Get Ready, Get Set.... Parse!

Hillary Clinton, speaking to the editorial board of the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, rejected calls for her to exit the presiedential race, citing her husband's example (Jerry Brown was on fumes, really) and RFK's assassination in June as reasons why a premature withdrawal would be ahistorical. Obama spokesman Bill Burton said that Clinton's evocation of the assassination "has no place" in the campaign. A Clinton campaign spokesman said Clinton "was simply referencing her husband in 1992 and Bobby Kennedy in 1968 as historical examples of the nomination process going well into the summer. Any reading beyond that would be inaccurate."

Here's the New York Post dispatch that started this latest exchange.

For those who contend that Clinton was referring to competitive contests or example, why didn't she bring up Ted Kennedy in 1980? Or Gary Hart in 1984? I think she was pointing to primary races where the eventual nominee was unknown at this point in the cycle.... But 1984 would apply more, her husband was the de-facto nominee at this point, and the compressed calender really renders such comparisons null and void.

Even if her point is legitimate, surely she is aware of the sensitivity of the subject.