Posted By Megan Carpentier Share

On Tuesday, Politico's Glenn Thrush reported about a little tête-à-tête between Hillary Clinton and John Cornyn in the Capitol. Cornyn, you'll recall, had just prevented a unanimous consent vote on Hillary's nomination and Thrush, who saw but did not hear the discussion, characterized the exchange as "heated," which Cornyn denied.

Well, one of our eagle-eyed sources spotted the same discussion and was able to get within earshot just in time to hear Clinton warn Cornyn, "The Clintons don't forget." One day later, Cornyn's objections to Clinton's confirmation magically disappeared and the man who had set the roll call vote in motion voted in favor of confirming Clinton. Now let's see how she handles Hamid Karzai.

UPDATE: A spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee emailed Madam Secretary with this:

This story about what Sen. Clinton allegedly told Sen. Cornyn is false and it’s disappointing that the Senator’s office was not contacted before it was posted.  Senator Cornyn has made clear, including in an op-ed in the Austin American Statesman today, that this situation had nothing to do with Senator Clinton personally, and everything to do with his long record as an advocate for transparency in government. 

Robyn Beck/Getty Images

 

IKANT

8:48 PM ET

January 23, 2009

Wow

Man,this sounds like a scene from the Godfather!

 

ANNE

8:57 PM ET

January 23, 2009

ohhhh, your SOURCES, just

ohhhh, your SOURCES, just happened to be within earshot, riiiight. now you're just making things up. How edgy and cool.

 

DIAMOND

9:42 PM ET

January 23, 2009

Hillary and Cornyn

Good for her! He is an ass.

 

KARENMB

10:04 PM ET

January 23, 2009

From the account I read,

From the account I read, nobody was within hearing range, and from the accounts discussed on msm, they ranged from "heated" to "very congenial", so who knows?? The press wouldn't know what to do without sensationalizing about the Clintons. Geeeezzzz....

 

NYDEM12

10:11 PM ET

January 23, 2009

I wish it was true

Somehow I doubt anyone was really in earshot - but I wish this was true! In any case, whatever she said to Cornyn, it did the trick.

 

DOODLE

11:39 PM ET

January 23, 2009

either way- he agreed to

either way- he agreed to her..as our representative, that sounds like a great ability to get things done..future negotiations will go as well...she will amaze people...

 

PYW

12:59 AM ET

January 24, 2009

Not sure about this

I, too, doubt anyone was within earshot but I wish Hillary had told him that, lol.

 

ANNETOO

1:38 AM ET

January 24, 2009

If true....

If that is true, she was being very frank with him...and upfront. Hill is not to be messed with. One of things I love about Hillary is she's a Dem whoes ready to pay back . So many others just crumble. GO HILL!!!

 

DATURA0001

2:44 AM ET

January 24, 2009

hell yes

When are they gonna learn! The clintons don't forget! Don't mess with them! Hehe

Although I highly suspect these words are true. I was standing in the exact spot they were in the day after on a capitol tour. They would need to be pretty close to hear anything. But the rotunda is known for strange acoustics so I guess we will never know...

I'm sure this isn't the last we will hear about Hillary taking out her enemies so to speak haha at least its entertainment

 

MDREW

3:40 AM ET

January 24, 2009

So it's all true

Wow. I no longer feel bad about anything I have ever said or thought about the Clintons.

 

PYW

5:39 PM ET

January 24, 2009

What's all true?

The Obama people were also furious with Cornryn. Axelrod's public remarks about Cornryn's grandstanding made that clear.

 

NIGEL

9:28 AM ET

January 25, 2009

Unsure

I find it hard to imagine Secretary Clinton talking about herself (and her husband) in the third person. It just doesn't sound like something she'd say. Maybe something like "Don't cross me" or "You'll be sorry" might be plausible, but "The Clintons never forget"?? - I'm sorry but that doesn't sound like something one Senate colleague would say to another...

 

PYW

1:25 AM ET

January 26, 2009

I agree, Unsure

I knew there was something weird about how that statement sounded, and you put your finger on it.

 

NYDEM12

7:14 PM ET

January 26, 2009

Cornryn's response when

Cornryn's response when questioned if HRC said this was something along the lines of "You must be joking"...

So as amusing as it is... seems the mole "misheard" HRC.

 

Madam Secretary is an obsessive blog about all things Hillary Clinton. From her policies to her pantsuits, Madam Secretary delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and gossip about America's top diplomat.