By now, I'm sure you've all heard about the touchy question (which appears to have been mistranslated) that Secretary Clinton was asked by a student yesterday: What did her husband, Bill Clinton, think about Chinese financial contracts with the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Clinton's blunt, sharp response revealed she was obviously irked:
You want me to tell you what my husband thinks? My husband is not the secretary of state, I am. You ask my opinion. I will tell you my opinion; I'm not going to channel my husband."
Given this summer's talk about how she has been in "the shadows," it's understandable that the question (which appears to have asking about President Obama's opinion, not Bill's) would touch a raw nerve for the women's-rights-supporting secretary of state. And context is important, too. Clinton is in a country were women often have second-class status and where rape has been used as a weapon of war.
If Africa, if Congo is going to advance, women have to play a more significant role. She was in the setting of a town hall, and the questioner was interested in what two men thought, not the secretary."
Nevertheless, Clinton is a diplomat. She didn't need to snap at the student; she could have used grace and humor to get through a question that angered her. At least she patched things up with the student afterward.
"Nevertheless, Clinton is a diplomat. She didn't need to snap at the student; she could have used grace and humor to get through a question that angered her. At least she patched things up with the student afterward."
Oh, please! HRC can snap at whomever she wants, she's human. Considering all she has been through and all she does in her work, she is a champion at keeping cool. After all, she IS the secretary of state and deserves your respect too! Check yourself and leave your opinions off the blog posts please.
Grace and humor??? WTF? It is no longer acceptable for others to tell a woman to be submissive, polite,and deferentially self-effacing in the midst of rape, violence and cultural insults. Hillary isn't going to win personality points for Miss Congeniality, because women need to reject the "be a good girl" stance that society still seems to demand, even from powerful, accomplished women. She is not out of control, berserk, wild, mad, or wrong. She is strong, smart and unafraid to speak up and speak out, even if it sounds like a slam or a snap to some, especially men.
She is bringing world attention to the horrors of women's lives in Africa. Damn straight she'll sound undiplomatic.
Of course she was undiplomatic, that was the only way to react given the question, at least the way it was posed to her.
She IS the Secretary of State and who is she to answer questions about what OTHERS think? And especially in the context of her just recently talking about violence against women.
Being "good girls" has never gotten us women anywhere and I am so proud that she isn't even trying that routine.
Grace and humor? Please. She was insulted and taking insults with grace (only women are always expected to be "graceful" and "gracious") and humor hasn't gotten us anywhere in the last 2000 years.
Her answer was completely appropriate and I just hope she won't be pressured into taking it back or even apologizing!
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.
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