Bernstein: Hillary Clinton: Truth or Consequences
Hillary Clinton has many admirable qualities, but candor and openness and transparency and a commitment to well-established fact have not been notable among them. The indisputable elements of her Bosnian adventure affirm (again) the reluctant conclusion I reached in the final chapter of A Woman In Charge, my biography of her published last June:
“Since her Arkansas years [I wrote], Hillary Rodham Clinton has always had a difficult relationship with the truth... [J]udged against the facts, she has often chosen to obfuscate, omit, and avoid. It is an understatement by now that she has been known to apprehend truths about herself and the events of her life that others do not exactly share. " [italics added]
As I noted:
“Almost always, something holds her back from telling the whole story, as if she doesn’t trust the reader, listener, friend, interviewer, constituent—or perhaps herself—to understand the true significance of events…”
The Bosnian episode is a watershed event, because it indelibly brings to mind so many examples of this tendency– from the White House years and, worse, from Hillary Clinton’s take-no-prisoners presidential campaign. Her record as a public person is replete with “misstatements” and elisions and retracted and redacted and revoked assertions...
When the facts surrounding such characteristic episodes finally get sorted out - usually long after they have been challenged - the mysteries and contradictions are often dealt with by Hillary Clinton and her apparat in a blizzard of footnotes, addenda, revision, and disingenuous re-explanation: as occurred in regard to the draconian secrecy she imposed on her health-care task force (and its failed efforts in 1993-94); explanations of what could have been dutifully acknowledged, and deserved to be dismissed as a minor conflict of interest - once and for all - in Whitewater; or her recent Michigan-Florida migration from acceptance of the DNC’s refusal to recognize those states’ convention delegations (when it looked like she had the nomination sewn up) to her re-evaluation of the matter as a grave denial of basic human rights, after she fell impossibly behind in the delegate count.The latest episode - the sniper fire she so vividly remembered and described in chilling detail to buttress her claims of foreign policy “experience” - like the peace she didn’t bring to Northern Ireland, recalls another famous instance of faulty recollection during a crucial period in her odyssey.On January 15, 1995, she had just published her book, It Takes a Village, intended to herald a redemptive “come back” after the ravages of health care; Whitewater; the Travel Office firings she had ordered (but denied ordering); the disastrous staffing of the White House by the First Lady, not the President - all among the egregious errors that had led to the election of the Newt Gingrich Congress in 1994.On her book tour, she was asked on National Public Radio about the re-emergence of dormant Whitewater questions that week, when the so-called “missing billing records” had been found. Hillary stated with unequivocal certainty that she had consistently made public all the relevant documents related to Whitewater, including “every document we had,” to the editors of the New York Times before the newspaper’s original Whitewater story ran during Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign.
Even her closest aides - as in the case of the Bosnian episode18 years later - could not imagine what possessed her to say such a thing. It was simply not true, as her lawyers and the editors of the Times (like CBS in the latest instance) recognized, leading to huge stories about her latest twisting of the facts. “Oh my God, we didn’t,” said Susan Thomasas, Hillary’s great friend, who was left to explain to the White House lawyers exactly how Hillary’s aides had carefully cherry-picked documents accessed for the Times in the presidential campaign. The White House was forced - once again - to acknowledge the first lady had been ‘mistaken;” her book tour was overwhelmed by the matter, and Times’ columnist Bill Safire that month coined the memorable characterization of Hillary Clinton as “a congenital liar.”
“Hillary values context; she does see the big picture. Hers, in fact, is not the mind of a conventional politician,” I wrote in A Woman In Charge. “But when it comes to herself, she sees with something less than candor and lucidity. She sees, like so many others, what she wants to see.”
The book concludes with this paragraph:
“As Hillary has continued to speak from the protective shell of her own making, and packaged herself for the widest possible consumption, she has misrepresented not just facts but often her essential self. Great politicians have always been marked by the consistency of their core beliefs, their strength of character in advocacy, and the self-knowledge that informs bold leadership. Almost always, Hillary has stood for good things. Yet there is a disconnect between her convictions and her words and actions. This is where Hillary disappoints. But the jury remains out. She still has time to prove her case, to effectuate those things that make her special, not fear them or camouflage them. We would all be the better for it, because what lies within may have the potential to change the world, if only a little.”
The jury - armed with definitive evidence like the CBS tape of Hillary Clinton’s Bosnian adventure - seems on the verge of returning a negative verdict on her candidacy.
– Carl Bernstein, 360° Contributor Editor's note: Read other blogs from the 360° team of contributors at cnn.com/360
On Twitter
Hillary embellished her story about her arrival in Bosnia. Barack Obama has blatantly lied about his sitting in church for 20 years and not noticing Reverend Wright's tirades of racism.
Carl Bernstein – Thank You for your candid commentary. I sincerely appreciate you writing this and I thank you for bringing these points to light – ""Her record as a public person is replete with “misstatements” and elisions and retracted and redacted and revoked assertions… ""
The only thing I am amazed at is the lack of historical comprehension and retention on the part of the readers who disagree with you. Do they not remember the past, or are they simply cherry picking their memories as Hillary does......
How many of you folks out there remember exactly how something happened 12 years ago? The fact remains that Hillary is well traveled, has met many foreign leaders and this does count, in my opinion, as experience. It's alot like gathering business cards at a party, you make contacts, you network and when you need something you know who/where to go to get it. I think we should sit both candidates in sound proof booths and give them each a set of the same questions containing "what if" scenarios covering the very topics that are important in this race such as national security, foreign policy, the economy, etc. Let them both answer and let's see who has the best response.
It's called integrity. If Hillary will make up stories about being shot at she will lie to the American people. This is one of many that she has told while running for the Democratic Nomination. Assume she was elected the American public will know what to expect from her. Lies. Hillary believes that she is above the standards of accurate information. This is enough of the typical traditional politics that has been going on. I am frankly tired of politicians thinking the American public is dumb.
I would rather overlook simple human frailty as in a politician who doesn't always tell the whole truth – (besides who cares what it was like in Bosnia at the time-the truth is, if nothing else, Hillary has more experience in the Senate and in life) -than trust someone who could have attended a church for twenty years, where the ideas of Reverend Wright had to be blatantly obvious even when he wasn't sitting in the pew ,and who pretends he had no idea that those were Reverend Wright's views, -no idea, indeed!
Accountability, Self Responsibility, Truth Speaking, Integrity, Honor ...
American Citizens must require these traits of all politicians.
Ms. Clinton's character has non of these. Her actions and behavior in general is not one of a US Senator or US President.
She actions are felonious, while not in prison, she is a criminal.
without shame.
PITIFULL
Again – – I have a problem trusting anyone who shows a consistent lack of integrity. Her whole career has been splotched with her problem of telling lies and hiding the truth. Too many articles in papers, magazines and news reports about her in this regard for me to ever give her the benefit of the doubt. She comes off as a power hungry woman who will say and do anything to get what she wants – – more power!!
I have been a huge Hillary fan for most of my greater teenage and adult life. I truly looked up to her as a woman of conviction, inspiration, honesty, intelligence and self worth. After watching her run her presidential campaign and finding out so many things about her I am truly ashamed... I had honestly hoped that she and Obama could make this presidential race for the democrats something more honorable... Hillary has chosen to take the road of smear tactics on more than one occasion... She's tried making herself the victim... And now that it's come out that she's embellished (which is just a fancy word for LIED) a story about a trip to Bosnia that she herself has used as a significant piece of evidence in her ability in foreign policy, people are blaming the media?? SHE DID ALL OF THAT HERSELF!! Sure Obama has had his own moments too... NO ONE is perfect, but the thing is here, she LIED!!! She "stretched" the truth!! Sure, maybe it wasn't about something serious as many of you have noted, but if she lied about that, what else has she lied about?? Carl has pointed to many other instances that she embellished the facts about... It truly does make me sad to think that I've supported and defended this woman for so many years.... I truly thought that she was going to be a kind of person to bring about change in our political system but she is proving to me on a daily basis that that is untrue... She's just like every other lying snake in office who is all about the "ME" factor and the power...
That's why I switched my vote to Obama... Sure he's had his hardships... So his pastor made some pretty horrendous comments... I'm sure he's not the only one in this country who has said something to the same effect, and on top of it, we only heard snippets in the media... The full sermons are completely different than those... He wore Kenyan tribal garb, SO WHAT!!! You know how the saying goes, "When in ________, do as the _______" (insert country and nationality).... Louis Farrakhan is backing him.... So what?? Obama didn't ask for him to endorse him... He has no control over people who choose to come out and endorse him... Give me as break people... All the race issues were brought up by a member of the Clinton campaign, did we all seem to forget?? Obama didn't want to make this about race and never had.... You can thank Geraldine Ferraro for that!!!
This whole race is making me sick and making me realize that no matter how much I may hope that our political system in this country may change it probably never will... As long as there are always power hungry people in politics like Hillary, like G.W. Bush, etc., I don't know if it ever will change...
All of the Hillary fans out there MUST remember that if she lies, she lies. Do we want another president who changes history facts to meet their own reality???????
"What does it matter that she embellished her trip to Bosnia? It isn’t hurting anything! All of them embellish on a lot of things! Why are you all picking on her!? I bet if you searched through Obama’s trash you’d find stuff he lied about!
Give it a rest and get back to the real issues PLEASE!!
We do not care about this!! All of your picking through and analyzing this crap to death every night on 360 is taking away from the time that we could be hearing about the real issues that matter! Get over it!!
Cynthia, Covington, Ga.
It's one thing to embellish an event such as there were fifty snipers as oppose to one or two. It's another to out right lie, we were under sniper attack when they were not. The issue here is lying to the public.
Who does it hurt if baseball players use steriod or HGH and then lie about it? It hurt no one, but the fact is they lie about it. Why will we spend million of dollars to have hearing on this issue?
Are we so naive that we are willing to support a candidate that is a liar? Last time this country elected a candidate that lies we ended up in a war in Iraq and the economy in the toilet.
I personally like both candidates. I think both of them have positive and negative qualities. If you go on the political tab on CNN and check out their political stance you'll see how similar they are and I think it's pretty ridiculous that people are so quick to judge either one.
Hillary exaggerated the truth, we all do it. I mean anytime you tell a story you want to make the story appealing to people so you emphasize the facts and no offense but unless you told the story the moment it happened, there is no way any of us can remember exactly how something happened.
I don't agree with Obama's minister's comments. I don't think the problem would exist had he just been his minister and not involved in the Obama campaign. I also don't think it's fair what Geraldine Ferraro said but I can understand the frustration. You have two candidates with similar views and ultimately they are both politicians and people are making a saint out of one and a mockery of another. That's not very fair now is it? Focus on the issues and not the person – don't just say I'm voting for Obama because he's black or for Hillary because she's a woman. Vote for the person who's views are those you best agree with.
NOBAMA!!!! Hillary 08! I won't for vote anyone who goes to church with a pastor that promotes white racism. NOWAY! NOBAMA!
Hillary is telling us that there were weapons of minor destruction in Bosnia
If we as a country can accept another liar we are in a a path of self destruction. I read some of the comments left by other readers and I encourage all of the Hillary supporters to take a step back and clearly analyze what Hillary says and does, this is a person who cares for herself and no one else. Lying is a sickness and she definetly lies all the time.
CBS News has good advice for Clinton: "A reminder that in politics, memory should always match the video tape."
It has seemed that the Clintons – both of them – have a constant habit of being untruthful or skillfully evasive of the truth.
With Hillary's emphasis on her qualifications being heavily padded with exaggerations and outright lies, this is an important aspect of her character that has to be considered.
People are fired all the time for resume padding. How can we "hire" a President who has falsified her credentials?
Bush has proven that a President who lies to us can be very dangerous. Do we really want to repeat History with a third consecutive liar?
OK just say you're for Obama, don't pretend to be open minded about this. You've picked your nom. ok just say so. You don't need to cut the other person down. She has been to so many countries, and I'm sure what happened, happened somewhere else. You remember things in bits & pieces but you remember them, I'm sure she's checking things out to find out where she was when that happened. She isn't lying about her experience, no matter how hard Obama tries to make it out, her office was closer to Bill Clintons that Gore's was, she was in meetings all the time. That's the experience that counts.
The important point here is what she is lying about. Bringing peace to Northern Ireland. False. Opening the borders in FYROM (aka Macedonia). False. Dodging sniper fire in Bosnia. False. All of these have been cited by Hillary multiple times in support of her claim of experience in foreign affairs. It's all nonsense. It isn't an issue of everyone does it (they don't) but a serious character flaw in the individual. I used to like and admire Hillary. Her slash and burn run for the presidency and her serious difficulty with the truth (NAFTA anyone?) has certainly stopped that.
Carl, I hope everyone reads your article about Hillary all the way through so your qualifying statements concerning her actions won't be ignored. In your lines concerning what seasoned politicians should say, and how they should say it, was surely a criticism of her, but I should like to point out that it applies to Obama as well.
The day we elect anyone to any office who has a pearly white record of saying the truth, is the day that should be declared a holiday. As for Hillary's comment about the preacher, what was wrong with her saying it? She is as entitled to her opinion about him as Obama's mouthpiece is to calling President Clinton a "Joe McCarthy" for "questioning tje Senator's patriotism.
Lynne,
Thank you for posting the comments of Hillary's pastor. Wonderful!
I'm a Hillary supporter. She did look bad and I wish she had done a better job of explaining the embellishment. At the same time, she did go. It was dangerous. And, the outcome by everyone involved did a great deal toward healing diplomacy in Bosnia. I'll still take works over words any day.
The current administration has a rather "distant" relationship with facts. Do we really want another fact twisting government ?
Hillary will SPIN from day one. Give her an Academy Award, but
please don't give her the White House.
I had supported Biden and then Edwards. So, after they dropped out, I really had no great preference one way or the other between Obama and Clinton. Even on Super Tuesday, I could not pull the lever for either candidate. So I (along with 2% of all Missouri Democrats) voted for Edwards, even though he had suspended his campaign.
I have watched them since and tried to stay relatively neutral, figuring I would vote for whomever won the nomination. But I do not like what I have seen from Hillary and her minions. Her 'mis-statements', negative campaigning and opportunistic behavior have turned me off. I am becoming an Obama supporter by default.
Carl,
Thanks for bringing up the truth. Many people think that this isn't a big story. So she lied. Big whoopie. She was trying to show experience. The truth is, no one thinks it is a big deal until they 'lie' about the fact of there being 'WMD' in Iraq or any other country. For years Hillary has been about 1 thing: Gaining the presidency. From moving to New York to crying in front of women's groups, for God's sake even staying with a cheat of a husband!, she only has her eyes on the Oval Office. I'd rather have someone with HUMILITY and eyes on how to improve America then simply going for fame and prestige.
And don't get me started on Obama. If you don't believe things that a Pastor says, then don't stay a part of his congregation.
Seems like the best person for the job may simply be McCain.
Fact of the matter is everyone in politics has baggage, more experiences means more baggage ............ that's why I like Obama, he is new, different, change, he sticks to his words/ideas (Rev. Wright), he is in for good ............ and I would like to see the vicious cycle of Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton to break .......... Obama 08.
Hillary reminds of another politician, some guy that ran for President a while back. What was his name? Oh yea, John Kerry. Remember the Swiftboat story and all the embleished stories he told. He had his own truth, just like Hillary. I don't want a President that lives in another reality.
I am soooooooooooo tired of everyone coming down on Obama. Over all I think he will be the best person for President. The media is running with stories to slander his name to rip him apart. I think that is sad. Hillary on the other hand is a liar and a person who makes herself looks like a victim all the time. Now, everytime someone from her camp takes a stab at Obama it's okay nothing is said. But things circulate about Obama he has to defend and explain his self everytime. Hillary makes up stories to show she has all this experience and personally, she has none. In addition, Bill and her surrounded themselves with known criminals but no one is speaking on that just google the Clinton convictions and you will see a list of people.
"I know (and so does the Media) that she was asked the question as to Obama and Rev Wright and she answered as to how she felt. What the heck is wrong w/you guys?"
No one is bashing her for answering the Rev Wright question. They're just pointing out the timing. We all know she's been asked that question every single day fo nearly two weeks and hasn't answered it. All people are pointing out is that she used it as a political hip to divert media attention from her lies.
one word......DILLUSIONAL.
We want a president that seeks to hold the office to wield it to the benefit of the people of this country. The Office of the Presidency should be seen as a means to an end, not the end, the end of a long planned out career to be striven for and sought after like the surface is searched for by a drowning man – AT ALL COSTS. Obama seems to have touched this desire of the American people and for this, Clinton has no chance of victory.
Anthony, Stamford, CT
In Arkansas, we call a person who contorts the truth and purposely can't recall events correctly, a Big Fat Liar. Who wants someone so "forgetful" for our President anyway?
The Clintons have a history of lying. There are 300,000,000 +/- people in the USA. How can anyone tolerate a liar as commander in chief. Amazing how people will hold their leaders to lower standards than they would hold for their 3 year old child.
I'm also dissappointed that the media seems to have forgotten who threw the first stone in the Dem race. Hillary went negative before Ohio and Texas and should be called on it everytime she's in front of the press.
Stop accepting this nonsense about Obama going negative. Proving your opponet lied is not negative, is called embracing the truth. Clintonites, try it once in while, you may like it.
For the people....WAKE UP! Enough of these entrenched politicians. Get a friggin clue! Haven't you had enough BS for one lifetime?
In this election year, character matters more than anything else. In terms of character, no one beats McCain. Obama is showing himself to be more and more shallow and deceitful with each passing day. Hillary is, well, Hillary.
MLK would not have been Hillary's pastor either!
allxdreamer....is delusional.
Hillary is a ruthless liar who will say and do anything to gain power. A very dangerous person indeed.
How many of you Hillary posters READ a word of what Bernstein asserts here???
I was listening to CNN at approximately 10:08 am when I heard Hillary Clinton making excuses about her account in Bosnia. During her comment she said she had SLEEP DEPRAVATION when she made that comment. If she has problems making true statements because of SLEEP DEPRAVATION, how can she make solid decisions when answering that 3 am call.
Hillary Clinton is a 'congenital liar'
that was the best part, I had almost forgotten about it
Its as true now as it was then. God help us if she steals the white house
A politician is a politician , folks! Hilary is by no means a forthright person as piece states above but there aren' t any policitian running for the White House who can honesltly claim to stick to the facts ...please this is politics and objectivity and facts are secondary to the rhetoric, mistatements and subjective statements that our candidates make... lets talk about the candor, openess and transperancy of the BUSH-CHENEY Whitehouse not sure if the Clintons were cut above or not ...but I like my applicants to be doers not just sayers...Today our domestic front is a disaster.... credibility globally undermined d/t our great intelligence.... and mission is not accomplished in Iraq... would candor,sincerity, honesty be too much to ask ...NO but LETS GET THE JOB DONE... philosophy, words, fluffy rhetoric for a country in less trouble.
Tired of rhetoric into action
Will Anderson or somebody out there please dispel this myth that it is mathematically Impossible for either clinton or obama to reach the magic number of 2024 delegates before the convention. The way I see it, Harry Reid just said today that "this thing will be settled soon." Take that in combination with his statement that the michigan and florida delegates will be counted, then we can see the tea leaves– the DNC will seat the florida and michigan delegates by splitting them evenly for the two candidates. If that's done, then Obama only needs about 200 delegates to secure the nomination. With ten states left and over 300 superdelegates still uncommitted, how can we still say that it is impossible to reach the magic number?
I totally agree that she distorts the facts, she lies and avoids when she wants and she withholds documents and information that can prove her wrong in many ways. The watergate documents were never handed over according to information I read. There were Forged documents found in the whitehouse (whether that was going to be her cover up or not who knows) but the originals never came to surface. I have heard of a paper shredding party in Little Rock around that time. Dont know how true that is. But the fact remains... her facts are distorted.. and she lies and then turns the tables to smear someone to take the eyes off her and put them on someone else. To me that is not going to cut it for a President. I want to know the truth about things, not distorted information to keep the blame off her.
I was listening to CNN at approximately 10:08 am when i head Hillary Clinton making excuses about her account in Bosnia. During her comment she said she had SLEEP DEPRAVATION when she made that comment. If she has problems making true statements because of SLEEP DEPRAVATION, how can she make solid decisions when answering that 3 am call.
All 3 of the candidates scare the living hell out of me....sad that this is the best the country can come up with....we have no statesmen any longer....we have mediocrity..... sad that America is having to "settle" between 3 such possible candidates.
Oh, for someone who has some GUTS and is willing to see that we are in the process of dismantling our democracy and our country.
Back to one of the original references about ministers, as I recall Bill Clinton called upon Rev. Jesse Jackson to 'advise' him about his indiscretion with Monica! Jesse Jackson – REALLY – immediately after his council, it was outted that he had a child with employees. This has never been a topic of conversation. How can a cheater council a cheater? Did they swap pointer on how not to get caught next time?
Wow...who sounds like the empty suit now?
Anderson, come on, what has a mispoken word or two TEN YEARS PLUS AGO
The lie about Bosnia in one thing, the lie about NAFTA is something else again. These lies show a breakdown in the person's moral code and integrity-not a good thing for a Prsident.
However, there are bigger issues the press should be dealing with concerning Hillary and her tendancy to either lie or with hold the truth.
These issues include no filing tax information for 8 years, not providing the list of donars for the Presidential libray or the Clinton charity and not producing her earmarks.
With 1 donor to the charity rumored to have donated in excess of 130 million as payment for Bill's services in doing a deal with the Kurakistan government ona uranium mine-these things need to be vetted.
Obama does not know a tax he does not like, he's opposed to murders being put to death however it's just fine to kill babies in the womb, he's not for nafta but his primary consultant is (who we all know he sent to the Canadian Consul), he's not for the war but he said Pres Bush was right in 2004 and voted for all pertaining to the war, he's for hope and change and attends a Church who has a leader who is a USA hater, he's for those who needs help but who purchased a home for 350,000 less than value and his mafia/Iraq for oil friends' wife purchases lot next door for 350,000 more than the lot is worth on the same day and both deals recorded in the wives names (I"m a 25 yr Real Estate Pro and know what that means) – he's for the average people (like heck he is). He talks about bottom to up to make changes and of course he's on the "top" – like heck he is again. He throws his grandmother under the bus, but why don't we hear him do the same to his father who abandoned Obama at 2 years old !
To a person who has 35 years of working w/people, i know what all the aforementioned means.
I'm not a Hillary supporter either....but the truth is the truth.
Joan
Hillary's plan is to lie with such conviction that she can make it "truth". I can't believe how many people just don't care. Would you want someone representing your interests who constantly lies for their own ends? LYING CONSTANTLY is not a "non-issue".