MyDD :: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama

"Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama

by Michael Begala, Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:00:22 AM EST

When I began to pick up pieces of the 'assassination' comment controversy yesterday, the entire flap didn't make sense to me, simply because the term 'assassination' wouldn't apply to Barack Obama and it's impossible to consider him on a plane with RFK.

To paraphrase a bit, I remember Robert Kennedy, I admired Robert Kennedy, and Barack Obama is no Robert Kennedy. The spectacle of his supporters up in arms over a comment that clearly bears no resemblance to him again illustrates the Messiah-type delusions that are woven into the fabric of this phenomenon.

The term assassination is traditionally applied to figues of great substance and accomplishment. Obama is a first term senator that has spent much of that time running for president. To call his resume thin is kind, to call his character and associations troubling is common sense. It's my hope the Pokemon-type fascination with him will fade quickly.

We all pray for the safety of our candidates. But let's not allow fear to make us so irrational we see things that simply aren't there. (Diary edited to change 'political figure' to 'figure' and clean up typos.)

Tags: assassination, rfk, obama, fit (all tags)

Permalink :: 36 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (1.50 / 2)

If you were around in '68 you would have been trashing RFK too. Of that I have no doubt.

Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:04:49 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

just because YOU have no doubt, doesn't make it true - you have no place ASSUMING what someone else said or meant --- GROW UP

by pan230oh on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:34:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

I'll wear your troll rate as a badge of honor.

Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:13:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You're right. Obama (2.00 / 2)

is in greater danger of assassination.

I don't recall seeing covers like the one below from the time RFK was running.

Nor do I recall reading that white supremacist groups were talking about killing RFK.

John McCain on social security.

by heresjohnny on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:05:12 AM EST

The only people that claim him to be a Messiah (2.00 / 1)

are Hillary people.

Users who are excessively bashing the Democratic Party, or being Republican trolls, will be banned.

by Massadonious on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:06:44 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 2)

What exactly is your penultimate paragraph supposed to mean? I really don't like what I'm reading into it.

Anyway, another attack diary wrapped up in a call for unity. Garbage as usual.

by rfahey22 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:08:42 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 2)

McCainophile Begala does not deem Obama worthy of assassination. Tha's where the penultimate paragraph is going.

I like baked beans.

by SpideyDem on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:12:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 2)

Yeah, that's what I'm reading into it. Disgusting.

by rfahey22 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:16:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

Some of these people have no shame. The issue would probably go away if they stopped trying to blame Obama.

by parahammer on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:28:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 1)

No, I don't think he's saying Obama isn't worthy of being killed; I think he's saying that the possible murder of Obama wouldn't rise to the significance of "assasination", because Obama isn't an important enough figure.
When does the Begala ban happen???

by ER Doc on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:01:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

That is exactly what he is saying and he should be banned for it.

This diary should be deleted!

by batgirl71 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:30:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 1)

I agree. Obama has no sunstance. Plenty of substance, but no sunstance whatsoever. It's one of his few shortcomings.

I like baked beans.

by SpideyDem on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:10:49 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

Where is that "NOM NOM NOMINEE" picture when you need it?

Users who are excessively bashing the Democratic Party, or being Republican trolls, will be banned.

by Massadonious on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:11:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

At the end of the day, when Begala is gleefully celebrating the onset of four more years of Bush policies, we will all be saying to each other, "If only Obama had had more sunstance."

I like baked beans.

by SpideyDem on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:15:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 3)

When I began to pick up pieces of the 'assassination' comment controversy yesterday

Thank you for your indispensable service to our nation. When you're finished, could you clean my bathroom as well?

Can't rec or rate -- next username, please!

by neeborMolgula on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:10:49 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

MLK wasn't even a politician, neither was Malcolm X. Nice attempt at trying to dig at Obama's experience. Honestly, I don't know why I come to this site.

by Grant Caesar Peters on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:11:24 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 1)

Young, charismatic,great speaker, popular with young people, has only been in the Senate for 4 years, trying to end an unnecessary war, facing down the establishment candidate with greater experience who helped enable the war.
No similarities at all.

by yhf1979 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:11:47 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

small problem with your analogy - RFK had already been Attorney General of the United States (from which he had picked up more than a few enemies); he also grew up in the house of Joseph P Kennedy, one of the most influential "behind the scenes" power brokers of his day - and probably, most importantly, RFK lived through the period of time following the death of his brother, boss and Commander-in-Chief.

I am in the company of the diarist -- we knew Bobby Kennedy, we respected Bobby Kennedy, Barack Obama cannot hold a candle to Bobby Kennedy in terms of substance and moral courage.

You want real leadership, elect a leader who's not afraid to walk into situations that are not totally scripted.

by pan230oh on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:41:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 2)

People mention this to me at least once a week. It's not like it's absent from people's minds. I've never blogged about it before because it was too horrible to write about. But I guess it hasn't been too horrible for HRC to say out loud to reporters -- at least three times.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:23:30 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

Your use of Opportunism is so sad. People mention RFKs assasination to you at least once a week? riiiiiiiiiiiiight

by Scotch on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:13:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Pokemon for boys (none / 0)

and Beanie Babies for girls.

Good luck in November

by observer5 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:30:24 AM EST

Re: Pokemon for boys (none / 0)

Hopefully that is your GBCW post, cause you add nothing positive to the discussions here.

Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:33:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

I admired Robert Kennedy, and Barack Obama is no Robert Kennedy.

You got that right. It's apparent that Obama's campaign is trying to sell Obama as Kennedy.

by soyousay on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:38:06 AM EST

Of course... (none / 0)

...the sole surviving brother of that family has essentially coronated said candidate as heir to their great work and legacy.

So maybe there's something there.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:58:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (2.00 / 1)

What a scumbag...Obama isn't worthy of the term assassination? I've defended Hillary on her remark, but this is just an awful post.

by Nashville21 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:55:21 AM EST

Re: Hillary is Toast (none / 0)

She needs to say this kind of stuff to get anyone to pay attention.

I can't wait to see what she says next week to top it.

by xdem on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:56:07 AM EST

GOP troll alert!! (none / 0)

by highgrade on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:00:36 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

This is uncalled for. They are equals in substance. They both were/are democratic candidates. I don't believe in diefying the Kennedys any more than anyone or anything else. Besides the fact there was nothing in hillarys comment that referred to an Obama assasination, it was trying to make the point of a time frame. The use of the assasination to relate it to a potential obama assasination is just manipulation of the situation to vilianize Hillary Clinton, and you are adding to it.

by Scotch on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:11:15 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

ridiculous.

by haystax calhoun on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:25:23 AM EST

Re: "Assassination', RFK, Don't Fit Obama (none / 0)

This diary is complete trash.

No way. No how. No McCain.

by freedom78 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:37:48 PM EST

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