With the Secretary of State departing tomorrow morning for Japan, I know I will suffer a day-long wait for news to post about her and then feel overwhelmed and be trying to find a moment here or there in my day to post the wealth of information as it comes out at odd hours from the State Department. But this is also a good time to point out why I even let blogging about her invade my otherwise already busy life and time. I do it because the media does such a poor job of covering her work and travels.
It is annoying enough, for example, when they do cover something she says or does by showing a silent clip of her while the reporter narrates her words. For pity sake, let me hear her say it! At least in a case like that, though, they are covering her … sort of. Often enough, however, she does big things, and they are barely covered in the media at all (her hard work last week with President Karzai, for example). Hence this blog as a record of her monumental contributions.
I am writing this entry not simply to get that off my chest, but because, coincidentally, while I was thinking about this trip, I found an article in my news feed that caught my attention. Here is the header: Clinton may join Christchurch forum. Immediately I clicked on it thinking I had, yet again, found some foreign source leaking information about a change of itinerary for the Asia trip (an itinerary released by the State Department only last night and elaborated on today in a press briefing). I was wrong. So wrong. Take a look at the first few paragraphs. The emphasis is mine.
Clinton may join Christchurch forum
By GLENN CONWAY – The Press
A major security operation is under way as Christchurch prepares to host a political and business forum that may feature United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.Mayor Bob Parker said hosting the February 2011 US-NZ Partnership Forum was “huge news for the city”.
Government security staff from both countries had already scouted locations for the fourth partnership forum, and security arrangements for venues were under way.
The venues would remain secret until just days before the event, Parker said.
Organisers said the security checks were normal, regardless of whether Clinton attended or not.
Here is my point. The mayor says this is huge news, and the news outlet, by the way, is an NZ source. But check out what they front. Clinton is the first name in the header, and she gets the first paragraph. The article is not so much celebrating Christchurch getting this forum, but that Hillary Clinton, international rock star of huge popularity, might attend. And. look, this is an event that is not even going to occur until February 2011.
The U.S. media, if they were less parochial, could learn something from the foreign press who actually appreciate our Secretary of State and display excitement over a possible visit. Hillary gets TV ratings and sells papers (isn’t actually selling papers the major problem facing newpapers today?). Maybe some of us would resume buying papers if they would print stories about the Secretary’s travels and work. Maybe I would not feel obliged to blog, and maybe I would not have to. I would be too busy reading about her in the papers.
Media peeps: Look at that face up there! And when you have a chance, scroll back and watch the video of her opening remarks. Why would you not be covering her?
i was in NZ 2 years ago and they LOVE LOVE LOVE Bill and Hillary Clinton….
LikeLike
New Zealanders have exquisite taste! 😉
LikeLike
LOL! PCFS told me to sign up for google alerts for Hillary, so I did. A new alert just came in as I was getting ready to shut down, and it was this post. They alerted me to my own post.
LikeLike
I am thankful that you do blog about Hillary, the american media has never appreciated Hillary, or Pres. Clinton for that matter. She is an international rock star. Maybe someday our country will appreciate her for everything she is doing, and has done to make this a better world for everybody.
LikeLike
Jackie, thank you for your comment. I will never let this National Treasure go ignored – not while I have breath in me (and internet access).
LikeLike
Well done Still. Your blog is so appreciated. Keep up the great work you do. We yarn for all kinds of news about her. Like you said, she is a National Treasure.
LikeLike
Pcfs, you know I’ll always keep you up to date.
LikeLike
Way to go girl!This is one of the best Hillary websites ever!Please continue your blog as we always rely on the info, comments and love for Hillary! I wish she knew about your (our) love for her!
LikeLike
This morning NBC reported at length on the gate crashers at the last State dinner but did not devote any coverage to the SECRETARY OF STATE at the dinner last night for Mexican President Calderon. Or I missed it….
Undoubtedly reporters would lose access to the prez and his buds if they covered Secretary Clinton. After all, Mrs. BO is contributing so much to our country with her fashion sense and overall loveliness.
Color me bitter about our ridiculous and inept media.
LikeLike
Sally, I was also watching that ridiculous (non)coverage that supposedly passed for “news.”
After the news abut the findings re: the South Korean ship, seems to me that what the SOS has to say and do when she gets to Seoul next week might be somewhat important.
LikeLike
While we wait x news , I found this adorable video:
http://www.youtube.comwatch?v=gPgPm7pAn9c
LikeLike
If the link is not working , try:
on youtube:
hillary clinton’s joke about Michael Bloomerg
LikeLike
I couldn’t make the link work, but I found the video. She’s so cute! Who WOULDN’T be interested in her? (Now why did it come up here for me?)
LikeLike
May I make an observation regarding media coverage?
I was too young too understand a lot of the politics of at least half of the Clinton years, but I remember a lot of what I heard. When it came to the then first lady I remember hearing about how unattractive she was compared to her husband, that she had no style, that she was not a very nice woman, that she may have broken the law, that she was cold, that she lied, that she alone killed the healthcare bill. Then later there was the whole “why-did-she-stay-with-him-she’s-a-traitor-to-women” thing. She could do absolutely nothing right… accept not wear a hat to her second inauguration.
Hillary-bashing has become ingrained in our political culture to the point that it’s now acceptable to say the most heinous things about her. They would appall people if the target was someone else – even the someone the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Michele Bachmann, or Sarah Palin. I can’t remember the last time I heard a completely positive comment about her out of a US news agency. That’s just not done here. We as a nation have no clue how to discuss her in a positive way any more.
In Europe they see an accomplished stateswoman who has always seem approachable and down to earth flashing a million-watt smile. They see someone effective and smart, so they praise her when she earns it because they aren’t steeped in a culture that has turned her into a political piñata. The day that we hear an American news anchor extolling the latest achievement of our Secretary of State, rest assured the Devil is in hell and building a snowman.
Observation concluded. Now I can join in praising the work of Still4Hill. Brava!
LikeLike
What a great observation and comment! Brava to YOU!
LikeLike