Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Hillary Clinton on 'The Daily Show' with Jon Stewart

Well, contrary to one of his predictions, Hillary Clinton did not announce a campaign for the presidency on The Daily Show last night. In opposition to another of his forecasts, Jon Stewart's career as a 'journalist' is not likely to be in any peril whatsoever.  Having the most popular female statesperson in the country as a guest was an enormous coup.

To make the episode even more ground-breaking, it was Hillary's first appearance in an extended TV interview situation with a live audience in attendance since accepting the post of secretary of state in 2008.  (The Barbara Walters finale on The View excepted - that was more of a drop-in and was more about Barbara - or it was supposed to be - you know how Barbara is.)

Since the release of her memoir of her tenure as secretary of state, Hard Choices, on June 10, she has sat for a series of media interviews - all in quiet, sedate settings where she conversed one-on-one with such media luminaries as Diane Sawyer,  Cynthia McFadden, and Jane Pauley.

This was different as anyone familiar with The Daily Show might have expected.

For the first time in years, Hillary was before a live audience on tele-display, not at an award ceremony or formal speaking engagement on C-SPAN (thankful as we are for those archives) but across the desk from a witty talk-show host who had interviewed her in the past and knew his subject well enough to ask the right and light questions to get the pithy and quick responses so typical of Hillary's great wit.

Hillary entered to a huge welcome from the audience which she returned in her signature fashion.   Ostensibly there to promote her heavy tome,  within moments she weathered Stewart's first dart.  "Nobody cares [about the book].  They want to know if you're running for president."  The party was on and there was no lack of humor or lapse in wit on either side.

It was a refreshing, and long overdue appearance on TV talk show.  Hillary was delightful and Jon was his comedic self.  Great fun!




The extended interview can be accessed here. >>>>

Here is a short and sweet review.

 By VERENA DOBNIK
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton gave Jon Stewart no hints about whether she will run for president, but acknowledged during Tuesday's taping of "The Daily Show" that the speculation surrounding her possible candidacy has become "a cottage industry."

Stewart introduced Clinton by saying, "She's here solely for one reason: to publicly and definitively declare her candidacy for president of the United States ... I think."

That proved not to be true.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S.(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II). Former U.S.


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Great show, Hillary!  Please do more of these!  We love having you back on home turf.