Incredible pain, incredible happiness and the choices one woman made to get there.
Scot Leigh at the Boston Globe has an article called Clinton & Trump's Contest of Nerves. He opens by saying…
"To understand what’s happening here, one has to think like a campaign’s strategic team. Clinton’s, to be exact. Hillary Clinton and her team know that Trump has long threatened to bring up Bill Clinton’s affairs, including allegations of boorish behavior and even sexual assault. In December, when Hillary Clinton said Trump had “a penchant for sexism,” he retorted that her husband was “one of the great woman abusers of all time” and warned her, via tweet, to “be careful.” In May, Trump charged that Hillary Clinton had enabled her husband by trying to discredit his accusers. “She would go after these women and destroy their lives,” he said. “She was an unbelievably nasty, mean enabler. . . .” He called his own comments “retribution” for Clinton having played “the woman’s card” against him.”
To me, Bill Clinton’s dalliances have zero do with Hillary Clinton as a person. Zero to do with her achievements. Zero to do with any missteps she’s made. Certainly, they have absolutely nothing to do with the type of President she will be for our country. And, I do say WILL BE.
Trump keeps haranguing her on how she handled the terrible situation she found herself in. Did she lash out at these women? I suppose. Although I didn’t pay much attention to that aspect of what Hillary did back then because — who wouldn't lash out? It’s hard to do the bookkeeping on someone’s reaction to their spouse’s infidelity; let alone judge them when their personal life is being dissected by a special prosecutor. At times during the months that rolled by with the accusations against Bill and, by misplaced association, against Hillary — I just had to look away. It was sad for them and sad for the country. Not that I cut Bill any slack. I thought he had acted like a furtive, pubescent teenager who never grew up. When I look at him today — it’s still part of what I see. As the old joke goes — “Why do men always name their penises? Because they don’t want to be led around by a stranger.” Bill Clinton, leader of the free world for 8 years, just could not stay in control of his frontal lobes when his loins came a-calling.
As far as the women who were the object of Bill’s desire are concerned, I thought some of them were straight-up opportunists who weren’t just in the wrong place at the wrong time with a horn-dog politician. No doubt, some were surprised when Bubba inexplicably “dropped trou” in the coat room after a fundraiser, but some seemed to be seeing how close they could get to a powerful man only to realize he was just another schmuck who would betray his wife for quickie and that was all it would ever be. I will get yelled at for saying this, but when it comes to Monica, I felt there may have been something deeper in terms of the relationship, although it was still unquestionably another spectacular display of misjudgment and selfishness on his part.
And so, she shouldn't’ have to, but I so wish Hillary would address this very painful chapter of her life quite directly and render Trump — the pot-kettle-colored philandering idiot that he is — stewing at the podium on Sunday night. I wish it could go something like this…
Donald Trump: “Trade deals. Blah Blah. NAFTA. Coal. Blah Blah. Bill Clinton. Blah Jennifer Blah Flowers. Blerg! Enabler! Blah Blah stand by her man. Yuge. Cheating, infidelity, blah, impeachment, Monica, Oval Office. Blah Blah.” {{Pause.}} Insert puffy orange smirk here. Wait for it...
Hillary Clinton: “Well it’s not like I didn’t know this was coming. Donald’s been threatening to bring up what he thinks is his “trump card” since the last debate — for months really. So. Let me address it. It’s been 21 years since a very personal matter was played out on the public stage for all to see. It was, and remains, a deeply hurtful time in my life and the life of my family. Looking back on it – I did the best I could to deal with the situation. I was a public figure in the spotlight, but most of all, I was a wife, a mother, a woman. I suspect my story hits close to home for many women watching this right now. You think you know what you know and then the rug gets pulled out from under you. Like anyone faced with this situation, I had to figure out what to do next. It took time. In the end, I decided to work to preserve my family and the love that was the foundation of that family. Do I wish it never happened? Yes – I do. But I am I incredibly grateful that Bill and I came through it. And – when I look at Chelsea and Marc and our two beautiful grandbabies – it confirms my decision to work through it and carry on. I love my family so much. Next subject.”
Donald Trump: “Benghazi!”
She shouldn’t have to say it, but I hope she does.
