Does anyone really believe that Hillary Clinton threatend Sen. Obama's life?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
May 25, 2008 8:37am CST
Yesterday I read a news article that said Hillary Clinton made references to Bobby Kennedy's assasination and Sen. Barak Obama.
And, some people are saying it was a veiled threat on his life. Now, maybe those people (saying this) are just being extreme. What do you think?
I just heard this story the other day and it sounds completely ludicrous. Personally, I think she's smarter than to have said something like that and really meant it as a threat. So, maybe people are just jumping on it as a chance to bash Hillary.
I did not personally hear the speech where she made the comment. But, after reading a press release from her campaign, I'm not sure if that's what she meant. The press release indicated that she was only referring to a campaign issue and not making threats. Something about the primaries running late into June (as in the case of Bill Clinton and Bobby Kennedy).
I guess you could look it up on the Internet if you wanted. ( I don't have a link to either)
What do you think? Did you hear the speech? Did it sound like a real threat on Sen. Obama's life? Why would a politician be so silly to have made a comment so publicly if they were serious? Desperation? What's your thoughts on this?
5 people like this
10 responses
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
25 May 08
I believe Hillary didn't finish her complete thought. As I understand it, she was alluding to the fact that her husband and Bobby Kennedy both continued to campaign into June. For some reason, she got her tongue twisted and mentioned the assassination in June instead of just the campaigning until June.
2 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
28 May 08
That's exactly what I thought. There is no way that I think she meant that Obama should be assasinated.
@Cole_Trinity_Pheniox (191)
• United States
25 May 08
I don't really think it was a public threat to assassinate Obama. That would be pretty stupid. I think it was an ill stated comment that never should have been made. I do think that it highlights a bit of her character though. Holding on to hope for winning the nomination on the chance that her competitor will be assassinated is beyond reprehensible in my book.
In reference to her husband not raping up the nomination till June, I believe the situation isn't comparable. At that time California voted much later in the election season, In June I believe. This being the state possessing the most delegates left the nomination up for grabs at that time. There are not enough democratically decided delegates left in the remaining three states to put her even close to him in the delegate race. Obama's only real chance of not being the democratic nominee is if he is actually assassinated. This is probably why her statement has come across as a direct threat to some.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
25 May 08
No, I didn't think it was an actual threat either. I think the comment was meant to emphasize that Bobby Kennedy was still in the running in June, before his assasination. The focus of the comment was most likely to say that he was still in the running and not that he was killed.
I think she was saying that he was still hanging on in the race and that he had not given up, so why should she. And, when she said, "There's still time". (Or something to that effect). I'm thinking that she meant, there's still time for her (Hillary) to secure the nomination, since we are not even into June and some other famous elections have run that long, (including Bill Clinton and Bobby Kennedy).
And, so she should not give up the race, either, so early. If you read it with an open mind, it could possibly say that. It doesn't sound like an actual threat on anyone's life to me.
Any other interpretation is just plain silly. Who would possibly make such an ill-advised statement. I think she got her words garbled, as many people do. I can't imagine that such a polished politician as Hillary would ever publicly threaten another person. She's no dummy.
But, I guess a person could take her words in the worst way if they really wanted. After all, it's a free country. You can pretty much do anything you want, as long as you're not breaking the law. Thanks for dropping by and adding substance to the discussion. You made some very good points.
1 person likes this
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
25 May 08
i didn't take it as a threat, but more of a warning that this man is out to hurt the usa and that someone might take him our like they did Robert Kennedy, I don't personally think Obama will make it through 4 years as president, I do believe someone will take him out before his time is up, he is a very dangerous man to the usa, and I cringe at the though of what he could do to our security in the usa, seems to me he is trying to do all he can to show the others that he has disarmed the usa so walk right in, there are many things to consider before he gets into office, one that he is black and there are some in this world that have a problem with that, you never know who is out there that would make a name at taking out this kind of man. To me this was more of a warning than a threat, as for Hillary, she will do any and everything, right or wrong to get to the position she wants, if I had anyone to fear at this election time it would be what is she willing to do to get his nomination.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
25 May 08
I'm agreeing with you Cole. Violence against another human being is not cool. We're all just human beings. We all bleed the same red blood. In America, we're all patriots. We may not agree with our current or former leaders, at times, but we support the right of everyone to their own opinion. However, I could never agree with the concept of harming another person.
That's not free speech. Please don't say hurtful stuff like that on the Internet. I have heard that the FBI visits homes of people who make threats against politicians. Protect yourself. You're not anonymous on the Internet. They're watching! I swear, I'm not being paranoid.
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
26 May 08
Nah, she wasn't making any kind of a threat. But the sensations seekers surely jumped on it didn't they? And they know she wasn't meaning any more than what she said. Those other primaries DID run into June.
This whole long, drawn out campaign has been one of he said, she said and half the time he didn't say it in that way and she didn't mean it that way. And everybody knew they were just hurling stones to take away from the real issues.
We would have been better served with a shorter campaign.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
26 May 08
i havent heard of it either but everything that comes out of her mouth they use against her and i am totally sick of it.. if she was a guy she wouldnt have had it so hard but i am proud of her for sticking it out just because she is making a way for future women leaders.. but anyways i would believe it if they said bill did since he seems to be saying insane things that just screw over hillary.. but i doubt she threatened him and if she some how did it was prob a joking way and the press had a hay day.. although i did hear that obama has guards but i havent heard of hillary having them and if anyone needs them i would think she would..
1 person likes this
@mehale (2200)
• United States
28 May 08
While I did not hear the speech, I seriously doubt that anyone running for a public office - especially one as important and public as president - would make a threat that publicly and visibly on another candidate's life...not even Hillary Clinton. However, people will make associations and will believe whatever suits them.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
26 May 08
This is the first I'd heard of anyone even thinking Hillary meant it as an actual threat. The worst I've heard, and even this was only implied, was that she was staying in because there was a possibility of something happening to Obama. For the most part it was just said it was a very unfortunate choice of words, which I certainly agree it was. In defense of the Obama campaign since there are those who seem to think Obama is the one to cause a fuss over this, they never made a big deal of it at all, it was the media that did that.
Annie
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
27 May 08
No, she did not threaten his life. It is such a shame that no matter what the woman says they attack her because they don't have enough real stuff to go after. I thought it was interesting that Ted Kennedy had Obama deliver his speech to WU because he had brain tumor yet he went on a boat race instead. This is nothing more than an old boy network. The Kennedys use to go on vacation with the Clintons and then they turn around and stab Hillary in the back and endorse Obama. This is not just a kick in the pants for Hillary but all women.
