It takes a bit of a reach to wilfully misunderstand some unguarded words by Hilary Clinton, but many have done so. This is what she was reported as having said:
“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,” she said, dismissing calls to drop out.”
It’s clear that the subject of her remarks is the date at which nominations have been decided in the past – specifically, June. She is not saying, “I’ll stay in this race on the off-chance that the other candidate might be assassinatedâ€. However, that’s what many people are understanding her to say (for example, Keith Olberman).
Hilary is guilty, however, of a cardinal political sin – speaking incautiously, and not thinking ahead. Maybe she was tired – maybe she was just tired of speaking obliquely. Whatever the reason, something of a turning point now seems to have been reached.
