Why I continue to run. (by Hillary Clinton)

[RobMoney$]

This past Friday, during a meeting with a newspaper editorial board, I was asked about whether I was going to continue in the presidential race.

I made clear that I was - and that I thought the urgency to end the 2008 primary process was unprecedented. I pointed out, as I have before, that both my husband's primary campaign, and Sen. Robert Kennedy's, had continued into June.

Almost immediately, some took my comments entirely out of context and interpreted them to mean something completely different - and completely unthinkable.

I want to set the record straight: I was making the simple point that given our history, the length of this year's primary contest is nothing unusual. Both the executive editor of the newspaper where I made the remarks, and Sen. Kennedy's son, Bobby Kennedy Jr., put out statements confirming that this was the clear meaning of my remarks. Bobby stated, "I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense."

I realize that any reference to that traumatic moment for our nation can be deeply painful - particularly for members of the Kennedy family, who have been in my heart and prayers over this past week. And I expressed regret right away for any pain I caused.

But I was deeply dismayed and disturbed that my comment would be construed in a way that flies in the face of everything I stand for - and everything I am fighting for in this election.

And today, I would like to more fully answer the question I was asked: Why do I continue to run, even in the face of calls from pundits and politicians for me to leave this race?

I am running because I still believe I can win on the merits. Because, with our economy in crisis, our nation at war, the stakes have never been higher - and the need for real leadership has never been greater - and I believe I can provide that leadership.

I am not unaware of the challenges or the odds of my securing the nomination - but this race remains extraordinarily close, and hundreds of thousands of people in upcoming primaries are still waiting to vote. As I have said so many times over the course of this primary, if Sen. Obama wins the nomination, I will support him and work my heart out for him against John McCain. But that has not happened yet.

I am running because I believe staying in this race will help unite the Democratic Party. I believe that if Sen. Obama and I both make our case - and all Democrats have the chance to make their voices heard - in the end, everyone will be more likely to rally around the nominee.
.

[D_Raay]

Translation: This guy is not white are you people crazy!

[RobMoney$]

You know, it's really sad to watch the Black community betray the Clintons the way they are.

Don't worry, the minute someone "Blacker" comes along, I'm sure they'll drop Obama in a New York minute too because he's not black enough.



Thanks for turning this thread into a racial discussion D_Raay.

[yeahwho]

i just figured I'd just walk in naked here and scratch my ass, pick my nose, then walk back out

it's cool being on ignore

[King PSYZ]

You know, it's really sad to watch the Black community betray the Clintons the way they are.

Don't worry, the minute someone "Blacker" comes along, I'm sure they'll drop Obama in a New York minute too because he's not black enough.



Thanks for turning this thread into a racial discussion D_Raay.


betray?

are you fucking kidding?

[D_Raay]

You know, it's really sad to watch the Black community betray the Clintons the way they are.

Don't worry, the minute someone "Blacker" comes along, I'm sure they'll drop Obama in a New York minute too because he's not black enough.



Thanks for turning this thread into a racial discussion D_Raay.

Hey I am just calling it as I see it. The racial baiting from the Clinton campaign is absolutely staggering from a supposed democrat.

[RobMoney$]

I really don't see how the statement I posted by Hillary has anything to do with race or race-baiting.

Where do you get that she's committing "a staggering amount" of race-baiting?

[afronaut]

You know, it's really sad to watch the Black community betray the Clintons the way they are.

Don't worry, the minute someone "Blacker" comes along, I'm sure they'll drop Obama in a New York minute too because he's not black enough.



Thanks for turning this thread into a racial discussion D_Raay.
Obama won against Alan Keyes in the 2004 Illinois senate race, and he's a bit blacker than Obama.

Also, that is actually kind of racist, Rob. The black demographic doesn't prefer who you're backing, so the majority of blacks are bigots who vote solely on basis of skin color?

[RobMoney$]

Translation: This guy is not white are you people crazy!


Why didn't you point out D_Raay's racist comment, afro?
He's the one who brought up race for no reason at all.

[afronaut]

He wasn't making a generalization about a group of people, only about Hillary Clinton. Plus, I just took it as a joke.

[Documad]

Hillary's comparisons aren't that persuasive. We've never before started the nomination process so early, so we have a right to expect that it will end at some point and that we can focus on the race against the republican candidate.

The real reason Hillary is still running is that she has nothing to lose. If something does happen to Obama (scandal/not death), then she is primed for the nomination. It's a slim chance but it's all she has at this point.

[D_Raay]

I really don't see how the statement I posted by Hillary has anything to do with race or race-baiting.

Where do you get that she's committing "a staggering amount" of race-baiting?

She didn't apologize to Obama for the comments but rather to the Kennedys. Do you not get why that is race baiting or racist?

[RobMoney$]

She didn't apologize to Obama for the comments but rather to the Kennedys. Do you not get why that is race baiting or racist?


ORLY?

Bobby stated, "I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense."


I realize that any reference to that traumatic moment for our nation can be deeply painful - particularly for members of the Kennedy family, who have been in my heart and prayers over this past week. And I expressed regret right away for any pain I caused.

But I was deeply dismayed and disturbed that my comment would be construed in a way that flies in the face of everything I stand for - and everything I am fighting for in this election.


She's addressing our entire country, "Particularly" the Kennedy's, not only the Kennedy's. And even RFK jr. is telling you she clearly meant no offense. Is RFK jr. also race-baiting? I think making race-baiting claims from this is a stretch.
But nice try D.

...and this statement isn't the apology. This is about why she continues to run, so lets try to leave the discussions about race out of it and lets try to stay on topic.

[RobMoney$]

He wasn't making a generalization about a group of people, only about Hillary Clinton. Plus, I just took it as a joke.


Report me to the Mods then.

[D_Raay]

ORLY?





She's addressing our entire country, "Particularly" the Kennedy's, not only the Kennedy's. And even RFK jr. is telling you she clearly meant no offense. Is RFK jr. also race-baiting? I think making race-baiting claims from this is a stretch.
But nice try D.

...and this statement isn't the apology. This is about why she continues to run, so lets try to leave the discussions about race out of it and lets try to stay on topic.

Yes and, like you said this is about why she continues to run, she used the word assassination in her original statement indicating that perhaps Obama could be shot. This is dangerous ground she enters here. To me it is race baiting , to a layman maybe not as such unless they give it a while to sink in.
The press and media prepare statements to pander and condescend the words so as to not create more trouble than what has already been caused. Not because they back Clinton in most cases, but because it is the right thing to do. It's fair the Kennedys should have to clean up her mess?

And she did not directly apologize to Obama instead adopting the Bush/Rove/Cheney doctrine of being without fault except to save face.

[abcdefz]

This is one time when I think Hillary's right -- just that people over over-analyzing what she was saying. I hardly think she was calling
for someone to assassinate Obama.

[afronaut]

Report me to the Mods then.
Why? You're allowed to be racist if you want. Unlike some people, I don't believe suppression changes or fixes anything.

[RobMoney$]

You know what, Fuck You Afro.

[afronaut]

What? What you said was kinda racist. I'm not saying that you were trying to be racist or really meant anything malicious by it, but it was an unfair judgment to make. And I don't believe in penalizing people for being racist, whats so bad about that?

[RobMoney$]

Obama is winning around 90% of the Black Vote.
It's not generalizing or being racist, it's a fact.
Black voters are abandoning the Clintons.

I didn't see your heart bleed for the small town Gun & Bible-clenching Xenophobes when Obama made his remark. All the Obama-trons said was how it meant nothing and how in fact it was true.

People need to stop being so hyper-critical everytime someone references Black people. There's been plenty of racist remarks made about Hillary on here that no one blinks an eye at.

If anything, Obama's race is working pro-actively for him, not negatively.

[Lex Diamonds]

From a completely neutral standpoint, I believe that Hillary Clinton is the better candidate but Obama will win, largely due to the fact that he is depicted as the first potential black president.

There is nothing racist about that, it's a stone cold fact.