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EXCLUSIVE: Camille Paglia: Hillary Clinton Has "Egg on Her Face" After 60 Minutes
Monday March 3, 2008
Hillary Rodham Clinton appears at the home of former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez for a luncheon September 10, 2007 in Hialeah, Florida.
Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
Monday March 3, 2008
Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
It's been a while since noted feminist author Camille Paglia opined on the presidential race, but Hillary Clinton's remarks on last night's 60 Minutes provoked her to comment.
Here, in the first excerpt of Usmagazine.com's exclusive interview with Paglia, she says Clinton is "just too damn clever for her own good."
When Clinton was asked if she believes the lies that Barack Obama is a Muslim (the Drudge Report has accused her of circulating the lie), she responded, "Of course not. I mean that there is no basis for that. I take him on the basis of what he says, and there isn't any reason to doubt that." When pressed, she added, "No! No! Why would I? There's nothing to base that on. As far as I know."
Us: Were you offended by Clinton's answer to whether Obama is a Muslim?
Paglia: The Clintons are lawyers and they’ve been pushing language ever since Bill said 'depends on what the meaning of is' is. And that’s the problem with Hillary. That she’s just too damn clever for her own good. Isn’t she? I mean [devolve] the little qualifications that she thinks are subtle tactics in this campaign for the nomination and she just – she gets egg on her face.
Because it’s so ham-handed, everyone notices it. A clever tactic is one that no one notices. But one that blows up in your face, it’s so obvious the agenda that you’re pushing. That’s the problem.
That’s my problem as a Democrat with the Clintons and the people around Hillary, which include Harold Ickes and Howard Wolfson – all of these people are so self-infatuated with their own clever superiority, that in fact they're quite transparent.
I mean I don’t regard them as particularly sophisticated tacticians or politicians in the way you find in England, where the [politicians] are fabulous at going – you can see them on C-SPAN's broadcast of the House of Commons – and there’s a tradition in England of really heavy hitting but done with this rhetorical glee and whit. That is sort of their culture.
Over here, it’s one embarrassment after another. I think that Obama has been far more skillful in being able to carry Clinton’s clumsy attack on him. And Obama has – it’s almost like Zen. He lets it roll off of him and he replies, he always tries to outclass the Clintons and they’re not noticing. They’re not noticing! And he just lets it roll off of him. He’s been taking the more presidential path.
I’ve noticed some people on the web accusing him of being condescending. I don’t see that at all. I just see him as someone of Jujitsu – or it’s like all those Asian martial arts, like aikido – where you [let] the weight of the opponent slide right past you and throw the heavy heap on the ground. And that’s kind of like what he’s been doing, and he’s succeeding extremely well, where it seems like he is doing nothing.
But [to] the people who [are] either from the outside or the Republicans, 'Oh he does nothing, he says nothing' – wrong. But I think that Obama’s skills are on a completely different level. He’s a lawyer himself. I think he’s more conscious of the emotional connotations, emotional aura of language.
Hillary gets restrained – this kind of acoustic kind of like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford side of her. But she doesn’t own it. She doesn’t own it, so it’s not funny. She still wants to be this smiling, this Gloria Steinem brand. This pasted on smile brand of blonde feminism. She wants to be that when in fact, she’s really a b-tch behind the scenes and she won’t cop to that part of her personality. So we don’t get that rampaging, humor writing that we get from someone who acknowledges the Joan Crawford within.
Us: But with Hillary, she went through her worst outfits ever – you know how we do the Fashion Police? – she did it on herself, and I wanted to ask you what you thought about that? Do you think it was a good idea, did it soften her image a little?
Paglia: I don’t quite approve of all. I know this is a tactic her campaign has taken right from the start, which is like the video things, where she says I am in it to win it – come on, let’s chat... They do the Sopranos parody video and then they have her on Christmas putting Christmas gifts under the tree with all the names on it, health care and all these other things, and then they used Saturday Night Live as a gag line [in] the last debate, and then she leaves campaigning to fly back to New York for Saturday Night Live and all that.
I don’t approve of any of it.
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Posted by Henry Seltzer at 5:59 pm ET
Categories:
71 Comments
12:33 PM
Drake NYC Says:
10:10 PM
Laura Says:
Poor Camille obviously doesn't know "jack" about Zen. Obama let's it roll off of him because he's weak and Mr. warm fuzzy and doesn't want to offend anyone so he says NOTHING! He's about as far away from Zen as the Pope. I don't understand it when people say Obama's so great because he can inspire. I don't need to be inspired! I need someone to "Work" for me. And that person is Clinton.
7:35 AM
Anonymous Says:
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=froeVQc2y-Y
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_E4N5YIycI
4:48 PM
Anonymous Says:
Part II Hillary is smart and competent and under her presidency the US can count on more of the same. She IS a known commodity.
We'll have the same arguing, the same partisan crap, the same pushing of agenda's that the GOVERNMENT things is best for the people. Obama may not have all the experience of Mccain or Hillary, but he too is a very smart person. And, his vision is greater than Hillary's. His voice is greater, his thoughts are greater, his ideals are greater, and he does inspire. That is what we need in the US at this point in history. We need to be inspired and we need to feel that someone is listening to the people and just talking at them like Hillary does. Her point is that she KNOWS what's good for us. Obama's point is that he wants us to know that WE know what's good for us, and he'll TRY to make that happen. It doesn't mean he'll succeed, it doesn't mean Hillary will succeed.
But, it matters what it is that we as US citizens are trying to succeed at. Hillary is striving for success in politics as usual. Obama is striving for politics that way it SHOULD be.
I'll pick change and a candidate who at least inspires people to want to change. Hillary is NOT what he US needs right now.
4:46 PM
Anonymous Says:
You "feel" Barack is a muslim? What kind of sense does that make?
Hint: It doesn't. Your "feelings" don't make fact.
Bill Clinton was president NOT Hillary, regardless of those of you who feel she was actually leading the white house. What she was leading was a lie. She stayed with Bill through all his affairs, and don't think for one minute that the intelligent woman that she is, didn't know this.
She knew, and she used it to her advantage to get to where she is today.
Yes, she is smart, very smart. But, it takes MORE than just smarts to lead people. Many of us know smart people and many of us know leaders, and the two are not found together.
Hillary does have a bit more experience at being in government, but she doesn't have any more experience at winning in government, or in getting things done. She has had PLENTY of failures, and let's not forget that she did in fact vote to go to war and to keep funding it.
Part I.
2:03 PM
Anonymous Says:
I think this woman, Paglia, needs to shut up about Hillary. She obviously is a follower of Obama's cult. Hillary is a brilliant woman who is more fit to run this country than any of the stupid men in the running.
2:24 AM
Anonymous Says:
To anonymous 1:12 HEAR HEAR!!!!!!!
I remember the Clinton years, and they were good years.
Clinton or McCain has the experience to run this country.
What is the world is Obama going to bring to the White house? A feel good speech? I have yet to hear about all this change he is going to make happen.
Obama is a good speaker, he needs to go back to the senate and get a few more years under his belt and then maybe and that is a really big maybe he will make a good potential presidental canadidate.
P.S. PAGLIA IS AN EXTREMIST. I CERTAINLY WOULD NEVER LET HER OPINIONS AFFECT MY VOTE OR MY FEELINGS ABOUT HILLARY.
6:33 PM
Anonymous Says:
1:22 PM, get you hippie a** in the 21st Century. Slick Willie was offered Bin Laden but REFUSED in favor of Monica Lewinski, Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones' services. He didn't do sh*t when the building in Oklahoma blew up. He attacked Kosovo FOR NO REASON but to get America back on his good side after he cheated on his wife! Then again, Hitlery had many lesbian affairs too. The woman is a confirmed bisexual. Her home state of Illinois turned its back on her after she left there for Peaknuckle Arkansas. These socialist liberals like the Cl*ttons are *sswipes. Slick Willie did diddleysquat when the WTC got bombed in 1993. He is the *ssh*le responsible for the stupid ratings systems on TV and guaranf*ck*ngtee you his carpetmunching wife gets in, the US will become a communist country. If that happens, I am moving to Canada and Mexico. The 1960s are over. Eric Cartman for President!
2:48 PM
Anonymous Says:
why would I care what PAGLIA thinks about hillary? seriously, what does it matter what other folks think about someone. in the end, we have to come to our own conclusions about the candidates. the problem is, so many people want others to think for them. i guess they like being controlled in subtle ways.
1:22 PM
Anonymous Says:
Hey Robin1 and 12:44 p.m.
The terrorists hit the towers during Reagan and Bush, Sr presidency too....
What has "W" done so great to stop terrorism? Has he found Osama Bin Laden? No. But he was able to find that Oil barren Sadam Hussein in a rat hole in the middle of the desert. Hmmmm.
1:12 PM
Anonymous Says:
I remember the Clinton years too. The scandals, the lies, the underhanded politics. Clinton just happened to get lucky and have his presidency during the internet boom, the good economy had nothing to do with him. The Clintons are slimy, you only have to look at them to see it. If Hillary wine the nomination, I'm voting for Mccain.
GO OBAMA!!!!!
12:56 PM
Anonymous Says:
I remember the Clinton years, and they were good years.
Clinton or McCain has the experience to run this country.
What is the world is Obama going to bring to the White house? A feel good speech? I have yet to hear about all this change he is going to make happen.
Obama is a good speaker, he needs to go back to the senate and get a few more years under his belt and then maybe and that is a really big maybe he will make a good potential presidental canadidate.
12:44 PM
THE CLINTONS ARE A FREAKIN JOKE Says:
Its obvious Bill Clinton was not doing his job during his presidency. He was busy screwin around in the white house. WAKE UP, THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS WERE PLANNED UNDER THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THESE TERRORISTS PLANNED ALL OF THIS IN THE US. WHERE WAS INTELLIGIENCE THEN? IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT BUSH WAS LEFT TO MAKE HUGE DECISIONS AND CLEAN UP THIS HUGE MESS UPON ENTERING OFFICE! SO SAD AND ALL THIS WILL BE HANDED OFF TO THE NEW PRESIDENT! CLINTON DOESN'T DESERVE IT, THEY ALREADY SCREWED IT ALL UP! QUIT BEING SO IGNORANT!
11:42 AM
Anonymous Says:
Those of you who call Hillary names like "stupid woman" or anything else are the stupid ones. Hillary may or may not be the best candidate, but it's disgusting to see that people are still referring to her as "woman" and hating her for THAT instead of pointing out some of the things about her personality or campaign that you don't like. If you don't like her, fine. But stop hating on her just because she's a "woman".
11:41 AM
Donna P. Says:
Explain to me what is so offensive about her answer? All she said was that she is going by what Obama is saying about himself. Clinton said "Of course not. I mean that there is no basis for that. I take him on the basis of what he says, and there isn't any reason to doubt that." When pressed, she added, "No! No! Why would I? There's nothing to base that on. As far as I know."
11:22 AM
XoutHillary Says:
I think her comment was very offensive. It follows the lines of vote for me I am a woman, or vote for Obama, he is black. Are we all that stupid? What happened to voting for someone because they would be best suited? So what if Obama is a Muslum or Catholic or whatever. Hilary made it sound like if you were a Muslum it would be the worst thing ever. I think the Clintons are the worst kind of politicians, and any gal voting for her because she is female just makes the rest of us girls look bad. Vote for who you think is best!!! This is not a high school popularity contest. The Clintons are criminals who should be nowhere near the White House ever again and Hilary's comments just supports that opinion.
10:47 AM
Anonymous Says:
Forget all of that...my question is where do you register for chinese language speaking lessons because the Chinese just bought all of us Americans white, black and brown for a few measly billions. We really have problems.
10:21 AM
Anonymous Says:
i find it very interesting how people are so quick to criticize the clintons.to be honest, i could care less about how their campaigns were funded or about their personal lives. i just know that when there were clintons in the white house the economy was in a surplus,people had jobs and we had eight years of relative peace.
10:05 AM
Robin1 Says:
Last time the Clinton's were in office, as far as war, was the calm before the storm. Shortly after Bush became president, 9/11 occurred. However, the terror training camps, these terrorists over here in our flight schools, and the actual plot of 9/11 was being masterminded under Clinton's presidency. So our economy was stable during the Clinton years and there was no war, that's all good, but if Clinton would have focused on homeland security instead of sticking cigars where they don't belong, our economy may still be good and our soldiers may not be in Iraq today.
This stupid woman running for president was all fine with being screwed over time and again. No, they do not belong in the White House again!!!!
10:00 AM
Anonymous Says:
No one should listen to the political ramblings of a pop scholar like Camille Paglia. She has a chip on her shoulder and, let's face it, she's using US WEEKLY as a vehicle for her nonsense. Could it be that no serious political publication cared what she had to say? Ignore her. Vote Hillary.
9:15 AM
Anonymous Says:
The Clintons have run the country before successfully. Without war. Prosperous. Why deprive the country of a positive leader. And the first woman president. Who do you think ran the country the last time Bill was in office? It was Hillary! Together they once again have everything running smoothly.
8:54 AM
Steve Says:
RECORDS SET BY THE CLINTONS THE LAST TIME THEY WERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE:
- First first lady to come under criminal investigation
- The only president ever impeached on grounds of personal malfeasance
- Most number of convictions and guilty pleas by friends and associates*
- Most number of cabinet officials to come under criminal investigation
- Most number of witnesses to flee country or refuse to testify
- Most number of witnesses to die suddenly
- First president sued for sexual harassment.
- First president accused of rape.
- Largest criminal plea agreement in an illegal campaign contribution case
- First president to establish a legal defense fund.
- First president to be held in contempt of court
- Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions
- Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions from abroad
- First president disbarred from the US Supreme Court and a state court
THIS IS ALL TRUE, GOOGLE IT IF YOU WANT.
" WITH THEIR RECORD, DO WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE LIKE THE CLINTONS RUNNING THIS COUNTRY AGAIN"!
HELL NO!!
8:51 AM
Jennifer Says:
Hey, Chantal. If you are reading this, Im just letting you know Im @ school right now. I cant access Yahoo Mail but I can access usweekly & talk sports....so shoot me a message here every now & then if you see me.
xo
8:44 AM
Anonymous Says:
I agree we had great years, the mortgage business was great, everyone was making money, and the economy was flowing, not stopping
8:21 AM
Anonymous Says:
I thought Hillary's comment on Obama's religious background was honest and sincere. She could have waffled on it and put the fear into America but she found no basis and said so.
"IT TAKES A CLINTON TO CLEAN UP AFTER A BUSH"
7:27 AM
Terry The Republican Says:
Here's what I notice- Obama inspires hope and trust among Democrats and Republicans. Truly, this man does have the power to bring people together. Lack of experience? As First Wife, which is where the bulk of Hillary's experience comes in- she wasn't competent. She brings distrust and distraction and divisiveness. This country needs a healer, not a wheeler and a dealer.
7:25 AM
Anonymous Says:
Whether or not you LIKE Hillary, the fact is that she would be a wonderful president. Obama is a very slippery type...I think that both he and his wife have a very dark, ominous quality. Can he and his wife REALLY run this country, or when the fun infatuation that the press has with him dies will a very different truth reveal itself?
6:28 AM
jc Says:
that was some great insight. Totally agreed with the too cute remark re: 60 mins. I pray Obama wins OH and TX tonight, because the next logical end point would be PA - 7 WEEKS AWAY! can you imagine how toxic this race will get by then?
2:52 AM
Anonymous Says:
Thank God that Camille Paglia is remains conscious. There are so few left among us.
Vote for Zen Master, Barack Obama in 2008.
1:52 AM
Anonymous Says:
great
