56 Comments

1. LeighB:

I disagree with the author on the incident and find his article sexist. How disappointing to see this on PJM.

Aug 21, 2009 - 3:51 am 2. Sandy:

I’m no fan of Hillary’s, but I think her response was entirely appropriate. The student’s interest in what Bill thinks likely stems from an assumption that the former prez’s wife couldn’t possibly be doing her job alone. Even if she and her husband do discuss the issues – pretty unavoidable in even the worst of marriages – it would demean her, and be beneath the dignity of her office to express herself as part of a husband-and-wife policy making team.

Aug 21, 2009 - 5:21 am 3. Butters Dad:

Hell hath no fury like an irrelevant Secretary of State scorned.

Aug 21, 2009 - 5:28 am 4. B Dubya:

Can you imagine this woman getting that 3 am red phone call, with this particular set of glandular imbalances and (deserved) deeply ingrained sense of mediocrity?

I hope she has the same experience at State that many of her recent predecessors have had; the entrenched lifer types will either cut off her legs below the knees (a la Ruwanda, Colin Powell or Condi Rice) or she will go native. Either way, she is done, so stick a fork in her.

Aug 21, 2009 - 5:31 am 5. Pat B:

I’m shocked, shocked I say, to discover that Hillary Clinton, a totally unaccomplished individual that would be working for a law firm in Chicago suing fathers for child support, if she hadn’t married a serial cheater, is an incompetent egoist as Secretary of State.
The only hope we have as a country of finally being shed of the Clintons is for Obama to throw Ms. Rodham under the bus (ala his Grandmother) and force her to quit. Then she and her retrobate husband can finally get that divorce they both have to long for. Then she can go give speechs to NOW and Planned Parenthood; that is if anyone can stand to listen to that fingernails on a chalkboard voice of hers.

Aug 21, 2009 - 5:52 am 6. Fast Eddie:

I disagree with poster #1 and find her remark sexist.

Aug 21, 2009 - 6:24 am 7. Ruebacca:

The Democratic nomination came down to Clinton, Edwards or Obama. A national lottery would have found a better leader.

Aug 21, 2009 - 6:28 am 8. Bernard Chapin:

Miss, nowadays anything is “sexist” if it criticizes a woman. There’s nothing wrong with criticizing women, especially when, like Hillary, they massively deserve it. Calls of “sexism” are merely demands for more privilege. Women are simply humans and deserve no more privilege than anybody else. Criticize at will.

Aug 21, 2009 - 6:31 am 9. Thomas_L......:

Oh Leigh! Sexist? Yes, Mrs. Clinton here, is representative of all women, of course.

Aug 21, 2009 - 6:44 am 10. Sebastian Shaw:

As Secretary of State, her job is to negotiate with other countries; therefore, I find Hillary Clinton to be one of the most ineffective Secretary of State’s since Madeleine Albrite (sp?) in the following ways:

* President Obama’s unconstitutional czars have taken much power from the Congress & put it into the Executive; this includes Hillary’s position.

* President Bill Clinton’s trip to North Korea has undermined Hillary since this is her job. This is one example that Hillary has been reduced to a figurehead since all the power lies in the Obama’s precious czars.

* Hillary Clinton has as many gaffes abroad as Joe Biden & President Obama. She’s out of her element as SOS.

Yet Hillary does have an unhealthy ego as well.

Aug 21, 2009 - 6:45 am 11. Moho:

Here’s something funny.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/woman_president_clinton_vs_palin_52_to_41

In a hypothetical presidential match up, Rasmussen reports:

Voters overall give Clinton the nod 52% to 41% (crosstabs available for Premium Members).

Check out this crazy number:

Women prefer the former first lady over Palin 57% to 35%.

But not if men have their way. In a head-to-head match-up, they prefer Sarah Palin over Clinton 49% to 45%

I find it fascinating that Palin, whom the Republican party spent hundreds of thousands of dollars dressing up and making up before each appearance, has almost no credibility with women. I think its rather fascinating that the Republican party is always trying to come up with token representatives of their causes–women’s issues in this case–that have absolutely no standing with anyone from that gender or race. I wonder why they do that? Is it so they can get away with saying racist and sexist things, and then hide behind their token?

Aug 21, 2009 - 6:47 am 12. momof3:

Oh please. her man’s famous, and in the political arena. It’s reasonable to think he might have mentioned an opinion about the topic, that she could share. Her response smacks of insecurity. I doubt Bill would have gone off like that, had someone in Korea asked what Hillary thought about a given topic.

Cries of sexism are as tired and outdated as all the cries of racism. If you have to shrilly demand respect, you don’t deserve it.

Aug 21, 2009 - 7:10 am 13. Anne:

Brilliant!! Only an insecure female prig would find this sexist. This hits the nail on the head. Hillary is a pathetic example of SS and she knows it.

Aug 21, 2009 - 7:14 am 14. ex-democrat:

Moho – i find it fascinating that you would try to pass off poll data from September 8, 2008 as if it were current, and thus relevant.

Aug 21, 2009 - 7:34 am 15. bill:

MOHO,

What’s your point? In poll after poll, men overwhelmingly disapprove of Obama. Unless, of course, it’s the effeminate, metrosexual pseudo-men of the left. In fact, in the latest Rasmussen and Quinnipiac polls, women who disapprove of Obama are a slight plurality.

Aug 21, 2009 - 7:36 am 16. Delia:

Poor Chelsea.

Aug 21, 2009 - 7:49 am 17. Meryl:

That poor student didn’t know what to do.

Mrs. Clinton’s reaction to that reminded me of Mrs. Boxer’s reaction when she was lecturing the General about calling her “Senator” (which I will never do again).

Even a neophyte (who was truly a professional) would have realized that the student (a) truly was making a public speaking error and assuming that she would “speak for her husband” in which case she could have simply said, “I haven’t spoken with my husband about this, but let me share my own thoughts with you” or (b) she might have asked for clarification on the translation since it is possible that the translator made a mistake and should have said “President obama”.

Oh well. I always appreciate their efforts to be sure we know exactly who and what they are. No surprises, but the constant reminders are important, especially for those in the United States who still want to give them a pass with regard to their incompetence, arrogance and ignorance.

Aug 21, 2009 - 7:53 am 18. Brian Richard Allen:

None of the co-serial rapist Cli’ton gang will ever miss an opportunity to to prove that my Grandmother got it Right when, long before the beekeeper climbed Everest, she told me, “You can’t make strawberry jam oudder pig poop.”

Aug 21, 2009 - 7:53 am 19. blotto:

It was the only stat CAP or Kos gave him to run with. I am tired of forcing debate from someone (DS, shadow, etc) whose only purpose here is to obfuscate the topic, distract, denigrate and in many cases lie in order to “win” a point.

He like Shiela Jackson Lee needs guidance from the Dem left when attempting to argue.

How does it feel to be a tool, moho?

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:01 am 20. Gracie:

I have to give Obama this one. He put Hillary in, shipped her off and does not have to deal with her. She maeks a fool of herself and it just reflects on.. her.

Hillary has reason to be testy. She knows she does not have the power she craves.. And once again Bill stole her thunder in N.K. Hillary should have been the one to go to and negotiate..but, would they have delt with her in the same way? A former president is more impressive.. anyway, BO shut her out and down, again.

Was the student being sexist?..I don’t know. but women are a minor inconveniende there.. I think she could have used more tact and still got her point across. her body language spoke even louder more than her words did…it was like watching one of my kids having a little snit..and founcing around..She needs to take a course in how to put her “best foot” forward on the world stage.. I seldom agree with Hillary, however, she is who she is, for now.. A woman who has been humiliated before the world by her husband is now upstaged by him..

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:02 am 21. Khiri:

First of all, please ignore Moho. He’s a troll and does not deserve any attention or response. He has nothing of value to offer.

Secondly, I must agree with Ann, momof3, & Thomas _L: this article is not sexist, it’s accurate. There are examples of sexism out there and using it here diminishes them.

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:03 am 22. Class Clown:

And the best part? By accepting Obama’s appointment to state, she hitched herself to his presidency, which is running off the rails. If she had ridden it out in the Senate, she could have survived politically. Now, she will go down with him when he crashes.

Back when H. Clinton was trying to claim her Kosovo/Sarajevo trip as “diplomatic experience” relevant to the presidency, I wrote somewhere that any junket that included a standup comedian couldn’t possibly be serious enough to actually put on her resume. By that standard, Sinbad (who was with the delegation) was qualified to head the State Dept.

I had no idea at the time that she herself would be Secretary of State. I have to say. Ol’ Sinbad would have been a better choice.

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:05 am 23. bibio44:

Hey, Bernie, next time run your articles by your wife before submitting them. You’ll probably save yourself a lot of embarrassment.

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:07 am 24. keithacita:

former co-president,senator,attorney, secretary of state, war hero in kosovo, it was revealed only in the last election cycle she almost joined the marines while a student.

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:14 am 25. Mr Lucky:

11. Moho. How about a poll of Angelina Jolie vs. Hillary Clinton? Jolie and Palin are both private citizens…

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:29 am 26. Paul -Indiana:

Back in the days when Bill Clinton was someone’s president, didn’t he say something like ‘with me, you get two’. Why is Billery so angry now?

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:34 am 27. Peter the Bubblehead:

8. Bernard Chapin wrote:
Miss, nowadays anything is “sexist” if it criticizes a woman.

Peter writes: If Hil were black, the article would have been racist instead of sexist, or perhaps both!

Aug 21, 2009 - 9:16 am 28. ruth:

The secretary of state must play many different roles. There are times she should be tough when dealing with curtain governments. When talking to ordinary citizens, the secretary of state must play the diplomat.
When I read what Clinton had said, it didn’t sound like the best answer she could have given, but when I watched the clip I was horrified. The tone of her voice, ouch!!!! It really confirmed all the horror stories I’ve heard about her.

Aug 21, 2009 - 9:30 am 29. arhooley:

LeighB and Sandy, you are wrong. The appropriate response in a situation like this is to ask for clarification. Hillary should have asked, “Did you mean my husband, Bill Clinton?” If the answer was still Yes, she should simply have responded that she does not represent him.

Aug 21, 2009 - 10:20 am 30. Gloria:

No professional–diplomat, professor, company executive–would ever have responded the way Hillary did. Professionals know they represent a country or a university or a corporation in public. The only response a professional should have in public to a question, whether the question is smart or stupid, is a polite reply. There is no excuse whatsoever for Hillary’s gross public display of pique.

Aug 21, 2009 - 10:33 am 31. gssherburne:

It is entirely understandable that the young questioner should pose this inquiry to Hilary, and it does not necessarily, as some have posited, due to his subconsciously viewing her as incapable of standing on her own as SOS. It does not indicate that she was viewed as only an adjunct of her husband. An ordinary young person, knowing she is married to the former president of the U.S. could easily assume that she would know his true opinion about some issue better than anyone else. Why not take the opportunity to relieve your curiosity? It would not have injured her vanity if he had been more interested in her own opinion on some issue, clearly. As others have pointed out so well, she is SOS solely because she was married to Bill, just as Paul McCartney’s wife is wealthy solely because she was married to Paul. Now that Hil has risen to such a high estate it surely rankles that she has no past achievement which would illicit the earnest curiosity and concern of a young student in a foreign country. Michelle’s own opinion would be important and interesting at this point.It doesn’t matter much what Hil’s opinion is, actually. She isn’t a major influence on policy. I am sure it hurts. Graceless. So what’s new?

Aug 21, 2009 - 11:14 am 32. AThinkingPerson:

Sarah Palin vs. Hillary Clinton? How does that have any bearing on the article at hand? How does that have any bearing on ANYTHING?

Yet another desperate liberal trying to change the subject. So predictable.

Hillary should take a page out of Dr. Condoleezza Rice’s book of decorum. Rice was truly a person who had a grasp of the job and did it with strength and dignity, neither of which Hillary has every possessed.

Aug 21, 2009 - 11:41 am 33. Marc Malone:

I almost feel sorry for Sec. Clinton. It really does suck to be her. Pursuing real power which always just eludes her.

She wanted to be a truly significant first Lady, something others manage to do so gracefully and easily, then HillaryCare nearly tanks Bill.

She wanted to be President. She was the 20-point frontrunner, but then she got beaten by a neophyte in a close race.

She then successfully negotiates a position as Secretary of State. Ooooh, swoon! Obama promptly sidelines her by appointing special envoys not answerable to her. She’s out of her element, anyway, as she has no qualifications for the job. She gets mocked by such as Kim Jong-Il. Everyone in the world knows she has no real credibility or power, that Obama gave her the title, but kept the power.

Then, Bill plays the hero in NK, a role that should have been hers. Of course, politics required that our government stay officially out of it, so nothing could be done about it. Still, it made her look feckless. Obama got a two-fer on that one.

So, she’s frustrated. She’s like Don Rickles. She get no respect, no respect!

Of course, she might get some respect, if she actually acted respectably. Perhaps some grace is in order. A thicker skin, perhaps? Stop dressing like a clown with those garish colored pantsuits? Add in a touch of humility, like being proud of her hubby, rather than envious?

As an American, I’m sick for my country. As a Conservative, I revel in the bumbling of this administration. It’s the mayo on this crap sandwich. Hey, at least I get mayo! If I’m an Independent, I only get crap!

Aug 21, 2009 - 11:59 am 34. NMSC:

Totally disagree–this was just gratuitious Hillary-bashing. Nowhere do you give her credit for going into the heart of the Congolese conflict and addressing the awful rapes there, which have been virtually ignored by the world’s diplomats until now. Can you imagine hearing those stories and then listening to some arrogant young man ask about your husband’s opinion and the opinion of the basketball star sitting next to you? Sorry, but had you been the one sitting and talking to rape and cannibalism survivors, you’d be feeling pretty anti-Congo-male, too. Grow up and address the real problem here–how to fix some of the worst woman hatred in the world.

Aug 21, 2009 - 12:29 pm 35. KB:

NMSC:

“Nowhere do you give her credit for going into the heart of the Congolese conflict and addressing the awful rapes there, which have been virtually ignored by the world’s diplomats until now”

Whatever.

If we didn’t have her petulant little tantrum on video, few people would actually know she was in the Congo. And as far as the rapes? Check back in 6 months (or 4 or 2) and see if her visit made one bit of difference.

Sorry, but had you been the one sitting and talking to rape and cannibalism survivors, you’d be feeling pretty anti-Congo-male, too.

Oh, I don’t know. If I were a Congolese I might be wondering if this female Clinton was going to pay similar lip service to African atrocities as the male version did. And since I seriously doubt we’ll hear much more from our government about the awful rapes in the Congo I’d say we all know what the answer to THAT is.

Our government isn’t going to do crap, and you know it. So YOU grow up.

Aug 21, 2009 - 1:10 pm 36. Sulaco:

NMSC whats that got to do with her response to an, as it turned out mis-quoted question. The student, in tears after the event said that was not his question and the translator got it wrong. Also its not up to us to “fix some of the worst woman hatred” its not our country, unless of course your are saying the US should intervine in other countries interanl affairs? Didn’t think so.

Aug 21, 2009 - 1:16 pm 37. Steve Sampson:

I agree that the article is bashing Hillary, you are expecting way too much from a silverware thief. If we consider the average motel towel thief as being a prospect for Secretary of State, then perhaps we should be more critical of Hillary. But stealing White House Silverware is a little more serious than stealing Motel Towels. Holding her to standards that she can’t comprehend is being unrealistic.

She has become inconsequential as a result of the Czars or as FDR called the the Dictators; for all practical purposes her job doesn’t exist except as a ceremonial position that must be filled and there is hardly a better person for the job than Bill’s ceremonial wife.

Aug 21, 2009 - 1:19 pm 38. arhooley:

32. AThinkingPerson:

Indeed, can you imagine Dr. Rice ever behaving in such a way? The contrast is telling.

Aug 21, 2009 - 2:04 pm 39. Isabella:

Hey guys, back off. She had a bad day. No biggee. Her schmuck of a husband was out hitting on a couple of Korean American girls. What’s new? She was a bit pissed. OK. Bubba just can’t keep out of the limelight. In the meantime, Hillary is delegated to touring the dark continent, which is sort of like opening in Peoria. She’s been played for a fool by Obama-san. I hope she has the guts to bail out now. Her future still has great potential.
But not with the Anointed One who seems to be plummeting. Her advisors should convince her that our Noble Leader is a disaster, and she would be better served jumping ship.

Aug 21, 2009 - 2:42 pm 40. texexpatriate:

About halfway through this most boring essay about two real psychopaths, the female of which is a Saul Alinsky acolyte while the male is an ordinary psychopath and sex-abuser, I quit reading.

Aug 21, 2009 - 3:32 pm 41. Hugo:

I don’t think she was rude. She gave a frank response to the question as it was translated to her. I would have said the same had I been asked such a question. If a man had been asked about his wife’s opinion and responded in the same manner, it would not be newsworthy. But Clinton-bashing is a hard habit to break. Go Hillary. Happy Birthday Bill. I think the Clintons are great. Too bad we are saddle with that wee-wee’d up POTUS, instead of Hillary.

Aug 21, 2009 - 3:53 pm 42. A.M. Mallett:

Well, to be fair, Bill upstaged her all through her campaign. Why should he stop now?

Aug 21, 2009 - 6:09 pm 43. Elle:

As a public official with major international responsibilities her response was poor. It was not inappropriate for an individual to ask her husband’s opinion given that he is still a player on the international stage. However, even if one were to concede that the question was inappropriate Clinton should have been able to field it with a more gracious response e.g. I haven’t discussed this particular issue with my husband but as Secretary of State I believe that…..

Aug 21, 2009 - 6:27 pm 44. Steve Sampson:

Elle, you are a diplomat. Fearless Reader might be looking for new talent in the near future; but, don’t join his ship of fools in Washington, they are in the vortex of the accelerating whirlpool of self-destruction.

It is best to wait for the next presidential election; hopefully, the new administration will know that patronage of political hacks is selfdefeating and that using real talent with intelligence is a recipe for success.

Besides the confusion over the nature of the question was probably a ruse for damage control. The Democrats and especially the Clintons will lie when the truth would serve them better.

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:34 pm 45. Jason S:

Nice posture too. She looked like The Fonze sitting in the principal’s office. Think about how buffoonish this administration is. Clinton, Napolitano, Biden, Daschle – oops Sebelius, Geithner, and the ultimate empty suit, Obama himself. Clowns all. At least Bush was an affable buffoon.

Aug 21, 2009 - 10:17 pm 46. J in Stl:

Hillary belongs to the screeching harpy school of feminism.

Aug 21, 2009 - 10:55 pm 47. Paul of Alexandria:

Sandy (2):

I’m no fan of Hillary’s, but I think her response was entirely appropriate.

The first rule of international politics for Secretaries of State: you must be polite and respectful at all times. Remember, you are not a private individual, you represent – indeed in many ways you are your country. Rudeness in a public setting is not acceptable. There were many ways in which Mrs Clinton could have handled this better.

Aug 21, 2009 - 11:00 pm 48. deguello:

I’m quite enjoying the clownish, increasingly demented behavior of this rabid feminist libtard;she’s imploding in cojunction with her increasinly cretinous boss. Ain’t it grand?

Aug 22, 2009 - 9:50 am 49. deguello:

Mr. Chapin: the Congo comparison is not quite apt: Hillary’s ego is much larger than that;it’s actually larger than one of her calves! Cordially, Deguello

Aug 22, 2009 - 10:18 am 50. Jacobtk:

I thought the gist if her response was fair, but the way she said it was not and it left her with no way to back out of it. It looked exactly like what people took it to be: She was annoyed that Bill trumped her in news coverage. That said, I sincerely doubt that if Bill Clinton responded in the same way that anyone would think his response was fair. His response would be taken as a deliberate attack on women in power or something equally improbable.

Aug 22, 2009 - 10:20 am 51. whyyeseyec:

Glad she`s not answering that 3am phone call.

Aug 22, 2009 - 11:06 am 52. Jones:

this article is long-winded, and a stretch to say the least. Hillary had a bad day, leave it at that. Conversely, she should not have accepted the SecState position. Now Obumble can send her to funerals around the world for 4 years and keep her out of the way. She should have known this, going in.

Eventually, all the Clintons, Bushes, and Kennedys will be gone. My only regret is I will not live long enough to enjoy it.

Aug 22, 2009 - 5:03 pm 53. a father:

Well written and well well thought out. Without Bill, where would Hillary be?

Aug 22, 2009 - 6:23 pm 54. zmdavid:

Compare Hillary’s outburst to the “rollover minutes” mom from the cell phone commercial. It’s a striking similarity.

Aug 22, 2009 - 8:45 pm 55. George S.:

Shrillary’s actions speak for themselves.
Great piece. I really enjoyed reading it.

She (hillary) really speaks for no one but herself. She is a criminal and and idiot, and I believe those are her good traits.

It was exceedingly undiplomatic and rude response to a young person. It was her (hillary) response that made it a sexist and bigoted moment. I am sure the student had no intent on being either sexist or bigoted and a diplomat should have been able to field that question nicely and smoothly and not personally.

…just one of the clowns in the circus called the obama administration.

Aug 23, 2009 - 6:35 am 56. Immanuel Goldstein:

I just wonder when she is going to jump ship and resign her position. She has to see the writing on the wall and realize that the good ship Obama has just scraped an iceberg below the water line and is about to founder. She will see her opportunity. Resign as Secretary of State and start running for President way before 2012 as the only person who can save the Democratic Party from total electoral disaster. Think of the three man race: Obama vs Hillary vs Sarah Palin. There is hope for this country yet.

Aug 23, 2009 - 8:35 am