Hillary Clinton Reacts Negatively to Student Question

Hillary Clinton is a beacon of hope for women hoping for more representation in the nation's highest offices. An intelligent and well-achieved individual, Clinton has struggled to attain the respect easily given to men in her position. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, is well known and well received worldwide. It seems that in spite of her high-ranking position, her legitimacy comes into question as she is made to hang in her husband's shadow.

I am Secretary of State

Vice President Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton have been very active overseas. Recently, Bill Clinton visited North Korea, which resulted in the successful negotiation for the release of a couple of journalists. The success of former President Clinton's North Korea trip has overshadowed much of the Secretary of State's efforts overseas.

While, in Africa, a university student in Congo inquired about Bill Clinton's "thoughts about an international financial matter." Hillary Clinton responded that her husband, Bill Clinton "is not secretary of state, I am". Even in her esteemed position, Hillary Clinton is unable to break away from her husband's shadow. It seemed, however, that Clinton wanted to be clear about her ability to serve her position and to think independently from her husband.

A Big Misunderstanding?

It appears that Hillary Clinton's negative response to the Congolese university student requires an explanation. The State Department is under pressure to explain the Secretary of Defense's "face off" with the student who is thought to have asked what she believed her husband, former President, Bill Clinton thought of "an international financial matter".

More information about the student's line of questioning is coming to the surface, however. Information about the student's intended question is becoming known. It seems that the student intended to ask what Hillary Clinton thought President Barack Obama's (not Bill Clinton's) position on the international financial matter was. Was the misunderstanding the result of the student's slip of the tongue or the result of the translator's error? P.J. Crowley, the State Department Spokesperson explained that it was the way "the question was posed" to Hillary Clinton, which elicited her harsh response. The State Department spokesperson explained that, as the question was asked, the Secretary of State perceived that her thoughts on the international financial matter were of no consequence and that the her husband's point of view was somehow superior to her own. At this time, Clinton has refrained from explaining her "face off" with the Congolese university student.

Does Hillary Clinton's struggle for legitimacy validate her reaction to the student's line of question-misunderstanding or not? How might Clinton's reaction affect the world's perception of her? Without doubt, Hillary Clinton, as an intelligent and powerful woman, has been forced to demonstrate her legitimacy both domestically and abroad. Even in the face of those struggles, it is an even temper and a resilient ego, which will allow her to prove that she is capable, knowledgeable, and worthy of respect.

Sources:

Lee, Matthew. Hillary Clinton: I'm secretary of state, not Bill. Associated Press Monday
Aug 10, 2009. Retrieved Aug. 11, 2009 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090810/ ap_on_go_ ca_st_pe/af_ clinton_i_m_secretary.

Associated Press. US official gropes to explain Clinton's outburst. Aug 11, 2009.
Retrieved Aug 11, 2009. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090812/ ap_ on _go_ca_st_pe/us_clinton_i_m_secretary