On Sunday, former secretary of State Hillary Clinton argued that her husband’s affair with Monica Lewinsky did not constitute an “abuse of power” because Lewinsky was a legal adult at the time.
When asked by NBC News’ Tony Dokoupil, Clinton said her husband should not have resigned in the wake of the Lewinsky scandal, and that the relationship was not an “abuse of power.”
“It wasn’t an abuse of power?” Dokoupil asked. “No, no,” Clinton replied.
“There are people who look at the incidents of the ’90s and they say a president of the United States cannot have a consensual relationship with an intern — the power imbalance was too great,” Dokoupil started.
Clinton cut him off, saying, “Who was an adult.”
She then immediately pivoted to attacking President Donald Trump. “But let me ask you this, where’s the investigation fo the current incumbent, against whom numerous allegations have been made and which he dismisses, denies, and ridicules.”
By this response, Hillary Clinton seemed to suggest that her husband’s sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky could not be an “abuse of power” because Lewinsky was 22 years old at the time. That’s disgusting, and in the age of #MeToo, statements like that will alienate liberals.
“Clinton was her 49-year-old boss (and POTUS) and [Monica Lewinsky] was a 22-year-old intern. It *was* an abuse of power. This actually shouldn’t be so hard,” CNN political analyst Kirsten Powers tweeted. “Hillary isn’t responsible for what her husband did, but she should be able to recognize it as an abuse of power.”
https://twitter.com/KirstenPowers/status/1051786503679070208
Former Democratic candidate for Congress Arn Menconi mocked Clinton, tweeting, “POTUS vs. Intern. It’s like the same thing.”
POTUS vs Intern. It’s like the same thing. https://t.co/3HioqSVPlt
— Arn Menconi (@ArnMenconi) October 14, 2018
S.E. Cupp only had two words: “Dear lord.”
Dear lord. https://t.co/h0FJsSnJ77
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) October 14, 2018
It seems Clinton may have finally said something that will turn off Democrat support, more so than her statement last week that Republicans do not deserve to be treated with civility.
Watch Clinton’s remarks below.
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