Olbermann was on fire tonight - directing the full force of his ire on Hillary Clinton her tacky remark about RFK’s assassination. Olbermann’s report essentially was a series of people saying her remarks were beyond the pale.
Here’s my take on it: What she said was stupid, politically and socially tone deaf. I’m not convinced it’s the end of the Clinton campaign. Olbermann is portraying it as the end of her presidential campaign, saying in essence this is the excuse a lot of superdelegates have been waiting for to come out in support of Obama. I agree with him. A candidate with a greater reservoir of political capital, of personal love and loyalty would not be undone by this by the Clnton’s have never - despite their skills, intellect and successes - inspired deep and lasting loyalty or love in fellow Democrats. Hillary in particular has always come across as reserved, distant and self serving. Her behavior the last few weeks have cost her goodwill, the kind of goodwill that would see her through a gaffe like seeming to suggest she is hanging around waiting just in case whackjob to try and assassinate a presidential candidate.
So, for Hillary, the challenge is how to overcome a gaffe where you have no goodwill to help you overcome it? The answer is: You probably don’t.
#1 by Richard Warnick - May 24th, 2008 at 11:00
Much as I like Olbermann, sometimes he gets carried away. I define a gaffe as when a politician accidentally gives his/her real opinion about something. Hillary is desperately trying to imagine a scenario where she gets the nomination, or at least gets something in exchange for giving up the nomination, which she still thinks belongs to her!
#2 by Cliff Lyon - May 24th, 2008 at 17:00
Oh Geez Richard,
Hillary does not make mistakes or gaffs. It was deliberate.
#3 by Ken Bingham - May 24th, 2008 at 18:13
Cliff
Her “apology” rings hallow because she said the same thing in March to Time Magazine. I would put nothing past the Clintons in their lust for power.
#4 by cav - May 24th, 2008 at 20:40
Is it fair to compare K. O. to , say, George will, in the left / right spectrum of punditry? Do we need ANYONE to editorialize in this way or that? Hil’s only hurting herself but K. O. has a paycheck riding on his ability to spout. Pretty intriging ‘jobs program we have going on here.
#5 by Astrodon - May 24th, 2008 at 23:13
I want her out of the way. I really do. But it would be a shame for her to go out like that. Especially since I think you miscalculate the genuine affection women of a certain age have for her. Women, who, may I remind you, are the precinct captains and LWV chairs of this world. They will not stand for her being dismissed.
#6 by Larry Bergan - May 24th, 2008 at 23:46
Hillary saying this just days after Mike Huckabee made the exact same “mistake” (quote,unquote) is very suspicious to me. If she wanted so badly to make the case that Bobby Kennedy’s race went into June, she DID NOT have to bring the word “assassination” into it and should have, literally, been on her knees for the apology.
#7 by Larry Bergan - May 25th, 2008 at 00:00
cav:
That’s a good point!
I’d like to see Wills in the boxing ring with Olbermann or at least in a debate.
#8 by Glenden Brown - May 25th, 2008 at 08:36
AD - I think Olbermann may have been over the top but watching Terry McAuliffe on the TV this morning I am so disgusted with her campaign and its constantly moving the goalposts that I want her out. At americablog, they’re tearing into her like I’ve never seen them do. Her campaign has seemed to have gone out of its way to attack Obama’s legitimacy, to keep her supporters angry. In the end, I like to think her suporters will come out for the Democratic candidate if it’s not Hillary but she’s not helping.
I think the outrage over the remark is blown out of proportion but it’s a pent up frustration at her campaign and its Rovian tactics.
#9 by Cliff Lyon - May 25th, 2008 at 08:44
Glendan,
McAuliff is a self-serving punk and you are being too nice. Hillary knows goddamn well, the word assassination in the context of being thrashed by her black opponent could only ever be taken one way.
Unless you think Hillary is stupid, you cannot give her the benefit of the doubt.
Name ONE other gaffe she’s made in this campaign?
#10 by Glenden Brown - May 25th, 2008 at 09:15
Cliff - It’s been a long time since anybody accused me of being too nice!
#11 by Ken Bingham - May 25th, 2008 at 09:45
Cliff
There is one other major gaffe, Her boast about dodging bullets in Bosnia was a whopper, but that one was just silly. This one has caused real pain in the Kennedy family which I believe was deliberate since they endorsed Obama early on. Mike Huckabee said something similar just a couple of weeks ago and caught Hell over it. Hillary, being the “smartest woman in the world” should have known her remark would elicit a similar response.
#12 by cav - May 25th, 2008 at 11:49
All press is ‘good’ press, and even though Clinton’s desperation is demi-newsworhy, only one of them will prevail - and to my mind Barrak, with his attempt to simply understand McCain and the Gooper-team’s lack of regard for the veterans, really has it going on. So what if he’s not a woman?
#13 by Astrodon - May 25th, 2008 at 20:16
Alas, you are totally right about Clinton’s throwing red meat to her supporters who are anti-Obama for ugly reasons. But my concern is for the first-wave feminists and new dems who were comfortable with her and are still not sold on this slick young smarty-pants Obama. Letting rip on Clinton at long last may be irresistible, but will backfire if there is too much glee in it.
#14 by cav - May 25th, 2008 at 20:58
The glee ought to be based on the likelihood of a Dem win in Nov, but that would be premature since the Republican scream machine has yet to become fully engaged. McCain and much of his class are real losers and will ge ground to dust barring shenanigans. In many ways Hilary could be the ‘change’ we are looking for she’s just got too great a down side, too much baggage. We are left with Nader, Gravel, Mckinney and Obama, three of whom, while getting no press whatsoever would be dreamy, no way will Nader, Gravel or Mckinney get the ultimate nod. BO certainly has downside but so far he’s been pretty rational, smart, likeable and at least half white, and really who among them (besides McKinney) is not?
I think the VP picks will have alot to do with the final outcome.