Hillary Clinton's Run For The White House

Talks To 60 Minutes About Her Bid For The Democratic Presidential Nomination

(CBS)  Asked if she likes Sen. Obama, Clinton said, "Sure I do. You know, I liked him before we got into this election. I campaigned for him. I met him and his children. In fact, I went to Chicago to campaign and raise money for him. And we had a picture taken at the event, this was in 2004."

"And I put the picture in my office. It's still there. I look at Barack and Michelle and their daughters every day when I'm in my office. I think he's an extraordinary person. And we were friends before, and we will be friends afterwards," she added.

"Not one scintilla of bad blood between you now?" Couric asked.

"Not from my side, no," Clinton said. "I was sitting on that stage in Los Angeles and I was thinking to myself, 'This is what I have dreamed of my entire life,' you know."

"An African-American, a woman. I never thought I'd be the woman, but here I am. And I'm on this stage. And this is like the culmination of the efforts, the struggles, the sacrifice of so many people who came before. So whenever I look at him I think about that. I mean, it is about him, just like it is about me. But it's also about what we represent. And who could not be thrilled about that? I am," Clinton said.

"I understand when he joined the Senate he came to see you for advice. And you told him to work hard," Couric remarked.

"I did," Clinton said.

"And keep a low profile," Couric said.

"I did," Clinton acknowledged, laughing.

But Obama didn't keep a low profile. "Not for long. Not for long," Clinton said.

Asked if the media has treated her the same way as they've treated Obama, Clinton told Couric, "I think the media has certainly been very, shall we say, tough on me."

"Tougher on you than Senator Obama?" Couric asked.

"Or nearly anybody else, the best I can tell. But that's okay," Clinton said.

"You've said, 'I've been through the Republican attacks. And I've been vetted.' And cynics suggest that you're insinuating there's some deep, dark secret that is in Barack Obama's past that will be somehow unveiled by a GOP attack machine," Couric said.

"You know, that is not what I'm suggesting at all. But, you know, Senator Obama has never had, I don't think, a single negative ad run against him. He’s never been on the receiving end even in this campaign. It’s been incredibly civil by any modern standards," Clinton said. "Until you have been through this experience, you have no idea what it's like. And he hasn't been. He's never, ever had to face this. And I think that I am much better prepared and ready to, you know, withstand whatever comes my way."

"Are you saying he couldn't handle it?" Couric asked.

"I'm just saying that I've been there and I know how to handle it. And I think that one of the factors the Democrats should take into account as they make their decisions in these upcoming elections is who could be the best nominee to, you know, take us to victory in November," Clinton replied.

"Let me ask you about that, senator. Because in exit polls, most people thought you would make a better commander in chief. But, they said, Barack Obama would be better at unifying the country. Why are you so often seen as polarizing?" Couric asked.

"I think it's because I have been active on behalf of a lot of controversial causes like universal healthcare, like a woman's right to choose for many, many years. And that is who I am," Clinton said. "Unity for the sake of unity is not my goal. I want to unify the country around meeting big goals like dealing with our energy crisis. I want to call the country to action around global warming. I want to set some, you know, really big vision that young people can buy into. That's the best way to unify the country."

"Senator Obama told Steve Kroft that you represent the status quo, that you accept the rules of the game as it’s played in Washington," Couric remarked.

"Yes, I’ve heard him say that. And I’m not quite sure ever what he means. It’s clever. It’s a sort of a clever point to make. But, of course the status quo is George Bush. The status quo are the Republicans. The status quo are the people like Senator McCain who want more of the same. I think I represent dramatic change. You know no one will ever accuse me as having the same policies as George W. Bush," Clinton replied.

[atypengine]

Katie Couric has yet to realize that asking vapid, insipid questions but with furrowed brow does NOT constitute the kind of journalism that we have relied on 60 Minutes to provide. Take a cue from Mike Wallace and ask substantive, investigative questions and leave the fluffy high school personality quizzes back with the morning shows.

[ronandeileen]

I will never take 60 Minutes seriously again. Couric''s interview was an insult to Hilliary Clinton and to all women. With so many serious female journalists, how can CBS justify the presence of someone like Couric? Unless of course the objective is to demean and trivialize women. It that is CBS%u2019s goal, you are succeeding.

[luzklee]

If Senator Obama had received such demeaning treatmnet during his 60 Minutes interview, the national and local media would be completely a-buzz with protesting comments. So far, I haven''t seen any press comment on this deplorable overt bias. The last time Americans voted for a press favorite, we got W! How soon we forgeT.

[luzklee]

Did CBS ask Katie Couric the same tacky, insulting and useless questions when she interviewed for the anchor''s job? If CBS did, how did she feel? Her questions and body lanquage when interviewing Senator Clinton showed an ax to grind. Is she getting back at CBS by subjecting the much-respected Senator to her veiled venom? She''s a bad example of how women can be their own worst enemies in the work place.

[jenamarie7]

The Couric interview with Senator Clinton was below the caliber of 60 minutes. My husband and I have been watching 60 minutes for years and we both were appalled at the questions asked of Senator Clinton. Couric%u2019s questions were High School level, at best. I agree with %u201CMs Contrarian%u201D who posted earlier, Get both candidates back on and have Couric ask Senator Obama the same questions that she asked Senator Clinton and have Croft ask the same question of Senator Clinton that were asked of Senator Obama. Couric should be ashamed of the questions that she asked, and with herself!
However, we do Love Andy!!!!!

[youanimal]

On behalf of her daughters Katie Couric should be ASHAMED for her idiotic, sexist remark to Hilary Clinton about her high-school nickname. This is just more of the ''subtle'' abuse that the press can get away with when it comes to dealing with a powerful female, the implication being that by her very nature she is damaged and not a real woman where it counts (in the bedroom). Even more insinuating is the snide suggestion that she was somehow to blame for Bill''s wild philandering for not having what it takes to keep him in line. Really offensive, especially coming from a woman reporter. And, by the way, would we ever see a male reporter say to McCain, for example, "Hey dude, I heard that in high school all the girls used to call you Mr. Tiny Limp-***..." Hardly. At least not a so-called professional on a show the caliber of 60 Minutes. Katie, you did your sisters all a BIG dis-service. Actually even my husband said he can never look at you the same way again. You owe us all an apology.

[mckennaros]

Shame on you Katie Couric!! I have never seen a poorer example of profesionalism in my life. To think you thought it was relevant to the presidental race to bring up an old high school nickname and embrass Sen. Clinton, destroys your credibility as a reporter. You owe Senator Clinton an apology. She certainly showed a lot more class than you did.

[dvrdvrdvr]

It has now been several days watching the 60 Minutes interview with Hillary Clinton. I have considerable admiration and respect for Mr. Obama and will probably vote for him, but I was shocked at Ms. Couric''s bizarre interview. After a few minutes, I thought I was watching a Saturday Night Live satire. Good Grief, what has become of 60 Minutes? Although I will continue to watch,I will keep the remote nearby on for upcoming programs. Shame.

[chivu35]

While Katie Couric was asking Hillary Clinton about her high school sexual habits, maybe Steve Kroft could have taken a few minutes out of stroking Barack Obama''s ego to ask about his relationship with Nufarm %u2013 one of 12 beneficiaries of tariff suspension bills sponsored by Mr. Obama who says he wants to rid Washington of lobbyists and corporate interests.

60 Minutes should be ashamed of their obvious bias toward Senator Obama and Katie Couric should be fired for her entirely inappropriate line of questioning.

[stevegott1]

I didn''t think it was possible, but Sixty Minutes has hit a new low. Like everyone else, I was completely appalled by Katie Couric''s sexist comment about a nickname from her past. Unbelievable in an age where we''re supposed to be showing how far we''ve come with the first woman running for U.S. President and Katie Couric reverses all that in one comment. Who the hell is on Kool Aid at CBS -- or maybe we should judge her by her own sexist standards and ask who she slept with to get where she is. Sixty Minutes lost its credibility when they fired Dan Rather. Tyra Banks gave an insightful, revealing interview of Senator Clinton on her daytime talk show which showed infinitely more research, preparation and journalistic integrity than Katie''s hatchet job.

[deutchick]

I''m not even a Hillary fan, but Katie you need to find a job in a profession that suites your poor reporting....perhaps you would be better suited for TMZ or E Entertainment. I was so disappointed - I wanted to hear the facts, and not how her feelings are if she lost. Hillary did a bang up job answering those stupid questions! Hillary you should have slapped her!

[mscontrarian-2009]

While I''m an enthusiastic Obama supporter, if Clinton is the nominee I will vote for her. However my husband and I were disgusted at Couric%u2019s inane, insulting interview. As a woman, I recall the earlier hubbub surrounding Couric%u2019s move to CBS evening news. I don%u2019t watch that particular broadcast however I think I understand why she%u2019s been so heavily criticized %u2013 what in the heck wrong with her? My husband is not a Clinton fan however he was also floored when Couric asked about Clinton%u2019s school days and about being called Ms. Frigidaire. We were both shocked and appalled at the lack of respect and the utter ridiculousness of her questions. What could have been an opportunity to draw distinctions and contrasts and really elicit good useful information was indeed the opposite, a fluffy, stupid shameful interview. CBS perhaps it%u2019s time to consider getting rid of Couric %u2013 she seems better suited to do the daytime what- to cook-your-sweetie and how-to-kill- those- pesky- bathroom-germs %u201Cnews%u201D pieces

[luzklee]

CBS should give Katie Couric a chance to interview Senator Obama with the same ridiculous questions that were hurled at Senator Clinton. Steve Croft can also interview Senator Clinton with the set of more focused questions he posed Senator Obama. How each candidate responds publicly to insults or respect would be telling.

[reigngreen]

Katie you have no class. I would be offended if I am asked the question about being called anything in high school, let alone posing such a question to a former First Lady. Hillary showed real class by giving a perfect answer. I''ve watched your broadcasts and you''ve never been really kind to Hillary in your comments and descriptions of her and her campaign. Veiled but it''s there. You clearly use friendly phrases when it comes to Barack. Whether it''s the people writing your news or just your true self showing through, the double standard is still alive and well at CBS. I wonder if any question smiliar in magnitude was posed to Obama would have entered your senseless mind, did he played the field or what the girls think of him-- aimless pot smoker.

Look at your time slot for the interviews.
Hillary gets 13:12 mins but Obama gets 13:32 of air time. This is clear evidence whose side your on.

And Katie, lift your head up when you''re facing the camera. Playing coy is something you''re not good at.

Disgusted female viewer.

[reinvent-2009]

Katie, That was a Bush league interview. Maybe George would have enjoyed your adolescent and shallow interview. If I was Hillary I would have pulled a Sarkozy on you. Imbecile !

[h29ector]

I thought it was illegal to show *** between two women on TV?

[h29ector]

I thought it was illegal to show *** between two women on TV?

[h29ector]

I thought it was illegal to show *** between two women on TV?

[judies1]

CBS NEWS exhibited some of the poorest news judgement I have witnessed in years by dredging up a nickname from a high school and using it in what should have been a serious news story on the Clinton candidacy. Who needs the Republican attack machine and the touchy Obama campaign when you''re parading high school slander from 45 years ago on national tv? The one saving grace is that it gave Senator Clinton a chance to show how she can handle just about anything.

[dollyj1]

Katie Couric''s interview with Senator Clinton was appalling. Someone should ask Katie if her name in high school was Miss Hot Pants. CBS go back to Dan Rather. When Katie got the job as anchor. I as a woman was proud. Now I question( if you know what I mean} how she ever got hired? No doubt she was wearing a little cheerleader outfit.