Madeleine Albright: Hillary Clinton's Job Is No Party

Despite photos showing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton drinking and dancing in Colombia, Madeleine Albright -- the first female Secretary of State -- said the job is no party.

“I don’t know whether you’d call what she’s doing fun,” Albright told Politico.

"The truth is that you would never believe this -- the things that one does as secretary state," Albright said. "I sang at meetings at the ASEAN regional forum, or played musical instruments. ... And we all have our own definition of fun."

Clinton accompanied Obama to Colombia for the Summit of the Americas. During his visit, Obama put major focus on the economy, the top issue for voters ahead of the 2012 presidential election.

Clinton's night out at the Cafe Havana wasn't the only event making headlines from Colombia. A prostitution scandal involving Secret Service members overshadowed Obama's visit, with several employees resigning in the week that followed.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[joeg2028]

07:37 PM on 04/22/2012

If anybody deserves a night of fun, it's our current secretary of state. She's always in the spotlight--and it tends to be pretty hot most times.

Give the woman a break. She's been working to make this country better for 35 years or so; if I had the chance to have a beer with her, I'd do it in a second.

[Know-some-secrets]

07:34 AM on 04/25/2012

Hillary can do whatever she wants, and does, often. I believe she demonstrated terrible professional judgment in choosing to going partying publicly in a Colombian bar when the Secret Service scandal was was breaking in Colombian, US and international headlines. Her message seems "no problem with American personnel and their misconduct,,,,, PARTY ON !!!" Couldn't she have fun in another way at another time?

[joeg2028]

08:39 AM on 04/25/2012

I'm not sure that her actions followed the release of the info on the Secret Service or preceded it, but she was simply doing what millions of Americans do every day and it's legal.

[BlueBird55]

07:33 PM on 04/22/2012

Test.

[Grichde]

06:32 PM on 04/22/2012

Keep on partying government paid workers.

[Blizzardo]

09:05 PM on 04/22/2012

coming from someone that obviously doesnt understand what a secretary of state even does

[Grichde]

09:23 PM on 04/22/2012

What has she done?

[Know-some-secrets]

07:36 AM on 04/25/2012

exactly. I would much rather Hillary be drinking and dancing in a dive bar in Colombia than meddling in the affairs other nations and plotting escalation of use of US military force about the globe. Get her a few more beers.

[thankulord13]

10:07 PM on 04/22/2012

Well it beats making up lies to start wars and wasting American tax payers monies as well as lives.

[Grichde]

10:22 PM on 04/22/2012

Bad Collin Powell.

[jerryatthebeach]

05:46 PM on 04/22/2012

Was Hillary out getting Sh*t faced???

[beawild]

07:28 PM on 04/24/2012

Nope, she only had one beer.

[silverlincoln]

04:51 PM on 04/22/2012

why should't Hilary have a little fun.....her boss Obama constantly having a party at the White House and plays golf more than any other prez.......he set the example for the Secret Service and Hilary........after November they can rock n roll all night and party every day......good luck America

[Blizzardo]

09:04 PM on 04/22/2012

Bush vacation 300% more than Obama has in his first term

do you just make up stuff that sounds good?

[thankulord13]

10:10 PM on 04/22/2012

You must have been smoking something again because you are mistaking Obama for Bush and politizing the secret service scandal makes you as bright as Sarah Palin and that's no compliment.

[axt113]

03:50 PM on 04/22/2012

Clinton works hard, she plays hard too :D

[Know-some-secrets]

07:53 AM on 04/23/2012

Timing is the issue for her partying. She is our chief diplomat, was in Colombia to represent the US at a summit, a scandal involving partying and misconduct by US security there for the same summit had just exploded in the headlines, and involved charges of exploiting local women.

Hillary Clinton claims to be a champion of women's rights and has had a 20 year close, personal relationship with the Secret Service.

So her actions have greater visibility and significance. She trumpeted stereotypical American arrogance and seemed to be saying "party on" the scandal doesn't matter.

Her very public behavior at that time and in that place showed terrible judgment unworthy of her ighigh office.

[empiresentry]

03:41 PM on 04/22/2012

Clinton's behavior is appropriate for the customs. I have worked and lived many years in Latin America. It is expected by custom to spend personal time with the people you are doing business or policy with. This is very much like Americans doing business on the gold course. It is an honor to be requested to go to a party, wedding or family dinner (another big party) If you turn it down, you have made an insult.

For the highest level officials at the party, there are strict protocols on behavior. They do NOT go around the room meeting everyone and must stand or sit against the wall separate from the lower tier employees. Lower tier employees may come by and shake their hands but may not sit with the officials. The high level officials are expected to open the party with a saying or thanks. After they take turns, they may either lead the party off by a few of them dancing or they may sing with the band. You are expected to stay very late but must leave before the lower tier employees leave. You are expected to drink, eat and smoke but only in minimal amounts. Refusing food and drink is an insult.

These parties are a real drag when you have meetings all day and then have to go to party after party all night and keep the energy up.

[Know-some-secrets]

07:59 AM on 04/23/2012

So this is the new spin? Hillary wasn't letting her hair down, but was required to go out for late night partying, drinking and dancing with her staff because of diplomatic protocol?

Sorry, this explanation sounds absurd, like pure, dishonest "rationalization" invented when "she deserves to relax" didn't curb the criticism.

Next?

[Insatiate Cormorant]

03:40 PM on 04/22/2012

Hillary Clinton IS the US government overseas and a damn fine job she's doing. Low key and successful. The only story the media have is a camera phone image of her on a night out.

[Know-some-secrets]

08:02 AM on 04/23/2012

I find her to be arrongant in the same mode as George Bush, often sanctimoniously lecturing other nations and leaders about what they "must do." Her unrelenting advocacy for use of military force and championing of corporate profiteers over human rights, economic justice and the environment are the evidence of her "fine job"? I hope she will soon keep her promise and resign.

[kiksadi50]

01:50 PM on 04/22/2012

I'm going to lose my mind. Albright should not have dignified the criticism of H.C. with a statement. The biggest critics of H. "partying" are people who a. don't know what role she plays in Gov., and B. what the Sec. of State does and C. what H. has accomplished over the last almost 4 yrs. Do you judgmental horses butts have any idea how stressful her job is? The constant travel (and not in private jets), the intelligence and diplomatic skills that is required of a Sec. of State? I say: good for you Hillary, have a beer, go out dancing & howl at the moon for an evening. You've earned it!

[rt1027]

03:29 PM on 04/22/2012

she has earned my disdain.........

[hope61]

04:22 PM on 04/22/2012

Hmmm... Why is it that I don't believe this to be a "new" observation on your part.

[Know-some-secrets]

01:11 PM on 04/22/2012

So Team Hillary is on the offensive, and her "mentor" Mama Albright comes out swinging.

It is fine for Hillary to go out for late night drinks and dancing any time she wants. More power to her. Her choice. I believe it showed her too typical lack of good judgment to go out partying so publicly with staff and security detail in tow in COLOMBIA at the time the SCANDAL was in the headlines about misconduct by US Secret Service at the same international summit.

Like it or not, particularly in International diplomacy actions and appearances matter. The SoS saying "party on" with her actions in the midst of the scandal was embarassing. Adding to it, Mrs. Clinton's often espoused claim to be a champion of women's rights and her family''s close association with the Secret Service on a daily basis over decades made her actions particularly visible and shocking.

[MrPragmatic]

01:44 PM on 04/22/2012

This took place before the scandal even broke. Nice try though.

[Know-some-secrets]

07:14 AM on 04/23/2012

Really? You might want check the facts.

The Secret Service incident happened on April 10 and 11. Hillary went for her late night drinking and dancing party on April 14 -15 the scandal had exploded in the media, and well after it was known to HER, staff and security detail.

I am sure that knowing the facts, you will agree the Secretary of State and her team showed terrible judgment in their very public party time in Colombia while the controversy about miscoduct of the other partying Americans was making headlines.

[George Rowe]

02:53 PM on 04/22/2012

Who cares? It's not because she was having a good time, it caused the secret service agents to hire prostitutes...

[Know-some-secrets]

07:21 AM on 04/23/2012

She is the nation's chief diplomat in COLOMBIA with the PRESIDENT for the same Summit the agents were there to protect, while a huge scandal is in the headlines.

I believe tt showed enormously poor judgement for our Secretary of State to go into public, late night, drinking, dancing and partying mode in Colombia in the midst of a scandal involving American personnel. You disagree.

[florencebrady]

03:08 AM on 04/22/2012

This is a non story. Whether you like her or not, she's entitled to a night out.

[Know-some-secrets]

01:15 PM on 04/22/2012

of course she is. She is also subject to criticism as an official of the US with major responsibility for international relations, traveling abroad in a nation where US government agents have created a major scandal through misconduct, and in the midst of it, taking her staff and securtiy detail out for late night partying in a public bar. Appearances do matter.

[ILB]

01:20 PM on 04/22/2012

"Appearances do matter"

Like Condi picking out her pretty shoes?

[kiksadi50]

01:55 PM on 04/22/2012

she wasn't vomiting in a gutter. god.

[goodmarina]

02:33 AM on 04/22/2012

The trolls are in full-force .. nothing like mentioning a Clinton to bring 'em out. It's like Garlic on a Vampire!

[kbug0021]

01:30 PM on 04/22/2012

Not really, Garlic REPELS vampires, mentioning the Clinton's gets the trolls worked into a frenzy. Maybe more like throwing Chum in the water for sharks :)

[goodmarina]

02:33 PM on 04/22/2012

it's that screaming and the frenzied writhing that made me have that image of garlic on a vampire. but your point is well taken :)

[MRb1000]

02:33 AM on 04/22/2012

Come on man! Girls want to have fun too! Go Hillary 2016!

[fd909]

01:25 AM on 04/22/2012

I would bet a paycheck that there isn't a party in ANY room after she walks in.

[RobbieB]

09:29 AM on 04/22/2012

I have 50 bucks... You're on.

[kbug0021]

01:31 PM on 04/22/2012

I'll bet she's a lot of fun.

[rt1027]

03:34 PM on 04/22/2012

no thanks that looks nasty on many levels

[xxyzz]

12:34 AM on 04/22/2012

h.c. the ultimate party girl...!