Obama supporters should drop this "assassination" angle

by highgrade, Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:35:20 PM EST

It is beneath you. I am as fervent an Obama supporter as you'll find, but not one cell in my body believes that Hillary said this with the intent of arguing that she is extending her campaign on the off chance that Obama is assassinated. We need to remember that how Hillary is ushered off the stage is as important as the fact that she is no longer in the race. We can't afford to have it done in a way that looks like the media and Obama supporters ganging up on her over what 95% of her supporters will say was an innocent gaffe. Let's be honest, do you honestly believe that Hillary was talking about political violence?

Do I believe that Hillary and Bill Clinton are so arrogant and self interested that they would tolerate if not actively support the destruction of our chances to win in '08 so that she is positioned for a '12 comeback? Without a doubt.

Do I believe that Hillary would try and make any argument, no matter how dishonest and specious, regarding MI/FL, if she thinks it will delay Obama's winning the nomination for even an extra week? The evidence is clear that this is so.

But do I think that Hillary would be so craven that she would use not only the devastating assassination of RFK, but hint that a similar incident could happen with Obama, in an attempt that anyone with half a brain would realize would do nothing but turn super delegates, the media, and even some supporters, off to your message, to try and breathe some extra life into her campaign? No. Let's get over it. This is sucking all of the oxygen out of the real stories of the week.

Obama went into Cuban Miami and declared he would negotiate with the Castros.

McCain pulling the wool over the media's eyes by giving them a couple of hours to peruse thousands of pages of medical documents. He has already had a few procedures in 2008.

Mrs. McCain finally relenting on tax returns.  

Sorry for the disjointed rant. Feel much better.




Tags: obama, hillary, assassination (all tags)

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Re: Obama supporters should drop this (2.00 / 2)

I think it's nonsense to suggest that they would play for 2012.  Of course, the assassination issue is also overblown.


by rfahey22 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:37:47 PM EST

Their "She is no longer in the race" BUT (none / 0)

I think most of us are smart enough to realize that when someone is AHEAD IN ACTUAL VOTES.. they ARE still 'in the race'.

Gotcha!


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by architek on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:27:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Their "She is no longer (none / 0)

How does her vote count help her secure the nomination?


by mattw on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:29:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Their "She is no (none / 0)

Huh?


by rfahey22 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:33:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama supporters should drop this (none / 0)

It doesn't seem to be Obama supporters filling up the list with posts on this.



Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:39:44 PM EST

Re: Obama supporters should drop this (none / 0)

I know.

Weird, huh?


Mooseburgers? Careful Sarah. Moose bite back!
by spacemanspiff on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:42:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

ok (none / 0)

Mabye you should ask Hillary supportes to stop blaiming Obama and his supporters for stupid things that come out of Hillary's mouth.

We don't control what she says  SHEESH!!!


I would say at this point we're starting to see a little desperation on the part of the woman who I support... NY Governor Paterson
by obamaovermccain on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:41:27 PM EST

Re: ok (1.00 / 1)

I stopped trying to speak with the HillBots a while ago. You know and I know the hypocrisy on that side has affected their ability to reason objectively.


by highgrade on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:47:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The 2012 idea (none / 0)

is garbage.  Does she believe she could defeat Warner in 2012 if Obama loses?  People say she defeated Edwards, well Edwards couldn't carry Warner's bags.  Besides, black people account for a good portion on the Democratic party and I think it's reasonable to assume that in a Warner-Clinton matchup that Warner would start with 75% of support from African-Americans.  Who would the Obamas endorse in that matchup?

I completely believe it is in her best interest for Obama to win the presidency if he's the nominee.


by Blazers Edge on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:42:03 PM EST

Re: The 2012 idea (none / 0)

It isn't garbage. It's not about looking to 4 years and trying to see who the possible opponents will be. Simply put they have already lost in '08. All they are looking for is a chance to be in the mix for '12. You cannot win if you're not in the battle.

The Clinton's have a history of placing personal interests over that of the party. This is par for the course.


by highgrade on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:49:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The 2012 idea (none / 0)

If she can't win now, what makes Hillary think she will win after 4 more years of Senate votes, 4 more years of Democrats pissed at her (if Obama loses the general), and 4 years older?  Really?  She looks BETTER under those circumstances??

The simple fact is, Hillary is fighting tooth and nail right now because she knows this is her only chance of ever being the president.  It's now or never.  And it has been "never" for about 3 weeks.


by ProgressiveDL on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:08:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

She's ushering herself off in as an (none / 0)

embarrassing way as possible. First her white voters crack now this? I'm sure she knows he has received death threats. I'm sure she knows that white supremacists are ginning up for a race war and all it takes in one fucking nut to take Obama out. But no apology to him or his family. Nice.

This is the cover of some Southern newspaper.


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:43:03 PM EST

This isn't about Obama supporters (none / 0)

Hillary said something that sounds, well, awful. I don't think she's holding out for the next Sirhan Sirhan. But she said something horribly tactless and inexplicable. She's made the same reference before. There are other long campaigns; 1980 and 1984 come to mind. 1968 is not a campaign any Democrat should be bringing up, both for the RFK assassination and the DNC chaos. Considering all the talk out there about mayhem in Denver, nobody should be using 1968 as a point of reference, period.


by elrod on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:44:20 PM EST

Re: Obama supporters should drop (none / 0)

If you're going to castigate us, at least be correct on the basis. No one here's arguing that she wants Obama killed or is hoping for it. That's an utter straw man.

The criticism is that she'd be so utterly foolish and overconfident in her speaking abilities that she would let something like that drop.

...and then compound it by apologizing only to the Kennedys!

But that's been her campaign in a nutshell: keep pushing a line of reasoning until you fall off a cliff. Hence, we end up at "hard working white voters"; economists as "elite opinion"; the DNC being like Mugabe government; and so on.


by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:49:32 PM EST

Re: Obama supporters should drop (2.00 / 1)

she apologized to anyone who was offended...  since the comment had nothing to do with BO why should she apologize to anyone else?


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:19:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama supporters should drop (none / 0)

I'm actually more concerned if she truly doesn't see why it would upset Obama supporters.


by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:33:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama supporters should drop (2.00 / 1)

and she said...  "anyone who was offended."


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:37:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

non-apology apology (none / 0)

This is a real pet peeve of mine, but I hate when a politician apologizes to "anyone who is offended".  It means the person "apologizing" actually thinks they didn't do anything wrong while blaming the people who were offended.  If she thinks what she said was shameful, she should just plain apologize; if she doesn't think so, she shouldn't apologize.

Looking at the video, she also gave no indication she understood why people were upset.  It's not because she mentioned that RFK was assassinated, but rather because it sounded like she was staying in the race just in case Obama were assassinated.


by CA Pol Junkie on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:41:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

huh? (none / 0)

seriously?  think about what you are saying.


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:59:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: huh? (none / 0)

What is your point exactly?  I'm not sure what you object to.


by CA Pol Junkie on Sat May 24, 2008 at 02:10:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: huh? (none / 0)

you said:
"It's not because she mentioned that RFK was assassinated, but rather because it sounded like she was staying in the race just in case Obama were assassinated."

do you really think that she was advocating or suggesting that she was staying in for that reason?  she didnt which is exactly why she said - "if anyone was offended."

and after all this is how ALL politicians speak. :)


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Sat May 24, 2008 at 02:20:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: huh? (none / 0)

do you really think that she was advocating or suggesting that she was staying in for that reason?

When I listed to it, to me that was the straight-forward interpretation.  She was asked why she was still in the race, and she referenced Clinton wrapping up the nomination in June, saying the race wasn't over, and RFK being assassinated in June meaning that... contingencies happen.

I don't think she in any way implied that she wished any ill-will upon Obama, and I didn't take offense.  It's a maudlin, but honest appraisal of her chances at the nomination, as it would take a literal or political catastrophe to strike Obama for her to get the nomination.


by CA Pol Junkie on Sat May 24, 2008 at 02:37:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: huh? (none / 0)

My pet peeve, summed up:

Fake apology:
"...by 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."

This would be a real apology, poorly aimed:
I apologize for referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation in an insensitive manner.

This would be an apology aimed at why people were actually upset:
Looking back at what I said, I realize that I implied something I did not at all intend.  I'm very sorry about that, and I wish to stress that I am not in the race to take advantage of a tragic contingency.


by CA Pol Junkie on Sat May 24, 2008 at 02:32:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: huh? (none / 0)

seriously - you should get a job as a speech writer.  but there is NO way in high heaven that the last one (which is what you prefer) would ever fly.  not only does it suggest something that she DID NOT imply but also it is uncouth.

but i will give you the second one.


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Sat May 24, 2008 at 02:45:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama supporters should drop this (2.00 / 2)

Thanks highgrade. I've been completely disgusted by the comments here. I don't think people understand how self-destructive it is to try to defeat Hillary Clinton this way. They are showing their true motives.


by souvarine on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:09:39 AM EST

Loiok I agree (none / 0)

This whole thing is overblown.... however this is ALL clinton's fault... she has overblown and piled on every single Obama gaffe... from bittergate to wright.  She is reaping what she showed, this is the result of bittergate.. Karma is a bitch

that being said.. we all know she doesn't want to kill anyone and we need to all step back, have a beer and drop this.

This is all being blown up by the media anyways... the obama campaign hasn't pushed it at all


by CaptainMorgan on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:13:43 AM EST

Re: Loiok I agree (none / 0)

And like most other primary stories, it'll be a big hubbub for a few days, then blow over. But until it does, I don't think we need to feel ashamed for discussing it or arguing about it.


by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:34:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Like she dropped "bitter"? (none / 0)

She hounded him for that.  His campaign has said what she said was unfortunate.  I think it was ludicrous.  And what Obama said may have been stupid and inartful, but what she said is simply beyond the pale.

The Supers need to end this!  Now!


by dlh77489 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:10:06 AM EST

Thanks for giving her the benefit of (none / 0)

the doubt on that. Let me add, I honestly don't think she's running for 2012. If Obama loses the GE in '08, it will be blamed on her, no matter what she does. She'll never be able to have a viable bid again, and she knows it.


Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.
by sricki on Sat May 24, 2008 at 02:52:55 AM EST

Re: Obama supporters (none / 0)

Wow. thanks for this diary. I truly appreciate it.


by linfar on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:23:50 PM EST


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