The growing syllabus of arguments against Senator Clinton's seemingly endless candidacy has yet to successfully convince the remaining superdelegates to end this primary nominating process. But this newest quote from the Senator today ought to be the inciting incident -- the scream that stirs the avalanche.
"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it."
To translate from Desperate Clinton into English: Senator Obama could be assassinated at any moment, and such an event would represent another -- goddamn, this is awful -- another path to the nomination for her. It's all about her path to the nomination. A possible assassination of Senator Obama. Yep. This is what it's come down to.
Coupled with the well-known, ridiculous and dangerous rumors about Senator Obama, invoking an assassination attempt against him represents a new and ghoulish low for already bottom-feeding campaign.
To date, the Clinton campaign has exploited every despicable tactic and mongered every fear. How much more embarrassment and desperation can she heap upon herself and her party?
Senator Clinton didn't believe the rumors about Senator Obama... as far as she knew. Senator Clinton didn't shy away from using the politics of fear with her 3AM commercials and warning Americans about a terrorist attack should her opponent win. Senator Clinton has endorsed Senator McCain's qualifications over those of Senator Obama. Senator Clinton has accused Senator Obama of everything from plagiarism (her "change you can Xerox" line was written for her by the chairman of the DLC, by the way) to the disenfranchisement of voters in Florida and Michigan. Senator Clinton has invoked Bin Laden; painted her black opponent as an elitist despite her $100 million fortune; glad-handed with Richard Mellon-Scaife; and borrowed ("Xeroxed," if you will) an electoral map created by Karl Rove.
And then there are the numerous paths to the nomination. From Michigan and Florida to racist white people won't vote for Senator Obama (and what's his problem anyway?), her campaign has tried every excuse short of "we thought these primaries would be graded on a curve!"
And now...what if her opponent is killed? What about that? Don't be so hasty, superdelegates. Senator Obama might be killed! And what then, hmm?
The only tactic worse than this would be if she were to hire a band of goons to take Senator Obama hostage -- holding him for ransom. Gimme the nomination or my goons start pulling out "my opponent's" fingernails, see!?
If nothing else, the superdelegates ought to receive this as a blaring, siren-light warning. A giant red flag. Senator Clinton is embarrassing herself and the Democratic Party. She has ceased to be a viable, respectable candidate and has, instead, become a ghoulish, desperate shell of her formerly strong and admirable self.
UPDATE: To further clarify, I'm not suggesting that she's literally hoping that something happens to Senator Obama. I'm suggesting that Senator Clinton is using the potential of such an event as an argument for staying in the race -- a "what if" scenario. And if she was merely referencing June as an historical benchmark, well then, she's being intellectually dishonest. The primary election calendars in 1992 and 1968 were longer and extended well beyond this year's end date. Either way, it's a terrible and desperate argument.
UPDATE THE SECOND: In reality, President Clinton essentially secured the nomination after the Illinois primary. The date was March 17, 1992. And if she wants to use 1968 as an example, she ought to mention that only 13 states held primaries that year. No Michigan primary in 1968 either.
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Ok I don't like me any Hillary at this point, and for a couple days she was the big dog on theTop 20 Worst People in the World list, for sure; but she was quickly knocked out of position by Senior General Than Shwe of Myanmar, who has been topping that chart for quite a while now and shows no signs of flagging. That dude is the THRILLER of Worst People in the World, you can't touch him for Worst People points.
Unless you're Dick Cheney, who's like the DARK SIDE OF THE MOON of the WPW charts. He's been on there forevvvvvvvah. But Hillary's in there, giving it her best shot. Like Pat Benatar, whose career is probably on par with Hillary's in terms of relevance.
On Sunday Liz Trotta was Worst Person in the World for about 15 minutes, until she was eclipsed by the Senior General and the ever present Cheney. I would liken Liz more to Wang Chung or Winger (with apologies to the former or current members of Wang Chung and Winger).
I cannot imagine the reaction if people were talking about Obama like Bob is speaking of Sen. Clinton.
The venom is poisoning the chances of your candidate winning in November.
I hope you still enjoy your First Amendment rights when McCain wins the election due to the sickening displays of hatred toward Clinton and her supporters by Cesca and his ilk.
Why should she end her candidacy? I don't think Kennedy or Gary Hart or Jesse Jackson was asked to do so? What is the fear? She will end up getting more popular votes and delegitimize Obama's armtwisting of voters at the caucuses? Saying negative things about her is is one thing but asking her to pull out is ridiculous!!!
Don't forget Hillary is using her clueless supporters to threaten not to vote or vote for the other party if she is not made the nominee. Hillary has proved she is not supporting the Democrats or the country, she is only out for herself
There is no way she could win. If Obama dropped out for some reason we would draft Al Gore or somebody else. Democrats cannot win without the Black vote and Hillary lost them with her constant racebaiting. Her negaitives are too high to win and all she would do on the ticket is bring out the Republicans to vote against her in droves !
I used to adore the Clintons. Now I just want them to get out of my face with their constant drama.
The super delegates are afraid of the trend being set by Obama. They themselves have been a part of the power establishment and have a vested interested in keeping the status quo, with themselves as the recipients of the money from the big donors. They are able to keep out upstarts within either party.
The super delegates and their power brokers are afraid they will loose their monetary edge and political clout if this people's movement, where they enfranchise themselves through small donations as has happened with Obama. The super delegates themselves are afraid of this new trend. Unlike what was stated by Geraldine Ferraro, Obama would have had this nomination locked up if he were a white male or if he was the establishment "boy"
Many of the super delegates themselves appear to have been hoping for this auspicious moment in June when the PEOPLE would finance and support a viable candidate and take back their country from the party's fat cats.
If something happens to Obama, not only should we look at what role HRC"s statement played, but what role the super delegates may have played if that unfortunate event were to take place.
While the present Hillary campaign gaff, out of her own lips and hard to misinterpret, is up there in the outrageous conduct to get elected, it palls in comparison to the cold, calculated and callused vote she cast for the Authorization to Use Force in Iraq.
It was the vote to start an immoral and unjustified war of preemption that makes her the worst person in the world. Shamelessly she cast a vote thinking that if she didn't. she would be called weak on National Security. Not on the merits of a declaration of war, but on the chances of her election five years away.
Shame on Hillary Rodham Clinton. She failed the women and men of the armed forces by abdicating her constitutional duty of diligence in favor of political expediency.
Ironically had she cast a nay vote on the properly considered facts of the situation, as did 22 other Democratic Senators, she would have had the nomination all sewed up by now.
I wonder what she thinks about that? I hope it eats her up.
The Clintons are obscene. They obviously have no ethics and could care less about the American people who they hold in contempt. By the way they have run their campaign it is obvious they feel we are all a bunch of illiterate racists.
Well I finally see the link to Michelle's thesis posted above. They have a copy of it because it's been another Obama omission. I hope everybody goes & reads this site. It was a huge eye opener.
Why are you worried about Obama's wife thesis? Have you EVER been the minority in an all white school?
I have told you previously that it's ridiculous for people like you to piggyback on Sen. Obama's wife, when Bill nor Cindy are angels. Oh wait, but I guess that doesn't matter when you commit illegal acts?
You are like these undercover racist are grasping at straws.
I am convinced that the longer Hillary stays in office, the more Obama's life is in jeapordy....no one is seeing how dangerous continuing this primary is for Obama. It is long since overdue for the general election. Hillary brought race into the campain and I am so sad about it!!!.
What? Can one really believe what was just suggested by this comment? I CANNOT believe the things that people are saying on this board. I am absolutely in shock that someone can believe this about a fellow Democrat who has devoted their whole lives to public service, who has stood by and allowed people to do and say the nastiest things about them and their family so that they can be in a position to do the world some good, who has raised a heck of a lot of money for the DNC, who is an elected Sen. by their fellow citizens from the good State of New York, who has raised one heck of a wonderful daughter, etc.
This is absolutley astounding to me. Hillary Clinton may not be perfect, but no one is. She may be a lot of things, but to hear someone say that Obama should be in fear for his LIFE if she's in office is just beyond all things rational. As for her bringing race into the campaign ---totally false. She was called a racist for a TRUE comment that Bill made in South Carolina. No one can recover from being called a racist. Whether it's true that one is or not, once that word is said, it's over. The OBAMA camp knew that, and THEY played that race card. THEY made the choice to call Sen. Clinton that horrific word. Sorry..THAT is the truth.
This isn't grade school this is real world. You can't be naive and close your eyes and wish real hard and the numbers will change. It's time to act like grownups and walk away from the circus... no you can't have any more cotton candy... no you can't make pretend that this isn't over. You can't stomp your foot and launch into a hissy-fit because you don't like the answer. No, "Gramps" is not here to make it your way 'cause you're his "lil pumpkin". Hillary lost this thing a while back. Her knowledgeable campaign folks have known this for a while. These staffers stay on out of loyalty and in hopes of being paid for services rendered. You stay on because you have a leader that's still fighting. You see "Joan of Arc" they (her staff) see "Don Quixote". Your leader wants to turn this into something different than reality. The endless "IF" questions to confuse and discombobulate discussions and arguments. Aren't you sick of it? Aren't you concerned that there will be a perception that women can't understand the cold hard nature of presidential politics? There was a chance from the beginning when all of these candidates started out that Hillary could lose. Did you know that? Or were you of the understanding that it "was a woman's turn"... and that's how it worked?
As the Democratic Nomination process has unfolded, the myriad of ups, downs, and bizarre events have neither been few, nor unexpected. On the contrary, the excitement has generated unprecedented voter registration, turn-out, and media coverage. On balance, the entire process has been good for the Democratic Party.
Senator Obama has now earned the right to become the Democratic Nominee, based on the Delegate counts, and legitimate popular vote count. Senator Clinton had earned the right to complete the race with dignity, assuming that her actions would not damage Obama or the Party.
My question to you and the Super Delegates is simply this: Given Senator Clinton's REPEATED references to assassination, which is extremely damaging to both Obama and the Party, at what point will the DNC show the honor and grit necessary to fully advance the true goal - winning in November?
Despite the support Clinton received from RFK, jr., too many of us believe that a Master Politician, as is Senator Clinton, is not the victim of a harmless gaffe, but is plainly projecting Subliminal Messages to anyone who will receive them. Why ALLOW a potential tragedy to befall our Country?
I ask that you exercise the limits of your influence to bring this race to an end immediately. Senator Clinton has been given full benefit of the doubt, shown more than ample respect, and has now exceeded any possibility of a graceful exit.
Another week another Obamdrama. My question is this-how is the country going to survive four years of the very sensitive Obama's outburts at every imagined wrong. I never so a man who seemed so ready to break into tears as Obama and his dainty crew.
Nice try. I see where you have followed the Clintons example of assigning your weaknesses to others. Next you can blame others for your racist comments regaurding assisination.
hopeforchange--Not once has Senator Obama maligned Clinton, nor has he "complained", "whined", or cried "foul". In fact, this latest ridiculously transparent maneuver by Clinton was met with a response saying that Senator Obama was certain she hadn't meant him any harm, that "misstatements" happen...Well, guess what, ladies and gents, Hillary Clinton is a shrewd, savvy attorney and politician and you can be assured that she knew exactly what she was saying, on the three occasions that she said it. Never mind that Terry McAuliffe injected the same notion into the public discourse when he said "Well, you never know when something catastrophic could happen." It is an insult to those with a modicum of intelligence that we are to believe that Hillary's statement was just an "oops" moment. No way, no how.
Senator Obama has yet to have a "sensitive outburst", now Bill and Hillary on the other hand, are a different story. Bill is now again crying "FOUL" for his darlin', who apparently wasn't so darlin' when they were in the White House...
What are you talking about? Yet another embarrassment from the Clintons, and Obama's hardly made a peep. In fact, Obama's been as cool as a cucumber through this entire process. And he's run a better campaign. And he got Iraq right.
i have yet to see Obama in tears.
Did see Clinton in tears though.
Obama doesn't look upset at all.
The rest of us are upset and for good reason.
This atmosphere is getting more racially charged every minute.
People have a right to complain about it including Obama.
We can not continue to accept this type of behavior.
It is time for the country to grow up and move on.
GO OBAMA '08
Her comments prove she is not fit for ANY office. The time to end her drama is NOW. Superdelegate time to put our Party, and our country first. Please Superdelegates act NOW.
Thanks Superlegates.
The one thing I dislike most about Hillary is her refusal to admit she is wrong and apologize for mistakes made. You can see it all the time. She refuses to admit it is over and will stoop to any level (no matter how low) to get to her goal (which is to be president). She has yet to really apologize for the Kennedy remark. All she gave was a weak excuse. Can anyone else think of someone who refuses to see reality, never apologizes because he is never wrong and gets mad when they don't get what they want when they want it??
Posted May 23, 2008 | 05:50 PM (EST)