Hillary Clinton appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Thursday night and made efforts to smooth over the furor over her I-was-nearly-shot-to-death-in-Bosnia-by-a-sniper flap.
"It is so great to be here; I was so worried I wasn't going to make it. I was pinned down by sniper fire," Clinton said after joining him onstage, referring to her claims - since disputed - that she dodged sniper bullets while arriving in Bosnia as first lady. Clinton later said she had "misspoke."A mismatch of words and action? More like a mismatch of her words and her actions.
... "This has been such a mismatch of words and action," Clinton continued. "Obviously I've been so privileged to represent our country in more than 80 other countries, lots of war zones. I wrote about it in my book and obviously had a lapse. But here I am, safe and sound."
Clinton has had more trouble with words and actions this week, this time over statements she may (or may not) have made to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as he considered his endorsement in the Democratic race. Clinton reportedly told Richardson flatly, "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win," referring to her opponent, Barack Obama.
Did she say that? reporters asked Clinton at a press conference Thursday. Clinton responded:
But later...“You know we have been going back and forth in this campaign about who said what to whom and let me say this about that. I don’t talk about private conversations. But I have consistently made the case that I can win because I believe I can win. You know, sometimes people draw the conclusions that I’m saying somebody else can’t win. I can win, I know I can win. That’s why I do this everyday. I’m in it to win it.”
The reporter pressed Clinton saying, “Is that a no?” To which Clinton responded, “That’s a no.”
Clinton aides now insist the Senator misunderstood the question, asserting the candidate believed she was answering whether or not she would discuss a private conversation.I just find it amusing that a grown woman who serves in the U.S. Senate and who wants to be president of the United States has trouble understanding, according to her campaign, a simple question about whether she made a comment attributed to her.
"I just double checked," Doug Hattaway, Clinton spokesperson told ABC News, "She was saying she was not going to tell (the reporter) about her private conversation."
Perhaps CBS News' Fernando Suarez provides some clarity:
The campaign’s move leaves open the possibility that Clinton may have been worried that Richardson, who eventually endorsed Obama, would have come out and challenged Clinton’s denial.Bosnia and Bill Richardson ... just the latest examples from Clinton, who has had trouble telling the truth throughout her entire public life.
