Clinton: I'm secretary of state, not Bill

[Kadie]

Her temper flared? I wonder if this story is a bit exaggerated. The writer of this piece seems to be trying really hard to get his point across that Secretary Clinton was annoyed.


Clinton: I'm secretary of state, not Bill

By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer Matthew Lee, Associated Press Writer – 11 mins ago

KINSHASA, Congo – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's temper flared on Monday when a Congolese university student asked for her husband's thinking on an international matter.

"My husband is not secretary of state. I am," an obviously annoyed Clinton replied sharply.

A week after former President Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea to secure the release of two detained American journalists and stole the limelight from the start of his wife's first trip to Africa, Clinton was clearly nettled by the question at a town hall forum in Kinshasa.

"You want me to tell you what my husband thinks?" she replied incredulously when the male student asked her what "Mr. Clinton" thought of World Bank concerns about a multibillion-dollar Chinese loan offer to the Democratic Republic of Congo. . "If you want my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I am not going to be channeling my husband," she said.

The question was left unanswered as the moderator of the event quickly moved on.

snip...
It was not immediately clear why Clinton reacted with such umbrage, and she quickly recovered her cool and moved on to other subjects Monday. Just before the question that set off her anger, another student had asked if the United States and the West felt a need to apologize to the people of Congo for colonialism and post-colonial interference.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090810/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/af_clinton_i_m_secretary_3

[SIMPLYB1980]

1. Good for her. If people what to know what Bill thinks,

they should ask him.

[Kadie]

3. Absolutely.

I think she handled it well. The way the article was written ANNOYED me! LOL

[Blasphemer]

22. I have to agree

I mean really.... I don't blame her for being annoyed. I don't think such a question would be asked if the roles were reversed.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Whoa.

[xultar]

4. Good for her! If she was annoyed she had every right to be.

[cynatnite]

5. I bet she wanted to snap his head off for that sexist question...

I still love Hillary. :)

[Kadie]

6. She is doing an Awesome job!

:)

[marshall]

38. The entire matter was a misunderstanding

As is so often the case when tempers flare. The translator did not translate the poor student's question correctly. He was asking what Obama thought--and answering questions about the sitting President's opinion certainly IS within the purview of the SOS position.

I agree that the article no doubt overblows Clinton's reaction, and I hope she was courteous to the student when he told her later that he had been mistranslated.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/08/lost-in-translation-clinton-says-she-not-bill-is-the-secretary-of-state.html

[wisteria]

44. She is our SOS-not a Representative of NOW! Her behavior was not professional. n/t

[Cha]

7. Good on her! But, it's AP so right away I know..they're

out to get Dems because of their history of sloppy writing. It could be or not.

[closeupready]

8. She needs to be a little more diplomatic. That was awfully harsh.

n/t

[Control-Z]

16. The question was harsh

and sexist.

[DaveinJapan]

30. How sexist?

Seems like a kneejerk reaction to what amounted to a less than tactful question, but to be honest I'd rather hear the opinion of a former President over a Secretary of State regardless of gender.

[Control-Z]

39. Have you ever heard

anyone ask another SOS or high ranking politician what their wife's thinking was on an international matter? Had he questioned Obama's position on a matter, it would have been appropriate because she works for him. That is her job.

She does not work for her husband, though there are still plenty of clueless men who believe in that ridiculous hierarchy.

[rvablue]

9. Whatev. n/t

[david13]

10. Whoa Hilly, calm down. Bill is not trying to upstage you.

Relax. You'll do a better job that way.
dc

[WI_DEM]

18. What other Secretary of State is asked what there spouse thinks? Come on it was a tacky question.

[YOY]

19. What other SoS has an ex-prez for a spouse?

Was Albright ever given such a question?

Maybe the questioner wasn't as sexist as they sounded. Maybe.

[WI_DEM]

21. doesn't matter. Bill isn't the focus at this engagement it is SOS Clinton

they should have asked her a question and not asked what Bill's opinion is.

[wisteria]

45. The question was misinterpreted. And, there were many other more professional ways to answer that

question. She appeared defensive and angry-not appropriate for our top diplomat.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

11. Go Hillary! Sexism is alive and well, and she's not going to take that shit!

[wisteria]

46. This was not the time or place for our SOS to behave undiplomatic n/t.

[Odin2005]

12. Oh, SNAP!

:)

[PHIMG]

13. I personally loath the Clintons but the AP is a POS right-wing org n/t

[customerserviceguy]

14. Part of me has to be wondering

about last week's NK rescue operation has to be having on her. She is away on a major diplomatic trip, and he's getting all the headlines. She had to know that having Bill rescue two women would have started up the joke machine, and she hasn't had to deal with that in awhile.

My bet is that President Obama approved this over her objections.

[niyad]

29. during coverage on KO and Rachel, it was stated that State had been actively involved in

negotiations, and that, basically, Pres. Clinton was pretty much assured of success, thanks to the efforts of the Sec of State and others. so, no, obama apparently didn't go around her, or over her head, this was all coordinated. one of the comments was that Pres. Clinton would not have gone had there not been a pretty clear assurance of success, thanks to all the diplomatic work already done.

[Control-Z]

15. What a sexist question.

Good answer, Hillary.

[YOY]

17. Um...yes.

Yes you are.

[LiberalAndProud]

20. It was not immediately clear? The writer is a male, am I right?

I can almost hear Clinton saying the words quoted. I suspect I know the tone of voice she used, and "flare of temper" probably is a bit of an overstatement.

[Seedersandleechers]

23. No doubt

Men coined the word: hysterical females = hysterectomy (removal of uterus).

[cynatnite]

31. omg, you're right...

I was going to verbally strike you down and found this...

Hyppocrates coined it for women who didn't get laid.

I did not have a clue.

Thank you for enlightening me.

[Kadie]

34. Wow...

After reading your post, I found this...

snip...
"Hysterectomy" is the surgical removal of the uterus (womb). The word "Hysterectomy" (termed in 1879) comes from the root word "hyster" referring to the womb and "ectomy" meaning removal.

The reason the root word "hyster" refers to the womb is derivative of the word "hysteria" based on the sexist assumption that the womb itself caused uncontrollable, emotional behavior.

Subsequently, 19th century and early 20th cent physicians performed "pelvic massages" and prescribed vibrators as a treatment for "Female Hysteria" and "hysterectomys" for severe cases. Female Hysteria was thought to be a real, psychological disorder in women until the 20th century.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Women_have_hysterectomy_from_the_word_hysteria_men_have_orchidectomy_from_the_word_orchid_How_do_these_different_terminologies_reflect_how_diseases_of_men_and_women_are_viewed

[cynatnite]

25. And the one who asked the sexist question was male, too. n/t

[SemiCharmedQuark]

28. Whatever the gender of the author, talk about clueless.

[struggle4progress]

24. Well, I really can't blame her -- but I do hope she learns to chill out a bit on stuff like this

Her irritation is natural, but such crap is likely to continue for a while, and she'll do better with a lighter touch

[Control-Z]

37. I'd love to see some footage

because I highly doubt she was noticeably irritated. With everything I've heard from her in the past, it is just not her style to upset that easily. In fact, she is one of the most stable, prepared, controlled politicians ever. I would guess it was the reporters opinion, based on how he believes a woman should "behave" when confronted with such a question.

[cherokeeprogressive]

40. Here you go.

Spin it however you see fit.

http://www.youtube.com/v/3_BsvqNnMZU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0

[donheld]

55. She was right to be pissed

[Control-Z]

59. Wow.

I have never seen her behave that way. She seemed to be upset even before the question. And she didn't look well either. Wow.

[Caliman73]

26. I'd be pissed too...

I doubt the media would even have mentioned anything in the reverse. If it were a male politician becoming annoyed at being asked, "what his politically successful wife thought". He would just be "showing independence". It shows that we still have a long way to go in challenging the sexists attitudes all across the world.

[marshall]

47. Prince Charles had that problem

The dour prince was far overshadowed by his radiant charismatic wife. They had dueling bands of flunkies who were forever trying to upstage the other party.

But since it was all a translation snafu (nor sure if it was our state department translator or the Congolese translator) I certainly hope Clinton sends the poor student some flowers or candy or something. Even an acknowledgement that it was all a horrible misunderstanding would be something.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

27. Good for her. It wasn't just this guy either, I've heard several people trying to argue that

she was upstaged by Bill. It's maddening.

The person that wrote this is so clueless.

[TexasObserver]

32. I hope she was annoyed. It was an annoying question.

"Secretary Clinton, Secretary Clinton, Secretary Clinton?!"

"Yes?"

"Who is Bill's favorite Beatle?!"

[CakeGrrl]

33. Well, it's going to be a sticky situation if Bill is out there on the world stage

in some form or another.

It's interesting that several people on DU have suggested that President Obama could benefit from Bill's advise. The suggestion during the Primaries was that Hillary was a wise choice because it'd be a "2 for 1 deal".

So while this could be a cultural issue of sexism, it's not completely out of line to think that people still wonder what the former President's perspective is on world matters, especially since he was put front and center recently.

[Captain Hilts]

35. The AP has turned into a right wing source. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

36. It was all a mistake, but WOW, she was pissed!

I would add that she was anything but diplomatic. Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/v/3_BsvqNnMZU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0

[Kadie]

42. Oooooo

She was upset. Looked like she was a little confused at first when the question was asked. Like she wasn't believing what she was hearing.

But, the way the question was asked, I don't blame her. What does Mr. Clinton think through the mouth of Mrs. Clinton? Did I hear that correctly? WTF?

[pranayama]

41. Her temper DID flare. I just heard it on CNN radio (the audio)

and she had that army sargent voice of hers. She was pissed and it came thru the radio. But CNN characterized it as a snafu in translation. The audience went 'ooo,' BTW...

Hey, it's all good. With Bill getting all the credit for N. Korea (and I just heard that Gore really worked hard for it), perhaps she's a bit miffed and thinking that she is still in the shadows.

[wisteria]

43. Our SOS should be more professional and not let her personal feelings overrule a cooler head. n/t

[Skittles]

50. so what?

we competent gals get upset with sexism, which you apparently are unable to comprehend

[hfojvt]

60. probably unable to hear now too

as he/she is pushing up daisies Presumably had a bad IP address or something.

[UTUSN]

48. Who's ASKING?!1 What's the problem?!1 n/t

[ProSense]

49. It was a misstep

<...>

At the State Department, Assistant Secretary P.J. Crowley said the question she heard "struck a nerve" — that her opinion on the matter was apparently of less interest than that of her husband, the former president.

Crowley told CNN her answer must be considered in the context of her African trip.

"The Secretary of State is going to Goma Tuesday, to draw attention to the plight of women who are victims of rape as a weapon of war" in Congo, he said. "She did react to what she heard," Crowley explained. Even if the interpreter mixed up the translation, he said, "you can't separate the question from the setting."


"If Africa, if Congo is going to advance, women have to play a more significant role," Crowley said. "She was in the setting of a town hall, and the questioner was interested in what two men thought, not the Secretary of State."

Crowley, who has just returned to Washington after traveling with Secretary Clinton during the first part of her trip to Africa, said the State Department has not yet reviewed recordings of the original question in French to learn whether the student clearly intended the question to refer to President Obama, not former President Clinton.

"She did talk with the student afterward, and they seemed to have reached an understanding," Crowley said.

link

She should never have reacted in that manner.

[wisteria]

53. Absolutely. n/t

[donheld]

56. Absolutely not!

[Lord Helmet]

51. The video supports this AP report:

posted by invictus in GDP

[unkachuck]

52. mishap....

....or not....it was a fine response from a fine Secretary of State....

[TexasObserver]

54. Recommend

[tj2001]

57. Good for her. That was a stupid question.

[liquid diamond]

58. I liked her responnse and admire her toughness.

[Libertas1776]

61. Had that been the

actual question (as in what does President Clinton think?) I would gauge her response as relatively appropriate or at least justified. However, it was in actuality a bonehead mistranslation by the translator who had said Clinton instead of President Obama, the man the Congolese student was referring to in their question. So, I kind of think this doesn't look too good for her, in retrospect.