Hillary's filly

Posted: Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:06 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, Clinton

From NBC's Christina Jamison
Just days ago, Sen. Hillary Clinton asked volunteers in Louisville, KY to "bet on the filly" in the Kentucky Derby. At a later event in Indiana that day, Clinton told the audience that she asked Chelsea, who attended the derby, to put a bit of money on Eight Belles, the only filly in the race.

Sadly -- after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby yesterday -- Eight Belles broke her front ankles in the race and was euthanized shortly thereafter.

It was an unfortunate metaphor for the senator trying to stage a comeback in the Democratic primary. Like the 15-to-1 longshot Eight Belles, Clinton is a longshot herself, behind Obama in the delegate count and NBC's popular vote count.

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Comments

We are pet owners and animal lovers here, so we were heart-broken to hear about the horse who gave it her all. My condolences to her entire family (the horse's)...I'm sure she will be missed.

(I am being serious here, as a pet-owner and lover we have always mourned our pets dearly when they have departed this world.)

There is nothing political in this story.

Lisa, proud Obama supporter in blue collar New Britain, CT (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:12 AM)

How sad. How tragic, (for the filly, I mean).

I won't go there with the tastless metaphors.

donna (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:13 AM)

What happened to the horse is kind of what happens to Hillary's supporters. You give Hillary your all, then you're "euthanized", and Hillary gets the payoff.

Chuck Maile (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:15 AM)

Only Barack Obama's media outlet, NBC, would come up with a metaphor for Hillary's campaign and the poor horse that had to be put down. Pathetic.

Diana Mathews, Texas (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:17 AM)

I don't care about Hillary Clinton. I think she has been shameful in her attacks on Obama. What I find disgusting is that the owners of Bell ran the filly on the turf at the Kentucky Derby when the horse has run races only on synthetic tracks. The owners ought to be shot to what they did to Belle.

rosie, crestview, fl (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:18 AM)

Dead Horse ... Dead Campaign

mary lee wagerman (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:18 AM)

It's too bad you've given some people the forum to continue to contrast this unfortunate tragedy with Senator Clinton's campaign to be President!

Drawing that contrast by Senator Obama's supporters is all over the internet...another good example of how truly sad and spiteful some of his supporters have become!!

So here's your forum...make your snide remarks...about a filly that died!!

Let the sickness begin...don't bother asking yourself what it really says about you and what you're saying about your candidate!!

Carol, CA (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:18 AM)

I feel so bad for that horse but thats what happens when you dont win for hillary she takes you out and shoots you.

mike ca (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:19 AM)

What an appropriate metaphor for Hillary Clinton. After what she has done in terms of lying to the American people, her dirty tricks in this campaign, her past crimes, questionable income, questionable associates most of whom are now in jail, being euthanized is probably too good for her as a final outcome to her race. But one can hope!

Sharon, Charleston, SC (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:22 AM)

So tempting, but no comment.

Terry, IN (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:23 AM)

Christina,
With everything that's happening in the world this morning, I find it odd that you couldn't find anything else to write about.

Tom Brown, Winston-Salem, NC (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:26 AM)

This story is tragic and eerie.

Around an hour or so after the end of the race, I was sitting in a restaurant waiting for take out, reading the USA Today they had sitting there. On the front page there was a story about the favorite, Big Brown, who did end up winning the race

"For Big Brown, undefeated but having raced only three times, the Derby (4 p.m. ET, NBC; post time 6:04) is a chance to validate the hype that has made such an inexperienced colt the favorite among oddsmakers to win the most prestigious event in American horse racing."

Freaky and bizarre.

Kristi, Cedar Rapids, IA (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:26 AM)

Its funny how Hillary thinks that being sexist is cool for her to do....Pathetic

Hillary has no good judgment in politics as well as horse racing.... Her time is short and will be over soon....

James TN (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:28 AM)

Can we please stop pretending she has a plausible chance to win the nomination?

http://www.slate.com/id/2190556

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:30 AM)

You ought to take yourself out and shoot yourself for creating this metaphor.

Damn sick thing, no matter who you support.

H.Landier (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:32 AM)

What an omen for Hillary "Republican" Clinton that on the same day she lost an election in Guam and her horse came in second, broke both ankles and had to be euthanized. If only the voters of Indiana and North Carolina will do the party a big favor and euthanize Clinton's campaign so Obama can get on with the real business of defeating McCain in November.

Go Obama!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:34 AM)

What a sad turn of events. Yet, some will say it is an omen.

Bill Johnson, Anaconda, Montana (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:35 AM)

the situation at the derby was tragic, but the analogy Clinton made is a PERFECT fit:

she's in second place, behind by 4 and a half lengths with no chance of catching up by the wire

she's "broken both ankles" . . . damaging not only her opponent, but also the party and her and Bill's lasting legacy

in the end, she won't stop trying to get back up, the party is going to have to euthanize her campaign

in fact, in the long term of history, the Clinton's story is even sadder than 8 Belles story

Independent in TN (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:36 AM)

Poor filly was just another casualty in the Clinton legacy. Did Hillary break the ankle? (Tonya Harding) LOL
Stay away from betting Hillary!

Seriously ! (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:37 AM)

Euthanasia...Hmm?

T (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:40 AM)

By all means, we don't want to put Hillary to sleep (well, some of us might), but it is a very good metaphor in that Hillary ran an improbable campaign but despite any valiant effort, she's going to come up short. Sorry.

Ryan, Chicago, IL (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:44 AM)

Is it normal for a self-proclaimed independent website to continue to write orbituaries?

Christoph (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:47 AM)

Leave it to the media to make a headline of this! Just wondering what would have been said if the filly had won? I wouldn't make too much of the fact that she came in second and suffered that tragic accident. The primary is not a horse race, nor is it American Idol. It is a process for choosing the person most suited for the chance to be elected to the most important job this country has to offer. The person with the ideas and fortitude to carry them forward, no matter the obstacles. Also, the person who knows the ropes and how to make progress despite the odds. Hopes and dreams are great, they are part of what keeps the world moving forward, but without substance and knowledge and experience, they will never come to fruition.

Michiel W So. Beloit, IL (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:47 AM)

I am not a Hillary supporter. However I am certainly not going to take the bait. This is an unfortunate accident & my condolences to the Kentucky Derby fans, trainers and owners.

Sandra (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:50 AM)

Obama's horse placed sixth. What about that? A no show!
Sick people! Wow!

Patty (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:53 AM)

It is sad, and I am now convinced that the way to go now is vote for McCain.
I must thank all the Bots for pointing out how republican Hillary is and the same as John McCain.
So it is easy to vote for John NOW that OBAMA has killed the filly!

HP Boston (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:55 AM)

I agree with some of the previous comments. This was not just an "unfortunate" metaphor - it was highly inappropriate and insensitive.

Ryan, Brooklyn, NY (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:55 AM)

VERY SICK! Remember, Eight Belles placed 2nd. Col. John
didn't place!

Patty, Illinois (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:55 AM)

I feel sorry for the horse. Clinton's bid for the whitehouse will also die.I don't feel sorry for her, her bid for whitehouse is a welcomed death.

BettiH. Indianapolis, IN (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:56 AM)

She should have stuck with Cattle Futures.

Bill, Atlanta (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:57 AM)

How tasteliess to link the tragic death of this horse to the political race. Obama supporters and NBC, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Cathy S. (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 12:03 PM)

about the 'deplorable metaphor' i will say this: Hillary is the one that first compared herself to the 'filly' so why dont you go to the source for your criticsim......

about issues: if people are saying mccain is more of the same (bush policies) why do we want for the democratic candidate someone who is following along with mccain's policies? (he first brought up the gimicky gas tax holiday)

teopa (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 12:04 PM)

Another unfortunate victim of the Clinton curse.

Gail, TN (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 12:04 PM)

The only thing that this event does is raise the question of what we are doing to these horses for the amusement of the audience. It is shameful and cruel what the owners of the filly did to her. How tragic. The cameras should have stayed on her so that everyone would feel her pain. Maybe we would all start questioning the value of this "sport".
Everything is not always about Hillary, as much as she would like it to be!

Olga, Oswego, NY (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 12:09 PM)

Hillary supporters:

Waaaaaaaahhhh …

For all the ridiculous garbage you've been throwing at Obama, who is the only honest and decent candidate left in this race … STOP YOU'RE CRYING.

You sissies have been dishing this stuff out for months.

http://gibbsv.blogspot.com/

Sam, Muncie, Ind. (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 4:47 PM)

I bet on the bay. The bay won.

nuanced (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 5:10 PM)

People never would have started making jokes about "Hillary's Filly" if Hillary hadn't made facetious (playful humor) comments about putting all on the filly to win, place, and show. The irony is "Big Brown" came in first by more than four lengths.

My sympathy goes out to Eight Belles. It's a shame this beautiful thoroughbred had to bear the brunt of the many tasteless jokes.

For those taking it out on NBC, it's my opinion NBC never would have commented if Hillary hadn't made playful comments intending, IMO, to use the horse as a metaphor for her campaign. I'm sure no one would have ever dreamed, ...but as the saying goes, "poopie happens."

Chip Monk, Harrods Creek, KY (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 5:21 PM)

I believe Senator Obama's horse, "Big Brown", came in first. I am truly saddened by what happened to Eight Belles. Why do we even have horse racing? A bunch of people stand around drinking and betting money on these poor horses who are whipped into trying to win, and then this happens. Horses don't have very strong legs or ankles. This is not the first time, and probably won't be the last.

carolyn grace (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 5:26 PM)

Cathy S. (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 12:03 PM)

lighten up. Hillary is the one that chose to use the "the filly" as a campaign metaphor. Had eight bells won because Big Brown had broken both of his legs you people would have been chuckling wildly with drool running out of the corners of your mouth's.
It was a bad metaphor anyway. Hillary wouldn't actually qualify as a filly. She would be classified as a Mare...an old Grey one. And guess what. She ain't what she used to be.

Go Big Brown!

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 5:43 PM)

Another bad story by sick media.

Less media, more issues (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 5:45 PM)

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