Rubystine, the mother of my children joined the Ancestors on July1, 2008 after a long illness. She will remain with us as long as we retain cherished memories of the good times we had together. So, in remembering her, we strengthen her. In strengthening her we ask her to strengthen us.

I have been thinking about Senator Clinton's remarks on April 23 concerning why she is staying in the race for nomination to be President through the month of June. Her past justifications for staying in the race have been varied and complex. At times she speaks of the numbers. At other times she speaks of her supporters encouragement. It is well known that she, her husband, and others have said rather uncomplimentary things about Obama directly and through inference. Indirect inference seems to be their tool of choice. It is hard to pinpoint the intent of an inference and where it originates. A case in point is the fact that immediately after she made the remark about the assasination of Robert Kennedy, she and others began to explain what she said. She said what she said and that is it.

I have heard the remarks over and over again in the 24 hours since they were made. Some people say she made a mistake or gaffe as they say in political circles. However, she has made those same remarks on at least three other occasions. In responding to a question concerning why she was still in the race, she first made reference to how her husband had stayed in the 1992 race through June and had prevailed. She followed that remark up with one in which she mentioned that Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June of 1968. I think she paired up the remarks about her husband's triumph and the one about Bobby Kennedy's demise intentionally. The similarity between Bill Clinton's triumph and that of Bobby Kennedy rests with the fact that they both triumphed in the state of California during the month of June. She did not say that. With reference to Kennedy she just said that he was shot during the month of June.

Barak Obama, like Bobby Kennedy, is an idealist, a visionary determined to change the course of the nation during difficult times. He enjoys widespread popular support. He has been the object of death threats since he first annouced his candidacy for President. So much so that he has more Secret Service protection than the current President. So, for her to utter any remarks concerning an assassination when she is likely to lose the race for President is at best disconcerting. Before she made the remarks, there was talk about how Obama has problems attracting the support of blue collar white people. There was also talk about how poplar she is among that group.

When asked why she is staying in the race: Why couldn't she say she is staying i the race because it is her right to do so? Why could she not say she is staying in the race because all the states have not had their Primaries? Why could she not say that she is staying in the race because it is not over until June when a decision will be made until June? Why could she not say she is going to fight to the bitter end and after that she is going to let the chips fall where they may? I wonder. This is an intelligent and articulate woman who has had a career as a very successful attorney and senator. She has been in public life a long time. No. What she said was no mistake. It was a calculated message which can be read in a number of different ways as not to pinpoint responsibility. We just have to wait and see what happens next.