Hillary Clinton, 60 Minutes, and the Muslim question

When people suggest that the press employs a separate standard for covering Clinton, this is the kind of episode they're talking about. There simply is no other candidate, from either party, who has had their comments, their fragments, dissected so dishonestly the way Clinton's have been.

If you look at Clinton's exchange with Steve Kroft in its entirety, I count eight separate times in which she either plainly denied the false claim that Obama was Muslim, labeled that suggestion to be a smear, or expressed sympathy for Obama having to deal with the Muslim innuendo. Eight times.

Either journalists failed to read the entire transcript or watch the relevant video from the 60 Minutes interview and therefore were not informed about Clinton's response. Or worse, they knew about her entire response and purposefully left out key phrases in order to portray the candidate in the worst possible light.

Read the full Media Matters column here.

Comments

[NYRalf]

Clever qualifier #1:
"I take him on the basis of what he says."

Clever qualifier #2:
"No, there is nothing to base that on, as far as I know."

Why would she say "on the basis of what he says"? She knows damn well that he is a Christian. She should have just said I know him and he is a Christian. End of story. This was deliberate on her part. I'm sorry you've been hoodwinked too Eric, but the qualifiers in her statement are blinding bright.

[AnninCA]

I agree. It's heartbreaking for women to see how her words are constantly twisted. Ferraro is brave to speak out right now.

This is just sickening.

[starcycle]

She's a lawyer! Of course she would say "as far as I know." It's called "cover your butt," and is a perfectly reasonable and even responsible answer.

Why should anyone be asked to comment on someone else's religious beliefs, anyway? That's the real question. You don't see the media asking john mccain if he believes george bush is "really a christian," do you? It would be unthinkable. But somehow it's acceptable to ask Hillary if she thinks Barack is a muslim -- in Hillary's words: Get Real!

[vitasackvillewesttexas]

oh boo hoo. poor wittle hillary being savagely misunderstood yet again by the mean old media.

[idontthinkthisishelping]

Are you insane? I read the transcript on your site; there were three relevant exchanges; her first and last answer contained qualifiers, the middle confirming her first qualifier when Steve Kroft repeated it, and only it, to Mrs. Clinton. She NEVER said "no," without a qualifier immediately afterward.

Bloggers here have noticed a trend in which Mrs. Clinton or a supporter throws a bomb like this (after Steve Kroft gave her two extra opportunities to get off the qualifiers, to simply say, "no," she wouldn't do it or else she's lost control of her faculties) she then has an immediate denial which incorporates how she's been picked on -- see your own transcript, and for another example, see her "rejection" of Ferraro's statements.

Matthews isn't a reporter. He's an idiot. If you or anyone else turns to him to get your news or the proper tone to feel about a candidate, you clearly aren't too familiar with the TV. He is clearly as biased as Bill O'Reilly, but only toward the stupid. MSNBC is hoping to get shocking "opinions" from "both sides" to cash in on the "lizard brain" that Fox panders to, but with liberals as well. It's all about ratings and money, and it all no different than Howard Stern, except without the sophistication and all that considered thought. Matthews said she answered that question "aufully late..." I read the transcript; I can't tell one way or the other, so I'll defer to your sense of timing. In which case he was reciting a statement given to him by a production assistant who also had not watched the interview. Do you think THIS qualifies as news?

A friend consistently supports the obvious fact that NPR is extremely biased to the left with this other fact: Daniel Shore. That would make "60 Minutes" biased toward early-onset dementia because: Andy Rooney.

But somehow I suspect you already knew this...

[ariadne1]

as hillary clinton is/was a media matters adviser, this per the atlantic monthly, i take everything reported by mm with a grain of salt. mm was 'out there' screaming for chris matthew's head, even to the point of creating a "special" chris matthews site. this site was initiated in order to parse every word out of cm's mouth for perceived transgressions against women.

mm posted the email addresses of msnbc exec's and in conjunction with now, encouraged their readers to contact msnbc in order to complain, scream for blood, and intimidate/threaten the station and their sponsors.

in the world i grew up in this was called intimidation.

so it appears that mm has assumed the mantle of protecting hillary from one and all who dare to criticize her less than appropriate behavior throughout this campaign.

how about geraldine ferraro's cleverly designed remarks made [with the blessing of hillary, who refuses to fire her] to turn this campaign into a racial divide... [check out the spread between the black and white voters in mississippi... it appears to be working.]

hillary has played the victim... woe is me, the press are complicit in keeping women in the kitchen and sobbed 'foul' into her hanky.

regardless of what you think of chris... imagine the firestorm if ferraro said something negative about hillary on the chris matthews show.

[shaggles]

Media Matters posts the contact information for every story they run. They do not encourage people to complain. With the exception of 3 blog posts a week Media Matters does not even express opinion on anything. Look at any story on Media Matters and see if they are posting anything inaccurate, opinionated or inflamatory. They post what was said or written and what was said or written previously that contradicts or discredits it.

[BigBen]

Please; Ferraro said nothing negative about Obama .She said something negative about the voters. Maybe.

[midtown]

You would be right if you discounted the facial expressions. Suggest you familiarize yourself with Dr. Paul Ekman's world famous work on involuntary muscle movement and lying. You can spot what Hillary was up to in a heartbeat. Her bulging eyes of insincerity with the 'as far as I know' comment, and a few others.

[yoyo1959]

With comments like this, no wonder Hilary Clinton used the words 'vast right-wing conspirary" back in the 90's....nothing much has changed. Except that the ignorant, story-desperate media and pundits have shown all young girls that America has a long, long way to go in the equality of women. A very long way to go.

[anywho]

Hillary is very well aware that her campaign has been using the race card against OBAMA, and no doubt will continue to use it in her run up to Pannsylvania. Her response wasn't definitive enough to come from someone innocent of the smear. Drudge also claimed that the picture of OBAMA in local Somali garb came from the Clinton's........and the NAFTA charge was repeated ad nauseum long after it was refuted with proof on the Internet.......the timing of all of the slime coming out just before the March 5 primaries was just too well coordinated to be an innocent coincidence.

[LeoMarvin]

"As far as I know" is a type of disclaimer we lawyers are trained to make automatically. It can just become a habitual part of the language that doesn't necessarily add meaning on purpose. So yes, in that regard, the coverage is unfair. But so is assuming Barack was slighting Hillary by saying, "you're likable enough" while he was looking down, scribbling notes in the middle of a televised debate. To think these people are in perfect, pre-programmed control of every word and gesture is nonsensical if you look at even 10 minutes of your own life (or at least mine). Highly scripted, yes, but still human. On the other hand, to paraphrase Hyman Roth, this is the life they've chosen. Micro-Kremlinology is an unavoidable fact for any politician in the electronic era. And it's equally unfair to all of them. Not just Hillary. Not just Barack. All of them.

[shaggles]

Thanks Eric. You are spot on as usual. Thank also for pointing out that Joe Scarborough actually pointed out how ridiculous the whole thing was. I may actually start respecting him a little.

[Oldtt]

Maybe not so strangely, the two MSNBC commentators who are most likely to see through the media-contrived attacks on Hillary Clinton right now are Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan, both persons who have deep hands-on experience in politics not just self-assigned expertise.

[alkamm]

To understand the subtle implications of that fearful phone ad, I'd advise reading the following New York Times link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/opinion/11patterson.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Such veiled appeals to racism are reprehensible, and of a pattern that should disqualify the Clinton attack machine, or at least discredit, disavow, or shame them. Strike the last one because they are fundamentally shameless. It's their best attribute.

[Oldtt]

One of the children in the 3 AM ad is clearly African-American, as shown in the video-still posted on Hillaryhub.com. Whether or not this is even important depends on your political bias. I don't think it matters much.

[tomcj]

I disagree with Eric Boehlert, whom I admire (I am also a fan on Media Matters).

Hillary did deny the original claim, but she never questioned the presmise. Then she got all Clinton-y. She used the opportunity of Obama being the victime of rumors to (once again) feel sorry for herself, and then she added the phrase that pays, "as far as I know."

I also disagree with Mr. Boehlert about the LBJ remark. Clinton and Obama are each sitting Senators running for President, like JFK and LBJ before he was VP. Martin Luther King was a Preacher/Pastor who never sought nor held elective office.

Obama is NOT running for Pastor of King's old congregation. The only way Obama is analogous in Hillary's stupid analogy is that Obama and King are eloquent, "as far as I know". Unless they have something else in common. King and Obama don't have any other quality in common besides eloquence, do they?

The fact is that Obama=LBJ much more than Obama=King. It isn't racist, perhaps, but it certyainly is sloppy thinking that looks less sloppy when Bill compares Obama to another person who never held office rather than another Senator who also won SC? Again, what do Jesse Jackson and Obama have in common that Senator Edwards and Senator Obama do not?

As far as I know Hillary and Bill are as honest as can be, but defending them is a full time job because either they are deliberately out to treat us like Monica's Blue Dress or else they sure make a lot of innocent mistakes.

[efranklin]

It was the "not that I know of" that stuck in the craw. As if she doesn't know he's Christian? All that research for nothing? The Clintons are never blatant or obvious (e.g., "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina too"). It seems that at every opportunity they get, they boldly push the envelope in showing what they're willing to do or say if it can be used to their advantage. It's the subtlety that silently, but steadily brings the whole conversation into the sewer.

[ivana]

Didn't he become a "PRACTICING CHRISTIAN" in his late 20's? Obama was born a Muslim - you can't take that away from him. NOT THAT YOU SHOULD WANT TO! His entire extended family is Muslim - and the media has made it a dirty word. All the muslims I know support Obama unequivocally and solely for the reason that they believe him to be muslim "in his soul." They believe he will help unite the Muslim community and contribute to peace around the world - a worthy cause to be sure.

BUT - Don't pin Obama's insecurities on Hillary - it just not fair, and I'm glad that MEDIA MATTERS agrees. The Clinton is an example of tolerance in this world. The media would love to portray otherwise and would the Obama campaign.

Hardly a way to unite the country, let alone the world.

[SCharb]

Ann Dunham and BHO's maternal grandparents were secular Christians. BHO, Sr., was an Atheist-convert who didn't stick around long enough to celebrate his son's second birthday. Obama was raised a secular Christian, but started getting more religious after graduating from college and working as a community organizer for a church group registering voters in Chicago.

He has never practiced Islam in his entire life... but when he lived in Indonesia, I'm sure he must have made quite a few Muslim friends.

[jackbauer0396]

Hillary?? Is that you!? Oh my, it's nice to finally see you live in action! I'm glad you're finally just coming right out and saying it, though, instead of using coded hate messages.

[gplaw]

You just did it yourself! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. No. No. No. No. No he is not a Muslim- end of question.

[Thingumbobesq]

Let's face it: the press ARE the oldest profession in the world.

[gplaw]

She is an attorney. Moreover, she is a "seasoned" politician. The first rule in defending or taking a deposition is to answer all questions with a yes or no response. Do not elaborate. Senator Clinton broke the rule. Finally, there is such a thing as the mere hint of impropriety. She forgot about it. She did it on purpose. All she had to do was say no. No, he is not a Muslim. How easy was that?

[kcampbell]

"The first rule in defending or taking a deposition is to answer all questions with a yes or no response." - Did you see the interview? What the hell was "Of course not." ???? Why was she asked over and over? What's the first rule of journalism?

[TNFarmer]

"What's the first rule of journalism?" More and more it seems to be, "What's the owner want us to say?" Not that such concern would express any kind of bias, you understand.

[JAJ2007]

I agree - she does deny the false claim 8 times. However it's because her denial is so wishy washy that Steve Kroft keeps following up. "I take him at his word" - that's not "No", that's equivocating.

She should have said - "No, of course not. Barack and I have attended several prayer breakfasts together, and I know that he is a Christian." Then if Kroft follows up, say "Steve, this is ridiculous - you know as well as I do that there is no truth to this rumor. The fact that people in the media are promoting an internet rumor is just absurd."

"As far as I know" - wishy washy

[shaggles]

Do you realize you are doing exactly what Boehlert describes? Her immediate response was "Of course not." How is that wishy-washy?

[kcampbell]

Why was she asked over and over? Yes that's right , to get the right fragment of an answer, so the "journalists" can cut and paste their agenda. pathetic....

[eridees]

As a Hillary supporter as you clearly are, why are you re-hashing this story? We have been beat over the head by the Clinton Camp that the media is out to get her. We get it! She got what she wanted. The panty-waist media tucked in their tails and she won Ohio and Texas (which is debatable) and lets not forget an unofficial endorsement by SNL. What more to you want? Obama's first born? Enough already. Find something good to say about your candidate. That will win her more votes than this constant whining.

[ivana]

Pardon all my previous typos - but to add one more thing - who knows what ANYONE's religion really is..... How the heck would Hillary know Obama's true religion? I was born orthodox, attended Catholic churches and Jewish temple throughout my teens and into my early 20's (via my close relationships)...and eventually made my way back to my original faith. To say Obama IS NOT MUSLIM with any certainty or authority is simply not Hillary's place. I was offended by the question, as I'm sure she was - hence her uncomfortable reply.

[TNFarmer]

Virtually all politicians make it a point of publishing their religious affinity. If you think HRC's and OHB's campaigns don't know the other's religious preferences, as well as their favorite color, and what they had for breakfast, you're really uninformed. If, as you suggest, she didn't know or wasn't sure, then why didn't she say, "I don't know." Her answer on this question was the same kind of equivocation as her reply to the NY Mayor's issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens, except in OHB question she knew answer darned well beforehand, but wanted to twist the Muslim "threat" in some voter's minds.......just like she did with the a.m phone commercial. Plant the seed of fear and then water it without being obvious.

[alkamm]

She was a far cry from being uncomfortable. She was, in fact, clearly comfortable with a smirking, smug little comment that signaled her willingness to profit from the ambiguities of the situation.

As Christians say, what does it profit if you lose your soul, or words to that effect. Her parsing of the situation was reprehensible, as was her little fear mongering red phone ad. Check out this link which traces the phone call into the tradition of veiled and hooded racism in our history.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/opinion/11patterson.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

[AnitaBee]

Well, now, wait a minute. I was sitting there on a Sunday evening, watching that segment on 60 Minutes, and my chin dropped to the floor at the way she answered. It didn't take a pundit or an edited replay to tell me what she was doing.

But let's turn this around so you can see what the rest of us saw. Let's say the question pertained to one of the many bogus slurs against Sen. Clinton that have circulated. Assume that any politician in the world other than Clinton was asked to respond. And tell me if you think you'd call this a defense of Hillary Clinton:

KROFT: Mr. Politician, do you believe that Hillary Clinton was involved in the murder of Vince Foster?"
POL: No, no, she's no murderer. [slight pause] As far as I know.

OR
KROFT: Mr. Politician, what about rumors that Hillary Clinton has engaged in mad orgies with crowds of biker lesbians?
POL: HIllary Clinton is no biker lesbian. [slight pause] As far as I know.

When I heard her "As far as I know," then her deflection to how very victimized she'd been, I could barely believe it. This is no amateur interviewee. She knew what she was up to. My ears and eyes and mind are fairly good at detecting innuendo that she intended to be there.

This wasn't press bias. It was a clear statement of the obvious.

[kcampbell]

You saw the you tube version. If you saw the REAL version then you would have put in the rest of her answers. Maybe you should become a pundit....You know , like Karl Rove....

[AnitaBee]

No, I didn't see this on Youtube. It was on Channel 10, the CBS affiliate in my area, here in my living room, on a Sunday evening. Some people will attack anyone as either misogynist or rightwing or both who sees and states the obvious: Clinton's whole strategy is to smear Obama. But it is what it is.

I used to defend the Clintons all the time, by the way, when he was prez and they were attacked by rightwingers,so I understand that it's difficult to accept that the people you trust act more like the conspirators they see everywhere than the actual members of that vast rightwing conspiracy. I recovered on my own when I saw what the Clintons were doing in this campaign. It might require a 12-Step program for others, however.

[eshalom]

You're dealing with Obama supporters, Mr. Boehlert. Logic, common sense, honesty, straightforwardness, etc. don't cut it with this crowd. They only want to twist, distort and misrepresent every comment they can find to play the race/religion card. There's one more thing about the incident on 60 Minutes: Steve Kroft was clearly badgering Hillary Clinton to the point where she became understandably frustrated by his rude behavior.

But any further discussion about this incident will get us nowhere. The Obama campaign was obviously threatened early on by the reality that both Bill and Hillary Clinton had impeccable human rights records and were popular among African Americans as well as other minority groups. For the sake of increasing their votes among African Americans, the Obama campaign has persistently attempted to smear the Clintons. Mr. Clean himself remained silent in response to the trumped up racist charges that immediately followed Sen. Clinton's win in New Hampshire and were sustained until well after the South Carolina primary. Finally, Obama hung his head during a later debate and publicly acknowledged the Clintons are not racists.

The latest abusive comments that emerged today from an Obama aide show a lot of divisiveness, anger, intemperance, and aggressive hostility toward Hillary Clinton among the Obama campaign staff. It's the same kind of garbage you find posted by Obama supporters on every message board on the internet. It's a shocking commentary for a campaign that persists in presenting Barack Obama as the leader of the new politics as he recently boasted in Mississippi.

But here we go again. Sen. Clinton wins a couple of big states and immediately the smears from the Obama camp start piling up.