Clinton Cites Robert Kennedy Assassination

Long Shot Democratic Candidate Points To 1968 Assassination As Reason To Continue Campaign

(CBS/AP)  Sen. Hillary Clinton referred Friday to the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968 Democratic campaign as a reason she should continue to campaign despite increasingly long odds.

Clinton was responding to a question from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader editorial board about calls for her to drop out of the race.

"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. You know I just, I don't understand it," she said, dismissing the idea of dropping out.

Clinton said she didn't understand why, given this history, some Democrats were calling for her to quit.

Clinton later said that she regretted the comment if it was "in any way offensive."

"Earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Senator Kennedy waged in California in June in 1992 and 1968, and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nominating primary contests that go into June," Clinton told reporters. "That's an historic fact. The Kennedys have been much on my mind in the last days because of Senator Kennedy, and I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever."

Her remark about an assassination during a primary campaign drew a quick response from rival Barack Obama's campaign.

"Sen. Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said the senator was only referring to her husband and Kennedy "as historical examples of the nominating process going well into the summer and any reading into it beyond that would be inaccurate and outrageous."

In the same editorial board meeting, Clinton said her campaign has had no discussions with Obama's aides about her possibly becoming his vice presidential pick.

"It is flatly untrue and it is not anything I'm entertaining. It is nothing I have planned and it is nothing I am prepared to engage in. I am still vigorously campaigning."

The Obama campaign also dismissed reports that there were talks going on between the two campaigns about putting Clinton on the ticket.

Obama has an almost 200-delegate lead over Clinton and is just 56 delegates short of the number needed to clinch the nomination, making Clinton's goal of catching him more difficult by the day. The primaries end June 3.

Clinton spent the day campaigning in South Dakota, which holds one of two June 3 primaries. At stake are 15 delegates.

Recent reports suggested she may be discussing ways to end her campaign by being offered the vice presidential slot underneath Obama, but she rejected that and said she suspected the talk was coming from Obama aides.

"I would look to the camp of my opponent for the source of these stories," she said. "People have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa."

Two of those recent reports, however, were attributed by CNN and The New York Times to supporters of Clinton.

Meanwhile, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a staunch Clinton supporter, said Friday that she believes that if Obama becomes the nominee he should select Clinton as his running mate.

"I think as this race has emerged each one of them has garnered a different constituency and different states, and therefore when you put the two of them together it forms, I believe, the strongest ticket," she told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

"Women feel very strongly about Hillary and African-Americans feel very strongly about Barack, and the election results show that, and the young versus old, the higher educated versus the working person. ... All these things are sort of separated out into one or the other so there is a logic in combining the two constituencies."

Feinstein is a longtime friend and supporter of Clinton's. So would Clinton accept the vice-presidency?

"I think anyone accepts if asked - whatever they say," Feinstein said.

Former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson is overseeing the early vetting of possible vice presidential running mates for Obama, Democratic officials say. He did the same job for Democratic nominees John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984.

Many of the people Johnson checked for Kerry will be likely candidates for Obama's consideration. Those names included Sen. Clinton, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, anti-war Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Kerry's eventual choice, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Obama refused to acknowledge Johnson's role when The Associated Press asked the Illinois senator about it Thursday.

"I haven't hired him. He's not on retainer. I'm not paying him any money. He is a friend of mine. I know him," Obama said. "I am not commenting on vice presidential matters because I have not won this nomination."

[eroosevelt08]

I think rufisgufis needs to get a life.

[fake-id-2009]

Even Bobby Kennedy''''s SON has gone on record saying he found NOTHING OFFENSIVE in what HRC said. If even he is not offended, why should anyone else be offended ? The MSM is making a ridiculous fuss over nothing out of this. Typical of their treatment of Hillary.
Posted by libra127 at 12:14 AM : May 26, 2008


She said it TWICE. The first time didn''t get much air time. It was in an interview with TIME managing editor Richard Stengel.

[fake-id-2009]

This from Hillary''s interview with TIME Managing Editor Richard Stengel:

TIME: Can you envision a point at which--if the race stays this close--Democratic Party elders would step in and say, "This is now hurting the party and whoever will be the nominee in the fall"?

CLINTON: No, I really can''t. I think people have short memories. Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn''t wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual.

This interview was on MARCH 6th!!

So she said it MORE THAN ONCE!!!

Plus, Bill''s nomination was wrapped up in March!!

So who has the SHORT memory?? Hillary is NOT an historian and she should employ someone more adept at searching historical archives.

[rufisgufis]

"prove it june3rd prove your statement of March don''t get on here quoting your hatred lies we all see through it"

Posted by starleo14672 at 08:25 PM : May 26, 2008
_______________

Is that supposed to be a sentence; is it supposed to make sense? If so, you know nothing about the English language.

[rufisgufis]

I think you need to get off, if you can''t debate any better than that. Just shows your ignorance, and shallowness, when you stoop to name calling.

Posted by slim1h2o at 08:16 PM : May 26, 200
_____________________

Who made you the judge, idiot? And when I call you an idiot it''s not name-calling - it''s a description.

[starleo146]

Her husband had the primary locked up by MARCH - not in JUNE, as the lying b!tch said. She told the same LIE before, as you noted.

Posted by rufisgufis at 07:49 PM : May 26, 2008
+ repo

prove it june3rd prove your statement of March don''t get on here quoting your hatred lies we all see through it

[slim1h2o]

Posted by rufisgufis at 07:53 PM : May 26, 2008

I think you need to get off, if you can''t debate any better than that. Just shows your ignorance, and shallowness, when you stoop to name calling.

[starleo146]

I guess you''''re not too good with reading comprehension.

Posted by starleo14672 at 04:57 PM : May 26, 2008
__________________

SHUT UP! YOU LYING B!TCH. MY COMPREHENSION IS BETTER THAN YOUR.



Posted by rufisgufis at 07:53 PM : May 26, 2008

You know mr. you are the most obnoxious man that has ever been on here, if you think your ugly mouth is scaring me you got another thing coming mr. you wouldn''t know the truth if you fell over it. I know I got to you, because you mouth is running wild stick a fork in your self you are done

[rufisgufis]

I guess you''re not too good with reading comprehension.

Posted by starleo14672 at 04:57 PM : May 26, 2008
__________________

SHUT UP! YOU LYING B!TCH. MY COMPREHENSION IS BETTER THAN YOUR.

[rufisgufis]

Posted by rufisgufis at 03:31 PM : May 26, 2008

No. She was explaining that primaries that last into June are not unusual historically. She cited two examples. She has made the same point on previous occasions
_____________________

Her husband had the primary locked up by MARCH - not in JUNE, as the lying b!tch said. She told the same LIE before, as you noted.

[rufisgufis]

YOU MISQUOTED ME, LIAR ! THAT IS NOT WHAT I POSTED.

Posted by libra127 at 07:03 PM : May 26, 2008
____________________

I WAS NOT QUOTING YOU, LIAR, I WAS QUOTING LYING-*** HILLARY - YOU MISQUOTED HER.

[libra127]

POSTED BY RUFISGUFIS:

I guess you''''re not too good with reading comprehension. She was asked about her reasons for staying in the race "so long". "Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June, I don''''t understand it."

Posted by libra127 at 12:14 AM : May 26, 2008

-----------------------------------------------

That is NOT what I posted and that is NOT what Hillary said. Why must you distort, Rufis ?

[libra127]

She was explaining WHY she was staying in the race, to wit., Robert Kennedy was assassinated in JUNE.

Posted by rufisgufis at 03:31 PM : May 26, 2008

No. She was explaining that primaries that last into June are not unusual historically. She cited two examples. She has made the same point on previous occasions.

[libra127]

So it sure sounds as if she is saying,: If this nomination process continues on until June, Obama might be assassinated.

Posted by rufisgufis at 03:26 PM : May 26, 2008

No. What she said did not sound like that AT ALL!

[libra127]

I guess you''''''''re not too good with reading comprehension. She was asked about her reasons for staying in the race "so long". "Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June, I don''''''''t understand it."

Posted by libra127 at 12:14 AM : May 26, 2008

So maybe if she stayed in the race until June, Obama might, (hint, hint to my "core constituents - white Americans) Obama might reach the same fate. Ya think?

Posted by starleo14672 at 04:57 PM : May 26, 2008

YOU MISQUOTED ME, LIAR ! THAT IS NOT WHAT I POSTED.

[starleo146]

I guess you''''re not too good with reading comprehension. She was asked about her reasons for staying in the race "so long". "Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June, I don''''t understand it."

Posted by libra127 at 12:14 AM : May 26, 2008

So maybe if she stayed in the race until June, Obama might, (hint, hint to my "core constituents - white Americans) Obama might reach the same fate. Ya think?


I hope she sues you for slander you twisted her words even worse than the media did.

[bajaan]

The Clintons are now officially a joke. Last time around they wanted the caucuses to count; this time they don''t want the caucuses to count. Last time they just loved MoveOn.com; this time they hate it. Last time they were happy to have 91% of the black vote; this time it''s all about, "hard-working Americans- white Americans." One thing can be said about these two conniving, ego-driven, low-class clowns, :They sure know how to change with the times.

[starleo146]

Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June, that is true. So it sure sounds as if she is saying,: If this nomination process continues on until June, Obama might be assassinated." HER REASON FOR STAYING IN THE RACE. What a ghoulish, ambitious b!tch.

Posted by rufisgufis

Now who is interpreting, it is not your place to read anything mr. media into what people say nor twist the facts. You have been watching tv too long go to nickelodeon tv you will understand that better

[rufisgufis]

my husband went on in the primary, and in June of 1992 finally secured the nomination, and Bobby Kennedy had just made his acceptance speech in California in June 1968 at which time he was assassinated.
_________________________
__

Well when a person lies once, what ever they say after that is suspect: Bill Clinton had the nomination locked up in MARCH, not in June.

Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June, that is true. So it sure sounds as if she is saying,: If this nomination process continues on until June, Obama might be assassinated." HER REASON FOR STAYING IN THE RACE. What a ghoulish, ambitious b!tch.

[rufisgufis]

I guess you''re not too good with reading comprehension. She was asked about her reasons for staying in the race "so long". "Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June, I don''t understand it."

Posted by libra127 at 12:14 AM : May 26, 2008

So maybe if she stayed in the race until June, Obama might, (hint, hint to my "core constituents - white Americans) Obama might reach the same fate. Ya think?