Hillary Clinton On What Designers She Wears: 'Would You Ever Ask A Man That Question?'

Hillary Clinton put a pair of interviewers in their places after they asked her about her personal style, Daily Intel points out. Here's the transcript from a "townterview" hosted by KTR Studio in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan:

MODERATOR 1: People always touch some personality of Hillary Clinton. We have some - not just silly questions, but (inaudible) -

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, I've never been asked a silly question in my entire life. (Laughter.)

[...]

MODERATOR 1: Okay. Which designers do you prefer?

SECRETARY CLINTON: What designers of clothes?

MODERATOR 1: Yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Would you ever ask a man that question? (Laughter.) (Applause.)

MODERATOR 1: Probably not. Probably not. (Applause.)

Hmmm...guess she found the question to be rather silly. Ironically, just minutes before her response, she was asked about how female lawyers could succeed in today's world. She said:

And it requires, for a woman, usually in today's world still, an extra amount of effort because I think it's - the fact that women are still sometimes judged more critically. If you are in the courtroom or you are presenting a case, it still is a fact - and this is not just in Kyrgyzstan, this is everywhere - that when a man walks into a courtroom it's rare for someone to say, "Oh, look what he is wearing." (Laughter.) But if you walk into a courtroom, or any young woman walks into a courtroom, people are going to notice. And that will be an additional requirement that you have to meet.

The interviewers should have known better! But we can't say it's a question that hasn't crossed our minds. However, we do think that somewhere in between First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary probably stopped having to field such inquiries.

What do you think?

Quick Poll

Hillary's answer:

Totally appropriate...she doesn't need to answer!

Eh. She could have thrown a name or two out there!

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Comments

[MH-California]

06:58 PM on 12/07/2010

Great response! Good job madame secretary.

Who cares what designer she is wearing if she is doing her job?

[Caru]

02:53 PM on 12/07/2010

No, they would ask him what sports team he supports.

[TFDNYC]

12:02 PM on 12/07/2010

Man I love that woman!

[valeskas]

09:12 AM on 12/07/2010

She was right.

[rosecrazy1948]

09:07 AM on 12/07/2010

Good for her!!

[cliffhammond]

01:59 AM on 12/07/2010

TRANSLATION: J.C. Penny

[hotheaded]

04:51 PM on 12/06/2010

i distinctly remember when hillary was making the bid for POTUS. everyone and their grandmother did not want her to be POTUS. and, as a non american, i always was baffled. hillary is smart, experienced and definitely qualified / capable.

but over and over again, i'd hear protesting from all kinds of people, with comments like, "i'd like a female president...just not THAT female!".

LOL. then McCain introduced Palin. Bet all Hillary naysayers are regretting those words now! Clinton >>>>>>>>>> (to the power of 99) Palin!!

[paintitblack]

04:17 PM on 12/06/2010

Totally appropriate and graceful response. Who CARES what designers this woman is wearing. You have the opportunity to ask the Secy of State a question and it's THAT? Save that fluff for a Mary Kate Olsen interview.

[schnauzergirl]

03:37 PM on 12/06/2010

The fact that these types of question are really on people's minds just goes to show that at a subconscious level women in powerful positions aren't being seen with the same "gravitas" as men.

Though if we did ask the men it might be good to know which Senators and Department Secretaries are wearing Armani and Yves Saint Laurent suits (upwards of $4000). Might show us a little more of who is really raking in the bribes,er, I mean campaign contributions.

[ambrecel]

02:39 PM on 12/06/2010

Best answer. I've come up with a possible reason why Hillary should run for president again. With her new experiences as Secretary of State, her legislative experience, and her ability to articulate her knowledge well, she would be able to wade through and deal with the issues, better than any man. 2016 she won't be too old. Not in my opinion.

[SJML]

12:48 PM on 12/06/2010

Smart lady our Secretary of State. We need more women like her in politics, intelligent, educated, worldly, informed. Everyone can not be FLOTUS and Senator before making it, I realize. I personnally don't care if these women are Repubs or Dems, but I do care that they actually know what is going on in the world as well as in the USA when they are going to be the face representing the women of America. Media stars are not the answer.

[ella129]

12:40 PM on 12/06/2010

Hillary is wonderful. She handles situations with grace and finesse. She didn't feel the need here to make the interviewer feel uncomfortable and be very confrontational, she was able to respond with an intelligent answer that called out the absurdity without getting angry or nasty. She's been a role model for me since I was in elementary school.

[AnnoyedCanuck]

11:17 AM on 12/06/2010

As I write this, I'm sitting at my kitchen table dressed in white Joe Boxer knit sport boxers. My sweatshirt, which I slept in, is by Champion. Today I plan to wear jeans by Kirkland, from Costco. My shoes are black leather Keens. My t-shirt and crew-neck fleece pullover are by REI.

Thank you for your interest.

[SJML]

12:49 PM on 12/06/2010

LOL

[hotheaded]

04:48 PM on 12/06/2010

well, aren't you a fancy pants!!

[Aitch5]

10:13 AM on 12/06/2010

You rock Hillary!

[joshmcdonald]

06:16 PM on 12/05/2010

a) She has every right not to answer this question if she doesn't want to. Good for her.
b) That said, the fact that people are interested in what she is wearing is a COMPLIMENT.
c) Many men, (yes, even straight men) myself included, wish that men's fashions were more interesting and elaborate so that people would ask us what designers we wear.
d) To all of you Hillary fans, please explain how you feel about the illegal spying and corruption in the State Dept. that has recently been exposed by WikiLeaks. Does the fact that Sec. Clinton's department appears to have serious managerial deficiencies bother you or lessen your opinion of her in any way?

[SJML]

12:51 PM on 12/06/2010

Answer to d) NO

[Melanie226]

01:18 PM on 12/06/2010

d) Not really. Any department in D.C. is going to have a bit of corruption, it's par for the course. As for the spying issue, like we are the only country that does this? C'mon, they just busted a huge Russian spy ring, and the Cold War has been over for nearly 20 years. Countries spy on each other, that's just how it goes.