Opinion: Clinton schedules a talk-show appearance

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You don’t find Hillary Rodham Clinton making the rounds of the Sunday chat shows or sitting down for weekday interviews on cable channels. And only rarely will she crop up on the late-night entertainment circuit. Less-well-funded and less-well-known presidential candidates appreciate the free air time. But Clinton doesn’t have to worry about money or name recognition. Besides, the free-wheeling format on many of these programs doesn’t fit her buttoned-down style.

But Clinton, who polls have found enjoys significant support from Democratic-leaning female voters, has been a frequent guest on daytime talk shows that have large female audiences. And it was announced today that she will be on hand for the season premiere of the syndicated ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ on Sept. 4.

It will be Clinton’s first such appearance since she launched her presidential candidacy early this year. But as recently as late last year, she appeared on ABC’s ‘The View,’ ostensibly to promote the re-release on her book ‘It Takes a Village.’

Clinton also appeared on DeGeneres’ program, which is based in Burbank, in the fall of 2005. At the time, she offered to help guide DeGeneres around New York when the comedian traveled to the city later in the year.

Her host was excited. ‘We’ll go see some theater, and we’ll hang out and do some stuff there. We’ll go to clubs,’ DeGeneres said.

‘You’ll go to the clubs,’ Clinton replied.

We imagine the clubbing idea remains off-limits.

-- Don Frederick