Perennial sore loser Hillary Clinton took five days to react to the _New York Times_ story detailing a decades’ long pattern of alleged sexual harassment committed by her long time Hollywood pal and generous donor, Harvey Weinstein. When Hillary did finally say something, her words were delivered via a written statement, not on camera where she has lectured us so frequently about how pervasive sexism and misogyny are in America. The statement on Weinstein’s alleged sexual exploitation and abuse of women issued in Hillary’s name claimed that she was “shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein.” The statement then added Clinton’s standard bromide: “The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior.”
Too bad Hillary did not provide such support herself, when she had the chance, to the victims of her husband Bill’s sexual predatory behavior. And where was she all these years as rumors swirled regarding Weinstein’s abysmal treatment of women? Hillary’s expression of “shock” is reminiscent of the famous scene in the movie classic Casablanca. Claude Rains, playing the role of Captain Louis Renault who was the Vichy police officer in charge in wartime Casablanca, closed Rick’s Café after exclaiming, “I am shocked – shocked! – to find that gambling is going on in here!” Renault, who was thoroughly corrupt, made sure he received his winnings from the croupier as he finished expressing his “shock” over gambling on the premises.
Captain Renault overcame his “shock” in time to keep his gambling winnings. Hillary has given no indication whether her “shock” will compel her to return or give to charity the thousands of dollars Weinstein gave to her campaign and to her foundation, as other Democrats such as Senators Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren have done with the campaign donations they received from Weinstein.
It’s often useful to follow the money, especially when it comes to the Clintons. Since 1995, Harvey Weinstein gave in the range of $50,000 to Hillary Clinton’s presidential and Senate campaigns, including to a joint fund with the Democratic National Committee in 2016. Weinstein bundled contributions from other donors to Hillary’s campaign and hosted at least two fundraisers for her 2016 presidential campaign. On one such occasion, about $1.8 million was raised from the 50 guests who attended a shindig in Weinstein’s New York City residence. Weinstein is also reported to have donated somewhere between $100,000 and $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation, according to its website.
Harvey Weinstein did not limit his role in Hillary’s campaigns to donating and raising money for her. He also dispensed advice. For example, in a hacked email released by the group DCLeaks, Weinstein counseled Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook on using the gun control issue to stop Bernie Sanders’ appeal to black activists over the issue of police shootings during the primaries. He proposed a meeting with Mook and also offered his staff to help in Hillary’s campaign as he had done during Hillary’s Senate campaign. Mook replied: “Are you kidding? Let’s do it! I’m here all week. This is all hands on deck–it’s must win!”
During her post campaign appearances, when Hillary was not complaining about the reasons she claimed she lost to Donald Trump, she has enjoyed presenting herself as the champion of women. One such occasion was the speech she delivered last May regarding the “unprecedented attacks” on women’s rights at Planned Parenthood’s 100th-anniversary gala in New York City. “I wish it were common ground, but I know for sure it is higher ground. And I believe, as you do, that trusting and valuing women is the right and moral position to take,” Hillary said. In the audience was her pal, Harvey Weinstein, who devalues women to say the least.
When principles clash with Hillary Clinton’s own self-interest, the latter virtually always wins out. She is doing as little as she thinks she can get away with in following the lead of other liberals who have condemned Weinstein’s behavior. Hillary found time Monday to tell her audience in person at the University of California, Davis, how much she supported the NFL players protesting during the national anthem. “They’re protesting racism and injustice,” she declared. Yet she left it to one of her lackeys to issue a brief statement on her behalf condemning her friend and benefactor for his alleged abusive behavior against defenseless women that has gone on for decades. Hillary brands herself as the champion of women, but is little more than a self-serving hypocrite.
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