No Tea Leaves to Read in Floor Moment
By Alec MacGillis
WICHITA, Kan. -- It was not a snub.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., greets Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., back to camera, as fellow hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. turns away before President Bush's the State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, Monday Jan. 28, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)
That was the word today from Barack Obama, who said he was taken aback by the suggestion, rampant on cable news shows this morning, that he had deliberately jilted Hillary Clinton on the floor of the Senate last night when she leaned over to shake the hand of Teddy Kennedy, who was standing beside Obama. Photos and video footage of the charged moment show Obama turning away just as Kennedy and Clinton reached across to greet each other. The chattering began almost immediately: Was it a brazen snub by the young senator, in full view of the press gallery where every eye was trained on the encounter? More charitably, was he simply trying to get out of the way of a potentially awkward moment between Clinton and Kennedy, who just that day had spurned her and her husband to endorse Obama?
That was the interpretation offered by David Axelrod, Obama chief's strategist, during an interview on MSNBC this morning. "He knew that Senator Kennedy and Senator Clinton were friends. This was obviously an awkward day from that standpoint, and I don't think he wanted to stand there while Senator Kennedy was greeting Senator Clinton. And I think that was an appropriate sentiment," Axelrod said. "Unfortunately, the camera caught it in a different way, and so it got interpreted that way. And that's the kind of environment we're in right now. It's a very competitive race, so every little thing is going to be interpreted in that way. But it was really a matter of letting Senator Kennedy have his own conversation, his own greeting with Senator Clinton without him hovering over them."
Obama did not mention this dynamic in discussing the moment with reporters flying with him to Wichita today. Instead, he said, he turned away because he was simply turning to Claire McCaskill, the Missouri senator who he said had just called his name to ask him a question.
"I was surprised by the report this morning," Obama said, with the half-weary, half-bemused look he tends to adopt when asked about campaign mini-dramas such as this one. "I was turning away because Claire asked me a question as Senator Clinton was reaching forward. Senator Clinton and I have had very cordial relations off the floor and on the floor." He added that he had waved at Clinton as they were coming into the chamber. "I think there's just a lot more tea leaf reading going on here than people are suggesting," he said.
A few minutes later he spoke more generally about the media's focus on moments such as his turn from Clinton last night, saying that it was unfortunate but that he suspected that it came partly from the fact that there was so much agreement on the issues among the Democratic candidates. "I do recognize there's a lot of overlap between the Democrats...so probably that leads us to comb over gestures and body language," he said.
McCaskill, who is traveling with Obama today to join him on the campaign trail in her home state tonight, backed up his version of the floor encounter. "It was not a snub. I had a ringside seat. It was one of those accidents that just happen and it got caught on film," she said.
She then tied the small storm over the moment to Obama's broader campaign themes. "Everyone's spoiling for a fight, which is the politics of old, and this campaign isn't about politics of old. It's about new. And so it's unfortunate that everyone's so anxious for there to be some kind of problem on a personal level," she said. "I gotta tell you it's just not there, and I hope that you guys correct the impression that somehow there was some kind of attempt on the part of Barack to be in any way disrespectful or impolite. There was a wave, a friendly moment. I was amazed when I woke up this morning. I was part of it and I didn't realize. It's one of those things where all of a sudden it's being blown into something that it just wasn't. We've got lots to argue about but that's not one."
Posted at 1:15 PM ET on Jan 29, 2008
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Posted by: artysmarty | February 23, 2008 12:36 PM | Report abuse
Tea Leaf Reading Expert Tells Barack Obama And Democrats To "Wise Up Stop Whining!"
Barack Obama's slight on tea leaf reading shows he may have no clue how to look into the future says Garth Gibson who distributes the book, The Art Of Telling Fortunes By Tea Leaf Reading
Most people including Barack only know the hearsay of tea leaf reading not the study of it so few realise the hope and promise of it.
"Tea leaf reading fits well with the values of Democrats in six important ways."
1) Tea leaf reading is best done at home, domestically, little threat of this skill being loss to cheap labor overseas
2 ) Tea leaf reading started with the poor and is still seen to have little commercial value unlike its cousins tarot card and palm reading.
3) Tea leaf reading provided the basis for fun inexpensive entertainment turning families away from their reliance on cable tv, ipods, and Xbox machines for weekend fun
4) Tea Leaf reading skills are built on serious study of an interesting subject this could encourage interest of other forms of arts and sciences
5) Teea leaf reading fosters our natural curosity about the unknown it seems highly probable that interest in religion would also be considered
6) Tea leaf reading is a harmless way to lowering fears swirling about America's financial future
"Tea-leaves consulted seriously or in mere sport and love of amusement carefully followed make the future look bright"
Posted by: garthmavic | January 30, 2008 5:58 PM | Report abuse
Nice selective reading of Dowd's column, Zevgadol. Shocking that you're a Clinton supporter....does her campaign send out techniques on how to distort the truth or something?
From Dowd's column:
"Well, I reached my hand out in friendship and unity and my hand is still reaching out," she said, lapsing back into the dissed-woman mode. "And I look forward to shaking his hand sometime soon."
Something's being stretched here, but it's not her hand. She wasn't reaching out to him at all.
Posted by: RyanMcC1 | January 30, 2008 11:08 AM | Report abuse
Maureen Dowd who is far from a HRC fan examined BO's explanation. Her conclusion: Disingenuous.
BO claimed victory in SC was not based on race.
BO claimed that his commentary about Reagan being transforming and that the all the ideas have flowed from the Republicans over the last 10-15 years was neutral.
BO claimed it was not race baiting when his campaign staff criticized HRC's commentary on Lyndon Johnson's implementation MLK's fight for civil rights as being patronizing, belittling and racist.
Disingenuous seems to fit.
We have another "Uniter" running for president.
Posted by: Zevgadol | January 30, 2008 9:20 AM | Report abuse
Well, well, what do we see ? All important liemericans together. Anything to explain about building 7 ladies and gentlemen ? Anything to say about using 9 barrels and finding only 1 new barrel ? Keepin up the good news then, cheerio. I whish PRESIDENT OBAMA a lot of wisdom.
Posted by: jwholtkamp | January 30, 2008 7:14 AM | Report abuse
It's silly and embarrassing that any of us have given this more than a second of our time. If you really believe Obama was "snubbing" Clinton, you likely have emotional problems -- probably from a unhappy high school experience -- and should seek professional help immediately. Contemplating Britney Spears' emotional state is more substantive than this nonsense.
Posted by: RyanMcC1 | January 30, 2008 12:17 AM | Report abuse
Come on, I don't believe for one moment that Obama was feeling awkward. He was just being "rude" to his female opponent. What you people think that it was innocent, right. Think again!
Posted by: brandywine | January 29, 2008 8:18 PM | Report abuse
Hillary looks like she was waiting on the side to stir up trouble. Obama has always tried to avaoid confrontation and a public scene. Many people here seem to think that they themselves would have behaved differently.
Where was Bill Clinton? The word on the street is that Bill did not want Ted to endorse Obama. Neither did Bill want to shake hands with Obama. Bill would have given the following statement in a sarcastic way. "In 1984 and 1988 I shook hands with Jesse Jackson. Then I had to go and wash my hands."
Posted by: ChunkyMonkey1 | January 29, 2008 6:50 PM | Report abuse
GO OBAMA GO
YES WE CAN
SI SE PUEDE
Hillary Clinton no respeta a nuestra gente los partidarios de Hillary Clinton fueron a corte para evitar que la gente que trabaja pueda votar este sábado, eso es vergonzoso. Los partidarios de Hillary Clinton quieren evitar que la gente que trabaja el sábado pueda votar en sus lugares de empleo. ¡Imperdonable! Hillary Clinton no tiene vergüenza.
Hillary Clinton no deberÃa permitir que sus amigos ataquen el derecho de nuestra gente de votar este sábado. Es imperdonable! No hay respeto el senador Barack Obama esta defendiendo nuestro derecho de votar.
El senador Barack Obama quiere nuestros votos, el respeta nuestros votos, nuestra comunidad y a nuestra gente. El lema de la campaña de Barrack Obama es "sà se puede, si se puede". Vote por un presidente que nos respeta y respeta nuestro derecho de votar. Obama para presidente. Si se puede.
Pagada por UNITE HERE.
Posted by: laplumelefirmament | January 29, 2008 5:35 PM | Report abuse
I'm glad this important incident, real or imagined, is being dissected in excruciating detail by our very serious news media. It certainly obscures that other distraction from last night where Senator Clinton gave a standing ovation to President Bush's salute to his glorious 'Troop Surge' while Obama did not. Especially in light of how consistent she's been on Iraq, against Obama's flip flopping. It's precisely these type of meaningful instances that get in the way of America's track record of electing the most virtuous candidates. Bravo Washington Post, New York Times, MSNBC, Matt Drudge, Fox News, etc. etc. etc. Bravo!
Posted by: Majorajam | January 29, 2008 5:25 PM | Report abuse
What is the surprise here? You need to have searing ambition to contemplate going straight from local Illinois chambers to White House. You need to have an unbelievable ego to think you, with your paltry record (of having 'organized' in Chicago streets) are even close to MLK or JFK or Reagan. I mean, think about that. Given this degree of ambition and egoism, would you expect Obama to be so really nice? I am not shocked because I don't share the star-struck naivety of the Press and Obama supporters. Though in the case of Press the whole Obama candidacy is part hopeful naivety and part, spoiling for a fight to keep the ratings up. When all is said and done, Obama is not going to be any better or worse than Clintons. Also, remember, the Republicans won't force their people to be hands-off with Obama. They won't be so sensitive as the Press or the Democrats about Obama. What will this guy do when he cannot shield his record from the towering war and legislative titan McCain by using his sunny disposition? What will he do when McCain neutralizes his character claims with his own might character? What will he do, when, from the other side, the Republican surrogates come with real, direct racial barbs.
Oh, you played your card well, Obama. Stayed color-free for as long as you could then swung hard towards it when it was slipping away. Typically, that would have been fine. Clinton has been delicately playing her gender card. You should get to play your race card. The difference, my friend, is, she didn't make you out to be a misogynist to secure her bloc. Yes, you played your card so well you made us declare the Blacker than Black ex-president is racist. But you will fall too, just you wait. What you did to others, they will do to you too.
And this Democrat won't be standing with you there for that fight.
Posted by: vishalg_99 | January 29, 2008 4:55 PM | Report abuse
Look at the UNCROPPED picture to see the truth:
http://markhalperin.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/clintonkennedyshake.jpg
That picture was deliberately cropped to look bad. If someone has to do that to make Obama look bad, then he must be a very nice man!
Posted by: paylindasbills | January 29, 2008 4:21 PM | Report abuse
The McKaskill explanation doesn't fly when you look at the pcitures, and is basically directly contradicted by Axlerod earlier statement.
I thought Barack said Hillary was "likeable enough" in New Hampshire?!
This, again, shows the darker side of the angelic figure the Obama-loving press have painted.
He in fact has a side to him that is petty, juvenile and small. Remind you of any current resident of Pennsylvannia Avenue?
Is this really the person who can "bridge the partisan divides" when he can't even shake her hand?
In these unguarded moments BO reflects what I have observed from a lot of the followers of his "hope" message...and that is hate.
Throughout the summer and fall he portrayed Hillary as being the equivalent of Bush and Cheney, so I guess it's not so hard to understand why his followers have such animosity towards her.
Posted by: dkrosenthal | January 29, 2008 4:18 PM | Report abuse
LOL!
I think Obasama was lacking manners!
He definitely should have addressed Billary and done proper introductions!
"Billary, I'd like you to meet my new owner, Senator Teddy. Senator Teddy, Mrs. Clintons.
Now, why don't you go for a Ride over a bridge and get to know one another!"
LOL! ;~)
Posted by: rat-the | January 29, 2008 4:11 PM | Report abuse
"was he simply trying to get out of the way of a potentially awkward moment between Clinton and Kennedy, who just that day had spurned her and her husband to endorse Obama?
That was the interpretation offered by David Axelrod"
Axelrod's full of crap and he sounds like a juvenile prick using this stupid typically trivial non-story to get in a dig implying Sen Clinton could possibly be that unprofessional.
Obama people, you're right. It's a stupid, trivial, manufactured non-story. It's a shame you only notice when it's your ox being gored.
Posted by: zukermand | January 29, 2008 3:30 PM | Report abuse
I see others have beat me to the punch.
I'm glad I watched on PBS, where they didn't dwell over such trivial guessing games more suited to the gossip columns.
Posted by: bsimon | January 29, 2008 3:12 PM | Report abuse
If you are really upset with media than watch the commercials that are airing on that station when the show is on and stop buying that product. This should be posted on high heavens if people really have a problem with the media. If everyone followed this approach you would not have these retards on the air talking about how nice their own smile is.
Posted by: GMILLER | January 29, 2008 3:11 PM | Report abuse
OK, Sen Obama. But was Sen McCaskill lying on the floor when she called you? Hummmmmm.
Posted by: brigittepj | January 29, 2008 3:04 PM | Report abuse
The Washington is now TMZ.. Shame!!!
Posted by: TennGurl | January 29, 2008 2:57 PM | Report abuse
This is the silliest, lamest thing I've ever seen. If you care about this, you're not smart.
Posted by: RyanMcC1 | January 29, 2008 2:38 PM | Report abuse
And why again are voters sick of the press and pundits this cycle?? They are much more concerned with picking fights and working to build controversy than cover the issues that matter to Americans.
Posted by: cg_tgt | January 29, 2008 2:33 PM | Report abuse
Another press-manufactured moment. Wouldn't want to focus on real issues. What a crock!
Posted by: thebobbob | January 29, 2008 2:18 PM | Report abuse
another "You're likeable enough" moment.
Posted by: lff_peartree | January 29, 2008 2:18 PM | Report abuse
That rube Keith Olbermann (MSNBC) also to took part in fanning the flames last night when he posted the picture on TV.
Posted by: heisted547 | January 29, 2008 2:13 PM | Report abuse
Was this the campaign season's lamest pseudo-drama yet? I think so.
Posted by: registermeister | January 29, 2008 1:51 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
Obama -- Thanks to help from Oprah, Kennedy, and Move-on, is on a roll. Like many before him he has henchmen out there tearing down Hillary at every turn, then cries foul every time he is criticized.
People are following him like a crowd gone mad, and his subtle but obvious snipes on woman show the reason why despite that the civil right amendment wast passed in the USA, we still have no equal right amendment.
I watched him at the latest debate, taking notes evert time she spoke yet she has the grace to be respectable and polite. The "tea leaves" comment is typical of how Obama always arrogantly sloughs off any criticism as "noting worth mentioning" so why would you -- I am the Great Saint Obama who would be President. God help us for electing this kink of change vs. a brilliant, and capable woman with experience we can count on.
Can Obama win against McCain? Not a chance. Could Hillary win agaist McCain You Bet she can!
Obama and his adoring --- run with a winner -- media crowd are writing Hillary off as a loser. Hillary can and will win this race and become the first woman President, despite all the hurtles she has faced she is the winner in this race.
CLINTON '08