The reason Senator Clinton's remark about the Bobby Kennedy assassination was so bad:

[janx]

I'm going to try and put this into context. I'm 50 years old. My friends in their sixties, as well as those in their thirties or even twenties, have different takes on the situation. All know it's bad, but some thing it's realistic. I don't.

I just talked to a very good friend of mine who is Clinton's age. She was in her twenties (and involved in politics even then) when Kennedy, King, and Kennedy were shot. By contrast, in 1968 I was around 10. My friend, Pam, had mentioned before today that she thought Clinton would bring something like this up. And Pam herself worried that Obama might be in trouble--she was looking at the number of his bodyguards, etc. I had to remind my friend, emphatically, that most of the electorate is a lot younger than she is and that the potential for what Clinton was obviously referring to is much smaller today than it was in 1968.

I am sorry to say that my analysis of the situation is as follows:

Senator Clinton alluded to the assassination of Bobby Kennedy in an "off-handed" way. Was that stupidity, or was it a calculated reference to the fact that Obama is biracial and prone to be a victim of an attack--and therefore Clinton was using this morally despicable allusion to scare people out of voting for Obama? Remember, she is the same age as my friend Pam. And as my friend Pam reminded me, yes, there are racist crazies out there...but as I reminded her, the world now is NOT what it was like in 1968 (thank God). I also reminded her that just about anyone who is president of the United States is taking a large risk in that regard.

Senator Clinton was not just making a random reference to the length of primary campaigns. She is not a racist, but some of the baggage of racism still clings to her, and she is using it for political gain.

[YDogg]

1. "some of the baggage of racism still clings to her, and she is using it for political gain"

agreed.

[janx]

8. There is no doubt about it!

My friend was saying, "I want him to be president, but somebody is going to try and kill him!"

:shrug:

It is no longer 1968!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Either she's smart or she isn't.

:think:

[janx]

5. Oh for cryin' out loud, you're still cracking me up!

:rofl:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. :D

:hi:

[janx]

13. haha

It has been years now! :rofl:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. Who ya backing this time?

[janx]

15. ...

Chardonnay.

It sure as hell isn't Clinton.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. That's my girl!

:rofl:

[janx]

24. If we didn't have a wind/fire warning, I'd fire up the grill.

Flying sparks are not a good idea around here now.

[tekisui]

3. It was either Extremely Stupid, or Malicious.

Either way, her show should be over. The supers should pressure her out tonight.

[ORDem]

6. Amen and Hallelujah. We have all had enough of her at this point, it is TIME TO GO!

Sickening.

[janx]

18. I have faminly in Oregon. My mother retired and died there.

My brother and sister-in-law and their fam still live there. The Oregonians are great!

[janx]

10. I hope so.

This is insane. There are so many people looking to the future, not desperately clinging to the baggage of the past! ;-)

[JVS]

4. I find it curious that she would invoke such a thing.

[janx]

11. It was either stupidity or desperation.

It's hard to tell which. In any case, this is not what I want for the next president of the United States, and most would agree with me.

[Hutzpa]

9. Each and every one of us

can try and analysize disect and what not with this comment, the
bottom line is, this is not the first time hillary has made this
comment, we need to think about that before we all start getting
excited.

[janx]

12. I have heard that, and my friend Pam had heard that,

but this primary has taken so long that I didn't pay attention much at first. This one, though, was glaringly obvious to me.

If you have any other references, please let me know. I am NOT PLEASED!

I'm also not please at Senator Clinton's responses. They are both dismissive and weak.

[Tippy]

17. She made this comment before...do you have a link? n/t

[janx]

19. I would like to know that as well.

I keep hearing about this, but the process has taken so long--I stayed out of it for awhile.

[Hutzpa]

28. Heres the link....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6093212&mesg_id=6093212

[Tippy]

29. Boy I forgot about that one...thanks for the link

[janx]

32. TNX. n/t

[NOLALady]

20. I am Pam's age.

You're right, this is not 1968. Hopefully the violent assassinations are a thing of the past.

But, I don't believe the DC Madam committed suicide.

[janx]

22. But why even reference those things?

?

[baldguy]

21. A President needs to be trained not to say stupid things.

That training begins with the early primaries - Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Those that continue to say stupid things - or begin to say stupider things than they did before - are quickly eliminated.

Perhaps she's been campaigning too long?

[janx]

23. She has had an advantage n/t

[90-percent]

25. i think

I think political figures would of course have a very difficult time using the word "assassination" in such a way as to serve their political goals.

Are they trying to make assassination part of the debate? Survey: who is more likely to die by a snipers bullet, McCain, Hillary, or Obama? report at 11!


-90%

[janx]

26. It's just disgusting. n/t

[janx]

27. kick

[dchill]

30. In my entire life, I don't recall (and I may be old enough...

for memory to be a factor) - at any rate, I can't recall "assassination" as being a valid topic in a political discussion or campaign. She was going for a political gain three-pointer, but she missed and the clock ran out.

[janx]

31. I agree. n/t

[ruby slippers]

33. This may explain something....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XLNH00ecqd4

[janx]

37. Thank you...

That is the point! :hi:

[ruby slippers]

38. I made that back on MLKing day. The kids in the open/close are my

grandkids. But, I thought the video fit more now.....Thank you for the good comment.

[ShortnFiery]

34. Well put with one exception: The Clintons are both bigots and racists.

UN-LINCOLN: Clintons tear country apart (as they lynch Obama)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5oMw2mC7EE

Toni Morrison's essay, "Clinton as the first black president," (New Yorker, October 1998) was her defense--some would say, 'her rationalization'--of clinton vs. his impeachment.

Morrison's argument reduces to this: bill clinton, who is "blacker than any actual black person who could ever be elected in our children's lifetime.--fter all, Clinton displays almost every trope of blackness," is being lynched for not knowing his place.

The irony, of course, is that this is precisely what the clintons are doing to Obama....

And they are doing it to amass more power, and to hell with their party and the country.

All Americans of good will must reject these two dangerous self-serving miscreants, completely and absolutely.

[janx]

35. I just don't like crap from 1968 coming back to haunt us.

The people of this country have come a long way since then, and I resent the implication. And it was most definitely implied.

[weezy2736]

36. Thanks janx.

I appreciate that you are willing to take someone of my age seriously. It really does mean a lot.

[janx]

39. You're welcome.

I have spent years taking people of your age seriously. I'm college faculty. It's my job. In any case, I hope this gave you something to think about, whether or not you find it accurate or logical. And for the record, I'm impressed that someone who is 20 years old is looking at this and trying to make some sense of it. It's tough enough for us oldsters to figure out!

[Political Heretic]

40. It was in unbelievable, jaw-dropping, stupefying bad taste and says a lot about her mindset

It was just... unbelievable. She has gone nuts during this primary.

[janx]

41. She is a full-fledged, DC politician. n/t

[VotesForWomen]

42. you guys are nuts. Obama=messiah, clinton= satan, right? yeah, we heard you.

[janx]

43. Read the OP again.

There was nothing in it pertaining to what you say. Nothing.