Hillary Clinton On The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Hillary Clinton appeared (via satellite from Texas) on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on the eve of the crucial Texas and Ohio primaries. The segment began on a humorous note before turning to campaign themes. Stewart opened the interview by saying that "this election is about judgment, and tomorrow is perhaps one of the most important days of your life, and yet you've chosen to spend the night before talking to me." Clinton responded, "It is pretty pathetic." The interview then turned more serious and focused on the race for the Democratic nomination.

Watch the video from Comedy Central below:

Comments

[tenilla]

Clinton misstated the truth about "her husband" not winning the nomination until June [1992]"

From Wikipedia: "... Clinton effectively won the Democratic Party's nomination after winning the New York Primary in early April [1992].."

From RealClearPolitics:

March 17, 1992: Clinton essentially ends the contest with a win in Illinois (though Brown would briefly reemerge with a victory in Connecticut one week later).

[Europeanview]

Can this woman open her mouth without lying? Thank you for the heads up.

[magicmary]

I'm sure it's just because running for POTUS must be a really heady experience but she looked awfully punch drunk or just plain drunk last night.

[CindyV]

Hillar said she was up at 5:30am in Toledo talking to factory workers. For this show, she was in Austin, TX. I would think that she's putting in some pretty long days. She should be tired.

[Stanley]

Our answers do not lie in our political leaders, nor our government, but within ourselves. Personal responsibility is the only answer to our current challenges and we each havt to take on our own.

[ClaudiaJean]

No, no, no. Everything is the Clintons' fault. Did you not get the memo?

[Rhouse]

No the Canadians forgot to write one.

[transendentilist]

In the words of my literary hero, Ralph W. Emerson........"The dependence on government is the want of self reliance."

[Counterglow]

If you guys want to maintain even a shred of credibility, you've got to do a better job with your headlines. You wrote: "Clinton Talks Politics, Says It's 'Pathetic' Spending Primary Eve With Stewart", which makes Hillary Clinton look weak and without hope of winning. In fact, her line on The Daily Show was pretty funny, and even cracked Jon Stewart up a bit. It's the first time I actually thought it might be fun to have a couple of beers with the woman and shoot the breeze.

I really don't like to be in the position of defending Clinton, but the people who give Huffpost visitors their first look at your site are being grossly unfair to her, and it makes all of you look like cheap-shot artists.

[cybersense]

Hey, I watched this! It was funny and she gave him some "punch". Total fun.

The headlines are only there to get you started to read this article. Really. Hillary did really good and I really enjoyed watcher her.

[AnninCA]

I enjoyed it. Didn't you get a kick out of Jon Stewart's line that this is Super Tuesday II (unless she wins one or both states and, then, it's not) *hooting.

[Steverino]

Dude, welcome to the Huffington Post. They suck at writing headlines here.

[Proud2BIndy]

Obama's message: Hope, change, unity.

Obama's follower's message: Hate Hillary with all your might, four more years of unrelenting disdain towards fellow Americans, dismiss any and all who disagree.

Sorry, but it's true.

[ClaudiaJean]

Yes, I believe that's on page 2 of the "How To Be An Internet Troll For Obama '08" volunteer handbook.

Your post is 100% true. Sad, pathetic, scary but true.

[cybersense]

It 's only t rue in your mind. Here is the REAL DEAL. Someone who has the experience and wisdom, someone who will help do what is needed.

Obama's message is fine. He does good with that, but he cannot answer what he needs to, he can't show enough of what and how he can be better the Hillary. Inspiration only goes so far.

[cindyw]

You're wrong about that. There are many of us out here who are Obama supporters, but we don't hate Hillary. I admire her and I think she'd be an excellent president, and I'll be happy to vote for her if she gets the nomination. Judging from many of the posts I see on this site, one might come to the conclusion that there are a lot of Obama haters out there too. You're making an allegation based on the extremes on both sides, but I believe most Democrats will support whomever wins the nomination. If we don't, we'll have President McCain and four more years of Bush policies.

[Roses]

cindyw---thank you for stating a reasoned comment and helping to defuel the "Obamamaniacs" and "Clintonistas" labels that many try to pin on most followers of either candidate. I think that most of the people involved in the political process will coalesce around the candidate once they are the nominee.
The train of thought of "hate" is greatly over-rated by both Democratic "sides". I am an Obama supporter but I do not hate Clinton. I like the idea of change, unity, and progressive process Obama presents in his ideas. However, because I am pro-Obama does not mean that I will not support Hillary if she manages to become the nominee. Among all the Obama supporters that I talk with, this is everyone's message.
Obama '08

[ClaudiaJean]

Unfortunately, you are representing a minority fringe of Obama supporters AS REPRESENTED ON THIS WEBSITE. This, to me, is the right position to take (and the one Clinton supporters should be taking towards Obama.) I have no doubt either would be leaps and bounds far superior to any Republican in office and am confident both would build a LeagueOfJustice SuperHeros team... there great depth in the pool of Democrats capable of building an administration that moves this country forward (and, strong, smart and decent Democrats who would have a bi-partisan collaboration in making this a better country.) Unfortunately, the allegation made by the above poster is not based upon extremes of both sides -- it's based upon the representation (or misrepresentation as I would hope) of an overwhelmingly agressive, hostile and immature tempter-tantrum prone legion of Obama supporters who want Obama to win or they threaten to take their ball and go home to vote Republican.

[rmetz74]

It's not true of me.

[ivana]

The only thing "pathetic" today is Barack Obama's false claim of "a new kind of politics" - Nafta-Gate, Rezco-Gate...

I pray people will see through this and realize that he is no better or worse than Hillary - just LESS EXPERIENCED....

BREAKING:
PRINCETON, NJ -- The most recent USA Today/Gallup poll finds 46% of Americans saying Barack Obama has the experience necessary to be president, and 46% saying he does not. (65% believe Clinton has the experience to be president)

[LionelMandrake]

Tell that to the over one million individual contributors to Obama's campaign, 90% contributing less than $100.00, while Hillary has broken the record with the most max $2,300.00 contributors in history. Nothing like a populist!

So you like someone with Washington experience!? How to be a do nothing congress. Hmmm.

You obviously want more of the same because to motivate the public to make their reps do things differently, experience won't mean diddly.

Inspiration of the public, to stay involved, is the only thing that can do that.

And that same 46% you mention, say in the same polls that change matters more than experience.

Plus, don't forget that Obama has more years of legislative experience than Clinton. Just not in the cesspool of our nations capital. He also lags far behind in entertaining first ladies, I'll give you that.

So, pick the candidate who knows how to do things in Washington if you like. It's your vote. As to what the rest of the country will do, either way we will soon see....

As Bill Clinton famously said during Kerry's failed campaign, "if one candidate is appealing to your fears, and the other one is appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope." Oops, gotta go, the "Red Phone," is ringing...

[LionelMandrake]

Also, no one mentions Rezco contributed to Bill Clinton as well.

And isn't Sen. Clinton's fundraising tainted enough by convicted felon, and "Hillraiser," Norman Hsu, to be opening up that can of worms? Seems a bit desperate and hypocritical to me.

[dajay]

Good for Jon Stewart. The only person in the media that decided to give Hillary a fair shake.

Ooh, I bet Keith Olbermann will do another 15 minute rant on why Jon Stewart is being nice to Hillary, and not Obama.

[WilliamWallace]

Seconded

[Proud2BIndy]

Thirded.

He needs to lose the cranky.

[CheshireCat2]

What the hell is with Olberman? He is obsessed with anyone who seems to be in any kind of competition to him. This guy is proof as to how low media can stoop and his ratings still reek.

[EKR]

Agree. MSNBC has taken on a fraternity club house mentality, ruthlessly going after the smart kid they don’t find cool enough. And CNN’s self-proclaimed ‘Best Political Team’ doesn’t go far behind. I think I’ll stick with Hillary, the most qualified person for president. We’ve already had seven years of a front-man president, while a less accountable vice-president and advisors run the country behind the scenes.

[transendentilist]

I very much appreciate Olberman's special comments on the bush administration, but he is obviously biased against Hillary. Sometimes those who chastise others, do not think they ever need chastizing themselves. I am disappointed that olberman has fallen for all the hype, and even more disappointed that he would misrepresent a fellow democrat the way that he does. (Hillary)

[myownwings]

Really disappointed in Jon Stewart's decision to give Hillary this infomercial on the night before an election of this much importance in the public eye. I appreciate his interviews. He's a smart guy. But I have noticed lately a bit of leaning toward Hillary. As an voter, that's certainly his prerogative but for the sake of the edge of his show's content, he should not have been so obvious. His viewers count on him and the show to be able to look behind the scenes and the personas that are made for our political TV viewing. Seems he undressed himself this time. He lost that balance that the show needs to be revealing the way that comedy makes us transparent. I suspect we won't be tuning in from now on. The internet will have to provide political humor as well as the only credible news.

[Ratel]

I don't know, I think he's pro Obama, some of the coverage he did last year was pretty scathing to her, especially the way he covered the 'reject' vs. ' deny bit in the debate.

[LionelMandrake]

What about Stewart's inane "Hussein," joke at the Oscars?

All of us with half a brain, (and I include Stewart), know how even the mention of the middle name affects the majority of our population possessing half a brain or less.

I still know several highly educated, (though not necessarily smart), people who still think he's a muslim! ("As far as I [Clinton] know, he's not." And, not because he's not, but because, she "takes him by his word." What a joke!

The Oscar "joke," was just another stab at Obama before a (inter)national audience.
Stewart's pandering is more "pathetic," than is Hillary's admitted, "pathetic," TDS appearance.

Perhaps he should just take her offer to campaign with her on the trail after all. TDS certainly takes a weeks vacation every six weeks or so. It would be more honest than using his/our comedy show to pander to his candidate. Jon usually gives everyone a tough time. Look at how he goes at it with McCain. His performance last night was feeble and unfunny at best, and he didn't ask even one of the hundreds of questions he solicited from viewers at his TDS blog. Not one.

[transendentilist]

If you have to watch a comedy show to get what's going on in the world, what does that say about your intellect.
The Daily Show is one of my favorite shows. I don't watch alot of tv, but his show is one of the better ones. It is also "fake news." They themselves call it fake news. They don't even pretend to be fair and balanced.
I think Stewart gave Hillary the respect that she has earned. He is almost always a polite host. Even with people like Trent Lot. I think Hillary has been bashed enough. What gets me is that the accusations against her are almost ALWAYS unfounded.

[rmetz74]

I'm an Obama supporter, but I say fair's fair. Television is a for-profit business, no one can expect them to turn down an opportunity to interview a presidential candidate on the night before a big vote. And TDS is not a news show, it's entertainment, they have no journalistic standard to uphold... As Jon Stewart constantly reminds the audience. And one of the things I love about TDS is that they pick on everyone equally. He was ripping into Hillary moments before the interview. TDS has nothing to be ashamed of.

[ched]

The good news is that relatively few people watch the Daily Show, that Hillary looked bad (like she was going to eat the camera), and that she was her usual shifty, evasive self on the few questions that weren't softballs. So the fact that Stewart basically provided Hillary with half an hour of free airtime for an extended Hillary campaign commercial should have little actual effect.

The bad news is that the Daily Show's viewership is largely young and educated, which is the same demographic that supports Obama. So by providing what was essentially a Hillary infomercial, TDS offended a big chunk of its audience with its defacto endorsement of Hillary (not to mention Stewar's actually calling Obama a "dick").

Comedy succeeds largely on a shared rapport with the audience. Last night, Jon Stewart destroyed that rapport with a large portion - if not the vast majority - of its audience. Pretty stupid move. Hope it was worth it for them.

[Proud2BIndy]

Your perspective only holds true because you are an Obama supporter. Outside that bubble it looks different.

Same goes for ALL sides.

[ClaudiaJean]

Jon Stewart did not call Obama a dick. You are a liar.

Jon Stewart commenting on Obama's commentary on Clinton's campaign... that she's sorta desperate, dismissing her with his usual smugness... suggested comically that he might be a sorta dicky boyfriend...

If you can't see the difference and the comedic intent, you are choosing not to for your own agenda and purpose. You don't speak for The Daily Show audience at large; they likely get the comedy whether or not they vote for Obama or Clinton or McCain or Paul or Nader... Lost on you clearly.

[AnninCA]

That was his funniest line......and I so agree!

Poor Michelle.

[brisa]

Hillary did look bad. She had a real Alfred E. Newman thing going....with maybe a hint of Mortimer Snerd. And in typical Hillary fashion, didn't answer Stewert's questions, but instead launched into campaign rhetoric.

She had better hope the memory card programmers are flipping votes for her. She looks cooked.

[rmetz74]

I'm an Obama supporter too, but you are dumping your own bias all over TDS.

First of all, it's not at all true that "relatively few people watch the Daily Show." According to Neilsen, it's about 1.4 million people every night, with a median age of 35. That's more than the gap in the popular vote between Obama and Hillary.

It's also not true that he gave her free airtime. It was the night before the vote... If she wasn't on TDS, she would have been on another show. Better that it was a show that has openly criticized her - they even did it moments before her appearance (it's just ridiculous to say they've given her a "defacto endorsement.") Part of the reason people get excited when politicians are on TDS is to see howthey'll deal with the jokes the show has made about them.

And as you point out, the TDS audience is smart... Smart enough to know she appeared on the show to appeal to them, and smart enough not to choose a candidate based on such obvious pandering.

I seriously doubt that TDS will lose any viewers over her appearance - including you. (Be honest.)

[robeson]

One item Jon didn't bring up is Hillary's new Bush routine while in Texas.

Hillary, "We have given them the gift of freedom, the greatest gift you can give someone. Now it is really up to them to determine whether they will take that gift."

For anyone to still argue that Hillary is not Bush Lite please go back to school for remedial reading. Death is Freedom is a Bushism. Bush freed half a million Iraqis from living and breathing, certainly a gift they never asked for.

[Proud2BIndy]

When Saddam was deposed, the Iraqis inherited the freedom to enrich Bush and his buddies and that's it. Until the war profiteers are rooted out, none of us are free.

[Jaradan]

LOL!!

[larry278]

It looks like I won't be watching video clips on HP or live telecasts of his Barackship or her Hillaryship till the DNC, et al decide who will be their candidate for POTUS. Not even Jon Stewart can make this absurd process fun for me. I'll use the text blogs, etc on HUFFINGTON POST & CLG NEWS to check on the breaking news on this absurd process. These 2 sites produce readable analysis & comment rapidly. I'll also scan the BBC NEWS site for the UK slant on this absurd non-event.
Since HP makes great & successful efforts to be fair, balanced & objective [objective as a human might be] coverage of events which concern the USA-I'll have a way to see contrasting views of what is actually happening sans rabid rants.

[Galina]

Where is the discussion of real problems? – The war and its cost, health care, education, social security, environment? Why the broadcasting systems and the talking heads on all news’ channels debate the fashion, makeup, and gestured of the future nominees but avoid like a plague the real State of the Union?
This country is converting into the Land of Fools. The layer of the well-educated, which was acquired in large part thanks to the WWII, became perilously thin. What if Bush is the real America?

[SARGE1]

Who really knows WHO Obama is?

Answer:

http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGGIHqIoP2k

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

http://obama.senate.gov/contact/


So Do You Want Years Of Fights And Investigations Or Do You Want Someone Without Mudslinging And Has Stated And Committed To Reaching Over And Working With The GOP To Get Things Done For America ?


Vote Obama Or Suffer Years Of Needless Bullshit !!

-Sarge

[democraticjack]

You forgot to mention his autobiography, which as it turns out is a work of fiction, based on true events. Ha!

[thewhitewitch]

Awesome. At least he's side-stepped the great Oprah's wrath (A Million Little Pieces) & called it what it is... B.S.

[thewhitewitch]

Well, since you asked... Aside from being the Senator of New York, the first gainfully employed First Lady & holding many leadership positions during her school years, including at Yale no less, she served as a lawyer in the Nixon impeachment trails, was named by Carter as the chair of the board for The LSC (was the first woman to ever achieve such a position- among other similar firsts), wrote a number of highly praised & admired scholarly articles for publications such as the Harvard Educational Review & did extensive work for the Children's Defense Fund. The list is LONG & distinguished.

[thewhitewitch]

Disgusting? Really? LOL. People can be so goofy & obnoxious when trying to validate their own opinions by swaying the vote.

[uglybetty]

I just read an interesting piece about that mansion !!
NO QUARTER Blog ( how to buy a mansion you can't afford !!

[Krispi]

How can anybody in their right mind think that a democrat "reaching out" to a republican is going to achieve something other than the disrespect and unwillingness to work together with the present congress and senate that has been the status quo since the year 2000.

Hope, real change.. you got to be kidding yourself. Stop talking about Obama as if he were the Messiah! He is a good orator not some great individual who is going to turn things around. Day dream believers that is what so many American voters turn out to be. They don't read they watch TV. And they only take an interest every 4 years.

[alexcharner]

Hillary reached out to McCain for the Nafta smear. They're statements were identical. And she voted for Ky/Lieberman, you know, the Bomb Iran bill.

And where are the tax returns? Where did the 5 million come from?

Republican tactics!
Republican secrecy!
Republican candidate!

[kravitz]

People are asking about Hillary's earmarks compared to Barack.

Here we go.

Clinton, Hillary Rodham
(Senate, D-NY)
Totals
2007 Defense earmarks: $110,520,000
2001-07 Campaign contributions from earmark recipients: $378,660
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/favorfactory/lawmaker.php?id=S0NY00188

Obama, Barack
(Senate, D-IL)
Totals
2007 Defense earmarks: $3,300,000
2001-07 Campaign contributions from earmark recipients: $97,250
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/favorfactory/lawmaker.php?id=S4IL00180

[CADeminVA]

I know Hillary really, really, really wants to be President, but she is in process of taking the Democrats down to defeat in a year that should be a winner. After today, on for six more weeks until PA, a futile slog that won't end until the Convention, by then it's too late. McCain can rest and raise funds while Democratic enthusiasm wanes and dissipates.

[Proud2BIndy]

I totally disagree. There is no way McCain is going to win unless Diebold says he wins. There's no way he'll get near the funds the Democrats will get.

Plus McCain is a buffoon. While the Dems hone their rhetorical skills on the trail, McCain will keep demonstrating why old people are so often put in rest-homes.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

On the contarary, if O is nominated, there is a greater chance that democrats will lose again.
If O is nominated, I will either not vote in November, or will write-in Hillary's name. Two of my friends, have said the following:
1) If Obama is in, she will vote for McCain (the experience thing)
2) the other person said he is voting for Nader! He does not believe O about his War stance when he was not in the US senate (the war thing)

Both are really bad choices but this is what I am hearing...

[kellygrrrl]

oh, come on, now. Do you really expect anyone to buy that?

every True Dem will wholeheartedly vote for the Dem Nominee.

Every TRUE Hillary supporter I know is sane, logical and rational with a clear eye on the Main Objective: Get the GOP out of the WH!

[LionelMandrake]

Well my older brother, a die hard, locally involved, republican who has ran for office in north NJ, says that he will vote Obama if he gets in, and McCain otherwise.

As he is involved in republican politics, he has only said so secretly!
He said that maybe a new face will change the wrong direction this country is still heading in.
Not that it matters much, because NJ is going demo anyway.

But, if Washington experience is what this is all about. Give me the least experienced candidate. And, one that is beholden to the record breaking one-million campaign donors and growing, 90% of whose contributions are less than $100.00 Not to mention the one who has told his supporters they must get involved, and keep their representatives accountable. Without public participation, no matter who gets in, it will be business as usual.

I certainly don't want the one who has the record breaking total, of donors of the $2,300.00 max contribution variety.

Obama wouldn't run the country with his basketball pick up game, he has plenty of fine choices amongst his supporters to put together as excellent a cabinet as Clinton can, and more likely to pick those with less sympathy to the special interests, and the influence of the $2,300.00, insider, Terry McCaullife crowd.

[youngharry]

somewhereinthemiddle.
Your post is about as dishonest as anything I've read on the blogs. You are so obviously a paid attacker for Hillary. You don't have a truly honest opinion that isn't paid for.

[Jaradan]

I don't understand people who say that McCain is their #2 choice after Hillary being #1.

That would suggest that Hillary's positions are more similar to a Republican than to her fellow Democrat. Anyone who's willing to vote for McCain if Hillary doesn't get the nod can't possibly agree with Hillary on the Issues. So if these people aren't voting on the issues, what are they voting on? Hmm....

[Galvanized]

Personally, I think that Obama will make a fine vice president for Hillary. This will keep the Dem's united as a party.

[Galvanized]

Obama and Clinton are not that far off on their perspective approaches to the issues of National Security, Medical Reform, International Trade, The War, and The Economy. Both candidates have handled themselves well under great scrutiny. The best solution for the nation as a whole is to put the experience and the change together, and let the GOP experience some change.

[HowietheScreamer]

Uh, no. the Clinton name on the ticket would STILL bring the repubes out in droves to vote against her. She's best off being the Jr Senator from Noo Yawk.

[Galvanized]

Obama and Clinton are not that far off on their perspective approaches to the issues of National Security, Medical Reform, International Trade, The War, and The Economy. Both candidates have handled themselves well under great scrutiny. The best solution for the nation as a whole is to put the experience and the change together, and let the GOP experience some change.
60% of the primary voting since January has come from Indies, and Dem's. This should be a message to the elephants. That the PEOPLE don't want another seven years of conflict of interest, special interest groups, and corrupt leadership. We want our White House back...We want lawbreakers held accountable...And we want our system of Checks and Balances back in effect. The way the founding fathers intended.