Emanuel Says Kennedy Clinton Comments Out Of Line

The New York Times:

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."

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[dutchess2]

Bill Clinton could no more tolerate being third or fourth banana in the White House than he was able to tolerate not being the candidate in the primaries.

Ted Kennedy is exactly right... Obama has run a different kind of campagne... we all believe Hillary is sitting tight now in the hope that someone, anyone will bring her enough dirt to use against him
to knock him out of the race.

The American people have had so much of lies and hidden agendas that we simply can't have
a VP that is known for twisting and curling whatever she could get her hands on to try to do the down and dirty.

I absolutely loved the Clintons when they were in office, and our portfolio quadrupled... I am so sorry
to have witnessed what they were really like.. But determined that Obama can pick his VP to suit
himself and his policies, and for no other reason.

[Crozier]

As for Rahm Emmanuel, congressman from IL, and chair of the HCCC has always had pragmatic loyalties. He worked for Bill in the West Wing and then he calls Obama the "presumptive nominee." He reminds me of the senior senator from NY, who always knows which country they support FIRST over US interests.....especially when IRAN is the discussion.

[jrterrier]

The Dem party owes its majority in the House to Emmanuel's "pragmatic" thinking. He knows how to win. The Kennedy branch of the party hasn't been able to win a presidential campaign since JKF in 1960 and that was when Joe Kennedy was alive and able to "win" the presidency for John. And by the way, WVA went for JFK and for Bill Clinton.

What's amazing is the manner in which Obama and his supporters are looking at the race. Obama has a razor thin lead and if you consider FL and MI (even if not count their delegates), Hillary is ahead. So, I'm not sure where their immense sense of having trounced Hillary comes from. Ted Kennedy, with much more lop-sided numbers against him in 1980 (he only had about 35% of the pop vote againt Jimmy Carter) took his campaign to the nominating floor.

There were many reports that Ted came out for Obama because he was miffed at Hillary for giving credit to LBJ (rather than JFK) for passage of the CIvil Rights Act. Perhaps that explains his antagonism for Hillary. He is afraid the Clintons will replace the Kennedys as the big name in Dem politics. Although in reality, that took place long ago. The only successful Kennedy in politics is Teddy.

[jrterrier]

I know that Obama supporters and the MSM are in ecstasy over their supposed wrapup of the dem nomination. But please just consider some facts:

"No Democrat has been elected to the White House without carrying West Virginia since 1916, yet Mr Obama appears to have little chance of winning there in November. Recent opinion polls indicate that Mrs Clinton would narrowly beat Mr McCain in the state but Mr Obama would lose by nearly 20 percentage points."

[AggravationKills]

wow, I never noticed all the anti semitism here on HuffPo before...

[steamboat]

Be careful then what you wish for.......Chances are your portfolio may become more like Jimmy Carter days then Clinton days under a Obama presidency.

[amoment]

Why does the media try to give the nomination to clinton?

Why is it that clinton doesn't have to explain what she says but Obama does?

In what presidential primary (besides this one) has the media and others waited to see if something was going to go wrong with the presumptive nominee, in which case the nomination would go to the losing opponent?

[Independent voter]

I read the whole article and don't see anything wrong with it.

I find the idea of a clinton VP offensive after the way that she has conducted herself. There are many qualified VP candidates, men and women alike, who do not embrace the self serving politics of hatred and division like that which the clinktons represent so well.

[harriscrl3]

OH SHUT THE HELL UP!!!. You mean like Hilary and her surrogates attacks on Obama when people like you kept your freaking mouth shut now all of a sudden you are speaking.

Because it cannot be said enough I LOATHE the democrats. They are the BIGGEST JOKE going a bunch of pathetic patsies is what they are.

Carol

[bfbenn]

So what are you doing here? Self-flagellate much?
I'm sure you'd be more welcome over at LGF or one of the other hate sites.

[mikonyc]

I thought you obama supporters are welcoming to all opinions, speaking directly with the enemy, so much for that LIE! .........from a clinton supporter!

[AggravationKills]

Carol, Try Prozac or Paxil.

[jedonspring]

oooooo . Carol, chill. You are embarassing yourself. We're thinking unkind things about you. :(

[neem]

It's a pleasure to feel genuine admiration for Ted Kennedy. I'm not usually a big fan of Senator Kennedy, but he is speaking the truth about Hillary Clinton. Senator Kennedy wants the Democrats to win in November. He doesn't want Obama to have Hillary Clinton as a millstone around his neck. Ted Kennedy knows that if Hillary Clinton is on the ticket as Vice President, this would be a gift to the Republicans from Jesus. Frankly, I find it hard to believe that Rahm Emanuel doesn't know this as well.

[pupbayer]

Kennedy, Kerry, McGovern...I REALLY listen to these guys! They've got their thumbs on the pulse of American for sure!

[lorisc]

Did you like McGovern when he was a Hillary superdelegate or did your hate for him begin last Wed?

[AggravationKills]

Oh yeah, Kennedy's a real peach.

[Mij13]

Emanuel: grow up! Nobody gets to tell anybody they're out of line saying anything about Hill and Bill after the filthy campaign they ran against Obama. I was more exited about her running last year than anyone, and now, the only thing that could make me reconsider my support for Obama would be his chosing her as VP. Nobody deserves it less. She and BIll should become a national joke for the rest of their lives.

[jrterrier]

filthy campaign against obama? you are making it up. they barely went at obama.

[bigbingtheory]

Apparently you weren't paying attention the last two months as Hilalry and her goon squad began acting like the right wing smear machine she once abhorred.

[Spooled]

My 2nd choice would be a relatively unknown but a great and powerfully brave woman of California.

Deborah Bowen would also be an outstanding pick for VP. She deserves it cause she single handedly took on Diebold corrupt voting machines all by herself. Deborah Bowen is awesome. The state of California is lucky to have her as Secretary of State. Check her out at her web page!

She is a tough lady who stood up for the people when our votes were being stolen..

Also check out the BradBlog for Deborah Bowen fighting against Diebold and other companies trying to install corrupt voting machines. Deborah Bowen is one of my personal political hero's! She's awesome!

[campgranata]

Out of line yet on the money. MRS Clinton has very limited leadership and absolutely no leadership skills. check out her campaign, the only enterprise she has ever run. Started out the Brand name will more advantages than any candidate and ends up trailing a tyro. WOW, I'd like her to run my country.

[Spooled]

In terms of a VP selection for Obama, this could get dicey. A VP selection for Obama must be as impeccable as he is. They must be Bulletproof.

I agree that it is much easier to find a female Vice Presidential pick with an impeccable lifestyle and record, than it would be to find a male.

The Republicans will use a sloppy VP pic to sink the Obama ship.

I sure hope he does not rush this decision. I personally think that Barbara Boxer would be a wonderful choice. Barack Obama and Barbara Boxer! I am being intellectually honest with this choice.

I dare anyone to find anything bad to say about Senator Barbara Boxer.

[jrterrier]

if he picks barbara boxer, he might as well mail it in. he will LOSE!!! she won't play well anywhere outside CA.

[tipiglen6]

Kennedy was right. We need something better in the No.2 spot, like Jim Webb, Kathleen Sebelius, or any of the large number of folk with less negative baggage than Sen Clinton. She should return to the Senate, and try and become Majority Leader, but personally, I hope the Senate might find a better candidate for that role as well.

[afgail]

Hey, Senator Kennedy let's do talk about leadership. Massachussetts voted overwhelmingly in favor of Clinton in spite of your very dramatic endorsement of Obama just before the primary in your state. Your state disagreed with you big time. Further, there is an abiding sense of homage to the Kennedy legacy rather than the good of the nation that suffuses your endorsement of Obama.

[frappe]

Massachusetts will have no problem whatsoever voting for Barack Obama. I'm sure that if the primary vote were held today in Massachusetts, the outcome would be far different.

[nomobull]

first of all he helped cut her lead from a 25 or more high to again less than half in a short amount of time . imagine with a little time and without the early ballots when clinton had name recognition in her favor.

[campgranata]

They voted before they knew much about Obama and Clinton; they would not support her so enthusiastically after they have gotten to know what scum she is and how she has attempted to destroy the democrats. Hubby, Hype and Hyperbole got her farther than a person of her limited ability should have gone. she is barely educable. She exemplifies the difference between Intelligence and well-educated for you can be well educated and stupid.

[AggravationKills]

sounds about right afgail. And Im voting Obama. But I can smell Kennedys BS miles away!

[FromConnecticut]

Obama needs to keep away from the Clintons to prevent the chaos and backstabbing the Clintons would inject into the Democratic presidential campaign.

I hope Obama states NO to Hillary on the ticket, and NO to her as Democratic surrogate on the stump. Obama has many capable, trustworthy Democrats from which to choose.

The Clintons campaign for Clintons. No exceptions.

[HurryUp1212009]

Mr. Emanuel is a typical machine politician, which is why he's a Clinton backer - he gets more of "the vig" if she steals the nomination. Ted Kennedy has it right: Why should Obama have the Billary comedy show right behind him for the next four years. Bill Clinton is a disruptive scumbag, Obama needs him like root canal, and there are at least 10 good candidates for VP, including Dianne Feinstein by the way, who are far better qualified than Billary.

[Spooled]

@HurryUp1212009

Your being intellectually dis-honest. I was in support of your post, until you propositioned that a notorious "War Profiteer" should be Obama's VP selection.

Who are you, and whats your agenda?

[atomic]

Hillary is not a leader she is a monster and we have already gone through 8 years where people mistook viscousness for leadership qualities.

Who would have ever thought that all along right next to the "honorable" Bill Clinton was a snarling creature bidding it's time ... calculating it's strike... waiting .... Hillary is clearly livid that Obama who seemed to come from nowhere is shutting her down ...

Bloodsuckers like Bush and the Clinton's don't handle disappointment well at all ... they believe they deserve privilege and they are incapable of real humility .... instead they operate like snakes and coil up ... they look for vengeance ... they turn ugly and loose all perspective save the front of caring about others which they have honed to perfection .... But now we are witness to Hillary's true personality. A vicious creature that spit lies and craves power ...

Beware of the elite and those who would use you for their own personal gain ... oh they will tell you they are there for you and that they are just like you .... but unless you already knew it and did not have to be told they were your friend .... if you did not see it in their actions then you are being lied to ....

Hillary is a liar.

[drzoon]

kennedy spoke the truth. get over it.

[mikonyc]

no, he did not speak the truth, he cannot stand sharing the stage with a clinton, his "kennedy" name (although it is all a fairy tale, the kennedy's have done nothing for america, except be reckless politiican in public and private) is all he has!

[AggravationKills]

thats impossible.

[atomic]

Defend her all you like Mr. Emanuel. We know that you are part of the corporate / fake Democrats that have turned their back on the American people and operate in stealth in favor of the elite corporations and bankers ... just as the Clinton's have done with their actual record and their close ties over the past 7 years with the Bush crime family ... Emanuel is solidly for HIllary Clinton because Hillary is not a real Democrat and neither is he ....

There is a reason why all the liberal and progressive media are in favor of Obama over Clinton .... Clinton has run a nasty (republican like) campaign. Everybody know it. It's like George Bush all over again and anybody with a mind can see what is going on here. Get out Hillary ... you blew it ... we trusted you and thought you were the real deal but you turned out to be a creep and a liar. Your words are hollow and meaningless because you are only saying whatever it takes to win ...

[pleeezzze]

atomic ....like you would know a Real Dem .
All you people think of is ,if they are for Obama , then they're Dems ,otherwise they are all trolls .
See how stupid you sound ?