The few. The proud.
EmailLast night on World News in Charles Gibson’s series of candidate profiles, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, described how NASA crushed her childhood hopes of becoming an astronaut.
At age 14, "I wrote NASA and said, ‘What do you have to do to become an astronaut?’" Clinton said. "That was my question. I wanted to prepare myself."
"They said, ‘Be a man.’ They said, ‘We’re not accepting girls.’ And I was crushed. I couldn’t believe it," she said. "To have my government tell me that there was something I couldn’t do because I was a girl was shocking to me."
It’s part of the Clinton narrative … denied opportunities throughout her life because of her gender, she has her eyes on the prize now …
As is her story, first told in 1994, that she tried to join the Marines in 1975 but was rejected.
She was a 27-year-old lawyer in Arkansas, due to marry Bill Clinton on October 11, 1975.
She says she visited a Marine recruiting office and asked a Marine recruiter about joining.
"You’re too old, you can’t see and you’re a woman," Clinton said was the response, as she told female veterans in a speech in 1994.
"Maybe the dogs would take you," she says he said — a reference to the Army. "It was not a very encouraging conversation. I decided maybe I’ll look for another way to serve my country."
In the NYT, Maureen Dowd questioned this story back when she told it, asking "if she was talking to a Marine recruiter in 1975 before the marriage, was she briefly considering joining the few, the proud and the brave of the corps as an alternative to life with Mr. Clinton, who was already being widely touted as a sure thing for Arkansas Attorney General? …
"Neal Lattimore, Mrs. Clinton’s spokesman, said her visit to the recruiter had to be seen in the context of her dedication to public service. ‘I’m never surprised when Mrs. Clinton is doing something service oriented,’ he said. ‘She was just taking in all her options, saying "This is where I am in my life, this is what fits into my life right now." But she had moved to Arkansas to be with Mr. Clinton, so why was she thinking about joining the Marines? ‘Maybe she was thinking about the J.A.G. Corps,’ he said, referring to the legal branch of the service. ‘She was exploring all her options, the National Guard, everything.’"
What’s interesting about this story is that as far as I can tell she stopped telling it in 1994. I can’t even find any reference to it in her autobiography, "Living History."
Wow …How different would the world be today if Hillary Clinton had become a Marine in 1975?
– jt
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This is why so many people do not like or trust Hillary. she is always embellishing, telling half truths and no truths.
People are very sick of this and want someone with more to offer other than the games HRC and hubby play.
And this is why you see Obama rising while she is falling.
the country just is tried of these kind of politicians ruining the country.
Posted by: vwcat | December 7, 2007, 10:13 am 10:13 am
I remember once, a party which united around the theme that trust shouldn’t be an issue–just competance. What a shame that the party had to resort to that strategy, because its standard-bearer was an acknowledged pathological liar and sexual predator. Now, we face the prospect of that man being set loose in D.C. again–with his wife, who seems to be trying to step down to the level of her husband’s behavior. Jake–please, brother, both of them know that if you tell a big enough lie often enough, people will believe it, because the media will cover it. Enough, already. Suppose Hillary gave a press conference, and no one came?? That would be the start of the media’s comeback in the approval-rating polls.
Posted by: SteveW | December 7, 2007, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
The fact that Clinton didn’t retell a story is an indication that it’s fabricated? Some one’s bias is showing again.
Posted by: cordelia525 | December 8, 2007, 10:23 am 10:23 am
vwcat is probably an Obama supporter. In a presidential campaign, you have to do the balancing act. Hence, all candidates doublespeak and if elected will have to act either for or against an issue.
I think Obama does not have experience. Also, he has unethically attacked Hillary to create an issue (of not being genuine), when he is no less of a hypocrite. Taking help from Oprah: come on, if you have sound political beliefs and maturity, would you take advice from a talk show host. Imagine a Obama white house, and is Oprah going to do policy? This campaigning with Oprah thing is ridiculous and cheap!
Posted by: nariman goel | December 9, 2007, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Interesting? Will her lies ever stop?
Ok do the math, She was 14 in 1961 that was a year before the First Astronaut entered space, I do not see any record of a rush or push in any way for people to become Astronauts.
Ok now lets go to her talk about becoming a Marine – She worked for a Marxist Legal Firm (And he was a registered Communist) defended the Black Panthers a terrorist organization, but yet she wanted to join the Marines? Hey I got a bridge to sell anyone that believes her.
And by the way I do not think NASA would of sent a letter to a 14 year old girl that harsh.
Why does she not talk about her plans to run for President since 1989, and push socialism on this country which is fact.
Posted by: spock | December 10, 2007, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm