Today, the campaign trail is buzzing with Hillary Clinton's comments to the South Dakota newspaper, the Argus Leader, about why she is remaining in the race against all odds. Hillary raised the specter of the assassination of Robert F Kennedy in June of 1968-just after he had won the California primary, an apparent reference to how a race could suddenly change. Critics are charging that Hillary has improperly brought up the possibility that Obama could be assassinated between now and the final nomination-or election-especially since we are approaching June. (Clinton today apologized and denied that there was any intention of even raising that thought.)
Perhaps. But what was the purpose of bringing that up? Is that possibility actually in her mind? If so, that it is something she should keep to her own inner thoughts. The power of suggestion can be taken to extremes, as we all know. I don't want to take this to extremes, but this was a comment-or speculation that should not have been made.
My first reaction to this news was to drag up some pictorial that would have suggested that Clinton was making an implied threat-something along the lines of "You know, Obama may be walking down the street and have a load of bricks fall on his head". After thinking twice, I decided that would not be proper-or fair. I don't think that Hillary is hoping for such an event. I just think that her comments were wrong and worthy of an apology. That she has done.
We must be very careful about how we refer to assassinations. Hopefully, Mrs Clinton has learned that lesson.
Hey, ever see Cool Hand Luke? Remember the part where Luke is in the fight and he keeps getting knocked down, but he just keeps getting back up - refusing to quit?
ReplyDeleteClinton kinda reminds me of that. But, you know, if Luke was a pandering, slimy politician and not sympathetic in any way shape or form.