« previous | TPM CAFÉ READER POSTS HOME | next »
One would hope!
One can only hope that Obama supporters here clear their heads and take a look at what Bobby Kennedy's first born had to say about this Non -Issue/gaffe/slur/instigation or what ever you would want to call it.
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/view/2008_05_24_Kennedy_Jr_:_Don_t_take_offense/srvc=home&position=0
Advertisement
Comments (25)
Welll, had this been the first time she's said it, I'd say sure, but, since it is the 4th time, and her historical explanations for saying it in the first place are incorrect anyway, I'm seeing a pattern there...
May 25, 2008 11:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's entitled to his opinion. The question isn't what any Kennedy thinks, it's how the rest of us see it. Frankly, on a little reflection, perhaps this won't have much affect, as post-boomers aren't likely to have such an attachment to the idea of the Kennedy family, and probably think our fears seem quaint.
May 25, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what the son of RFK feels doesn't matter. We should only care what hateful Obama supporters think about a comment that didn't even offend Obama himself.
Guess what? The feelings of a SON are stronger than the feelings of a nobody who never met RFK and who fakes outrage over anything Hillary says.
RFK Jr.'s feelings have much more weight than what you guys think, of course.
When not even your leader shares your views, you know you are out of touch.
May 25, 2008 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
The question isn't what any Kennedy thinks, it's how the rest of us see it.
One of the most amazing quotes I've seen in 12+ years of posting on political boards. Unreal. It's Obama supporters laid bare. It's not about anything but them. No surprises there. Their every post reveals it.
The question isn't what any Kennedy thinks, it's how the rest of us see it.
Jesus Christ. Had to post it again. How revealing. In their {{{anguish}}} over what the Kennedy family "must be feeling" over Clinton's statement, they're willing to ignore RFK's son's response to feed their own Hillary Hatred.
I'm not a part of this mob.
May 26, 2008 1:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can only surmise that he instantly felt how outrageous the comment was and saw the need to dampen its effect. Other Kennedys have let it be known that they are appalled.
May 25, 2008 11:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is Obama outraged?
May 25, 2008 11:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would think so if only because of the effect her remarks MUST have had on his spouse and his two daughters, and his grandmother. We have heard that members of his staff were outraged, which might explain their sending Olbermann's video to the journos.
May 26, 2008 12:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of course ptw linked to a NY Post article! With unnamed sources and unidentified "Kennedy" relatives and everything. Do you know how big that family is?
Typical schlock.
May 26, 2008 12:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
You have a point. There's a bit more here, if you care to read. Could be more 'scholck' though. You be the judge. I'm no journalist and was just contributing a piece of information to the discussion. I guess we'll know eventually how her remarks really have affected the Kennedys.
May 26, 2008 12:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Typo: That "schlock" obviously ... (not that other thing I typed.)
May 26, 2008 12:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry to come on so strong, ptw. Here's what I think about the Post article, fwiw.
The Post is a dubious source for several reasons, but mainly because it sensationalizes the news in order to sell papers. Sensational stories are its bread-and-butter livelihood. Also, it endorsed Obama back in January, so it will tend to lean toward pro-Obama spin. These are big reasons for skepticism.
I believe that the Post reporter did indeed get quotes from someone in the Kennedy family, but again, it's a pretty huge family. The person could be a remotely related Kennedy or someone related by marriage. There's no way to tell how close the person quoted is to the inner sanctum of Kennedys; I'm just pointing out it could be anyone. It could be someone with no authority to speak on behalf of the Kennedy family at all. We just don't know because a first name is not given.
The litany of complaints is so familiar to me that I have to conclude the phrases are campaign-approved talking points, especially the first one:
1) invoking the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy to explain why she’s staying in the race (Curiously, this is literally the same language Greg Sargent used in his report on the flap on May 23. I mean exact words in the same order. Did the Post plagiarize Greg or vice versa? Probably neither. Probably it's language provided by the Obama campaign and they both used it verbatim so they wouldn't get it wrong. This says something about Greg, btw.)
2) death knell
3) increasingly desperate
4) sloppy
5) last nail in her campaign’s coffin
6) How can Hillary even use the experience argument
7) pushes the wrong buttons
8) a line was crossed
9) even her legitimacy as a politician - ended today
10) She no longer has only her husband to blame
Keep an eye out for these phrases all week. You will likely see them over and over and over again about the gaffe itself and about Hillary. The chances of people in different parts of the country all using the same words are very slim, unless the words are provided by one source: the Obama campaign (why? because that's who benefits from bad news for Hillary). I singled these particular phrases out because they are hyperbolic and very specific. You may even see them at TPM.
The blog you linked to seems fine, ptw, because it cites a number of sources to choose from. However, the tilt is still somewhat pro-Obama, and if I wanted to get to the bottom of a story, I personally would Google for other sources as well. It links to a good site called memeorandum.
May 26, 2008 1:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing I glean from the link this post provides is that Robert Kennedy Jr. has a lot more class than Hillary Clinton.
May 25, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
He also has more class than you.
May 26, 2008 12:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary and you are only making it worse by writing and repeating. You have to know when to shut up.
My theory: Hillary wants to stay on the headlines, and keep media attacking her. It was a bizzare op-ed to say the least.
May 25, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
The question isn't what any Kennedy thinks, it's how the rest of us see it.
There you go, kash. It's about you, isn't it? You don't give a shit about the Kennedy's and their feelings do you? You can watch RFK Jr. but you don't want to do that because you need your Hate Hillary Habit fed. Go ahead and feed it.
May 26, 2008 1:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think he was talking about political effects, not personal. And in that context, how the people of the country take the comment is the important thing. It's all very predictable that the Clinton campaign is now blaming the Obama campaign for fanning the flames of this issue, but the truth of it is, this was spontaneous combustion. This was a very very stupid comment that Sen. Clinton made, and it opened the door to nothing but bad and worse interpretations. You may not like it, you may wish it different, and you may disagree, but there is no getting round the fact that this hit way too many people as way too out there, and it is going to hurt her going forward.
May 26, 2008 5:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shrugs. You are gonna believe what you want to believe.
May 25, 2008 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Politico's editor John Harris has written a piece in which he regrets that the "trivial" and "unimportant" RFK story received this much coverage. A must read:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10604.html
May 25, 2008 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Opinions are like assholes.
Everyone has one.
And most of them smell.
May 27, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cripes, now I know what a Hillary supporter feels like when she's attacked by Obama trolls. Actually, I've run into Hillaryist flames plenty of times on TPM. Here's how you do it:
1) don't read past the first 5 words of the comment;
2) assume the absolute worst of the commenter;
3) blast away like an asshole.
OK, go back to bashing away.
May 26, 2008 12:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like your kitty avatar. Such long whiskers! :-)
May 26, 2008 1:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't hold your breath. These idealistic young Obama supporters know an assassin when they see one.
May 26, 2008 2:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
lol!
May 26, 2008 4:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why should the comments or feelings of the Kennedy family matter to someone who feels that the comment had little to do with Kennedy and more to do with Obama? She could have easily referenced the campaign timeline without the assissination comment as she had done on at least one of the handful of other occaisions. I believe that this is just one of a pattern of comments (I refuse to call them 'gaffes') that Billary has made during the course of this campaign. Its called reading between the lines or Freudian slip. Just sickening....
May 26, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obamagirl you are trying to make a problem that doesn't exist. Obama wasn't mentioned by name or inference. If you want to be upset about it then go ahead.
May 26, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Post a Comment