When I saw Hillary Clinton’s interview on the CBS Sunday Morning’s this past Sunday I was a bit stunned by her answer to the question “Do you think President Clinton’ should have resigned over the Monica Lewinsky”. That she wouldn’t think that he should have resigned was expected. It was the attitude of defensiveness combined with a weak response “No. She was an consenting adult” and then immediately flipped in to a whataboutism regarding Trump’s accusers.
Given the 20 year passage of time following one of the biggest scandals in political history, you might assume she could have come up with a more thoughtful answer. Maybe some introspection and wisdom derived from hindsight. An updated perspective given where we are in the #metoo era. Instead I felt like I was watching someone who hadn’t evolved on the matter, if not even more dug in on a regressive position.
Ruth Marcus has written an opinion piece today that appears in the Washington Post Why Hillary Clinton’s Comments Are More Hurtful Than Trump’s. In it Ms. Marcus explains the disappointment she felt while watching the interview from the perspective of someone who was a supporter of Hillary during her presidential runs and a feminist around Hillary’s age. She expected Hillary to better understand the unacceptable nature of such a workplace affair and become a better spokesperson on the topic.
I am not a fan of Bill Clinton. Not then, not now. He sqaudered a presidency and has added nothing to society since, sans the work of the Clinton Foundation. I see little growth in self awareness over the years. He fatally sabotaged Hillary’s 2016 presidential run when he got on the plane with Attorney General Loretta Lynch because it brought in James Comey. Without Comey, she wins. The tragedy of her not winning that election is visited upon us every day.
I always had a grudging respect for Hillary Clinton however. I am more progressive than the Clintons yet I also recognized that a flawed Hillary presidency was certainly better than any Republican, so I supported her run. I don’t regret that stance at all, but I am now in the growing category that many Democratic voters find themselves in; I really, really just want the Clintons to go away. Enjoy your retirement from politics. If you can’t find a way to follow the lead of Jimmy Carter, devoting your life to to the betterment of humanity, then at least do no harm. Maybe something innocuous like writing a cookbook or something. Just please go away.
UPDATE- Interesting that the “cookbook” statement got so much venom in the comments and even got the post flagged. You do know that men write cookbooks too right? I put that innocently, people often write cookbooks after they retire from public life. I actually am working on a cookbook for southern dishes, bake cookies and muffins with my wife. Sexist to think only women write cookbooks or bake. Evolve yourself about men maybe?