Hillary’s Stand Up in Iowa
29 January 2007 10:57 am by Taylor Marsh
Hillary\’s Stand Up in Iowa –updated below–
It\’s what some women have been waiting to hear for over eight years.
Hillary Rodham Clinton left caucus-goers here yesterday believing that Bubba
had given her a baptism by fire in how to deal with \”evil and bad men.\”Clinton\’s quip, made during a morning rally with about 500 Iowans, drew 31
seconds of straight laughter and applause that left little doubt among attendees
that she\’d made a joke at hubby Bill Clinton\’s expense.The one-liner came in response to a question shouted at the former first
lady from the audience asking whether she had the mettle and experience to
deal with evil and rotten men – like terrorist Osama bin Laden and the tyrants
of North Korea and Iran.Clinton grabbed the mike and told the audience that the questioner wanted
to know \”what in my background equips me to deal with evil and bad men.\”
She then smiled, raised her eyebrows and nodded knowingly at the questioner.
…
\”What in my background equips me to deal with evil and bad
men\”?
I\’m sure this went over very well with Republicans, especially since it plays
right into their talking points, but what it does for Hillary I have no idea. Makes her look independent? Casts her free of Bill\’s spell?
Once again, without even showing up Bill was center stage, but this time the
joke was on him. Hillary demurred, playing coy, saying she was only trying to take advice
and loosen up, but now she was being psychoanalyzed. Perish the thought. But it was a leap the audience
made in a stand up routine that encouraged the journey. Hey, why not? She\’s waited a long
time for the shot.
However, one has to wonder if this will be the new line on Lewinsky, and if it is what good it\’s going to do her. Bubba being one of the \”bad men\” Hillary can handle. Forget the psychoanalyzing, let\’s just look at the reality, because after all Hillary brought it up. Let\’s face facts. In the end, Hillary was the last one to know.
But laughing about Bill being one of the \”bad men\” Hillary can handle? I wonder.
UPDATE (5:35 p.m.): I got to Ezra\’s post late, but I have to strongly disagree with his assessment. Look at HRC\’s reaction in the YouTube below. The audience laughs almost immediately, as HRC joins in. The girls got the joke. Besides, Clinton doesn\’t need anyone standing up for her in these instances. In fact, she may be having a moment with the girls. What woman hasn\’t been wronged by a man, sometimes more than once without leaving? I find it interesting that people completely dismiss the notion that HRC was talking about Bill. Just think if she manages to disarm the women she meets; what a boon to her campaign it will be. In fact, it\’s not a bad strategy if you think about it and also deals with a topic that many women still wonder about but would never ask her directly. The joke works for Hillary, especially if it was meant for Bill, so I simply don\’t take it as \”set your phasers to Clinton.\” A little protective aren\’t we? Save it for when it really matters. Not for some silly joke.
UPDATE (3:30 p.m.): Here\’s the YouTube and TMV has more.
