Sources: MSNBC News - The Associated Press

Shoo-off the vultures, she's not dead yet!

After Hillary Clinton's quick apology and explanation for citing the June 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in defending her decision to keep running for the Democratic presidential nomination, several key figures / groups have risen to Clinton's defense.

Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said the senator was only referring to her husband and Kennedy "as historical examples of the nominating process going well into the summer and any reading into it beyond that would be inaccurate and outrageous."

She has said much the same thing before. In a March interview with Time magazine, she said: "Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June, also in California. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual."

Robert Kennedy Jr., son of the slain senator, said in a statement, "It is clear from the context that Hillary was invoking a familiar political circumstance in order to support her decision to stay in the race through June."

"I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense," said Kennedy, a Clinton supporter unlike some other members of his family, including Sen. Edward Kennedy, who back Obama.

A close Obama ally in the Senate, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, said he accepted her explanation.

"I know Hillary Clinton, and the last thing in the world she'd ever want is to wish misfortune on anybody. She and Barack are friends," Durbin said. "It was ... a careless remark and we'll leave it at that."

The Obama camp itself now say they believe the remarks were intended as historical references, as stated by Senator Clinton.

MSNBC <link>

It's good to see loyalty...makes me respect Bobby Jr. even more for being his own man....

still wish he had run himself this time.

So now we can lay this to rest? I am pretty sure Ted would say the same thing.

I feel bad for him and his family. The man has really given his all to the Country. I do hope the Chemo gives him a few more years.

Thank You for speaking up. But a quick visit to other Frays -- see "Trailhead" for one -- will show you that the vultures are (still) jumping on this one & actually trying to imply that Hillary Clinton was calling for -- or hoping for -- an assassination. Shameful!

I'm so glad to see this Phoen_X. Thanks for sharing it.

She looked exhausted yesterday. One can only imagine the strain she has been under and how hard it must be to see,hear or know about the endless media barrage on cable news and the blogosphere which in large part it has been rumored is a paid for deliberate effort by those in Obama camp to endlessly smear her online and scream that she is an evil monster that should just quit.

I read that many of these postings that go to Huff Post and Kos hvae been directed by Obama's Campaign to go online and smear her in comments sections at every turn and nook and cranny.

Who could take that endless haranguing of abuse?

Keith Olbermann acted like man who is serious need of a Leave of Absence for some 'rest' yesterday. His face literally turned purple when he spat at her from his anchor seat at MSNBC.

It was awful.

even those of us who are terribly disappointed in her choice of words have not implied that...

It's not her that I'm worried about...It's who knows what seed that could have planted,it's just a given in American politics,especially as heated and controversial as this year is...that you don't use that word...

Who knows...there might be some anti woman fruitcake out there too,she's just as much or almost in as risky a position as Obama,although there are probably more crazy racists than crazy women haters,in my post below I expressed concern for all three of the candidates...

plus the poor timing.

But no one,even Keith Olbermann who was incensed last night,as was I,ever implied that she WISHED some one would kill him.

That's just crazy.

will change.

It's going to be repeatedly brought up during the VP selection discourse on TV,and after the selection it will come up...

Just hopefully people will stop "yelling" at each other over it.

Teddy will make a statement I'll bet saying it was a historical reference and say to drop it.

Which is what Obama's campaign mgr more or less said last night on Hardball.

What ever seed you are talking about has long since been planted, MJ. I`ve been reading about that very thing on the net for months now. She did nothing wrong!

I don`t see why anyone would think she should apologize It was a simple statment of fact!