Hillary Clinton on a Woman President: It’s daunting, but there is a woman…
July 26, 2009
by The New Agenda
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As the guest on NBC’s Meet The Press this morning, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the topic of having a female president. Below are of excerpts from the transcript. You can see video here.
MR. DAVID GREGORY: And we’re back, our remaining moments with the secretary of state.
I want to ask you about something that you deal with all over the world, and that’s the topic of women in leadership. Here was a moment from Delhi University in India during your trip when you were asked a question.
(Videotape, Monday)
Unidentified Woman #2: Madam, today and even day before yesterday in one of your speeches you hinted that the progress of women and the growth of women is directly linked with the progress and growth of any and every country. India has had a woman prime minister as early as in the third decade of its post-independence era, while America has been deprived–if I, if I can say so–of the same privilege.
SEC’Y CLINTON: You can say so to me.
Woman #2: And, and on…
(End videotape)
MR. GREGORY: What’s it going to take for a woman to be president?
SEC’Y CLINTON: Well, it’ll take the right woman who can make the case and win the votes and get elected. And I am certainly hoping that happens in my lifetime. But what was so interesting about that exchange, David, is that I have now, as you said in the beginning, traveled more than 100,000 miles. I’ve been in, I think, 30 countries. I’ve done a lot of town halls, because, you know, I believe it’s not just diplomacy between government officials, it’s diplomacy between people. So I’ve gone out of my way to do town halls, to do events that have significance to the countries in which I’m visiting. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked about women in leadership, women in elected office, the role of women in development. This is a subject that is on the minds of people literally around the world.
MR. GREGORY: You say the right woman. You know, supporters of yours I’ve talked to over time say, “You know what, we’re so disappointed, because if she couldn’t do it, who can?” I mean, all the establishment support, all the money, married to a former president, all of these things that you had established, and yet you couldn’t do it. It’s very daunting to a lot of people.
SEC’Y CLINTON: Well, look, I’m not going to pretend that running for president as a woman is not daunting. It is daunting. And it is, you know, probably a path that doesn’t appeal to a lot of women even in elective office, because it is so difficult. But I am convinced–and I don’t know if she’s in elective office right now or if she’s preparing to run for office–but there is a woman who I am hoping will be able to achieve that…
In response to a question about Clinton running for President in the future:
SEC’Y CLINTON: But the answer is no. I don’t know how many more…
MR. GREGORY: Right. But you didn’t, but you didn’t say never.
SEC’Y CLINTON: Well, you know, I say no, never, you know, not at all. I don’t know what, what else to say.
MR. GREGORY: Are you saying you wouldn’t entertain another run?
SEC’Y CLINTON: I have absolutely no belief in my mind that that is going to happen, that I have any interest in it happening.
In response to a reminder that her sixth-grade ambition had been to be a nuclear physicist:
SEC’Y CLINTON: I have to say, you know, I was looking at that. I don’t–I think I wrote that in sixth grade. I think it’s just a lesson to everybody, you don’t know where life may lead you and what your opportunities could be. I did believe, and my mother and father impressed on me the need to get a good education, and I think my family’s support and values and the education that I received set me up to be able to take advantage of a lot of these extraordinary opportunities I’ve been given. I mean, I’m sitting here as a very lucky person, someone who’s had a chance to serve the country that I’ve loved my entire life, that I believe is an exemplar of what is best in human affairs, that I care deeply about our future. So how lucky can you be? I got to serve in the White House when my husband was president, working on issues I care about. I got to represent the greatest state in the country for eight years. And now I get to work with a new president who is so determined to make a better future. I have no complaints at all.
Well this is something we as a nation did. Mr. Gregory chooses to focus on the appearance of competition in elections when he says “Yet you couldn’t do it.” No she could do it. We couldn’t.
i love the video, her hair looks in the town hall.
oops, that should read: her hair looks awesome in the town hall.
Obviously we don’t lack women — there are tens of thousands of us, at least — who COULD be president, but the odds become incredibly long given the media’s and the parties’ sexist double standard, and their disgraceful “chosen”-candidate bias.
I’m disappointed Hillary didn’t allude to those things in some way. By not mentioning it, she is suggesting that the disgusting treatment accorded her and Sarah Palin in 2008 was somehow equivalent to the highly preferential, highly deferential, velvet-glove treatment accorded the male candidates.
Actually, she did do it. Unfortunately, the attention span of the average American is 7 seconds, otherwise, people would remember that Hillary won the popular vote during the primary and that it was the Rules and By-laws Committee who, probably with the instructions of the DNC leadership, to break their own rules and go behind closed doors and devy up the delegates from Michigan and Florida and then take 4 of Hillary’s delegates and “give” them to obama.
Then in Denver (and I was there because I knew there would be some major DNC BS going on to ensure Hillary didn’t get a fair role call) and I met and spoke with several of the superdelages who came there to vote for Hillary who told me that the night before the Convention, they were told by the DNC leadership that they were not to demand a roll call (which every candidate has gotten for the last 100+ years) and that they were not to vote for Hillary! Hell, a friend of mine who was in Iowa for the first caucus witnessed bus loads of people from Illinois being brought to Iowa to vote for obama. He was an obama supporter, until he witnessed that kind of in your face politics, particularly, when the media remained totally silent about the numerous cheating and criminal behavior by the obama supporters during the caucus process.
We can continue to kick the truth under the rug and avoid what really went down during the 2008 democratic primary, or we can recognize that unless we are willing to keep the truth front and center and not accept this kind of political gamemanship, no woman will ever have a snoball’s chance in hell of ever winning the presidency. As it stands now, far too many actually think obama won the nomination fair and square.
By all accounts, and in a fair and honest election, Hillary was indeed able to win the majority vote of the people and therefore, should be our president. What I can’t understand is that, If we weren’t willing to accept and get over the way GW Bush “won” the election over Al Gore by “winning” more delegates, while also losing the popular vote, then why the hell are we willing to sit silently and let our own party get away with the same dirty politics?
I know that Hillary cannot announce any presidential aspirations at this time. Still, I was hoping we’d get some kind of wink-wink-nudge-nudge from her to indicate that a future run is possible. But sadly, I think she meant it when she said no, never. I did not see or hear anything in there to indicate otherwise.
When I see Hillary, I am still filled with rage about the 2008 election, and what was done by Obama, the media and the DNC. I feel so apathetic about politics. When you see Hillary, I still see what should have been. I still cannot move past the anger I feel. I know Hillary has seemingly moved on. But I haven’t. And I’m not sure I ever will. I have been involved in politics for 41 years. I always told people not to give up. Now I forever changed by the experience.
Kathleen, thank you for that reminder of what happened with the Rules and By-laws Committee and, later, the shennanigans in Denver. I’m with Jeri- just reading what Kathleen wrote, I am feeling that rage over again. And as we, and many others, feel this strongly, I cannot help but wonder what Hillary would like to say, but holds back and why. Because she is Secretary of State and doesn’t want a comment to interfere with what she plans to accomplish in her position?
What a great POTUS she would make.
As a HRC supporter, I have moved on.
HRC seems to have landed nicely and may accomplish some historic feats as SOC
I am now wondering what 2-3 female Democrats could run for President in 2016 – Kathleen Sebelius if healthcare reform is a success and what 2-3 female Republicans could run for President in 2012 – Sarah Palin if she can unit a factured GOP behind her
I am looking forward not backwards.
LVL, are you looking forward or are you hiding the History, the Women’s History and the truth? Seriously I don’t get it clear
LVL,
That is something TNA is planning to set up as our org grows. Our “Grass Tops” efforts which is identifying and cultivating women to run for POTUS.
One name that comes to mind for me is Sen Kirsten Gillibrand. TNA knows her and we have had her back. There is also a Congresswoman Speier from CA who I hear good things about. We have also written about a Republican Congresswoman from SC that we have written about on this blog. We’re watching!!!
Anian,
I believe you are supposed to learn from history (not make the same mistake and grow) not consistently and constantly re-live history. If you keep re-living history, you are locked in the past and bitter for what might have been. HRC should have been the nominee but I, you and no one can change the past but there are so many women in different levels of Obama’s Administration, and in the US Congress and in politics in both parties that could be the next HRC.
I believe these women exist and I think HRC would want me to believe that women can find other women who can become President. I believe HRC would not want me to continually grieve of her loss – she doesn’t appear to be – but move on – as she appears to be.
Amy,
Your “Grass Tops” idea is a great one. It is an example of taking a tragedy and re-focusing that energy into something positive, something that HRC would appreciate, admire and probably support.
I simply do not think HRC wants women to keep re-living her loss – learn from it and be inspired by it, yes – continue to grieve it no.
I’m certain there are a number of women who are more than qualified to run for and be our president. What you cannot take out of the equasion is that the party leaders are predominantly male and I predict, will do the same thing again to that “other woman” Hillary was talking about that they did to her and are now doing to Palin.
We have got to get realistic about what women are facing here. Hillary won, obama cheated, with the help of the DNC leadership and the MSM (run by men). Women must fight this battle keeping in mind that when you are competing in a game that’s rigged from the get-go, you have to prepare ahead of time and make adjustments that will overcome those obstacles.
I believe Sarah Palin is brilliant by not telling anyone what her plans are. It seems the element of surprise is the best tool women have right now in order to take on the patriarchial control of our country. Believe me, if she were not a threat, they would not be continuing their attacks on her and Palin is doing what any great general would do — she’s taking a different tak and going down a path less travelled by women in politics.
Just like the AA community, women have to stay focused, stay in the game, and most importantly, stay united and stop believing that the boyz are just going to give us power that’s been there’s for the taking since the beginning of time.
I will never forget what they did to Hillary and Sarah. It’s what keeps me going. Like Hillary said at the Convention, “just keep on going…” I say, rise Hillary and Sarah, rise…
LVL,
It isn’t re-live the history, it’s to know the history what happened in 2008 election. It isn’t to be a bitter people, the “loss” of Hillary or to be locked in the past it’s to know that Barack Obama won the presidency using misogyny and that that was possible and happened. it’s simply to know.
If Hillary’s really satisfied with SOS, good for her! I’m just glad she has the self-discipline not to give the least inkling of her plans vis-a-vis another presidential run, or any other ambition not yet launched. She’d be a fool to reveal any sort of wink-nudge suggestion now. And that’s exactly what David Gregory was trying to bait her into doing.
Thanks, Kathleen, for the reminder of what actually went down. Papering over ugly truths without ever acknowledging them just condones their recurrence. Remembrance has worked for other oppressed groups. Why should women forget the suppression that happened — happens — under our noses? Within the Democratic Party, just like any other patriarchy, even having the discussion can get you blackballed and censored. And realistically, discussion will be hampered while Obama is in office. But in the fullness of time, the dirty history of the 2008 Democratic Primary will be told. Maybe then we can move forward.
*****A
Anian,
Only you can judge your own state of mind. I respect your position.
If “knowing” causes you to pre-judge Obama, or the women within his administration, or makes you expell energy better spent elsewhere, you are re-living the past.
If “knowing” means analyzing what happened so that it does not happen again in the future that is progression forward.
Analyzing is good, but it will continue to happen until so many people are educated about what happened and outraged by it that they won’t allow it to happen again. Remembering and telling is the first step. Its painful to continue to relive it, but that is how it gets seared into our memories and passed on to others. I wonder if that women in india, was awere of what happened. Her comment sounded like she knew. “Denied the privilage” sounds like something was taken away unjustly.
I can’t move on. Its not about Clinton, its about how the democratic party deliberately stole the nomination away from the first viable woman candidate. Its about how the democratic party disenfranchised the fourth and eighth largest states in order to rig the primaries against the first viable woman candidate. Its about the democratic party disproportionately disenfranchizing their largest voting block (women) in order to deny the nomination to the first viable woman candidate. It’s about the realization that the democrats are just as sexist as the republicans. Its the knowledge that we women are not represented and our votes belong to the patriarchy, not to ourselves. Its the gross insult of their denial of the historical significance of her campaign and the continuing denial of how much it all matters to women’s progress.
NO, I WILL NEVER GET OVER IT!!! BECAUSE IF I DO, IT MEANS THAT I HAVE SUBMITTED TO IT. AND THAT I CANNOT DO!!!!
[...] Secretary Clinton’s assertion on Meet the Press that “there is a woman” out there who will one day become president, Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post column [...]
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