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The non-controversial RFK controversy |
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Written by the Editorial Board
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Monday, 02 June 2008 |
“'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.'" -- Hillary ClintonAssassination. Race. Gender.
These are the issues that seem to be driving the Democratic Party's candidate insurrection – er, selection.
Recently, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, while talking with the Sioux Falls Argus Leader editorial board, made a comment about still being in the race despite a slim chance at victory.
“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," Clinton said.
Within hours, Bill Burton, spokesman for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign, responded:
“Senator Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign.”
Obama called the comment careless, the Washington Post reported, but noted to “a Puerto Rico radio station that he took Clinton's word that she meant no harm.”
The suggestion, by some, is that Clinton was making a veiled reference that Obama may also be assassinated in June, so she might as well stick around just in case. This claim is unsubstantiated and preposterous. Clinton was clearly making a historic reference to the 1968 Democratic presidential primary, and the RFK assassination was the predominant milestone for that reference.
What’s also interesting is this is not the first time Clinton made comments referencing RFK's assassination and a campaign that ran through June. In March, she told Time, “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, also in California. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual.”
What seems to be unusual is the level of scrutiny leveled at Clinton for making the comments this go around. Maybe credit Ted Kennedy, RFK’s younger brother and the senior Massachusetts senator, and his recent and tragic diagnosis. Or, perhaps, credit a slow, holiday news weekend.
So what is the big deal? And, really, should there be one? Whether the Memorial Day holiday upped the news value or because the end of the race is drawing nearer, the focus of the campaign should not be a strained reading-too-much-between-the-lines dissection of either candidate’s comments.
[AP, Washington Post, NYTimes]
Executive Editor Dwayne Robinson abstains from all staff editorials.
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