This week, Senator Clinton again showed her remarkable ability to amplify her own mistakes. Attempting to make the legitimate point that there is historical precedent for this year’s extended primary campaign, she chose her words poorly, referring to the June 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy. By so doing, she seemed to imply that a strong reason to continue her campaign is that someone very well may murder her opponent.
As the inevitable media firestorm began, she appeared to realize her mistake rather quickly, taking less than a day to emerge with an apology. But as she has done so many times before, she added insult to injury when her reaction to the controversy was even more offensive than the original misstep.
Pretending that the only reason her remarks had offended anyone was their insensitivity to the late Senator’s family, she issued a half-hearted politician’s apology to the Kennedys—but pointedly refused to apologize to her opponent.
No one thinks Senator Clinton actually wishes violence to befall Senator Obama. However, her behavior in this episode further accentuates the most significant distinction in this primary campaign—that between a politician and a leader.
As the inevitable media firestorm began, she appeared to realize her mistake rather quickly, taking less than a day to emerge with an apology. But as she has done so many times before, she added insult to injury when her reaction to the controversy was even more offensive than the original misstep.
Pretending that the only reason her remarks had offended anyone was their insensitivity to the late Senator’s family, she issued a half-hearted politician’s apology to the Kennedys—but pointedly refused to apologize to her opponent.
No one thinks Senator Clinton actually wishes violence to befall Senator Obama. However, her behavior in this episode further accentuates the most significant distinction in this primary campaign—that between a politician and a leader.
