Former President Bill Clinton suggested in a recent interview that the United States might not yet be ready to elect a female president, following Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to President-elect Donald Trump.
Clinton speculated that a Republican woman could potentially have an easier path to the presidency, given the current political climate.
Clinton made the remarks while discussing his new book, Citizen, in an interview with CBS’ Tracy Smith. When asked whether Harris’s defeat reflected any changes in the nation’s attitudes, Clinton expressed skepticism about the readiness of voters to embrace a female president at this time.
“I think in some ways we’ve moved to the right as a reaction to all the turmoil. And I think if Hillary had been nominated in 2008, she would’ve walked in, just like Obama did,” he said.
“I think all these cultural battles that we’re fighting make it harder in some ways for a woman to run,” Clinton continued.
“So, you think it has more to do with party than gender?” Smith followed up.
“No,” Clinton responded. “Although I think it would probably be easier for a conservative Republican woman to win.”
The book reportedly also delves into Clinton’s personal reflections, including his frustration over being repeatedly questioned about his affair with Monica Lewinsky, an issue that has continued to shape public perceptions of his presidency.
“Because I thought I needed to say something about it, and I wanted to be as helpful as I could to let her turn the page. I think she should be given a chance to build a life that is about her and the future, and not, you know, being whiplashed into an old story,” Clinton said.
“I live with it all the time,” Clinton wrote in “Citizens” of the Lewinsky scandal.
The comments, alongside the themes of his book, highlight Clinton’s perspective on both the progress and ongoing challenges in American politics.
