(Danville, California)
Last week I was among those who speculated about whether Hillary Clinton felt undercut by her own husband, when the ex-president went to North Korea to secure the release of two U.S. prisoners.
Bill Clinton's trip was billed as an "unofficial" visit, as it had to be. The White House and State Department had to keep "hands-off," even though they were involved. Of course, it was Bill Clinton who received all the credit and the big headlines. Many wondered if he in fact upstaged his wife and President Obama.
Today in the Congo, a student asked Mrs. Clinton what Mr. Clinton's opinion was with regard to a matter in China. Her terse response is making huge headlines.
Please watch the video and post your thoughts. Did she overreact, or is she being treated unfairly because her husband is a former U.S. President?
Click on the comments button below!
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Although the press said earlier that the interpreter made a mistake and that the question was really about what Mr. Obama thought, the video clip certainly doesn't seem to show that. The question was clear, even using the words "through the mouth" of Clinton's wife. So Hillary was understandably annoyed. However, it is a legitimate question to ask what a former leader of the free world thinks about an issue, especially when asked of someone who might have inside knowledge. Hillary overreacted.
Is Hillary "losing it?" Or is she throwing "it" away? Her body language in the video clip is fascinating. Her posture in front of this group--almost sprawling in her chair--bespeaks an I-don't-give-a-damn attitude. Also, her appearance is interesting. Any aging woman who has her hectic schedule will show signs of wear and tear. However, there is more going on here. She seems to care not at all about her appearance, hair, make-up or attire. Her hand gestures to the questioner show a great deal of contempt and hostility, like a grouchy, tired schoolmarm putting a pupil in his place. Later, when she as much as claimed to an African audience that Jeb Bush fixed the 2000 vote in Florida, she was way, way out of line. No American official should be making unsubstantiated claims about our political process to a foreign audience, much less comparing our elections to the obviously rigged elections in third-world countries and dictatorships. I think Hillary wants out of her job, and I think she should be asked to resign.
The stuent and interpreter have been arrested and tortured and are being held in nasty conditions. This is a perfect example of the clinton's true relationship with Congo.
Folks: This was a comment posted on Facebook, by my friend Ruth W. I thought it was thought provoking, thus is re-posted here:
"Mark I blogged on this.. but Hillary was in Congo, where women are not recongnized at all - frankly they are tortured and raped and the worst place on earth to be a woman. Possibly she was put off by the low perception and humiliation of women by men in that country and was putting that guy in his place - a Woman can be Secretary of State."
Regarding Hillary's putting some man from the Congo "in his place," perhaps that was her goal. Obviously, a woman can be Secretary of State. We already had Madelyn Albright and Condoleeza Rice in that role. I maintain that Hillary's reaction was beneath the dignity of her office and did the cause of having more women in such positions a disservice. She came across as being petulant, petty, and somewhat rude.
Well, well, well. Someone really touched a nerve. How can a so-called diplomat respond to a question in such a shrewish way? With her reaction to the question as posed to her, Hillary demonstrated clearly that she doesn't have the temperament to be a diplomat, much less the top diplomat in the country.
If I understand correctly, the translator actually misspoke, because the question concerned President Obama, not the former President. While Hillary, coult not have known that, she owed it to the President who appointed her to respond in a civil and mature way to any question posed in that venue. A simple "I don't know, but it's my job, not his, to deal with the Chinese." would have done just fine. Obviously, she was p----d that Bill was so very much in the limelight. What a marriage. I hear he was celebrating his birthday in Las Vegas. That couldn't have helped.
What the heck is she doing in Congo anyway? I get a very strong sense that tensions are brewing with Obama administration and her. Its like they are sending her to pasture - not what she was aiming for. Don't think her frustrations lay with her husband.
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