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

[Jason357]

Where the hell does Emanuel get off defending Clinton's entirely inappropriate campaign. She's slung more mud at her fellow democrats than she ever has at the GOP. I think Kennedy was exactly right. Too bad other democratic leaders don't care enough about the process to corerct her on her behavior. She's been barbaric, and also very childish.

[Raymondf]

Kennedy is an old fart that needs to be replaced, just like Robert Byrd, Nancy pelosi, and Harry Reid. Byrd has been a senator since he was 38 and hes 93 Term limits people term limits please.
Kennedy has been in there for 40+ years. This is terrible.

[08timefortruth]

The voters choose to keep sending these folks back to Washington, if they don't want the older representatives all they have to do is vote them out. If you don't live and vote in their area it is none of your business now is it?

[jukesgrrl]

Also, where does Emanuel get off correcting one of the longest-serving US Senators, when he is a Representative? It's bad form. Please speak for yourself; that's quite enough.

[snobama]

3 words :

Teddy Chappaquiddick Kennedy !!

[BillyCioffi]

AMEN where does that fat drunk who couldn't even swing his own state for Obama get off? What he said was not called for nor frankly, true. If he run t after Chappaquid­dick?Let's face it FAT TED who was the Jerk who screwed with Jimmy Carter when he was down and handed the White House to RONNIE RAYGUN. This guy has a lot of freaking' nerve!!!

[08timefortruth]

You have "alot of freaking nerve" posting crap that makes no sense and isn't spelled correctly.

[getoffmedz]

troll

[DemocraticRN]

You're all right about one thing, Senator Emanuel better watch out for Teddy Kennedy.
Look what he did to Bill Clinton when Bill told him to stuff it. The Clintons were supposed to quit trying to win the nomination because Teddy told them too and when they refused, he got pissed and supported Obama for spite. Teddy wants to be Obama's Dick Cheney. He wants to be the power behind the throne. Obama will be Teddy's "Boy" like George W. Bush is to Cheney. When Teddy ran against Jimmy Carter in 1980 and created all of the Reagan Democrats, he divided the Party then and he has succeeded again.

[NoahVail]

Total B.S. Where do you get this stuff?

[SouthFloridaDem]

Give you one guess where it came from. It certainly didn't come from anything in daylight. This must be one of the conspiracy theories floating around Clintonville these days.

[DemocraticRN]

NoahVail: I got this BS from the same place you could.
Teddy called Bill Clinton and told him to tone it down. Bill refused. Teddy Kennedy immediately came out in support of Obama to spite Bill Clinton.
Teddy's and Caroline's symbolic act of passing the Kennedy Mantle to Obama made an unknown Black Senator from Illinois a viable Black candidate unlike Jesse Jackson Sr.
The rest you can get by searching for information about the history of the 1980 Democratic Convention where, even though Jimmy Carter had won the delegates by a margin of 2 to 1, Teddy would not shake hands on the stage when he lost. This was a signal to his supporters that they did not have to support Jimmy Carter and they went to Ronald Reagan in droves.
That is why the superdelegates were formed. This is why everyone doesn't want history to repeat itself by going to the Convention in Denver. This is why everyone is trying to run her out of the race. Teddy wants the Presidency he could not have on his own.
The fact that I don't want Obama as the Democratic candidate is because I don't wan Teddy Kennedy to be in charge. He helped Richard Nixon pass the HMO bill that introduced a program to allow insurance companies to profit by denying Healthcare to the people and lead to the mess we have now. I have proof of these things but I don't have room to list it all.

[MikeMidCity]

Gee after the things that they said about Uncle Teddy what the heck did they expect?

And who is this guy anyway?

[eurydice]

He's another one of the Israel lobby.

[hugs4u]

Rahm Emanuel must be smoking some wacky tobacky if he didn't appreciate what Sen Kennedy said. I thought what Sen Kennedy said was right on the mark.

[TIARE2000]

I heard that Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, has done a lot for the recent take over of Congress by the democrats. But there is something about him, call it woman's intuition.

In any case, what Senator Ed Kennedy said or not said, Rep. Rahm Emanuel for your information, Obama is an agent of change and that is how Obama supports feel. In fact you are the only high ranking democrat who thinks Hillary should be on the ticket.

If you owed Hillary any favors and obliged to help her, you have to find another way, she has no chance in hell to be Obama's VP. We want change not evil politicians and politics as usual.

"Mr. Obama should pick someone who was “in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people,” adding, “If we had real leadership — as we do with Barack Obama — in the No. 2 spot as well, it’d be enormously helpful.”

[patmancando]

What a load of crap.

"in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people," adding, "If we had real leadership " as we do with Barack Obama "

Look at Obama's resume'. He left that famous community service job after two years to go to Law school. In his words, he needed more education if he was to have any power to do something. He ran for state senate and after two years, he ran for a seat in the US Senate and lost. In the state senate for 8 years, he voted present 126 times...no­t yes and not no (he has a history in the state senate and the US Senate of avoiding controversy, just as he did by missing the Iran vote). Six years later he ran for US Senate against crazy Alan Keyes, which was no competition and this time he won. Again true to his pattern, after 1 1/2 years in the US Senate he decided to run for president. (Maybe someone should let him know the Presidency is a four year stint)
His voting record in the US Senate in under 50%. Hillary has a 75% voting record, but then she votes in hard and controversial votes. Obama has his name on only several bills.

[patmancando]

Yup another Koolaid addict. What is your favorite flavor?

[Countess]

Should Rahm Emanuel think that there is anything noble about Hillary Clinton after what we have all witnessed during this campaign he has not been paying attention.

[LoRiseAntlers]

What Rahm's not getting,and Kennedy is getting,is the fact that change might actually be coming,and that the day of the corporate lackey in Congress is about over.The Hillbots need to pull their heads out and sniff the wind,or they're gonna be without jobs.

[nick1936]

Ted would like to drive her off a bridge after all he is the expert at that. the reason Kennedy and Kerry hate her is that she has more balls then either of them Kennedy was a wimp against carter and Kerry was a real wimp against Bush

[DemocraticRN]

Realize that the only change Senator Edward Kennedy wants is the be the Democratic Dick Cheney. Obama will be his George W. Bush and he will have achieved what he tried to do in 1980 that also split the Democratic Party and created thousands of Reagan Democrats. The Clintons are trying to mess up his dream of power and he resents it. Too bad he will need people like me to do it and I plan to write in Hillary's name if it is not on the ballot. I can't vote for McCain and I cant vote for Ted Kennedy either.

[patmancando]

Democratic RN....

add Obama to your list and I feel the SAME.

[NoahVail]

“If we had real leadership — as we do with Barack Obama — in the No. 2 spot as well, it’d be enormously helpful.”

Yes, and Mr. Emanuel's comments only confirm that Hillary does not have said leadership. He is the one who is letting (more) air out of her tires.

[ajax2]

Sen. Kennedy's comments were correct and thoughtful. Hillary's as VP would dramatically change the tone and substance of Obama's campaign during the general election.

One must remember that Rahm Emanuel was and is a Bush war supporter. Hillary is the Democratic War Candidate, of course Rahm is upset. For information on how Rahm enabled the Bush War by promoting 'Blue Dog' candidates go to firedoglake.

[riverhouse]

Rahm and Hillary are fellow travelers of AIPAC.

[ajax2]

It looks like the Rahm piece was taken down, so here's the gist of his Bush war support,

firedoglake,
As for Rahm's recruits strengthening what some call "centrist" positions-- and what I call reactionary positions-- just look at how they vote.

The freshmen voting most frequently abandoning the Democrats in order to vote with the Republicans are Heath Shuler (personally recruited by Rahm), Jason Altmire (not a Rahm candidate), Joe Donnelly (a Rahm candidate), Brad Ellsworth (a Rahm candidate), Baron Hill (relentlessly pursued by Rahm to run), and Nick Lampson (I hope some Texans will make public how Rahm made this happen; I'm bound to silence).

These are the guys who keep voting with the GOP on issue after issue after issue, and who constantly weaken Pelosi's chance to forge a working progressive majority. Rahm's big mistake in 2005-06 was his pigheaded belief that real anti-war candidates couldn't win and that grassroots candidates are worthless.

[KISSman]

Kennedy was absolutely right. And where does Emanuel get off telling Ted Kennedy off?? Who the hell is he?? Man, I've never liked that guy.

Kennedy has been around long enough to be able to speak his mind on the matter and if Emanuel doesn't like it, tough sh*t.

Hillary shouldn't be the VP nominee.

[SouthFloridaDem]

You got that right -- I was wondering what the hell is Emanuel doing? He's been in the House five years, Kennedy's been a senator since 1962 (second only to Byrd in length of time in office). What a punk Emanual is telling Kennedy off like that, and for what? Defense of Hillary Clinton? Oh I do believe Emanuel will come to regret that "misspeak" he just did.

[ByersL]

Rahm -- watch out, we are watching. Hillary has to go, and you can go with her if you'd like. We know what kind of pol you are, and we aren't going to stand for it anymore. You like to divide and conquer, well good, I'm sure your kid's school needs a good PTA president! I hope the good people of NY will throw Hillo out on her rear end. She has shamed the Democratic Party for her own gains, and your state electorate along with it.

[MeByTheSea]

All true! And the more like him that are gone, the better Obama's changes will be accepted and implemented. It's time for MAJOR change, including a lot of Democrats that don't represent the people's will or best interests.

[ATruthBeKnown]

Let me give Emanuel some advice. STHU. He is so far on Clinton's control leash that you can't believe it. I am tired of everyone taking a soft step and dancing around them to keep from being the brunt of their wrath.

The hell with it. The TRUTH is the Clinton's have deliberately set on a course to damage a fellow democratic candidate. The list of offenses is TOO long to mention here. They have been eloquent in blaming their behavior on the other candidate, his supporters, and the media. In other words nothing is their fault but always some one else.

Now they want to be rewarded for it. BS. They need to be unceremoniously put out to pasture like a lame horse. They are now tired, history, roadblocks, arrogant, narcissistic, selfish, and irrelevant to the party's progress. They have clearly demonstrated that it's not about the party and America, it's about them.

Again, BS !!!!!! We will do fine with out them.

[Gasparilla]

That's OK. Emanuel will say something nice about Obama and everyone will fall over themselves with comments about how understanding and brilliant he is. Unlike now.

[Anonani]

No Democrat should call Senator Clinton on the tactics that she has used against Senator Obama. Tit for tat has never worked and never will. No matter that she, as recent as last week, played the race card emphasizing the fact that she has the blue collar white vote and that it is impossible for Obama to every carry that demographic. It is irrelevant that she has expounded tirelessly about his non-electability and his comparative inexperience. Most enlightening is that, per Clinton, if that red phone rings at 3am Obama, unlike Clinton, would not keep your children safe because, unlike Clinton, he would not know what to do. She has always held the standards high for her candidacy and she should not be called on any of her statements or her eviserating comments about Senator Obama.

Yes, by all means give her a pass!

[JFaye]

At the costly risk of "in-fighting" Democrats must move carefully. Senator Kennedy, as a senior member of the Party rightfully denounced Senator Clinton's remarks and for the good of the party. Her lingering efforts to destroy not simply her opponent, but the MOVEMENT for change disqualifies her for VP consideration.

Representative Emanuel in all likelihood understands Democrats cannot stay the course if Senator Clinton continues with her divisive attempts at undermining Senator Obama's and the Democratic Party. It's time for the "fighter" to abandon this course of destruction and cause even greater divisions in the party.

I pray the party does not implode over silliness ... MOVE ON, PLEASE.