Hillary Clinton is a political animal. We all know and understand this, and just as President Obama “evolved” on gay marriage… so has Mrs. Clinton. However, if we can all think back to the 2008 election… how many people truly believed that President Obama and Mrs. Clinton were “really” against gay marriage? That may have been their public position but NO ONE really bought it.
We all knew, Republicans and Democrats alike, that given the chance, both Obama and Clinton would back gay marriage. Do you think any gay marriage supporting Democrat would have voted for either of them if they truly believed that they were “anti-gay marriage?” No way.
But Democrat politicians usually get a pass for things like that… so Hillary Clinton was super-surprised when a liberal radio host at NPR asked her the obvious question.
“Are you a really big hypocrite and liar… or is it just coincidence that you came around to the gay marriage side when it was politically expedient?”
Needless to say, Hillary was not happy with the question… or the persistence of the interviewer, NPR’s Terry Gross.
Partial Transcript:
NPR’s Terry Gross: “So what’s it like when you’re in office and you have to do all these political calculations to not be able to support something like gay marriage, that you actually believe in. Obviously you feel very committed to human rights and you obviously put gay rights as part of human rights but in doing the calculus you decided you couldn’t support it. Correct me if I’m reading it wrong.”
Hillary Clinton: “I think you’re reading it very wrong. I think that, as I said – just as the President has said – just because you’re a politician doesn’t mean you’re not a thinking human being. You gather information, you think through positions, you’re not one hundred percent set, thank goodness, you’re constantly re-evaluating where you stand. That is true for me. We talked earlier about Iraq, for goodness sakes. So for me, marriage has always been a matter left to the states and in many of the conversations I and my colleagues and supporters had, I fully endorse the efforts by activists to work state-by-state. In fact, that is what is working and I think that being in the position that I was in the Senate, fighting employment discrimination which we still have some ways to go, was appropriate at that time. As Secretary of State, I was out of domestic politics and I was certainly doing all I could on the international scene to raise the importance of the human rights of the LGBT community. And then leaving that position, I was able to very quickly announce that I was fully in support of gay marriage and that it is now continuing to proceed state-by-state. I am very hopeful that we will make progress and see even more change and acceptance. One of my big problems right now is that too many people believe they have a direct line to the divine and they never want to change their mind about anything. They’re never open about new information and they like to operate in an evidence-free zone. I think it’s good if people continue to change.”
Gross: “So you mention that you believe in state by state for gay marriage. But it’s a Supreme Court too. The Supreme Court struck down part of DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevented the federal government from recognizing gay marriage. That part is now struck down. And DOMA was actually signed by your husband when he was president. In spite of the fact that he signed it, were you glad at this point that the Supreme Court struck some of it down?”
Clinton: “Of course. And you know, again, lets…we are living at a time when this extraordinary change is occurring and I’m proud of our country, I’m proud of the people who have been on the front lines of advocacy, but in 1993, that was not the case. And there was a very concerted effort in the Congress to make it even more difficult and greater discrimination and what DOMA did is at least allow the States to act. It wasn’t going to yet be recognized by the federal government but at the state level there was the opportunity. And my husband was the first to say, that you know, the political circumstances, the threats that were trying to be alleviated by the passage of DOMA, thankfully, were no longer so preeminent and we could keep moving forward and that’s what we’re doing.”
Gross: “So, just to clarify, just one more question on this, would you say your view evolved since the 90s or that the American public evolved allowing you to state your real view.”
Clinton: “I think I’m an American, I think that we have all evolved, and it’s been one of the fastest, most sweeping transformations that I’m aware of.”
…
Gross: “I’m pretty sure you didn’t answer my question about whether you evolved or was the America public the change –”
Clinton: “Because I said I’m an American so of course we all evolved and I think that’s a fair conclusion…”
…
Gross: “So that’s one for you changed your mind?”
Clinton: You know I really, I have to say, I think you being very persistent, but you are playing with my words and playing with what is such an important issue.”
Gross: “I’m just trying to clarify so I can understand -”
Clinton: “No, I don’t think you are trying to clarify. I think you are trying to say that I used to be opposed and now I am in favor and I did it for political reasons. And that’s just flat wrong. So let me just state what I feel like I think you are implying and repudiate it. I have a strong record. I have a great commitment to this issue and I am proud of what I’ve done and the progress were making.”
Gross: “You know I’m just saying, I’m sorry – I just want to clarify what I was saying – no, I was saying that you maybe really believed this all along, but, you know believed in gay marriage all along, but felt for political reasons America wasn’t ready yet and you couldn’t say it. That’s what I was thinking.”
Clinton: “No. That is not true.”
…
Folks, this is Hillary Clinton (and Barack Obama) for that matter. They blow with the wind. They are hypocrites of the highest order, turning lying, cheating and manipulating into an art form. And Democrats love them for it…