Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Words that Had to Hurt

By now you have probably all heard that when President Bill Clinton was speaking to a crowd the other day he said he couldn’t make Hillary younger, taller, or a male.

I wonder if he has any idea how much that might have hurt her deep inside?

If Mr. Pop said something like that about me it would break my heart because I would hear him saying I wasn’t good enough the way I am. Just to hear your life companion say those things is so sad.

Maybe President Clinton was just making a political statement because Obama is all those things that Hillary isn’t, but still, it had to have been brutal for her to hear.

Is it any wonder that with all the stress and pressure she has been under for the last month and longer that she teared up the other night. I’m guessing Bill’s words didn’t make her feel any better.

And personally, as much as I admire President Clinton, I don’t think anyone is looking to him to make any candidate for us. Each candidate is his or her own person.

22 Comments:

Blogger Distributorcap said...

i was stunned someone could actually say something like that about his wife --- while i dont think he was trying to be condescending or mean -- he was just trying to show the difference

it came across as very belittling and crude --- and shows that as much as i admire bill clinton -- he really is a person that talks before he thinks

and especially considering what he has put his wife through in the past..

he really should apologize publicly

January 09, 2008 3:00 AM  
Blogger WeezieLou said...

Bill is Bill and always will be. I find them the most fascinating power couple of all. i'm not sure they even knows where one begins and one ends. The Clinton's marriage is true fodder for gossip. A cold, calculating couple? Why not go for the positive? A couple who love each other and made decisions about 'who goes first', and honors the promise. Wait, I forgot, I'm supposed to be a cynic!

January 09, 2008 3:20 AM  
Blogger Larry said...

That's the problem. We are all supposed to fall in line behind Hillary because she has been anointed by her husband and the media.

January 09, 2008 4:31 AM  
Blogger the antipop said...

so its true. america is not ready for a woman president. even her husband thinks so. poor hillary

January 09, 2008 4:48 AM  
Blogger Fran said...

I tried to find his words in their full context but could not.

Are we sure that this was not taken out of context?

I only say that because of the totally vitriolic manner in which I had heard it mentioned on MSNBC.

I am no apologist for either Clinton, but is it possible that there is more to this than we are seeing?

January 09, 2008 4:49 AM  
Blogger Fran said...

For the record, I have found many versions of a 20 second video, but nothing more. If you have anything more comprehensive, I would love to see it or hear it.

January 09, 2008 4:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It grieves me that I still see comments about Hillary's appearance, while no one (men especially) would bring up the size and shape of Edward's or Obama's thighs, legs, chest, etc. And, yes, she can't win...if she shows no emotion, she's a cold bitch; when she gets choked up, well, what do you expect from a woman? They're such emotional creatures. As a voter, I don't know whom I'm going to vote for. But as a woman, Hillary's treatment over the years has really gotten on my nerves.

January 09, 2008 5:12 AM  
Blogger mommanator said...

Hillary's acceptance of her treatment gets on my last nerve! If my husband treated me like she has been treated he would loose his nuts! and this is coming from someone who has been married for almost 39 years!
She just stands by and seems to accept him whatever his silver tongue jabs out! To me does nothing for women! and shows his arrogance and chauvenism

January 09, 2008 6:08 AM  
Blogger Randal Graves said...

Oh, you women are always so emotional. Sheesh.

- Rep. John Boehner.

January 09, 2008 6:08 AM  
Blogger fallenmonk said...

I took that statement from Bill completely differently and it is probably what he was trying to convey. He was not denigrating her but defending her. He was saying that she is what she is and that is what we have to see not that she is not a young starlet, not a male but a mature, secure woman so get beyond the petty labels and look at the person.

January 09, 2008 6:37 AM  
Blogger Blank said...

Like Fran, I would love to know the broader context for these words. It just doesn't make sense that he would deliberately say something so stupid. He must not have meant it that way or...something.

January 09, 2008 7:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks fallenmonk...you voiced my "read" too.

We all need to choose our battles....this is nothing!

Get over it girls!

January 09, 2008 7:11 AM  
Blogger Schmoop said...

I too agree that Bill was indeed saying that in the context that Fallenmonk offered. Cheers!!

January 09, 2008 7:35 AM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

He could have chosen his words more carefully.

I've heard a couple of Hillary detractors say they respected her for not divorcing him during the white house years, but that they lost respect for her when she did not divorce him after his term ended, because it looked like she intended to ride his coat tails for as long as possible. I have no opinion on their marriage or whether or not she's ever needed him to succeed as far as she has, really; but, I do think it has come to the point that he hurts her more than he helps her, and he ought to just shut up, get out of her way, and let her make or break her own campaign.

On the other hand, I don't expect he'll stay at home baking cookies, standing by his woman.

January 09, 2008 7:36 AM  
Blogger Targa said...

He wasn't referring to Hilary specifically... He was pointing out the hypocrisy of America. That if she was a man, a taller man, a younger man, then she would be what America wants.
He is saying, basically, that Hilary is what America needs.... if she were a man. But America needs her.

He was insulting Americans and their Patrician way of life.

That's what I got out of it.

January 09, 2008 7:59 AM  
Blogger TomCat said...

I think that what Targa said was Bill's intent, although it didn't quite come across that way. Gloria Steinham had just done her OpEd piece in the Times, claiming that Hillary lost in Iowa because of gender bias. Sometimes I play male chauvinist pig for fun, but I oppose gender bias. I organized for women's rights in the 1960s, in conjunction with anti-war and civil rights activism, and in 1972, I hired a woman as Sales Manager over six men, something virtually unheard of, at the time. Four of the six quit. So I have no problem whatsoever supporting a woman to be President. Hillary Clinton is just the wrong one.

January 09, 2008 11:34 AM  
Blogger Mike said...

I read an analysis of that statement the other day. What Bill was referring to was Obama's lack of experience. The point was that if Hillary only had a couple of years experience like Obama, she would be laughed off the stage so he is assuming the only reason people aren't voting for her is because she is an older woman. I am sure it hurt, but I bet losing in Iowa hurt even more.

January 09, 2008 1:22 PM  
Blogger isabelita said...

I hadn't heard about Mr. Clinton's remarks, but if Mrs. Clinton was offended, I'm sure she can take care of any asskicking privately.
Now, while I usually don't care so much about appearances, I do wonder about the awful upholstery-looking material of that suit which Mrs. Clinton was wearing yesterday. I thought it was ugly. I think she needs better advice about her wardrobe, or it'll be one more target for the Rethugs.
Meanwhile, I do mind that men like Guiliani can make utter idiots of themselves dressing in drag, and not pay for it. And that Romney probably pays big bucks for his hair helmet, yet doesn't get hooted at like Edwards did. The people I despise I am happy to make mock of, since they use it against people that I admire.
I say all the GOP's might be pig abusers. Make them deny it. "When did you stop beating your pigs, Mr. Huckabee?"

January 09, 2008 2:03 PM  
Blogger Mauigirl said...

I agree I'm sure that Bill meant it in the way Targa and Fallenmonk said, not as anything derogatory to Hillary.

January 09, 2008 2:38 PM  
Blogger jmsjoin said...

POP
You are looking at it from a personal point of view. He is right! I am sure she feels it too. It is a white tall male organization. She and Barak are breaking new ground.
She as you know is not the first Woman to run but she feels the bias. That wasn't directed at her but too give her a boost and it did.
Bills rant and her tears real or feigned may have made the difference. There was no surprise here. the only thing that kills me is those so called experts do not get it.
They are no longer experts. The is a new world. they do not matter but are part of the problem.

January 09, 2008 4:00 PM  
Blogger Batocchio said...

Uh, can someone link a video, or the full text? Out of context, to me it sounds like he was trying to defend her. Whether he screwed up the delivery or not is another matter.

January 10, 2008 4:02 PM  
Blogger dguzman said...

I too agree with fallenmonk's take on Bill's comment. I think it was supposed to say more about the American public than about Hillary--even though it was obviously not the smartest thing to say. Even a smart guy can be dumb sometimes, you know? Bill's living proof.

January 11, 2008 10:20 AM  

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