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

[John]

Absolutely no chance im voting for Obama. The audacity of a person to run for President when they have only been a one term senator is ridiculous. If he doesn't want to be "changed" by the washington establishment (which some would consider learning the ropes) he should run (and hopefully win) for Governor of Illinois. And then run for President in 8 years. The guy is all bark and no bite at this point. The fact that anyone would vore for a candidate just because he is a good speaker is borderline stupidity.

[John R.]

The difference is that Bush literally is not a bastard and Hillary is in most people's opinion a bitch. Even my 77 year old grandma calls her that.

[steve]

Shrillary will never be my president. Never, ever, ever. She will never have my respect, ever. She is a complusive liar. She will do anything to win. She is a socialist. And she is a bitch. Facts, baby, all facts.

[marsx]

Considering Mr. Bush is war criminal and traitor to the U.S. Constitution which he swore an oath to uphold, I think the elderly woman let him off easy!!!

[hkeith]

Well, Bush is a bastard. Should Hillary have stopped and lectured the woman and crowd that Bush is still our Commander-in-Chief for 351 more days? Or, should she have demanded a translation like Senator McCain did when that old bag called HIllary a bitch?

I am an Obama supporter who thinks that this is just much ado.....let's discuss real issues. Like how to repair the country after all the damage that bastard has done to it.

[Naomi]

Well said Diane. Hillary Clinton shows her adolescent upbringing by her disrespect of the President. How can she expect us to vote her into the highest office of the land when she has such disrespect for it, like her husband having a blow -job in the oval office. These two behave like immatured high-schoolers who lack manners, dignity and decorum. There is no comparison between the words "Bastard" and "Bitch". Both are disgusting and used primarily by uneducated, ignorant people. Hillary, being the educated woman, should have corrected the caller forthwith. Failing to do so, shows her as a crass and uncouth human being.

[jatcagirl]

(ooops...did i sent that last post early?)

i'm in agreement with pullo...the real story is the question itself. the economic union has been in the works for a long while, starting with NAFTA, as hillary doggone knows...check out the security and prosperity partnership with the governments of canada, mexico and the USA. see www.spp.gov

the north american union is no joke...soon we could be purchasing our goods with an "amero"...and heck, google the north carolina driver's license. they've got the spp logo already! the alberta gov website already has a map of the proposed NAFTA superhighways (one's called the CANAMEX) and the trans-texas corridor in the south has long been an issue...

hillary has been a bush-basher from day 1...it's part of her game

the more important issue is that she's lying!!

[Vladimir]

Lets get real:

Bush is a bastard.

And Clinton is a bitch.

[DWL]

Let's see. GW has nothing but respect for the Oval Office, his wife, and does not flip his views every time the polls change. On the other hand, the Clinton's are corrupt, used the Oval Office for BJ's, rented out the White House and then later stole the furniture, sold pardons for contributions, and flip their views on a routine basis.

[Rachel]

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Defending your husband is one thing defending a stranger is another. Most of you are brainwashed by all this soaring rhetoric over Senator Obama. Go ahead vote for him. If he wins the primary I voting for Mccain. I will not let Oprah or Caroline Kennedy or the other Kennedy who's husband is a republican convince me to change my vote. It's not about change with Senator Obama. It's about taking a gamble on an unseasoned player. No thank you. This is not a personality contest.

[jeff]

If I had a chance to ask Hillary a question, it would be:

"What do you think of open marriages, and do you and Bill Clinton have one?" My guess is that Bill and Hillary haven't "gotten together" since to 80's. Does anyone really believe that Hillary didn't know about Bill's philandering? The reason she got so mad at him over Monica is that he was dumb enough to get caught with his pants down, so to speak, which made her look foolish. She had to look like the poor unknowing spouse. What else was she going to say--that she knew and it was OK? I think people have a right to know if they have an open marriage, and then let people decide how important it is. I personally don't care, but I think a lot of people would.

[jeff]

If I had a chance to ask Hillary a question, it would be:

"What do you think of open marriages, and do you and Bill Clinton have one?" My guess is that Bill and Hillary haven't "gotten together" since to 80's. Does anyone really believe that Hillary didn't know about Bill's philandering? The reason she got so mad at him over Monica is that he was dumb enough to get caught with his pants down, so to speak, which made her look foolish. She had to look like the poor unknowing spouse. What else was she going to say--that she knew and it was OK? I think people have a right to know if they have an open marriage, and then let people decide how important it is. I personally don't care, but I think a lot of people would.

[Bryan]

You miss the point. Bush isn't a 'bastard' because he knows who is father is. However, Hillary is 100%, dyed-in-the-wool, US Grade A Prime 'BITCH'.

So that doddering old fool lied (or more likely was an ignorant twit, given she is a democrat, and a Hillary supporter to boot) about Bush, but those that call Hitlary a BITCH have it 100% right!

[Nancianne]

Clinton is a divider and polarizing figure for good reason. Remember FILEGATE, WHITE WATER. TRAVELGATE, HOG FUTURES BONANZA. BIMBO PATROL THAT SHE LEAD,ENEMIES LIST, NO MILITARY UNIFORMS IN THE . The list goes on and on. She is dishonest and has no right or character to be in the White House. Her smile is yet another arrogant gesture that she is full of Hillary and only cares abut herself, power and money

[hdimig]

>>What a sharp contrast this to the class, manners and CHARACTER
>>of Barack Obama. He teaches us to give RESPECT and DIGNITY to
>>one another regardless of our differences.

Oh please. Call the vatican, Obama is up for sainthood.

[ralphie]

I usually call him, traitor.. or peice of $hit.
actually.. its usually "peice of $hit"

[FERENC LUKACS]

Not only Bush is a bastard, but: He is a terrorist, a murderer, a liar, a thug, an imbecile, an enemy of the state (and all peace loving nations), who should be impeached, prosecuted, tried and EXECUTED, along with Dick Chaney, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, (Traitors in war time should not allowed to roam free in any country!!!) In the last seven years this great country became the home of the cowards. Everybody is afraid expressing his or her political dissent, in fear of state retribution by being labeled a terrorist or a traitor. How come that our "leaders" always find money to fight illegitimate wars, but none (or very little) to save the uninsured, the needy or unfortunate. Where is the collective social consciousness of our nation? What did we become as people?
(By the way I wouldn't be surprise if you would not post my remarks!)

[S.A. Smith]

Could Hillary's assent to this woman's crude comment degrade her any further? Afterall, she stayed married to a man who not only cheated on her openly and throughout her marriage but whot knowingly put her on national television to lie on his behalf and in the process humiliate herself even further. When's the last time you heard a woman called "asshole?" "Bitch" is no more sexist than asshole. To say it is, especially when coming from the lips of a woman, is to play the gender card. Obama! 08!

[Bob]

The story is something of a cheap shot, whether you're a Hillary Clinton aficionado or not. Old ladies' cussing is inherently humorous. As for the noun in question, Bush is most certainly not a bastard. He has a father who, at last report, still claimed him. I believe that's the word the lady was reaching for is ignoramus.

[dimig]

Is anyone else looking forward to 4 years of an Oprah love-fest that will be an Obama presidency? Also 4 years where you cannot criticize your President without someone implying you are racist? If Obama is elected he will make mistakes. Look at first term Bill Clinton and GWB. We are now living in an awful dangerous world for making mistakes. Look past the fancy rhetoric. Who looks more prepared? Obama hasn't even served one term in the Senate. His voting record in the Senate is not great. We know a couple of things with Hillary. She is well prepared to do something about Health Care. She will do good with the economy. She will at least not make Iraq any worse. The correct choice is clear to me. I also cannot stand how Obama is viewed as so squeaky clean when his campaign has slung plenty of dirt. "Senator Punjab", MLK/LBJ, Walmart comments, Telling Nevada Republicans to register democrat to defeat Hillary ... All underhanded yet people swear up and down he is a saint.

[Stephane]

If you want another stubborn, egotistical, christian male in the White House; vote for Obama. Hey, black men got the right to vote before women did, so this would be following the status quo. If you want a real change; vote for Hillary. Your daughters and granddaughters will thank you.

[KLM]

This is bad. Not one word in the whole blog about the insult to fellow First Lady Barbra Bush!!! What's wrong with you people?

[emma grump]

While I may not agree with all of our president's policies, I show him and the office he holds a great deal of respect. Too many opinionated loudmouths today feel it is acceptable to call someone anything they want, just because they "feel strongly" or are "angry" or are "upset". GET A GRIP, people, and show some restraint. The more vile things said about the president, the less meaning they have. Fortunately, GWB has a thick skin and the insults just roll off his back. I know that when insults are directed at me, I laugh all the harder! That makes the insulters all the more furious, and they are so funny to watch in all their rage.

[Russ]

I have always understood that it takes one to know one, whatever the ugly name one choses to call another. The office of the Presidency deserves respect even if you do not always agree with the President. Those of you who enjoy hearing name calling of the president have to realize that you are also calling the more than half of the voters who elected the President in effect the same name. After all, it was they who put the man in office. At least President Bush knows enough to keep his pants zipped up which is a lot more than the last President knew how to do while in the White House. Hillary's smile at the bastard comment tells a lot about her thinking process.

[calypso catteraugus]

of course, as pullio and few other have pointed out, the issue of real substance is totally lost in this debate. who cares what the lady called bush? she is entitled to her opinion, even if expressed in a marginally crude way. at least she cares and is passionate about the issues! everyone on this board is concerned with the name calling, but consistently gloss over the issue of the North American Union, which is a very real thing. of course billary was able to dodge the question and the times chooses to gloss over it as well. pathetic. the real truth that gets ignored in this story is the fact that bush and hillary both support the NAU and the further erosion of our national sovereignty. but who cares about real issue when their is mudslinging to be done!