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

[boB]

Of course it won't. The media elite wants to make sure Obama and Hillary are the only candidates that win and there has ALWAYS been a double-standard. Never mind that there should be a sense of decorum and respect when talking about the President; ANY President. But that doesn't apply when it's Democrats. Only Republicans. OK people, you want a socialist state that will NEVER achieve greatness again because there is no incentive to do so? You'll get it with those two...

[Greg Neubeck]

Reviewing Hillary's methodical playing of the "Race card", and "The Perpetual Victim" against Obama; and, her recent commentary on Iraq; Pakistan; Energy Policy; the need for her to control the 14 Trillion $ American Economy from the White House ( this from a woman who hasn't managed so much as a corner vegetable stand, or for that matter her own marriage; but, of course you could count Whitewater, and her tenure as Madam for Bill's White House Brothel ); her statement in San Francisco: "We're going to have to take more from you, and give it to others for the common good."; Illegal Immigration; Taxes; Infanticide; Massive new Government spending; Multi million $ Senate earmarks for supporters of Hillary's Presidential campaign; Socialized medicine; and, the Clinton's history of emasculating the military, verifies that this grievously flawed woman would be the female version of the Jimmy Carter debacle that gave us the Ayatollah Khomeini who ushered in rampant Islamic radicalism; block-long lines at our gasoline stations; a severely hollow military; and, a record Misery Index. Only much worse. Considering all of her recent gaffes, e.g. "I voted FOR IT (referring to the Bankruptcy Bill); but, I was glad to see that it didn't pass.", one has to wonder if excessive use of Botox has affected her mental stability. It's no wonder that her campaign staff is shielding her from reporter and audience unscripted questions. Greg Neubeck

[Steve Long]

Hitlery Clingon has no soul - she is a vile, strident, manipulative hag. I will savor every moment of her campaign going down in flames, and will do everything in my power to prevent her election.

[gregory bachelis]

So many comments on the internet are so "over the top" that's it's not surprising when vulgarity encroaches on Town Hall Meetings. The tone of discourse in this country has become very shrill and rancorous. Should McCain or Hillary admonish someone who gets out of line? Maybe they feel they would be wasting valuable time. The crudeness and vulgarity of the Nixon taapes has become the everyday norm.

[kassiw]

A peep will not be heard from Cnn. Book it Dano!

[John Steinbeck]

Andrew,

Good catch.

You already know the answer to your query. The lying liberal biased media never is going to treat Republicans and Democrats the same. Good news from Republicans is buried, bad news is headlined, and from the lying liberal biased media, the opposite is true for Dem's, good news is headlined, bad news is buried.

Everyone knows it, but they are shameless with their bias.

[KPRO]

This just shows that a classless person can ask stupid questions to presidential candidates. As long as you're 18 in this country, you can vote, bad manners, lack of class, and stupidity apparently don't count.

[Don Daugherty]

How sad. The President should always be respected, even if you don't agree with him. If Mrs. Clinton had any backbone, she would have called this out to this person. If she is the next President, she can expect the same level of respect as what our current president is receiving.

[VPRK]

The repsected LA times has become an Obama shill of late. It is giving importance to crap and instead stories with serous and indepth analysis it used to do earlier.

Only thing Obama is doing giving nice speeches. Every one falling for this "group think" again (It is almost similar to free media ride Bush got to promote his war.) Obama promised in depth policy speeches. Where are they?

[Erick Blair]

Yeah right and the media isn''t wildly liberal and the reality that most liberals are intolerant bigots is irrelevant. What a country.

[Scy]

She should have said "hell yeah he is"

[Xylol]

"There's not a lot of truth to it" - wouldn't you get the same impression that I do on that line, that therefore there IS *some* truth to it?

[Vette66]

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."

As mush as I don't like McCain, at least he spoke the true that time.

[Eric R.]

Oh My GOD! How dare this woman use her 1st Amendment Rights!

I guess I would be more upset if I didnt agree with her.

[Mike Shields]

So, someone calls Hillary a bitch and, later, someone calls "W" a bastard. Sticks and stones............ As a conservative I must grudgingly admit that in light of 43's performance we might have been better off if the load "W" was in had gone down Barbara's throat instead of into the taco. Oh well, maybe next time.

[Paul Eversman]

"Not a LOT of truth to it"??? Typical Cintonspeak. So what then IS the truth to it? As far as the bastard comment, of course it won't be dwelled upon. When dem's say or approve of these comments they get the usual free pass. The left wing MSM has their back. A conservative say or approve of it, watch out... "I'm Katie Couric, tonight's top story, republican presidential candidate XYZ gave a nodding approval to the word bastard in reference to his democratic opponent XYZ".

[T.J]

Hold her accountable for not criticizing the comment? Yeah, right. Good luck with that. Don't hold your breath.

[Jeff]

Bush is not a bastard. His parents were married when he was born. I don't have any facts to dispute claims of Hillary being a bitch.

[mike e. coon]

slick willy is the real bastard,he isnt even sure who his real father is.

[Mike]

Anyone is surprised by this?

[John Champlin]

He IS a bastard, you idiots- wake up!

[Bigboy]

Surprised? Why would think anything at ALL would be said about the Bitch? She could rip the heads off of bunnies on the White House lawn at Easter in front of the world media and it would be hailed as Visionary and Innovative...

[David G.]

Name calling? That's the news? C'mon LA Times.... Give us something substantive... not this crap. D.

[Prospcetor]

Clearly, the old woman is mentally ill.

[CW2 Sean Carney]

And the crowd roared. ? Man I despise you dems