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The assassination comments justifiably drew the outrage.
Yet Sen. Clinton’s comments to the South Dakota editor board contained several other strongly disingenuous assertions. They may not shock the conscience like the RFK reference, but repeat the pattern of truth-stretching that has dogged her:
…and people have been trying to (1) push me out of this since Iowa… I find it curious… It is (2) unprecedented in history… You know between (3) my opponent and his camp and some in the media there has been this urgency to end this… And you know (4) historically it makes no sense and I find it a bit of a mystery…Q: you don’t buy the party unity argument?
A: I don’t because again I’ve been around long enough… You know (5) my husband did not wrap up the nomination until he won the CA primary sometime in (6) the middle of June. We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in CA.
ERRORS, OMISSIONS, AND MISTATEMENTS
1. The first notable call for Hillary to exit came from Sen. Pat Leahy at the end of March 28 - nearly three months after Iowa.
2. Candidates dropping out before the end of the primary season is the rule, not the exception. Indeed, for President Clinton’s reelect, Harold Ickes said avoiding any primary challenge at all is key to winning, as recalled in Bob Woodward’s The Choice.
3. Sen. Obama has gone to great lengths NOT to call on Sen. Clinton to drop out - as anyone following the race knows.
4. Again, historically, once candidates are mathematically eliminated, the custom is to refrain from active campaigning, much less personal attacks. Exhibit A: Mike Huckabee or Ron Paul.
5. Wrong. Bill Clinton effectively clinched with New York, when Tsongas had suspended his campaign, and Brown was marginalized with a third place showing.
6. Wrong again. The '92 California primary was on June 2.
