Questioner calls Bush 'the bastard,' Hillary Clinton smiles

Over the weekend there was an as yet little-noticed incident in Bridgeton, Mo., just outside St. Louis. Sen. Hillary Clinton addressed a town hall meeting there and was taking questions from the audience.

One elderly woman rose and was asking the Democratic candidate about a rumored economic union among the United States, Canada and Mexico that is widely discussed, feared and abhorred among conspiracy fanciers. The woman said the president planned to implement the secret agreement in 2010.

Then the woman called the president "Bush the bastard."

The Democratic crowd immediately roared its approval.

Sen. Clinton nodded her head slightly and smiled.

Then, she proceeded to ...

answer the question, saying "there's not a lot of truth to it." Our colleagues over at the Swamp have posted Glenn Thrush's detailed account of the incident, which you can read here.

It'll be interesting to see if Clinton's silent assent to that crude comment arouses as much criticism and controversy as last year when a Republican woman in South Carolina asked Sen. John McCain about Clinton, calling her "the bitch."

At the time, CNN showed a video clip of the incident and strongly criticized McCain for not admonishing the woman, although the candidate did say belatedly that he respected the New York senator.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Bert]

Well, he is a bastard.

[Brian]

Hilary showed no class in not admonishing the ignorant woman who made the comment.
In fact she missed a major opportunity by not doing so. The press would have been gushing with her "graciousness" and "respect for the office" had she done so. It would even be deemed "presidential"

.

[melsil]

BUSH CAN PROVE HE'S NOT A BASTARD. HILLARY CAN PROVE SHE IS A BITCH. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT HOW EVIL SHE IS, JUST LOOK BACK AT THE DEBATE WHERE SHE ATTACKED OBAMA. THAT WAS A DESPERATE, POWER HUNGRY, MEAN, EVIL FACE.

[ban]

Hillary intimately KNOWS what a bastard is. Her husband is--literally--a bastard: The son of a mother who was not married at the time of his birth. As I understand it, in Obama's autobiography he stated that he chose to not look into the marriage of his parents--with the worry about what he would find. (His father had other wives.)

[barb]

Bushes parents were and still are married. The same cannot be said of her husband's father and mother. Do the research. He was a car salesman and there is no record of their marriage. However, no matter who is the President, they deserve respect especially from a Senator. This just shows how classless she is. No matter how many names President Bush has been called, he has never retaliated.

[nitpicker]

I'm pretty sure this post is about equal to the amount of coverage the "bitch" comment got.

[Lea]

I am sorry, people, but both were rude and undignified. We have so many serious issues to address, study, and decide who will be our best candidate to handle the Presidency, and it is really out of line to besmirch people's characters. It also reflects mostly on the individual who says it....

[Mark]

Can you not see the Republicans jumping up and down with GLEE ?? Hiloray or Obama dosn't matter now, the Dems have split the vote right down the middle. Come election day, either the blacks will stay home because they feel cheated or the women will stay home because they feel unrepresented. Win , Win for the Rep.

[Dennis Miller]

Speaking of bitches... I have three dogs: two bitches named Code and Pink, and a mutt name Kucinich.

[JavaLavaJoe]

Jon - do you believe your own spin or do you just play puppet for Hills? Being able to think for yourself is something Obama encourages....you should try it!

[ban]

barb...in the case of billy blythe/clinton...his mother claimed that Mr. Blythe was billy boy's daddy after Mr. Blythe died (convenient!). Further, Mr. Blythe was already MARRIED to someone OTHER than billy's mama.

Now, THERE's a bastard close to hillary's roost.

[jose]

it is astonishing that people forget that bill clinton implemented NAFTA which is a big part of the vision of a united north america, if hillary is elected she won't be able to stop it ,she supports it too.in fact we are so down the road of the united states of north america that no one can stop it ,it is called globalization...
it is just a matter of time....

[Cammie]

The woman who used the phrase seems a bit off keel to begin with. Saying that President Bush is going to implement this "plot" in 2010 when he leaves office in January '09 displays a very basic misunderstanding of reality.

[Mike]

He is a Bastard !! I lost a brother in this damn war that the SOB in the white house lied us into .And if I saw the old lady say it I would shake her hand .

[Darrel]

Dear Liberals, Dear Hillary,

George Bush is NOT RUNNING IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

Just keep slinging the mud that is pissing off more and more voters, and see which party wins the election.

[Ed]

Yet another wonderful example of the classless garbage that is the democratic party's base. Can't come up with legitimate policy questions? Fine, just start the name calling. Morons....

[saintknowitall]

Funny, I didn't think GW could run for President again. You wouldn't know it by the way the democrats are running their campaign. LOL

[a citizen]

Truth be told Bill Clinton is a Bastard and Hilary is well most of the people know what she is. Hilary if you don't get elected who is going to have sex with Bill?

You may not like Bush but he made the hard calls and took the heat from losers like the Clintons, Carter a world class loser. He could have easliy coasted his last four years but he didn't. I have no reservations Hilary would have sat on her big behind. Think about it - do you really think Bush enjoys hearing our boys are being killed? If so your very sick - He was defending us.

You have already stated you will have no guts - but you will withdraw and keep the status qou. As Hilary often says she will call a meeting - there is always safety in numbers.

Just think of it we are at the level of calling the President of the United States a Bastard - And the Democratic friont runner says what? Nothing just smiled -- what a loser but she has had a good teacher.

[Alanna]

Why won't FOX NEWS put Ron Paul's picture on the front page lineup as they did the other candidates. It's as if they are wanting people to believe there is no such person as Ron Paul. My friends, Ron Paul is very much real. So real in fact that the government and news media are trying their hardest to make you believe otherwise. Ask yourself my friends, why are they trying so hard to make him non-existence?????? Then go look Ron Paul up on the internet and read his biography and his voting record!!!!!!!!!!!! I am begging you people to please open your eyes and hearts to Ron Paul. I promise you infront of God himself that Ron Paul is here to help us and is the only person in politics that is trust worthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jeannette]

That does it for me. This if typical Bill and Hillery stuff. Who in their right mind would vote for her when we all know they lie. And, to laugh or snicker at a awful remark like that, I don't care who said it, she should have said something. Maybe she would have lost that womans vote, if she had I would have more respect for her. You know, if she had divorced "Bill", I would most likely vote for her. They brought more discrase to the White House and our country than any other President or First Lady.....My vote will go to Obama.

[Justin]

As a British person observing these elections from afar, I have to say Barack Obama is already seen as an icon over here and has already been unofficially endorsed by every single British newspaper.

I hope the great people of America will not pass the on the fantastic opportunity to make Barack Obama their president. He is lready beloved around the world and his words inspire all of us.

[fischlady]

Dee4Obama....Obama has RESPECT and DIGNITY?!?!?!? This man won't even put his hand over his heart when the national anthem is played and will not join in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I don't know about you, but I don't want anyone in the highest office in the US that won't even show respect to the flag and the foundation that our country was built on. At least Hillary is honest about her ridiculous intentions. Obama is running on a platform that he will drop the second he wins the nomination. Personally, I fear for our country if either one of these people are put in to office.

[mark]

I find it so humorous how the pantywaste libs here are defending the senile old bat calling Bush a bastard while stating that calling Hillary a bitch is much, much worse. I'll clear it up for you all: Hillary *is* a bitch, and Bush is *not* a bastard. 'Nuff said.

[jojo]

well, Bush is the spawn of Satan.....wouldn't that make him, technically, a bastard as well?

200 years to a 1 trillion$ budget (Reagan)
Bush hit 2 trillion$ in 2002 and just announced a 3$ bagger today.
Diabolical.

[Scot]

In the book "Unlimited Access" by Gary Aldrich, you can read all about the Clinton administration's complete and utter disregard for authority (that isn't theirs). Senator Hillary Clinton's response to the woman's calling the current president a "bastard" is quite consistent with the portrayal of her in the book. I'm greatly offended at her contempt for the dignity of the presidential office, and the person in that office. How can Senator Clinton expect such respect towards her if she has such insolent disrespect herself?