Bumped - Todd

Remember Joe Klein's stinging post from last week entitled "Apology Not Accepted?"

Back in 2000, after John McCain lost his mostly honorable campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, he went about apologizing to journalists--including me--for his most obvious mis-step: his support for keeping the confederate flag on the state house. [...]

I just can't wait for the moment when John McCain--contrite and suddenly honorable again in victory or defeat--talks about how things got a little out of control in the passion of the moment. Talk about putting lipstick on a pig.

I agree with Josh, McCain's mea culpa tour has just begun.

Of course, notice that McCain's wording never actually implies his own culpability -- he's become the master of the passive voice. You see, there's just this negative campaigning that's just sort of out there and he regrets that it's...out there.

I suspect this will be the first of a string of quasi mea culpas he'll insert into his speeches. Let's hope people like Joe Klein don't easily forget just how dishonorable McCain's campaign has been.

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Crossposted at <REDACTED> and DailyKos

Guys, please Rec this one up!

Governor Palin, we would like to apologize.  Some of us among the Netroots have been, shall we say, overzealous in looking for ways to turn your nomination into a liability for your party.  It seems the world has no shortage of wood-be Woodwards and Bernsteins.  The saner among us have been hitherto unable to restrain those wanted to believe in these scurrilous rumors.

If we have hurt your family we are truly sorry.  We are better people than these stories would have you believe.  We wish you and your family nothing but good health and good times.  Alaska is a great place for a family, no?

Again, the families of the candidates should be off-limits.  What they do, where they pray, and how they relate have nothing to do with us, and should certainly never be used for the purpose of an attack.

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Apology for those who need a mea culpa (or a me a culprit)

Some bad things happened in the primaries. Neither candidates nor supporters got the respect they deserve.

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Hillary Clinton, appearing exhausted in an interview with the Argus-Leader's editorial board meeting, unfortunately used the word "assassination" in the context of discussing the history of Democratic primaries.

Many Obama supporters grabbed the opening to accuse Clinton of exploiting the "politics of violence." In his front-page story at mydd, Josh Orton dramatically concludes that "she must go."

Just let me get this straight.  Obama supporters really think Hillary Clinton would intentionally invoke the idea of assassination to try to advance her cause?  First, do you think she is that stupid?  And second, why wouldn't Obama supporters give Senator Clinton the benefit of the doubt when they've asked Clinton supporters to believe so many claims by Sen. Obama?

This is called the politics of desperation.

Here is Senator Clinton's statement of clarification, which, not suprisingly, I have not yet seen added as an "update" to any of the posts by pro-Obama bloggers:

"Earlier today I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Senator Kennedy waged in California in June 1992 and 1968 and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nomination primary contests that go into June. That's a historic fact. The Kennedys have been much on my mind the last days because of Senator Kennedy and I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation, and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that, whatsoever. My view is that we have to look to the past and to our leaders who have inspired us and give us a lot to live up to, and I'm honored to hold Senator Kennedy's seat in the United States Senate from the state of New York and have the highest regard for the entire Kennedy family."

And here is the original transcript from the Argus-Leader meeting:

HRC: People have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa.

Q: Why?

HRC: I don't know. I don't know. I find it curious. Because it is unprecedented in history. I don't understand it. Between my opponent and his camp and some in the media there has been this urgency to end this. And historically, that makes no sense. So I find it a bit of a mystery.

Q: So you don't buy the party unity argument?

HRC: I don't because again I've been around long enough.

My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right?

We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it. There's lots of speculation about why it is.

Q: What is your speculation?

I don't know. I find it curious. And I don't want to attribute motives or strategies to people because I don't really know, but it's a historical curiosity to me.

Now, just give the Senator a break and take her at her word. Fatigue is affecting both candidates

Time might be better spent debating the substance of her original point, which was an extremely valid one.  Or is jumping on the gaffe just another avoidance tactic?

UPDATE 5/23/08 10:05 PM ET:Robert Kennedy Jr. released this statement:

“It is clear from the context that Hillary was invoking a familiar political circumstance in order to support her decision to stay in the race through June. I have heard her make this reference before, also citing her husband’s 1992 race, both of which were hard fought through June. I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense.”

UPDATE 5/23/08 8:15 PM ET: I just came across the video of Hillary making these remarks, and it's abundantly clear that she intended nothing more than to answer the question by referencing historical information. Watch for yourself and, again, it might be more productive to discuss the substance of the question she was asked, which was an excellent one ...

UPDATE 5/23/08 7:27 PM ET: This statement was issued by The Argus Leader’s Executive Editor Randell Beck:

“The context of the question and answer with Sen. Clinton was whether her continued candidacy jeopardized party unity this close to the Democratic convention. Her reference to Mr. Kennedy's assassination appeared to focus on the timeline of his primary candidacy and not the assassination itself.”

UPDATE 5/23/08 7:13 PM ET: Senator Clinton also apologized:

"I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and in particular the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever,"

UPDATE 5/23/08 7:15 PM ET: Larry Johnson of No Quarter was a bit more blunt and on the money:

...So the Obama crowd is wetting itself and wailing that Clinton is implying Obama should be shot. Jesus, Joseph, and Mary! So if Hillary makes reference to the bombing of Hiroshima in August of 1945 does that mean she wants to nuke the convention?... Anyone who suggests that Hillary is trying to suggest or encourage the notion that Obama be shot is a sick sociopath. She has lived with the burden of Secret Service detail and knows all to well the threat political candidates face. And, most importantly, she is not the kind of person to wish harm for other people...

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In the past, I have repeatedly denounced those Clinton supporters, here and elsewhere, who claim that they will not vote for Obama in the fall if he is the nominee. I thought that letting McCain continue Bush's disastrous term just because Hillary was one of the many candidates who didn't win the nomination is just plain dumb.

I'm sorry I ever thought that. I now join the ranks of those I previously called "childish."

I will not vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton under any circumstances.

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