Hillary Shows How It's Done

A couple of days ago, Hillary Clinton testified before a Senate committee about the tragedy in Benghazi (where four Americans were killed by Islamic fundamentalists). The right-wingers on that committee had demanded Clinton appear before them. It was obvious they intended to throw accusations at her and embarrass her (and the Obama administration) while scoring political points. But it didn't quite work out that way. They were basically taken out behind the woodshed and given a good spanking by a lady who was both smarter and better prepared than they were.

I think comedian Stephen Colbert may have put it best. He said, "Hillary got emotional, slapped these guys around, and then walked out with their nuts in her attache case." I'll bet they're all hoping she doesn't become president in four years. I doubt she would be nearly as nice to them as President Obama has tried to be.

Connie Schultz, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, also had an interesting take on the encounter. She considered it a teaching moment, showing young women everywhere how to deal with boorish know-it-alls. She writes:

So many times during Hillary Clinton's testimony this week before Congress, I wanted to place one hand on the shoulder of every teenage girl in America, point at the TV screen with the other hand and whisper:

This. This is how it's done.

Secretary of State Clinton showed up to answer tough and sometimes ridiculous questions regarding the deadly September 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. In the process, she offered a tutorial for today's young women.

Key points:

1) When a man asks you a question and then refuses to look at you as you answer, just keep going. Don't let his rudeness silence you.

2) When he interrupts you, return the favor.

3) When he says things you know are not true, correct him. Repeatedly.

4) When he attempts to bully you, mow him down with facts.

5) And whenever possible, smile. Nothing rattles an angry man like a woman who looks happy to annoy him.

I think she's absolutely right (and I urge you to read the rest of what she wrote). Hillary showed us all how it's done -- how to deal with the right-wing fools without giving up the high ground. I have never liked or respected Hillary Clinton any more than I do right now.

Please run for president in 2016, Hillary. Please!

(Cartoon is by David Fitzsimmons in the Arizona Daily Star.)