Video: Hillary Clinton Blasts Student For Asking What Bill Thinks

You wouldn't know it from the Daily News home page, which emphasizes such breaking news as "Scantily-clad Stars Hit the Sand" and "Kate Hudson's Set A-Rod on Fire," but today's top story, splashed across the cover of the print edition, is "Hillary Clinton Rages at Student: I'm the Boss, Not Bill." The incident happened in Congo yesterday when a university student asked what her husband thought about a multibillion-dollar Chinese loan offer to Congo. Watch the Secretary of State lash out as the audience groans like they're at a taping of Maury:

According to the News's lede, "She wore a lavender pantsuit and purple rage" and snapped, "My husband is not secretary of state, I am. I am not going to be channeling my husband." State Department officials say the student approached Clinton afterward and and explained that he'd tried to ask what Obama, not Bill Clinton, thought about the Chinese loan. The student speaks French, so it's possible that the translator erred in posing the question as, "What does Mr. Clinton think through the mouth of Mrs. Clinton?"

The Post gets some juicy quotes from "insiders." One opines, "Today's event should erase any doubt that Bill Clinton's shadow looms large behind her. Her sensitivity about the question seems to indicate a sense of jealousness." Another anonymous source says, "Sounds to me like these are issues better left worked out in therapy than through reporters." And a third observer decides, "It's either jet lag or jealousy. Either way, she needs some more rest."

Secretary Clinton has been peppered with questions about her husband since arriving in Kenya for her seven-nation, 11-day trek across Africa; her arrival coincided with the former president's high-profile mission to North Korea. And her aides have acknowledged that she's been frustrated since fracturing her elbow in a fall, requiring surgery. The injury sidelined her for weeks and meant she couldn't go to Russia with Obama. And now that she's finally back on her feet, everyone's all Bubba this and Big Dog that. Ugh, none of this would have happened if Obama hadn't cut the line and stolen the presidency from her!

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By John Del Signore in News on August 11, 2009 9:54 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Jealousy. Bill's all styling with his two new chinese girlfriends fresh off the plane from Seoul while she's stuck in the Congo listening to fractured patois in 90 degree heat. And she had a bad hair day. And she looked like shit.

John Knee

This is what they must have meant by "Smart Diplomacy" huh? Pass the reset button.

Seriously, I think this has all been taken out of context and I admire her for standing up for women, finaly. Congo men do not respect women one iota, which is the real reason the question asker was asking what her husband would think. Lost in translation, yeah right.

ides_of_march

Gee whiz, I thought a diplomat's job was to be able to take things like that in their stride and not have a meltdown.

Not very diplomatic considering she Sec'y of State.

Anyway, she only got where she is riding on Bill's coat-tails.

rbeshenk

She said exactly what she should have said. Extremely appropriate reaction. I kind of like her now. That was a long time coming. And, to say it in Congo is even more appropriate. Right on, Hillary.

Stacy Horn

Good for her.

dustyrebel

I guess I'm alone on this, but I thought that was awesome and a real show of authority. Had been that authentic during the primary, she'd have won. And this is coming from someone (me) who worked real hard to defeat her.

longacre

Reaming out a poor African student whose translator screwed up is a real appropriate way of asserting authority. Putin and Ahmadenijad must be shaking.

felixthecat2

Wow, she is a spitfire. Poor Bill :(

Clarice City

Ha! It's okay Hill...channel that rage into a bottle of beer and a little nappy time and all will be right again.

thelexiphane

"News's" as in belonging to the Daily News.

"lede" is the industry standard term for the opening (attention-grabbing) sentence or paragraph of a news article.

Mr Mel

Oh.

Rocknrope

You done learneded something todays.

Mr Mel

"According to the News's lede"

Did you mean "news lead"?

John Del Signore

No.

DaleyGrind

She's a real charmer.

thelexiphane

I can only imagine the frustrated rage.

Hillary went from "presumptive Democrat Presidential Nominee" to slumming it in front of a room full of college students in Congo. Second-rate standup comedians with a resume that included a Comedy Central gig would turn down that job. And Hil's the CURRENT Secretary of State--not even a has-been yet.

I suspect her harsh response was the result of the dawning realization that her decision to remain a subservient pawn of the most powerful man in America was, again, a terrible idea.