Hillary Invokes Assassination

For weeks, pundits have speculated about why Hillary Clinton insists on remaining in the primary race when Barack Obama has all but clinched the Democratic presidential nomination. On Friday, Clinton answered that question. It appears she's waiting in the wings for something dreadful to befall Obama.

When asked by the editorial board of South Dakota's Sioux Falls Argus-Ledger why she is still running, Clinton replied, "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."

It's astounding that a presidential candidate could verbalize such a thing when the collective American psyche still aches from the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. Many of us remember where we were when these heroes were shot. The pain we felt is palpable. We still suffer from their absence.

Clinton, evidently surprised at the ferocity of the reaction to her statement, made a half-baked non-apology a few hours later. She expressed regret that anything she said could have offended the Kennedy family. But she uttered not a word of repentance for her suggestion that Barack Obama's death could inure to her benefit.

The response to Clinton's invocation of the "A" word was swift and strong. The New York Times called it an "inexcusable outburst." Keith Olbermann characterized it as "crass and low and unfeeling and brutal." Noting that "the politics of this nation is steeped in blood," he admonished Clinton: "You cannot and must not invoke that imagery, anywhere, at any time."

Clinton's remarks offer a look into her character. In Olbermann's words, they "open a door wide into the soul of somebody who seeks the highest office in this country and through that door shows something not merely troubling but frightening."

Before Friday, a groundswell of support for an Obama-Clinton ticket appeared to be building. But as New York state Sen. Bill Perkins, an Obama supporter, said when he heard Clinton's comments, "My jaw just dropped -- I think she just basically shattered her hopes of being named as vice president. To use the example of an assassination," Perkins added, "I think, leads one to believe that she may be talking about something unfortunate happening to Barack Obama. Couple that with the other remarks she made recently about winning the white vote and her husband's statements and I'd say something is seriously amiss."

How, after Clinton's ominous remarks, could Obama ever turn his back on her if she became his vice-president?

Anyone who "might be sticking around on the off-chance the other guy might get shot has no business being the president of the United States," Olbermann declared. As Newsweek's Howard Fineman noted, Clinton's is "a campaign that probably needs to be put out of its misery real soon."

Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, an uncommitted superdelegate, commented that Clinton's remarks were "beyond the pale." Indeed, the remaining uncommitted superdelegates should stop the bleeding now and allow us to move on with the election.

Marjorie Cohn is a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and the President of the National Lawyers Guild. She is the author of "Cowboy Republic: Six Ways the Bush Gang Has Defied the Law."

Comments

[zFacts]

Think it was a slip? Same slip 4 times?
Four days after ABC polled that 59% of Americans feared for Obama's safety, Hillary started talking assassination.
The Bobby-in-June example is wrong and she skipped over two good examples,
and went back 40 years to get to it.
Hard to believe, but this site has the facts and sources: zFacts.com

[VillyVal]

How could someone with Marjorie Cohn's credentials write such drivel?

I am happy to be able to report this metastasizing meme is being challenged. Politico's John Harris today describes the salivating rush to get the story out first ... hitting the wall of realization that "any fair-minded" reporter would ... the story was too good to be true. See also Paul Krugman's "Divided They Stand" in today's New York Times discussing the string of phony Clinton scandals breathlessly reported throughout the campaign.

HRCn "invoked the image" ... spoke "the word" ... Olbermann, hyperventilating in simulated outrage, "she actually used the WORD." The word is a noun; to make a proposition, add a VERB, but all it takes for a "Special Comment" is a single word and bile.

IRONY ALERT:
Did you hear that Barack Obama is a Muslim? I heard that even though he says he's a Christian, he was baptized as an ADULT, so he's a member of an Islamic sleeper cell.
NOT TRUE.

I am ashamed to write those ironic words above, although they make as much sense as the outrageous claims in comments: HRC is a monster. She killed Vince Foster. The Clintons do anything for power, calculate every word ... she knew just what she was fiendishly asserting on a subliminal level. Maybe she didn't really SAY it, but that's her fiendish genius. If someone carries out the "image" she "invoked" by saying a "word" that is a part of our irrational public discourse.

[zFacts]

Listening to the video, you can't be sure she didn't slip,
but read the background facts and you know this was all thought out way in advance. Don't just rant, check the facts!
===Think it was a slip? Same slip 4 times?===
Four days after ABC polled that 59% of Americans feared for Obama's safety, Hillary started talking assassination. And there's much more ...
Hard to believe, but this site has the facts and sources: zFacts.com

[grannysharp]

just how much more crap is Clinton going to come up with before the super delegates get in gear and get rid of her for once and for all, they can do it if they just would. With all the things she has come up with and even blaming Obama for her stupid remarks is a sure sign she would be a terrible President is every one def , blind and dumb? or will she get by with this?

[Michale32086]

My guess is that the SDs are going to wait until the Primary ends on 3 Jun..

Their thinking, I am sure. is that this will take away one of Clinton's biggest excuses regarding letting everyone vote...

And if the Rules Committee resolve the MI/FL issue 3 days prior, hopefully Clinton won't have a leg to stand on...

Now that she will let anything like ethics or legalities stand in her way... :^/

Michale.....

[Michale32086]

Even if you take out the dark specter of political assassination, Hillary's point was so much BS..

The Dem Primary in '68 was about 3 months long.. It has absolutely ZERO to do with the '08 Dem Primary...

And her example of Bill's '92 run is almost as disingenuous... While it's true that Bill was still campaigning in EARLY (note.. EARLY) June, he had locked up the nomination several months ago...

Hillary is not dumb and you can bet that her comments were well-vetted and thought out before hand..

This begs the question as to why Hillary would use such piss-poor examples...

Michale.....

[S1m0n]

The fact that she said the same thing, almost word for word, back in March (to Time magazine) shows that this was anything but an accidental, absent-minded slip of the tongue; she said exactly what she set out to say, exactly how she wanted to say it.

[realityczech4u]

Not only that S1mon, but it also means that her latest citing of it was not 'because the Kennedys have been much on my mind lately'. which means.....­.........Y­ep! Hillary has told another of her bold-faced lies. I wouild venture a guess that she does not have much sensitivity for the Kennedys especially since Ted has had the audacity to come out in support of her nemesis.

[BadChristian]

I think you're absolutely right, Marjorie. Now, right on cue, they are blaming Obama for what she said, the same way Bill is blaming other people for what he said.

The saddest thing is that this is what they enjoy. The whole Clinton/DLC machine. MacAuliffe, Carville, Bill, Hillary... The kind of politics we've been living with is the result of people who like it this way, on both sides of the aisle. They love it, and so do the corporations who know that this kind of sludge keeps the average American from wanting anything to do with it. This is how they keep their power.

To them "This is the fun part."
A change will do us good.

[nccp1870]

Everyone talks about the October Surprise coming up for Obama. What's happening with upcoming November Election Fraud case the Clintons will face in November?

[thegaygardener]

I would try to accept the "timeline" defense of the comment; if only that in itself wasn't misleading
(Bill wrapped his nomination in April & 1968 had a much shorter primary)
And like "Bosnia" she knows the statement to be false, keeps repeating it, gets caught & claims she mis-spoke.
But the main question these last 3 weeks has been WHY?
Why is she still running when she cannot win? Why is she piling on more debt to her already considerable financial woes? Why is she insisting on seating FL & MI delgates as is when she agreed they would not count? Why is she putting the party & the country through this? Why did she absolutely insist to Bill Richardson that "He CAN NOT WIN!" He CAN NOT Win"? Why, when confronted by Katie Couric did she say, "It WILL be me" It WILL be me!"
In light of these & so many other questions & the fact that the Clintons will do anything & say anything to advance their agendas; I think the RFK comment starts to seem much much more disturbing. Without a doubt, Clinton is one of the smartest, most clever politicians ever. She knows full well exactly what she is saying & implying at all times. It's not really all that new. Clinton lost the nomination right after Super Tuesday. She's just been hanging around waiting for "something" to happen to Obama. It's just this time she's been a little more specific about what that

[ebbtide]

She invoked assasination. She sure did and now we see a follow up to that on Fox news---Liz Trotta calling for the death of Obama. Good work Hillary. There will be more. This needs to be stopped right now. People on blogs do get all riled up, but nevertheless, THIS NEEDS TO BE STOPPED AND PENALITIES NEED TO BE invoked against Fox and Trotta. Do what you have to do. Protest by epmail and let them know that this will not be accepted protocol. And while you are at it, write to Hillary and Bill Clinton to express your disdain of their sleezy tactics, invoking assasination as if it were just another ordinary expresseion of "politics" Then write to the DNC and tell them to get off their butts, corner the Clintons in a room, and tell them to get the hell out for invoking assasination against another Democrat. We are not victims of the Clintons---they are vile pigs and nevermind worrying about the power women seem to think they have over our votes. If they are complicit in assisantion tallk by their candidate, who the hell wants their votes in the first place. We can win without them. I suspect not that many will go for McCain as they threaten with a new found power they think they have and if they do, the next book out will be entitled: What Is The Matter With Feminists?

[Gatling]

Don't forget the magazine with Obama in crosshairs. And the Huckabee shooting joke.

There is a meme in the air, and Sen Clinton should have been more conscious of it. She's supposed to be a consummate politician? I've yet to see it. She has such an incredible tin ear when it comes to tone.

[LauraVW]

Strange, isn't it, how not a single journalist who heard her speech or watched it online thought it was newsworthy to mention the RFK remark. Gee, I wonder why. How about because BO's campaign took it out of context and then spun it out to the media like a bomb? God help us if any real journalists ever write about the event. She was citing the long list of candidates and running mates through history who dropped out or were forced out of the running right up to the election. We all know the Republicans have the October surprise waiting--Hillary and 18,000,000 other Democratics are hoping the Chicago Machine will implode now so we don't waste so much time and resources on a candidate who cannot possibly win. There is a reason why Chicago Machine candidates never make it to the presidency--and we've still got a couple of corruption and organized crime trials to weather from Obama's district and his personal income connected to them, and the Trinity Church murders are still to be tried. So please, why doesn't Obama just give Clinton the top spot so we can win? At least he could be VP for a while before being pulled down by his Chicago-machine roots.

[Gatling]

Wrong-O

The Post broke the story first.

Facts...so inconvenient.

[Aywaller]

Shameful. You have nothing of substance with which to criticize Obama, so you attempt to smear him with innuendo? That is precisely why Clinton is losing and ultimately the Republicans will lose. People are sick of the politics of personal destruction. People look forward to the hope and Obama presidency promises. It is truly hopeful that you and people of your ilk are having so little effect on this campaign. I think the days of these Rovian strategies being successful are numbered.

[YenNguyen]

You need to get your facts straight. Please be an informed voter.

"An informed citizenry is the bulwark of Democracy."
--President Thomas Jefferson

[JimR]

"She was citing the long list of candidates and running mates through history who dropped out or were forced out of the running right up to the election."

Interesting how you were able to make that point without using the word "assassination," but somehow Senator Clinton could not.

[Gatling]

Well said.

[JackieW]

I watched the interview live-streamed, heard the question, heard the context, picked up my lower jaw when it dropped on the floor when she said it (live) and wondered if I would require medical attention to restart my heart when it stopped beating to hear those words come out of her mouth. I am still dumbfounded that reporters could sit there an hear that and can only assume that they were so stunned by the comment that they lost their ability to ask the obvious follow-up question: "What did you just say?!?"

As for the "October surprise", this is such a silly joke. Given that Clinton is willing to tear the Democratic party asunder, I have no doubt that if she had ANYTHING which might come close to taking down Obama, we'd have heard of it by now. Or, are you saying that in addition to her overall ability to mismanage a campaign, that she is also lacking (relative to Republicans) in her oppo-research skills?

[steve70638]

If nothing else, Obama has demonstrated a near flawless campaign strategy. He isn't enough of a dope to ask Hillary to be his VP. He could have done this weeks ago. She adds little if nothing for the GENERAL ELECTION--­therefore, she is not strategic for him. I would like to remind readers this is not about appeasing the sore losers of the democratic party, this is about winning in November. Both he and Hillary are, quite frankly, have weakness in gravitas particularly in foreign affairs (Hillary's extraordinary service in Bosnia and Northern Ireland not withstanding). Obama will choose someone to add that missing component AND deliver a key constituency. Expect him to make the right move.

[Trace8089]

Let's get this right Clinton was in a room with reporters and editors. Made the comment about RFK and not one of the editors or reporters took offense or asked a follow up. I wonder why? Could it be they understood the CONTEXT the statement was made to address. This controversy is being stirred up by Obama supporters. It is an effort to taint Clinton so she can't be on a ticket with Obama. The person who broke this story worked for the New York Post. Who was watching and took a statement out of CONTEX and let Drudge and the left wing run with it.

[JackieW]

I was watching the interview live-streamed. I got the whole context - flow of conversation, previous questions, actual question which prompted the response. When I heard her say that (context and all), my jaw dropped open and my heart skipped beats. The shock I felt was only later replaced with my being dumbfounded at how ANY reporter could hear her say those words and just continue the interview. My response wasn't Drudge or MSM spin - it was stunned disappointment at someone I actually used to look forward to supporting.

[obamagal]

Seeing as you and LauraVW wrote almost word for word the same comment, hmmm, did hillary44 send you over with a pre-written script?

Nothing here, folks.

[Gatling]

It's hilarious to see Clinton complain about context NOW. When "bitter" happened, she was more than happy to jump all over it.

Of course her words were taken out of context. The fact that they COULD BE, makes it a major gaffe. She worded her statement poorly. Sucks, but that's gotcha politics.

This will hurt her. She knows it, and you could see it in her supermarket apology.

[JimR]

At best, it was in extremely poor taste for her to say that. Still, she could have prevented this uproar by simply saying "I made a mistake in my choice of words and I am sorry for any offense it caused. Now let's move forward to the convention!"

Why is that so hard?

[NorVaGal]

Trace: I would be much more willing to give credence to your argument for CONTEXT had Sen. Clinton, reporters, editors, and Clinton supporters been advocates for CONTEXT when Sen. Obama's words about workers being bitter, and clinging to guns and religion also were exploited for political gain. Were you the champion of CONTEXT for Sen. Obama at that time? Ever?

Instead, Sen. Clinton attached the label of ELITIST to Sen. Obama. Rev. Wright's words were also taken out of context and overblown for unfair, negative intent. Sen. Clinton fanned the flames. Were the reporters who broke THOSE stories also watching to take statements out of context and run with them? Was uttering the word "bitter" more inflammatory than repeatedly reminding the electorate that if she waits long enough Obama could/would/should be "assassinated"?

Instead, the longer Hillary stays in the race the more she destroys HERSELF. It seems a particularly well-deserved punishment. GOD don't like ugly.

[burnt]

"Indeed, the remaining uncommitted superdelegates should stop the bleeding now and allow us to move on with the election."

Thank you Marjorie.

[usedtowander]

Argumentum ad numerum.

[devadasi]

Thank you Margorie. Her comments left me speechless. The supers need to act now. Her VP chances went down the toilet.

[MPeter]

Absolutely. I can only add, AMEN. Hillary is a monster. Those of us who have always resisted claims that the Clintons were behind the mysterious death of Vince Foster now have to rethink. This is not beneath the Clintons. They will sink to any level to get power.