RFK Jr.: Don’t Be Offended

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. walks down the pier in Hyannis Port to go sailing in the Figawi race Saturday. At far left is his sister Kerry Kennedy. (Photo by Jennifer Longley)

KENNEDY JR. SAYS “NO OFFENSE TAKEN” AT HILLARY RFK REMARK

From The Boston Herald

HYANNISPORT — Robert F, Kennedy Jr. emerged from the Kennedy family compound Saturday morning but responded only with a smile and a “hi” when asked about Hillary Clinton’s remarks concerning his assassinated father.

Friday night, however, responding to the daylong outcry over Hillary Clinton’s statement regarding the 1968 murder of his father, a former New York senator, Kennedy Jr. said in a written statement that the mention by Clinton should not be taken as offensive.

Kennedy Jr., who lives in New York and has endorsed Clinton, wrote:

“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 have heard her make this reference before, also citing her husband’s 1992 race, both of which were hard fought through June. I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense.”

The next morning, Kennedy Jr. stepped out alone onto the private dock at the family compound here and was soon joined by other family members. They were expected to spend part of the day sailing with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the family patriarch, whose diagnosis of brain cancer last week has shaken the Kennedys and the political world.

Kennedy Jr. said “he’s good” when asked about the health of Sen. Kennedy, who quietly took a seat on the compound’s back porch this morning so he could watch the day’s Figawi boat race.

“He’s in good spirits,” his nephew Chris Kennedy said of the senator as he arrived with his family at Fortes Beach, where the senator’s boat, “Mya,” is docked.

Copyright 2008, The Boston Herald.