Jeffrey Toobin: Clinton's Refusal To Concede "Deranged Narcissism"

On CNN's election night coverage Tuesday, political analyst Jeffrey Toobin called Hillary Clinton's refusal to concede the election "deranged narcissism." Watch Toobin below:

The folks over at The Hotline put together a roundup of other pundits' reaction to Clinton's speech in New York City tonight:

"Well whatever that was, it wasn't a concession speech." -- FNC's Hume

"Clearly, she's trying to position herself, keep her options open." -- NBC's Russert, on HRC's speech (MSNBC).

"If I were Barack Obama, if I heard that speech, I would not be very happy. ... They are living in parallel universes right now." -- CNN's Borger.

"This was a defiant speech, against all the kind of advice that [heavyweights] within the Democratic Party gave her" -- Ex-WH adviser David Gergen, on whether he was surprised by Clinton's speech (CNN).

"She did everything but offer Obama the vice presidency" -- GOP strategist Alex Castellanos (CNN)

Comments

[booker52]

The media should start a media black out on her. That will take away her power.

[DCtrain]

Yes, quit the free media

[Charmed]

Hillary suppose to be such a "fighter" but then she "needs time" to process something she's known for months. Give me a break, what kind of fighter is that....sh­e's weak and when she lost she acted like a woman scorn.

[Rianna]

Toobin is absolutely right. Obama does not need a lying, vicious, selfish, witch, in the WH.

[Melissa]

He is the one that should not be in the WH.

[shades3]

And you say that because...­..........­..........­..........­..........­..

Melissa, Hillary Clinton DID NOT WIN THE NOMINATION. She got fewer delegates than did Barack Obama, which is the measure of who wins and who does not.
What measure is it that you are using, or are you simply venting.
WHEW.

[kellygrrrl]

what happened to that "If you can't stand the heat" spirit?

what happened to that "I will be fine?"

what happened to that protocol and due respect to the Nominee?

what a setback to Feminism it would be if we were all not to demand that Clinton be held to the same standards as any other politician

[batgirl71]

Amen, kellygrrl

[AmericaIsATerroist]

Sadly, any kind of grace from Clinton went out the window ages ago. This has never been about change or for the good of the Country. This has ALWAYS been about her and her desire to secure a big fat corner office in the history books. It was NEVER about being President, it was about being the first FEMALE President, and that, the country doesn't need. The ego on this woman astounds me.

[Supermatter]

Damn! The Clintons are unbelievable. I hope to God that Hillary doesn't turn into some kind of political vulture, circling Obama between now and the convention, never conceeding or admiting he's won, just waiting for a mistake or gaffe on which to pounce and trying to steal the nomination at every opportunity.

The more I see of the Clintons, the more convinced I am that destroying Obama, the Democratic party, and even the country means NOTHING to them. BTW this is also clear with regard to their fanatic feminist followers who say they'll vote for McCain.

[ChartWizard]

Like all groups, some of the feminist followers are single-issue, care-about­-nobody-el­se types, but most are thoughtful Democrats who've been duped by an arrogant, classless, power-hungry, narcissist.

I think the more Clinton acts so petulant, the more she refuses to make herself say anything genuine like: "congratulations, you won a hard contest," the more she demands (always through surrogates so she can play her word-games) the Vice-President spot, the more her supporters are being turned-off and will realize, "gosh, she sure had me fooled."

I think she will continue to do little more than marginalize herself right in front of everyone.

And if she loses this HUGE gamble, she will then be the poster-child for persona non grata from November 2009 for the rest of her life.

[ApolloniaCreed]

And apparently according to reports I'm reading on TPM, she gave Bob Johnson the go ahead to start her veep campaign about a month ago, but asked he wait until after June 3... It won't be good for the party if she is allowed to strong-arm her way on to the ticket... it just makes us look weak. Someone needs to tap her on the shoulder..­.

[donaldw6]

We cannot allow her to be VP. Who's been the real power the last eight years, Bush or Cheney? I want Obama to be the leader, and he needs a VP who'll help him restore the Constitution.

[zonafan51]

I'm not sure a tap on the shoulder would do it. I think someone needs to smack her with a 2x4 to get her attention and then tell her that it's over and she lost. The longer she drags this out the more damaging it is to her and the more credibility she loses.

[AmericaIsATerroist]

She won't strong arm her way onto anything. She'll be told to fuck off by the Obama camp and disloyalty within the party will be dealt with accordingly. Don't take Obama's even disposition for weakness. He will not put up with any bullshit.

[jpetaluma]

Congratulations to Jeffry Toobin for speaking the unvarnished, politically incorrect truth. I'm in love! Thanks Jeffrey. You and Donna Brazille have really been the voices of sanity over at CNN.

[SeekerOne]

And did you see Gergen's reaction? What a wimp.

[mahoner]

I like Gergen even though he wanted to side with Toobin but thought his words were too harsh.

But definately David Gergen and Jeffrey Toobin are part of the best political team on television (LOL).

Gloria Berger seemed to be making alot of excuses for Clinton in the early stages but she's coming around. I still cannot for the life of me understand why they put Lanny Davis or Kiki McLean (or now even Michael Reagen) on. They each need a punch in the head.

[kj11]

Yes ...Gergen was a disappointment

[UrbanInterloper]

CNN's false perception that it offers anything but junk journalism, corporate propaganda and stenography services for the executive branch could also be called "deranged narcissism­."

Please turn off your TVs, America, before it's too late and we've started another damn war.

[Araxiel]

Enough of Clintons! She is a classless, self-centered, power hungry, lying, cheating, low-class, empty pantsuit. She couldn't bring herself to congratulate Obama for winning the delegates to secure the nomination. Classless. But then again has she ever shown actual class?

I hope to God that she does not somehow become the VP choice. If all these "angry women" would just think for a minute, what in the hell does Hillary Clinton actually do FOR them? To vote for someone simply because of gender is stupid. Same goes for race.

She and her ilk, all of them, are part of the past, and that's not what Obama is about. She trashed Obama in every way possible, and he would be an idiot to have her on the ticket. Should he do that, and win, he'd better look into getting an official Whitehouse food taster.

[justhope]

LMAO An official food taster!. Seriously you may have a point if you watched the CLINTON CHRONICLES, Google it!. I started off this campaign season 70/30 split in favour of Hillary. I gave Obama 30 because I didn’t know him yet. I never went to his site to check on the issues and he never ran any ads here. In March I got cable and internet access at home. I became hurt that I didn't know his issues before and was shocked after reading about the CLINTONS MENA ARKANSAS CORRUPTION. MANY PEOPLE THINK THE PROBLEMS CLINTON HAD IN ARKANSAS WAS WHITEWATER A SO CALLED BAD BUSINESS DEAL!! ABSOLUTELY NOT. IT WAS INSTITUTIONALIZED CORRUPTION, DRUG RUNNING, MONEY LAUNDERING, ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS, AND THE WHOLE GAMUT. THE 90 MINUTE VIDEO WAS GIVEN TO THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND OFFERED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTATION AND COURT CASES FILED AGAINST THEM AS EVIDENCE. HOWEVER JANET RENO BLOCKED THE RELEASE OF THE DOCUMENTS. IN THE VIDEO YOU CAN SEE THE COURT CASES, GO LOOK THEM UP FOR YOURSELF. I DID MY INVESTIGATION AND WAS LIVID THEY GOT AWAY WITH MURDER. THEN I WAS MAD I DIDN'T GET TO VOTE FOR BARACK IN FLORIDA. I WILL DEFINITELY SUPPORT HIM IN THE FALL.. KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW ABOUT THE CLINTONS I COULDN'T WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE SUPPORT HIM WITH HER ON THE TICKET!!!!

[pdxjcc]

Hillary is showing her true colors! She is acting like the rich, spoiled, cocky control freak she really is. Self-obsessed. Someone who'd steal from the White House (which she actually did). Won't listen to anybody. Completely out-of-line. Poor loser. Cheap. Oh well, I'm lovin' it seeing her go down. Sorry Clintonians, but you were deceived by her. The Clinton era is over.

[VoteforOCD]

For the love of God woman. Please go far, far away. Take fat-ass with you.

[DietrichMoody]

C'mon, Hillary's is going to tell us, the people, a Democracy - when she lost "I'll tell you when I'm ready to go" WTF......S­orry, Hillary, you lost when you lost the Delegate Count. That was the Democratic Way. To reasonable people it looks like Deranged Narcissism. And it is scary that many people in the US don't see it. I'm just glad that Hillary doesn't have a real Army. Or she would attempt a Coup. Amazing.

[Dovespeace]

Thank you Jeffrey Toobin. It was like a breath of fresh air that someone finally got off the train and said it like it is. We have endured the past weeks and total upheaval to give Hillary her dues. Obama has honored her throughout this process. I have seen where the Republicans are starting to use her negative talking points against Obama. If you, Hillary, can accept the way things are and be the woman your core base of women think you are, you will be an asset to the party and not a liability. Your loss could be America's gain in many ways. Just maybe your gifts are meant to used in a different way for the good of all the people if your ego can move out of the way.

[MM5]

Go, JeffreyToobin!

[auramac]

I went to Hillary's site last night , as she suggested, to offer my opinion. I said I would've voted for Bill again if he could've served a third term. I was always an admirer of both Clintons. But it's time to unify the party behind Obama. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but reading the comments of her supporters was very unsettling- more inarticulate and deranged than the most heated American Idol discussions. Yes, this is a passionate election, but the threats to vote for McCain and never, ever "that Obama" were startling. I hope Hillary isn't listening to these messages- or proud of them. Perhaps this sort of "passion" isn't limited to just her and her website, but John McCain- sorry- you know better, and I hate to say this- but I'm not sure I "trust" all of the American people. After all, Bush got in twice. And there is a lot of sexism and racism, spoken and unspoken that are big factors here. It's frightening. I live in NY State. I'd be scared to leave- it's relatively sane here- but not everywhere. Even in my own circles, I detect these very sins, unspoken, and rationalized among some acquaintances. One more thing- how is it that so many people can't spell?