Ex-Clinton Supporter here...

[doyourealize1]

I used to be a fan of HRC.

I gave her the benefit of the doubt when she made the Bosnia remark. I gave her the benefit of the doubt when she said she had support among hard working white Americans. I even forgave her creative counting on the popular vote.

I can't support her anymore. She's proven that she is in the race for herself, rather than for the benefit of her supporters.

I can't support her anymore after the RFK comment. Especially in light of the Ted Kennedy diagnosis.

No, I don't believe she is a monster like some people do. I think she is a woman who cannot fathom how far she's fallen and who is in denial. For that reason, I feel sorry for her.

My support is behind Barack Obama. I am not as warm on him as many of his supporters here are, but he is a fine candidate, and has proven himself to be worthy of the presidency.

[Lebam in LA]

1. Sadly, I couldn't agree more

I believe Obama is a good man and will be a good president, and hopefully a great one

[roguevalley]

30. welcome, doyourealize 1. this sort of thing comes every four years.

it passes. I am glad you are staying.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Welcome.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

23. Did you bring

the salsa? I told you to bring the salsa. It's no good welcoming someone over to our suite unless we are all prepared. Okay, go get some ice and margarita mix... HURRY.

[BlooInBloo]

40. ACK! My bad! Got it now!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. She couldn't win on the issues alone, she had to 'eat her own'

sure you can criticize opponents on their policy but when it gets personal and the kitchen sink comes hurling voters start to get put off. No one likes someone who eats their own for their own benefit.

[Lady-Damai]

4. Good!

:hug:

[Undercurrent]

5. Thank you!

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mkultra]

12. her words in this case prove one of two things..

shes either evil or carelessly incompetent. Either way, it was a stupid thing to say and it came straight from her mouth.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Garbo 2004]

20. But her point was specious. There's no valid comparison of today's nom process/schedule to '68.

In 1968 primaries/caucuses were far fewer, started much later and didn't determine the selection of the nominee at the convention. The nominee was decided by deal making prior to and at the convention, not by the results of primary elections.

Hubert Humphrey jumped into the race in April 1968 after LBJ dropped out. By June, Humphrey (the VP) was the leading contender for the nom as the party establishment's pick. Yes, Bobby was on the CA ballot in June, but Humphrey wasn't. And Humphrey didn't need to be on the ballot in order to get the nom. Humphrey was selected the nominee at the '68 convention without ever having competed in a primary election.

[mkultra]

21. he was obviously trying to calm the mass to prevent a giant explosion

essentially , trying to calm the crowd. That doesn't mean he didn't see anything wrong with it, rather that he sees our unity and honesty as important to the progressive cause. HRC and her supporters are like children who constantly misbehave and think ok because they haven't been spanked.

[Kahuna]

28. For me the insult was never to the Kennedys as much as to Obama. And

not only is it an insult to Obama but could potentially endanger his life.

[Diane R]

29. But it wasn't just the Kennedy family who she offended. What about Obama? Unforgivable.

[earth mom]

34. Where in the HELL was Obama even mentioned in her statement?!

:wtf:

Talk about fucking delusional!!!

[Gore1FL]

36. The other conclusion is she was staying in the race in case she was assassinated.

I know her arguments have been illogical, and maybe she meant exactly that, but I was giving her the benefit of the doubt.

If you think she'd say something that illogical, then I am happy to agree with you.

[earth mom]

54. What is illogical is to link Obama to her statement in the first place.

The Obama nuts need to take a chill pill and soon. :crazy:

[mkultra]

33. low and behold you have missed the mark

much like your queen, you have misjudged reality again. It would seem that they where just trying to prevent division while they are actually fuming.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05252008/news/nationalnews/kennedys_feel_bobby_socked_112469.htm

[TheWraith]

35. If only your opinion were supported by some facts, then it might be right.

That statement by RFK Jr. was made before he had seen, heard, or read Clinton's actual remarks.

[Steerpike_Denver]

42. We don't use the term "Obama Nut" any more

We also don’t say “Obamabot”, “Obamamaniac”, or “Barackanoid” or whatever snarky little term you dream up for passionate supporters of Barack Obama for president. The proper collective term is “Democrats”, as in: “Because of his insurmountable lead in popular votes, number of states carried and, most importantly, delegates, the Democrats will undoubtedly choose Barack Obama as the party’s nominee for the 2008 presidential election.

The term “Hilbot”, on the other hand, is still perfectly valid, as is “Hillaroid”, “Clintonista” and, for our Appalachian friends, “Hillbillary”. Any of these terms is perfectly acceptable to describe those who refuse to accept the fact noted above.

Within this group is a small, shrill subset who has vowed not only to withhold their support of the Democratic nominee, but to either vote for McCain, or a “protest” candidate, or withhold their vote altogether.

These people should be referred to by their rightful name as well: “Republicans”

[Kaleko]

47. We?

Speak for yourself. You haven't been authorized to speak for me or the rest of all DU posters. It's called intellectual honesty.

[Baby Snooks]

44. And he has not made his family happy in doing so..

Quite a few of the other Kennedys are making it known to the media that they are disappointed he would do so. They are appalled by her comment which speaks for itself. It was particularly appalling to Ethel Kennedy whose voice speaks with more authority than her son's and who endorsed Barack Obama along with Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy. Their endorsement means far more than the endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr and his acting as an apologist for Hillary Clinton has only added to the disappointment which was already there when he endorsed her.

Regardless of anything we live in a country filled with racists and other malcontents. All it will take is one of them to believe that Hillary Clinton is the only possible hope for this country and then pick up a gun and kill Barack Obama. And no doubt Hillary Clinton will make some comment that it sure was a good thing she didn't drop out of the race. And her supporters will claim she didn't mean it that way.

As do the Bushes, the Clintons represent everything that is wrong with this country. As do those who continue to support them.

[apocalypsehow]

48. Again with the silly logical fallacy. Since when is RFK Jr.'s opinion - and that's all it is, an

opinion - on this matter the final word? This was never about RFK or RFK Jr.: it was about HRC's veiled dog-whistling to the Hate Voters about black men (Malcom X & MLK) and political figures (RFK) who were assassinated. It was her *wink* & *nudge* to the most despicable elements of our society, many of whom happen to be her base. Enough with this nonsense that somehow because RFK Jr. was alright with it, we all should be.

[rebel with a cause]

22. I had a problem with what she said,

but the fact that she failed to acknowledge her "supposed" mistake and really apoligize for it, instead of that PR statement that didn't even make much sense, made it even worse. After thinking about it though, she may not have been admit that she had made a mistake because like the Bosnia thing, she would have a hard time explaining making the same mistake three times over.

I really don't think she was saying this to bring about any real assassination, but she may have been using the word repeatedly to plant it in the SD's, voters, and Obama's family's mind. I think a lot of what went on in her campaign was mind games, and some of them worked in certain populations.

Glad to have new people come to Obama's camp. Welcome.

[stillcool]

13. why would he?

Is Hillary wishing a "Catastrophic event" befall JFK Jr., and hand her the nomination?

the sky will open, the light will come down, a lightening bolt will strike Senator Obama, and the celestial choirs will be singing my name.

Interview with Clinton: One Day at a Time
Thursday, Mar. 06, 2008
TIME: Can you envision a point at which--if the race stays this close--Democratic Party elders would step in and say, "This is now hurting the party and whoever will be the nominee in the fall"?

CLINTON: No, I really can't. I think people have short memories. Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1719900,00.htm

Clinton campaign on ropes

BY JOHN GUERRIERO
Published: May 08. 2008 6:00AM
Murray, who has supported Bill and Hillary Clinton since 1991, said these are tough times for people like him who are in the Clinton camp but want to unify the party.

"The sense is, absent some catastrophic event that would take place in this campaign, it's going to be very difficult to see a path to victory for Hillary given what happened" Tuesday, Murray said.
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/NEWS02/805080437

Sun May 11, 2008
Analysis: Could Clinton land the VP nomination?

Several Clinton associates say there is still a ray of hope among some in her campaign: that a "catastrophic" revelation about Obama might make it possible for her to win the presidential nomination. But barring that, Hillary and Bill Clinton recognize that her candidacy is being abandoned and rejected by superdelegates whom she once expected to win over and that, even if she were to win the popular vote in combined primary states, she will almost certainly be denied the nomination.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/10/bernstein.clinton/index.html?section=cnn_latest

CBSNews.com Reports: N.Y. Senator Now Faces Nearly Impossible Odds To Capturing Democratic Nomination
May 7, 2008

Clinton's Path To Victory Slipping Away
There is one scenario which does work for Clinton and that’s a massive movement of superdelegates leaving Obama and supporting her. The party leaders could do that, but it would take some unforeseen development in the race between now and the convention for them to do so. Obama, in some way, would have to be rendered so unelectable that the party rejects him at the convention. That’s not much to hang a hat on but it’s starting to look like her best option.

And even that might not be a viable option, said Joe Trippi. “Even if the catastrophic thing existed or happened, if she were perceived to have caused it, I think it would end her campaign too,” Trippi said. I don’t think there’s any way now for her to gain the nomination. She’s at the point now where if she tries to make a case against Obama, it will actually speed up superdelegates joining his cause just to shut the campaign down.”

But Trippi notes that the Obama campaign and Democratic leaders are still likely to give Clinton the room she needs to go forward on her own terms, provided that she does so in a positive manner. “I think there’s lots of tolerance for her going on, running the table into the convention and having a presence there,” he said. “But if she actually tries to compete in the trenches for the nomination in a way that looks like it’s damaging the nominee … I don’t think there will be any tolerance for that at all.”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/07/politics/main4078586.shtml

[DrZeeLit]

41. Insinuation and subtext -- her stock in trade. What about "as far as I know?"

Mix that one with the "hard working...white Americans" and you get some of those voters in WV and KY who swear Obama is Muslim and against working people.

She wants it both ways. Unfortunately, she doesn't want to take her ball and go home, dammit.

She wants to run the subtle knife and she wants protection from cuts. She wants to cock an eyebrow over "bitter" but she wants to sneak by her own ambiguous word choices. Assassinate is OK, but cling is not. She wants to toss around words like "elite" and "out of touch," while she loans her campaign a few million bucks (with millions still at home in the vault). She wants to toss back a few shots, but she wants those shots to be Crown Royal. The subtext is the message.

Wink, wink, nod, nod.

She was for NAFTA before she was against it.
She was for the war before she was against it.
She was for her husband before she was... well... I guess we'll leave that one at the door.

[hisownpetard]

50. Re: 2nd line of your post - "JFK, Jr." Typo.

[stillcool]

52. .thank you..

to late to edit, but I appreciate your pointing it out!

[hisownpetard]

53. .

:hi:

[mudesi]

7. Sad that it takes you people this long

But welcome! I've been hating Hillary Clinton for several weeks. It's nice to finally have company.

[doyourealize1]

18. Don't condescend to me

I'm entitled to my beliefs just as you are, and believe it or not, mine are completely as rational as yours.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

46. You need to chill on chastising people for doing a commendable thing.

[Tatiana]

8. Bless you! And thanks too.

:hug:

Let's take back this country.

[Zachstar]

9. Welcome!

[Hope And Change]

10. K & R!

[Adelante]

11. Welcome to our side

:hi:

Still, it's painful switching, so I am sorry, too.

[Zhade]

14. Was it her proven unrepentant lying that turned you from her?

NT!

[hedgehog]

15. Welcome and listen up to the town hall meetings on the net a few times.

I've gone from tentative interest 18 months ago to wholehearted support.

[marions ghost]

16. thanks for those thoughts

When Hillary's longtime supporters can't feel good about her ....

The longer this goes on the more it hurts all Dems, including Hillary. These Rethug tactics are not where we want the party to go.

Agreed, she has lost perspective and it's a sad thing to witness. I think everyone wants her to bow out with dignity, but she seems unable to do so. I suspect that she may not only be in denial, but getting very bad advice from others. She's twisting in the wind and I hope she is out of it in early June for everybody's sake.

:kick: for unity

[Raine]

17. WELCOME

Glad to have a new Obama supporter. I was an Edwards supporter till he dropped out then I backed Obama. I wasn't too warm for Obama at first either but he "grew" on me and I like and support him more and more as time has gone on. :-)

[Az_lefty]

24. yep, at this point it's all about her.

[slinkerwink]

25. McCain is the real enemy. I just wish Hillary Clinton would realize that. I want her to be the old

Hillary she was, and that many of us used to admire.

[TLM]

26. good for you.... supporting hillary should not cost you your integrity.

[grantcart]

27. on to the GE together

[AtomicKitten]

31. I agree. He has proven himself worthy of the presidency.

Thanks for saying so and welcome!

:D

[XOKCowboy]

32. I have a ton of respect for you backing the Dem candidate in November..

I don't see it as coming over to any side except the side that keeps McCain and the Republicans out of the White House come November. Welcome to "our" side.

[Steerpike_Denver]

37. A "gaffe" just means accidentally speaking the truth as you see it

Stipulated: her comments don't mean she wants to see Obama assassinated. I am willing to extend her the assumption of that much humanity. However, the truth of the matter, which her comments did reflect, is that she believes her only path to the nomination would be for something "catastrophic" to befall the frontrunner. That could be political, as for some unforgivable gaffe to come out of his mouth, or some heretofore undiscovered skeleton in his closet (they tried to get traction with Bill Ayers and the Rev. Wright, but there just wasn't enough dirt there to stick to Obama convincingly), or it could be an actual physical calamity. It wouldn't have to be an assassination; he could contract a debilitating or fatal disease, or someone in his family could. The end result is the same.

The fact is, she can't win the nomination unless something bad happens to Obama. After all this time, that is a very ugly Plan "A".

[Catherina]

38. Welcome!

[Steerpike_Denver]

43. Thanks

I've been a long-time lurker, but never felt moved to post until recently.

[samsingh]

39. i'm with you

[Mme. Defarge]

45. Bless you!

Your willingness to give your candidate the benefit of the doubt -- within limits -- speaks to the purity of your soul.

[ekwhite]

49. K&R

Thanks for your kind words - I was horrified by her comments. They were a verbal gaffe, for sure, but they were the kind of gaffe that is unforgiveable. 1968 was a horrible year for many of us.

[calimary]

51. Welcome to DU! I agree, and I felt much the same way for awhile.

There's a part of me that still wants to give her the benefit of the doubt, even while I'm an Obama supporter.

I think the big thing to her especially now is - she doesn't want to be the first woman candidate for president WHO FAILS. The first woman candidate has to win to seal that deal for real. I think part of her feels a huge and crushing responsibility to WIN for fear that a woman candidate from her on will be saddled with - yeah, but your first one blew it! I think based on her track record as a leader and a front-liner in the quest of women for true political parity with men, she felt (and still feels) that she HAS TO win this to make sure women candidates will always be perceived as winners. Or at least ferocious contenders.

Hey - see? I'm still trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. And I feel a personal blow to the gut every time she stumbles. She's carrying a little bit of me with her in her quest, since I, too, yearn to see a woman in the White House - and NOT MERELY as the First Appendage or First Arm-Decoration.