Hillary’s Trademark Laugh
[Guest post by DRJ]
Today in Pittsburgh, Hillary Clinton laughed off questions about Colombia, free trade, and husband Bill’s finances:
“Hillary Clinton used her trademark laugh Thursday to deflect a question about the $800,000 her husband earned in 2005 giving speeches for a Bogota-based group that supports the Colombia free trade agreement — the same trade deal she currently opposes.
Asked by CNN if those earnings represented a conflict of interest given that she has dipped into her family’s pocketbook to pay campaign bills, Clinton threw up her hands and laughed loudly for several seconds.
“How many angels dance on the head of the pin?,” she responded, continuing to giggle. “I have really, uh, nothing to … I mean, how do you answer that?”
She went on to explain that she is and was against the Colombia free trade deal.
It would be interesting to play poker with Hillary. She has a tell.
— DRJ
I note that she was unable to complete the thought “I have really nothing to hide.” Perhaps she recalled something she does need to hide?
Kevin Murphy (805c5b) — 4/11/2008 @ 2:47 pmThat’s a kind way to put it.
Cicero (8db983) — 4/11/2008 @ 3:06 pmWhat would she be hiding? I understand the conflict equation if (i) her husband takes speaking fees from supporters of the agreement, and (ii) she then supports the agreement.
But she opposes the free trade agreement. I suppose you could make the case that groups who paid Bubba to speak are saps if they thought it would buy her vote. But what’s her conflict/sin/something to hide given the facts at hand?
Mark (29339e) — 4/11/2008 @ 3:30 pmMark, the worst kind of conflict of interest – a politician that does not stay bought.
SPQR (26be8b) — 4/11/2008 @ 3:59 pmBut what’s her conflict/sin/something to hide given the facts at hand?
She lent herself money from the joint pile built up in part by Bill’s speaking fees.
A stretch, imo, but I confess to enjoying “gotcha” journalism the same way I enjoy Bruce Lee movies, comic books, and ’80s metal. It is pure fun.
Timesdisliker (502d23) — 4/11/2008 @ 4:50 pmMark,
It reminds me of Obama’s problem with Canada and Austan Goolsbee because one side of the mouth is saying X while the other says Y.
Specifically, I think it’s an appearance of impropriety to take money in support of free trade while claiming you don’t support free trade. I understand Bill and Hillary are separate people but their money is apparently jointly held so what’s his is hers and vice versa.
In addition, Hillary may claim she is against free trade with Colombia but when husband Bill takes money from Colombia, he may be telling them Hillary really doesn’t mean what she says (like Obama-Goolsbee-Canada). In other words, it’s a conflict to the extent it gives us a reason to doubt her veracity, a doubt we might not otherwise have had.
DRJ (a431ca) — 4/11/2008 @ 5:56 pmI agree with what you say in comment 6, DRJ, but I think the question as asked deserved to be laughed at. The use to which the money was put is irrelevant, whether or not it was used to help finance her campaign, and to ask about demonstrates a deep confusion on the matter.
kishnevi (db1823) — 4/11/2008 @ 6:35 pmI won’t disagree with that, but the public Hillary has developed the bad habit of laughing at uncomfortable topics in a way that shows she is uncomfortable. I’m sure she means it to be dismissive and, as you say, it may deserve to be laughed at – but it comes across badly.
DRJ (a431ca) — 4/11/2008 @ 6:40 pmIn number 6, DRJ, I was with you up to “a doubt we might not otherwise have had…”
😉
SPQR (26be8b) — 4/11/2008 @ 7:24 pmoff topic for this post–but I can’t find the original post you did quick enough:
http://www.france24.com/en/20080411-french-crew-released-pirates-somalia-hostages&navi=FRANCE
note that there is no actual statement about the current status of the ship itself
kishnevi (202292) — 4/11/2008 @ 8:45 pm“I mean, how do you answer that?”
Honestly. But we all know that never even occurred to you.
Federal Dog (1404a2) — 4/12/2008 @ 5:00 amDose she sound like the wicked witch of the west? i mean I,LL GET YOU MY PRETTY AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TO
krazy kagu (d982eb) — 4/13/2008 @ 9:14 am