Angry Hillary Clinton-"I'm Secretary of State, Not Bill"
Submitted by DeepDiveAdmin on Aug 11, 2009
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lost her cool in the Congo yesterday, when a student asked her what "Mr. Clinton" thought about an issue. After the question-and-answer session, the student approached Mrs. Clinton, and said he meant to say "Mr. Obama." Watch the testy exchange:
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That's all. It was hilarious.
Was the question appropriate?
Not completely, considering the student asked her to speak for someone else. However, it's not so strange that the student would be curious about a former President's opinion (or current President, whichever was intended) considering her assumed access to that information. It is arrogant for her to expect that her own opinion should be the only one anyone would be interested in knowing. She is likely as close to the former/current US President as they were going to have access to at the time, or ever.
Was Secretary Clinton's reaction appropriate?
Absolutely not. Her job is not to teach etiquette to students in Congo, or anywhere for that matter. Her job is represent the interests of the US, not her own pride. Anyone even remotely practised in the art of diplomacy would not have made a statement so transparently insecure, self-promoting, and rude. An appropriate answer from a diplomat could have been something to the effect of "Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but for myself, I believe..."
I see no problem with her come back. I did not think Hillary had it in her.
The way that the question was asked was totally rude and rubbing, after the North Korean incident of rescued reporters.
She had every right to feel rubbed and she could have gone further if she had wished in addressing the rude nature of the person asking the question.
Actually, her reaction to this question perfectly illustrates why her husband was the better person for the job of negotiating the release of the prisoners.
Personal feelings of inadequacy have to be put aside even when confronted with arguably "rude" questions. She isn't representing herself as Secretary of State. She is not the Secretary of Hillary Clinton. It is her job to represent the United States above anything else, and to do with honor and dignity.
It's kind of nice to see some humanity instead of robotics.
Maybe she should have refused dialogue until they met her conditions and asked the question in the way that that she demand it be asked
You got that right
...With Mrs. Clinton being a woman.
I have seen male politicians become testy also. Frequently, I might add .
This everything to do with her being a rude diplomat. This, in itself, is unfortunate. But the great Obama nominated her, so the blind half of America will overlook this, or search for excuses for it.
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
I think she has given ammunition to all the people who think women are to emotional to be President. This woman could have been our President and then what kind of statement would this have made. I think she should be ashamed of herself and that there is nothing she can say to make it go away.
It has nothing to do with women or men!
The way that the question was asked was simply really rude, and she had every right in addressing it the way that she did.
The person who asked the question of her is fortunate that she didn't tear a strip off for the level of rudeness.