<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Clinton explains assassination reference * Story Highlights * Clinton referenced Robert Kennedy assassination in remarks to editorial board * She said later that she regrets if comments were considered offensive * Obama campaign says her comments were "unfortunate" * Clinton made a similar remark to Time magazine in March From Peter Hamby CNN Political Producer BRANDON, South Dakota (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton said Friday that she regretted comments that evoked the June 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy as part of her explanation for why she was staying in the presidential race late into the primary season. Earlier Friday afternoon, she told the editorial board of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader that "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. Clinton complained that "people have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa" and said that position "historically ... makes no sense." Later at an event in Brandon, South Dakota, she said, "earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Sen. 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. That's an historic fact. "The Kennedys have been much on my mind in the last days because of Sen. [Edward] 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," Clinton added. The Obama campaign reacted quickly. "Sen. Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," it said in a statement. Her campaign first defended the remarks, saying the New York senator had been making a historical parallel. "She was simply referencing her husband in 1992 and Bobby Kennedy in 1968 of historical examples of the nominating process going well into the summer. Any reading into it beyond that is inaccurate and outrageous," Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said. Clinton made a similar reference to Robert Kennedy in a March interview with Time magazine Managing Editor Richard Stengel, saying she could not envision a scenario in which party leaders would step in and call for the race to end. "I think people have short memories," she said then. "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."</div> Link Just when you didn't think Hillary could screw up more.
This was so offensive and ridiculous, just when I was starting to become more cool with her as the VP (in order to win, not cause I like her). After this, her popular vote comments claiming she got robbed, her "white people" flourish, and sexist whining, she looks done as VP.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ May 23 2008, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This was so offensive and ridiculous, just when I was starting to become more cool with her as the VP (in order to win, not cause I like her). After this, her popular vote comments claiming she got robbed, her "white people" flourish, and sexist whining, she looks done as VP.</div> It will probably go down in history that a large part of Hillary's downfall was not her stance on policy issues, or even Barack's incredible rise in popularity, but dumb moves on her part. From planting questions in the audience, to her performance in debates, to her Bosnia-sniper remarks, to Bill's bizarre behaivor on the campaign trail, to the remarks she made today.
