Out of Africa
EmailFor the second time this week, the nation’s top diplomat is being accused of making un-diplomatic remarks.
At a town hall in Abuja, Nigeria, a land of corrupt elections, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to push the message that embracing violence is never the answer, even after a disputed election.
But it was her mention of U.S. elections that caught people’s attention.
“Our democracy is still evolving,” the secretary of state told the crowd. “You know we’ve had all kinds of problems in some of our past elections as you might remember. In 2000, our presidential election came down to one state where the brother of the man running for president was the governor of the state, so we have our problems, too.”
And what says that “governor of the state,” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush?
“Governor Bush is declining to weigh in on these ill-advised comments,” a spokesman for former Bush said. “But wishes Secretary Clinton a safe and successful trip.”
A State Department official writes that much of the Secretary’s trip — 7 countries in 11 days — “has focused on good governance as a way for many of these nations to move forward, especially those blessed with natural resources like Nigeria is with oil, but the population doesn’t benefit.”
Explains the official, “so she was talking about the power of example that she invokes frequently (rather than the U.S. example of our power). Despite the difficulties and divisiveness of the last few elections — including the prolonged 2000 election — our country comes together and respects the rule of law. Not only is that NOT an indictment of anyone, it’s actually touting all the participants and the system and the peaceful transfer of power. The reference to 2000 in particular was from the Nigerian perspective of anyone who looked at the relationship and thought anything of it.”
The official said that Clinton “offered herself up as living proof of losing a contest but doing what’s best for her country.”
You can read more on this HERE.
– jpt
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
Hopefully PETA will take a stand against all the dead horses being beaten by this administration.
Posted by: Jen B. | August 13, 2009, 8:02 am 8:02 am
Clearly, she’s losing her mind.
Posted by: mesquito | August 13, 2009, 8:13 am 8:13 am
This is a tasty combo of the Obama administration’s “America sucks” foreign policy, coated in some rich, gooey Bush Deragement Syndrome. Sure, the “media recounts” of the 2000 election showed that the recounts requested by Al Gore or ordered by the Florida Supreme Court WOULD HAVE STILL RESULTED IN A VICTORY for George W. Bush.
Why would that stop our country’s chief diplomat from going overseas and suggesting that her predecessors in government were there illegitimately?
Certainly not President Obama’s faux insistence that we let go of the politics of the past.
Posted by: Another Shill for Hill | August 13, 2009, 9:05 am 9:05 am
The Democrats are imploding under the weight of their own hubris, lies and stupidity.
Posted by: Left wing is the new right wing | August 13, 2009, 9:15 am 9:15 am
“Despite the difficulties and divisiveness of the last few elections — including the prolonged 2000 election — our country comes together and respects the rule of law. Not only is that NOT an indictment of anyone, it’s actually touting all the participants and the system and the peaceful transfer of power. The reference to 2000 in particular was from the Nigerian perspective of anyone who looked at the relationship and thought anything of it.”
The official said that Clinton “offered herself up as living proof of losing a contest but doing what’s best for her country.”
****
I think this is a valid point. I remember finding it highly suspect that Jeb Bush was the governor of the state that tipped the election in his brother’s favor— BUT in our country a civil war didn’t break out. The Rule of Law prevailed and power was passed peacefully– which is one of the things that makes our country so amazing.I disagree that she was suggesting that her predecessors in government were there illegitimately– she was suggesting that there are sometimes disputed elections. And there are!!
Posted by: Alyson | August 13, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am
“”Our democracy is still evolving,” the secretary of state told the crowd. “You know we’ve had all kinds of problems in some of our past elections as you might remember. In 2000, our presidential election came down to one state where the brother of the man running for president was the governor of the state, so we have our problems, too.”
Seems like a completely accurate, entirely reasonable statement. Does ANYONE think that Florida wasn’t an embarassment for our system?
Posted by: jhw539 | August 13, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am
Alyson:”The Rule of Law prevailed and power was passed peacefully”
I stand corrected – I completely accept that in that context Florida wasn’t an embarassment. There was plenty to be embarassed about, but the ultimate and peaceful rule of law is indeed a big reason to take pride in our country.
Posted by: jhw539 | August 13, 2009, 10:05 am 10:05 am
“Seems like a completely accurate, entirely reasonable statement. Does ANYONE think that Florida wasn’t an embarassment for our system?”
Posted by: jhw539 | Aug 13, 2009 10:01:19 AM
MMmmmmmmm, tasty koolaid.
Posted by: Community Agitator | August 13, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am
The “media recounts” of the 2000 election showed that the recounts requested by Al Gore or ordered by the Florida Supreme Court WOULD HAVE STILL RESULTED IN A VICTORY for George W. Bush.
Posted by: Reality Cramp | August 13, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
When in doubt, blame Bush!
Posted by: JD | August 13, 2009, 10:51 am 10:51 am
Seems the Obama administration is all about group hugs with nations that dont know (and don’t care) what human rights are. First the PRC and now Nigeria. Yet another similiarity with Bush.
Posted by: K. Sarowiwa | August 13, 2009, 11:06 am 11:06 am
And “gobot” says Republicans should stop complaining that Obama stole the 2008 election. Are you out there gobot? I told you lefties still can’t get over 2000.
BTW, gobot, your rant about the “right-winger” with the gun at the church? He told Chris Matthews he voted for Ron Paul, one of your heros.
Posted by: Thank a vet today | August 13, 2009, 11:18 am 11:18 am
This woman is an embarrassment to the United States. Jeb had nothing to do with it. Hillary likes to go on about ‘vast right wing conspiracies’ and is now making such claims on foreign soil. When Biden showed that he couldn’t walk out his front door without putting his foot in his mouth they kept him quiet (anyone hear a peep from Biden on Health Care Reform?) – my guess is that Hillary is next. My guess is that Bill was able to negotiate with North Korea recently by suggesting that if they didn’t agree to free the journalists through discussions with him that the US would send Hillary in next.
Posted by: DB | August 13, 2009, 11:20 am 11:20 am
Dear Hillary,
Please take a moment to re-read your President’s inauguration speech. I suggest you pay particular attention to this section:
“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
“On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
“We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.”
Posted by: Thank a vet today | August 13, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Hillary is out there pushing this tired, thoroughly-debunked, wacko conspiracy theory about Florida 2000.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy | August 13, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
You GO, girl! Go, far, and keep on
going. The angst in your soul peeps
out so often now that you are becom-
ing a bore. You are a jealous, angry
woman. We need a confident and serene
SOS now more than ever. You, milady,
are a bridge too far.
Posted by: Trajan | August 13, 2009, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
“You, milady,
are a bridge too far.”
Great movie. Now I’ll ask this: Who ISN’T in that film? Seriously, Robert Redford, Sean Connery, James Caan, Hardy Krueger, Michael Caine…
Posted by: Losfahren | August 13, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Hill could keep the inspirational America bashing going . We deplore the rapes in Africa . Why even in our country an Attorney General can be accused of rape and nobody does a thing .
Posted by: nat turner | August 13, 2009, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
My only question is if you hate America so much why don’t you leave? Are Obama, Michelle, Hillary etc really so vindictive and angry that they would rather live somewhere they hate- just so they can ruin it- instead of being happy? How can people be so selffish that they would rather hurt other people (or in this case destroy the country) rather than find happiness for themselves? If Michelle, or Obama, or Clinton hate America for whatever reason (racism, classism, sexism, history of freedom, capitalism, or whatever) why don’t they simply LEAVE? They are all millionaires and they could go move anywhere in the world.
Posted by: Ed | August 13, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
“How can people be so selffish that they would rather hurt other people (or in this case destroy the country) rather than find happiness for themselves?”
I don’t know.
Why do Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity do that?
Posted by: Ryan C | August 13, 2009, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
And while I’m on the whole movie thing, I’m going to come out and say that Bridge at Remagen is a distant second to A Bridge Too Far. Then there’s The Bridge on the River Kwai, but that should really be looked at as a study in psychology….
Posted by: Losfahren | August 13, 2009, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
Posted by: Ed | Aug 13, 2009 1:36:56 PM
That’s crazy talk, Ed! Only Alec Baldwin has left the country.
Posted by: Kim B. | August 13, 2009, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Secretary Clinton’s remarks on the 2000 elections are unfortunate as it undermines the veracity of our message to Nigeria and Africa to encourage non-violent elections. They might consider something like, “the USA may not exhibit physical violence, but they do harbor resentment that manifests in a willingness to be unfair in their electoral dealings – just look at how the media was engaged to win the 2008 elections”. Opening ourselves up to criticism of this sort is something that our States people need to avoid. Note that most of the media outlets have not provided coverage on this gaff. We want Sec. Clinton to be successful, so the media must do their part.
Posted by: Dr. Obvious | August 13, 2009, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
My only question is if you hate America so much why don’t you leave?
Posted by: Ed | Aug 13, 2009 1:36:56 PM
Well, gosh Ed. We asked liberals the same question for the past 8 years. If they hated George and Laura so much, why didn’t they just leave. Answer is obvious to us. We love this country and are not leaving – just like I’m sure a lot of liberals love this country and did not want to leave. It’s what makes this country so great. We will simply work hard to restore what we feel is proper representation in America. Liberals do the same.
Posted by: Thank a vet today | August 13, 2009, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
“The “media recounts” of the 2000 election showed that the recounts requested by Al Gore or ordered by the Florida Supreme Court WOULD HAVE STILL RESULTED IN A VICTORY for George W. Bush.”
Gore strategy in 2000 was not a good one.
The media study of the ballots concluded that Gore would have won had a request been made for a full recount of the whole state.
But he did not request that.
Posted by: Ryan C | August 13, 2009, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
The media study of the ballots concluded that Gore would have won had a request been made for a full recount of the whole state.
Using the “Duranty Method,” the NY Times spearheaded the study…
Posted by: Jayson Blair | August 13, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
“Using the “Duranty Method,” the NY Times spearheaded the study..”
Basically counting overvotes…people who marked their candidate and wrote them in.
Posted by: Ryan C | August 13, 2009, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
Thank a vet….
You go on and on about Democrats.
Maybe Hillary Clinton was just pointing out the elections, even in America, can be contentious and controversial…. but these controversies can be resolved peacefully.
In 2000, I was 100% behind Bush. I believe the he won fair and square.
But, having said that, I would much rather argue with a Democrat about the election of 2000 than argue with a Republican about 2008. To be fair, I don’t associate with anyone who thinks Bush “stole” the election… but as far as I know, Democrats are not stockpiling machine guns and reveling in violent fantasies that conflate 1776 with 2000.
The most I have heard Democrats do is complain. Meanwhile, the Republicans that I do talk to (and argue with) seem to be obsessed, not only with the idea that Obama is not REALLY president… but that they have some special dispensation to protect us from Obama. Tie this messianic delusion to an infantile belief in redemptive violence… and you got yourself some grade-a whackos.
Meanwhile, all the other Republicans just shrug and try to shout down anyone who questions the wisdom of such lunacy.
So, yeah, I’m here. And I read you loud and clear. Because Hillary Clinton made a comment about the 2000 election…. and because I like Ron Paul… that somehow this makes it OK for nutjobs to indulge in their pathetic militiaman fantasies.
I won’t criticize the armed, delusional “Patriots” who are handing out CONVICTIONS against political figures they disagree with. I’d hate to offend you.
Posted by: gobot | August 13, 2009, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
The part of the system she really didn’t like was that of the DNC and Howard Dean… yep, it sucks…
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | August 13, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
” The official said that Clinton “offered herself up as living proof of losing a contest but doing what’s best for her country.” ”
LOL. She should have retired from public life if she wanted to do what’s best for her country.
Posted by: wilt | August 13, 2009, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
People are not fools. We are all students of history. President Bush could not weigh in on Nigeria’s rigged 2003 Presidential elections because he too was a beneficiary of a disputed victory. We all know what happend in Florida, no matter how anyone decides to spin.
What Mrs Clinton was trying to say is that there is not perfect system. All systems are at their different stages of evolution so every country should aim at perfecting these flawed systems the way America has perfected its own.
I am proudly a Nigerian but there are so many things I would love to change about this Country if God gives me the opportunity to do so.
A very rich Country with abundant resources cursed with short-sighted and self-serving Leaders. Leaders who are totally bereft of ideas.
@ K. Sarowiwa, are you actually Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr. The son of the state murdered human right activists?
Posted by: Dare Nigeria | August 14, 2009, 4:43 am 4:43 am
Welcome to my website
Posted by: ---river Kwai------ | August 15, 2009, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm