I am chuckling at how ridiculous this is on so many levels. First of all, if it's true it looks bad for both of them. People are throwing rocks at Obama for turning away, but the fact of the matter is Hillary never reached out to shake his hand.
"
Clinton ... crossed the aisle between their seats on the House floor and reached out a hand to greet Sen. Edward M. Kennedy...
Kennedy shook her hand while Obama ... turned away.The rivals then retreated to their seats, only the aisle and four senators between them."
Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iwAZfoVaIxMG3gK2KY4tpS9QN0NQD8UF9GT01If you look at the pictures, to get to Kennedy, she had to walk by in front of Obama first. Obama did not turn away from Hillary as she extended her hand to him, she never attempted to shake his hand. This is a scandal that never even happened.
This isn't even the first time a snub happened during the campaign.
"The relationship began to change, according to several Democrats who are friendly to both senators, when Mr. Obama began musing aloud about a presidential bid. The day he opened his exploratory committee, several Senate observers said,
he extended his hand and said hello on the Senate floor. She breezed by him, offering a cool stare."
Source: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/03/clinton-obama-tensions-spill-into-the-senate/I really can't even believe that this is an issue. I don't even think Obama was trying to outright snub Hillary, but think he was trying to give her and Senator Kennedy a moment. Ted and Hillary are good friends, and I do think it would have been rude for Obama to inject himself into the middle of that. So, really I don't think this was a snub at all - I think it is a hyped up story by the media to create a scandal that never existed, and if he had intentions on snubbing her it is ultimately irrelevant, because it was a mutual act done by both. That is what the AP reported, which is being distorted here and elsewhere.
EDIT: Here is a better more indepth report of what actually happened.
"It could have been a moment for Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to demonstrate the civility they say we need in our politics.
Oh, well.
Before the President entered the House Chamber for the State of the Union address, Clinton took a seat three chairs and an aisle away from Obama. While members of Congress were still greeting one another, Clinton crossed the aisle to speak with Democratic Rep. Jim Langvin of Rhode Island, a Clinton supporter. He was seated in front of Obama.
While Clinton was bent over talking to Langvin, who has been in a wheelchair since age 16, the senator sitting next to Barack Obama watched Clinton intently. It was Sen. Ted Kennedy, who had made a splash by endorsing Obama earlier in the day.
Here’s where it could have happened.
When Clinton straightened up, Kennedy quickly reached across Barack Obama to shake Clinton’s hand. She took it. As they spoke, Obama turned away. Then the senators seated to Obama’s right – Ben Nelson and Ken Salazar — both shook Senator Clinton’s hand and talked to her. Instead of doing the same, Obama turned to look at the back of the room. Sen. Claire McCaskill, who has also endorsed Obama and was seated next to Kennedy, reached across the Massachusetts senator — who was still talking to Clinton — and tapped Obama (still twisted toward the back of the room) on the shoulder. McCaskill engaged Obama in conversation until the moment passed."
Source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/28/state-of-the-union-awkward-moment/
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