In an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton defended Madeleine Albright’s claim that “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help women.” The comment was widely seen as an attempt to pressure women to vote for Clinton:
CHUCK TODD: I want to ask you about a comment. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said a comment that I’ve heard her say before. But it sort of rang differently to a lot of people. She said, “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help women.” The implication is that somehow, if you’re a Democratic woman and you’re not supporting you, what’s wrong with you? Do you want the vote to be decided on gender lines?
SEC. HILLARY CLINTON: Oh look, you know, as you remember, Madeleine has been saying this for many, many years.
CHUCK TODD: Right, Starbucks cups I think had it on there. I get that.
SEC. HILLARY CLINTON: She believes it firmly. And in part, because she knows what a struggle it has been. And she understands the struggle is not over. So I don’t want people to be offended by what she is expressing as her very–
CHUCK TODD: Do you understand why some might have been offended by it?
SEC. HILLARY CLINTON: Well good grief, we’re getting offended by everything these days. Honest to goodness, I mean, people can’t say anything without offending somebody. She has a life experience that I respect. I admire her greatly. And I think what she was trying to do, what she’s done in every setting I’ve ever seen her in going back 20 plus years, was to remind young women, particularly, that you know, this struggle, which many of us have been part of, is not over. And don’t be in any way lulled by the progress we’ve made. And I think it was a light-hearted, but very pointed remark, which people can take however they choose.
