillary, in their estimation, is tantamount to supporting karl rove and the rest of the bushies. they have hijacked the party and will burn it down. so be it. i'd rather start fresh, without them, after obama loses in an electoral landslide this fall. as you can see by their comments they are quite comfortable with demonizing the clintons and hillary in particular as effectively as the most extreme right wingers. many of these so-called democrats will very likely vote republican in the future. they have no loyalty to the party or to its history.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:59 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse DTGB See Profile I'm a Fan of DTGB

Eanderso,

if half make that choice it could give McCain the WH. Either way, why do you dispute me? Dont you think it makes sense to make an EFFORT to bring these people in? do you honestly believe that continued the bashing will help bring them in?
Maybe you should stop and think about how you would feel if the 49% was Obama and the 51% was Clinton? what threats would be made? how many Obama supporters would defect? based on all the posts i've been reading, Obama supporters are threatening to defect if he picks her for his VP or helps her w her campaign debt. Seems to me that many Obama supporters ARE making those threats already.
my point is, you get more flies w honey than vinegar, if the nomination is all but sewn up, seems it's time to stop the hate-mongering and make a move towards reconciliation regardless of what the outcome is. I've talked to many Clinton supporters who are saying NOW that they are going to write her name in, there is a decent sized movement towards that.
my goal is to beat McCain, seems that we share that. time to stop the meanness, IF for no other reason than it's been enough already.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:16 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse eanderso See Profile I'm a Fan of eanderso

This is somewhat alarmist. Do you really believe that ALL of Hillary's supporters are so stubborn and spiteful that they'd cut off their own noses to spite their face? I don't. In fact, I believe it's actually a very small portion who will vote for McCain or stay home rather than vote for Obama. It's easy to say you'll do something vindictive when asked by a pollster or writing in the comments section on a blog, but when the levers are pulled in November...only the shallow and small-minded would vote against their own self-interest.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:58 PM on 05/12/2008