I just listened to, and watched, the comment that will live in infamy -- on youtube via talkingpointsmemo.com (and it took a long long time to come up; maybe everybody is watching this clip?) It seems like I'm in a distinct minority here, but I honestly heard it as simply an innocent -- albeit crass, thoughtless and unfortunate -- example that she cited to make a legitimate point.
I disagree with Hillary. I think she's deliberately ignoring historical context here. I don't particularly like her top-down style of politics. I want her to drop out of the race. But I think that her remark today has all the real significance of Howard Dean's whoop (aka 'scream') as an indication of her sanity, moral right to exist and breathe, or her fitness for public office -- that is, essentially none.
You can create all manner of horrific inferences if you want to, and you're free to believe them.
Maybe I'm wrong and you're right that what she said couldn't possibly have been without some morally bankrupt motivation or impetus.
But though I'm not charitably disposed to Hillary Clinton at the moment, I truly heard it at face value. Here's my take on what she essentially said:
Bill Clinton was still campaigning for the nomination in June, and -- shit who can forget that awful searing moment in June when RFK was assassinated; none of us will ever forget that awful day, and it was June June June and now it's only May!!
[with my paraphrasing and interpolating of emotional subtext]
Obviously she left out the emotional subtext, which I believe is why it popped into her head. But she (unlike myself and many others of us) did live through that awful day as a political being (I was around 5 at the time). I'm sure she was a bit seared. Let the poor woman have a brain fart and roast her for her real sins, of which are plenty at the moment....
Update
Several people have mentioned that this is the 3rd time or so she's brought RFK up. I didn't know that.
Also I recommend checking out MrMichaelMT's comment below. That may be the explaination for RFK-on-the-brain.
So, complicated... I have to get my kids so will have to bow out of the debate for awhile. Thanks everyone for speaking up.