Clinton refers to RFK assassination on trail

[frigidmagi]

MSNBC

Sen. Hillary Clinton referred Friday to the assassination of Robert Kennedy in the 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. I don't understand it," she said, dismissing the idea of dropping out.

Clinton said she did not understand why, given this history, some Democrats were calling for her to quit.

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.

'Historical examples'
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 Barack 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 Democratic Party 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, a staunch Clinton supporter, said Friday that she believes that if Obama becomes the nominee he should select Clinton as his running mate.

'The strongest ticket'
"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."

Did she just say she should keep running cause Obama might die?

[rhoenix]

Did she just say she should keep running cause Obama might die?

Yes.

Since that's more or less the only way she has a shot at winning.

[The Silence and I]

Keith rips into her over that here.

[Derek Thunder]

No, but seriously...

[SirNitram]

Wow. That's seriously the most horrific statement one could make in this situation.

The most fucked up thing remains how similar the candidates are on issues.. Thus the rabid Clinton fanbase is all cult of personality. And they'll defend this.

[Hadrianvs]

Keith rips into her over that here.

Wow, that was awesome. The physical equivalent of such a thorough verbal ass kicking would leave her tasting leather every time she swallowed. My favourite part is where he goes over the list of every one of her major campaign fuck-ups, I was impressed, there's more than I realized.

[Charon]

Keith rips into her over that here.

Holy hell. That was amazing. I love Keith Olbermann.

[Lord Iames Osari]

Has her campaign responded to this at all?

[Charon]

Has her campaign responded to this at all?

Yeah. Basically saying "Well we didn't mean it like that" and saying they regret the way it was taken with all the recent Kennedy tragedies that have happened recently. No actual apologies.

[Lord Iames Osari]

No, sorry, I meant, have they responded to the Olbermann thing?

[Hotfoot]

No, sorry, I meant, have they responded to the Olbermann thing?

Not likely. Anything other than a full retraction would further inspire the ire of the man, resulting it yet another special comment, which can't be good. They're going to try and shove this special little gem under the carpet along with the litany of other mistakes they've made, hoping that people will just forget about it.

[rhoenix]

Not likely. Anything other than a full retraction would further inspire the ire of the man, resulting it yet another special comment, which can't be good. They're going to try and shove this special little gem under the carpet along with the litany of other mistakes they've made, hoping that people will just forget about it.

Yeah, we'll forget about it just like all the other gaffes.

Do any of you think she's basically trying to shove herself into the Vice-President's seat at this point?

I really hope that if Obama gets the nomination he has the balls to not pick her, but the way she's fracturing the party and all, I get the feeling she's trying to "settle" with the VP slot as a consolation prize for being "robbed" of "her" Presidency.

[Hotfoot]

If I were Obama, the LAST place I'd want someone who all but called for my assassination is in the VP spot.

[rhoenix]

If I were Obama, the LAST place I'd want someone who all but called for my assassination is in the VP spot.

Seriously. Call me paranoid, but it seems to me like that would be an open invitation to Clinton to do just that, tearfully and regretfully assuming the Presidency due to this horrible tragedy...

After everything I've read about both candidates, their stances on issues, and more importantly what they did while in public office, I'd like to see Obama in the White House for at least 4 years.

[FickityTwists]

Though I dont agree with Hilary's politics, I still think she is way better than some of the lesser names that were trying to run for president. *cough*Zyrkle*cough*.

I do, however like Obamas political strategy and the way he addresses issues from a very intelectual place.