Sexist outburst at Clinton event

Posted: Monday, January 07, 2008 6:57 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
SALEM, N.H. -- About 11 minutes into Clinton's speech a man in the audience stood up holding a bright yellow sign that read "Iron My Shirt," which he shouted several times.

A few seconds later, another man stood up with a similar sign and said the same thing.

"Oh, the remnants of sexism, alive and well!" Clinton said, to roaring cheers and applause from the stunned crowd.

The two men were lead out and much of the crowd gave her a standing ovation, after which she quipped about anyone in the audience needing to learn to iron their own shirt.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Really? That's the best they could do? "Iron my shirts"? Not "Hsu are you" or "Can we see the records"? Something topical and from this century?

Seriously... these guys have to be Hillary plants.

DANEgerus, Portland, OR (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:25 PM)

Thank you, DesertStormVet! How many inexperienced or apathetic voters skipped or snoozed during civics classes? How many vote by habit or vote against without exercising the write-in privilege? Understand the voting process!Understand the representative's options! One of which MIGHT be the exercise of personal conscience by voting "present." Voters have the same duty to educate themselves to make intelligent choices as Senator Obama will wisely exercise before he makes executive decisions as our president! Thank you for your service, veteran! My only son redeploys to Iraq. USMC!

Isabella von Memmingen (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:25 PM)

erik, your comment is taken directly from Politico's site. Why did you not give credit?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/Clinton_and_Obama_Johnson_and_King.html

fabooj (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:26 PM)

The Clinton campaign is really getting pathetically obvious - and desperate.

It is OVER, HILLARY. These tricks and plants and tears won't work. You are losing any semblance of credibility. Just stop! You are looking ridiculous!

Carrie, Rochester, NY (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:27 PM)

Obvious Plant. Everyone allowed into her presence is planned and frisked.

JFW (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:28 PM)

Hillary is a heroine! She is so strong in the face of adversity! She has been strong ever since I first remember seeing her in the media. That is what we need in a president. Someone who is strong and will stick to what she says. Not say one thing and do another as Obama has done continuously. Why can't our young voters see this. Hillary should be in the OVAL OFFICE!!!

Kathy Cunagin, Berea, KY (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:28 PM)

oh by the way the writer who says Obama would strengthen foreign relations might not be so quick as the implications i'm hearing, you might not want to know this but its being bandied around the middle east here where I am (on military service) presently, that at some point Obama who does have Muslim blood, in his childhood was a practising muslim attending mosques and that makes him a muslim, now for him to then take up christianity makes him a convert, so in effect he is being deemed an apostate under islamic law and be under a sharia death order, that would if proved to be true make him unclean to any muslim power to work with. Now its horrible to say but if any of this does gain traction, Obama if he becomes President would be dead in the water with Foreign policy.

Phillip Allen (Eastern Turkey) (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:29 PM)

If two guys stood up and said Obama should go park their car, would anyone be saying he planted them or would they have attacked them for being racist? I think the Hillary plant idea is quite lame.

Bill, Los Angeles (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:32 PM)

Anyone on here, who didn't even think that this could POSSIBLY be a plant is just plain stupid. And you can't fix stupid.

I put it in the same category as her pathetic crying act that back-fired miserably. Hillary is hollow and sad.

Tim (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:33 PM)

IRON MY SHIRTS!!!!!

I think if they had said:

SCRUB MY SHORTS!!!!!!

I may have given them a pass.....

Who the heck Irons shirts anymore?????

That had to be a plant.....

"Even a drowning man will grab the tip of a sword to save himelf"

So be it with Hillary!

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:35 PM)

The level of vitriol and venom that Hillary has gone through is unparalleled in any political campaign. Many of you folks sound a lot like the Taliban that murdered Bhutto in Pakistan. I am sick of the all negativity from the democrats. I sincerely hope that Bloomberg runs because he will definitely get my vote. It is either that or I vote for the Republicans which as a black person would be unfortunate.

Tom, New York, NY (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:37 PM)

PLANT, PLANT, PLANT. This is too convenient.

Jdoe (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:37 PM)

you men are idiots. are you afraid of a stong woman?

voter mesa, az (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:38 PM)

McCain wants WAR he is a WAR MONGER.

The Clintons have embarased us enough, but that ironing joke was uncalled for.

But if you love WAR vote McCain he is a WAR TIME PRESIDENT.

Nancy Carmel California (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:39 PM)

Could this blog/website consider loading the most recent comment at the top of the roster of comments instead of the bottom?

Isabella von Memmingen, Chattanooga, TN (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:41 PM)

Definately a plant.Chelsea Isn't helping her mom either by blowing off 6th graders who only want to ask a question or two.An arrogant mother will have an arrogant daughter...Let's stay with family values......Go Barack and Michelle Obama !!!!!You have Nevada's vote.

Mark Henderson, Las Vegas, NV. (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:42 PM)

I give the Clinton`s credit here,this was a great "Plant" by them designed to get Women ticked off and to dump O`Bama and vote Hillary.

Bravo Hillary!!!!

Joe Of Chicago (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:43 PM)

This was a plant. Nothing more. Please go about your business. Save your man-hate for someone else.

Stacey, Durham, NC (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:47 PM)

This was most likely Rich Shirtenlieb who is on a radio show called Toucher and Rich. He got national air play when he did the same thing as he protested admist the women who wanted to play on the all male golf course.

Ann, Savannah , GA (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:48 PM)

Hillary sure is a busy gardener and of course she will know nothing of this plant.

jukin,Santa Barbara, CA (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:52 PM)

Rich Shertenlieb. Started as an intern for the Morning X, soon turned into the show's stunt guy. Most famous for his protest of Martha Burk at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he held up a sign that said "Make Me Dinner/Iron My Shirt". This stunt was covered by ESPN and hundreds of other news organizations. Also received recognition for rescuing a carjacking victim. Before 99X, he co-hosted Tech Talk on WREK while a management student at Georgia Tech. After leaving 99X, worked on Kidd Kraddick in the Morning in Dallas through December 2005. Currently hosting a radio show with Fred Toucher and Crash Clark known as The Toucher and Rich show on WBCN in Boston.

Kim, Savannah, GA (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:52 PM)

Sadly, I'll bet she never did iron their shirts. Typical of Mrs. Clinton: all talk and no action.

John Doe, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:55 PM)

Do anyone have any water so that I water the plants

Hillary Clinton is so Pathetic (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:57 PM)

To say that these men are a “plant” is not necessarily saying Clinton or her staff are behind it. They could be or they could not be. These men could be Clinton supporters acting on there own, or they could be sexist jerks. I think it’s our responsibility as voters to not let something like this influence our decision.

Mike, Hasings, MN (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:57 PM)

Geez, the next thing you people will be telling me is that Hillary has her staffers plant questions with audience members at her meetings then asks these plants questions that she already has a ready made answer for.Or cry because its just so hard and difficult because you care so much.

Its just silly to think the Clinton`s would stoop that low.

Joe,Chicago,IL (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:58 PM)

wow. all in one day.

1. hill cries
2. bill/hill love on the phone.
3. sexist comments from plants.

wow. who would have guessed hillary would play the poor attacked hurt caring woman?

she says she has emotions, but also below the belt misleading attacks on obama. lest we forget who we are dealing with.

d crimm (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:00 PM)

I think you have to look at the context - a day before a primary where she is behind and after a series of comments playing the gender card in the last 24 hours. It does give a person pause.

JT, Wilmette, ILL (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:01 PM)

"Iron This?!" Maybe they were union steel workers trying to show solidarity WITH Hitlery... oh, that's right, there aren't any steel companies since liberal Democrats environmental policies drove them from the US.

Plant!

Jacko Blacko (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:02 PM)

Come on guys,have a heart. Can't you see she's worn down and tired. Those men were pigs. Besides what's an iron ? Isn't that something a peasant uses?

Mag B. Pittsburgh,PA.

Mag B (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:05 PM)

Staged, staged, staged

ToddonCapeCod (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:09 PM)

I am a firm Edwards supporter. I think Clinton is to coporate, to AIPAC, and I despise the concept of dynasties. But the sleazy meaness of the Obamarama cult members is disgusting. Their relentlessly vicious, personal, childish attacks on Clinton are the flip side of their unquestioning gullibility towards their own profoundly flawed candidate.

SN, MN (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:09 PM)

Just more Clinton theatrics. Shameless. World class shameless.

Alexa Constantinos (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:11 PM)

I'm with Cathy from Upstate - I will do the unthinkable and vote Republican if Obama wins the ticket and I will be waiting to read a new book from Oprah, "My Road to the Whitehouse, How I we are getting our agenda taken care of". Its a movement alright and it really scares me, but what can we really expect from a country that elected Bush, twice!

D Doe, Tulsa OK (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:11 PM)

Obama can't be elected. No matter what people say, America will not vote for a black president.
Hillary will be a hard sell, b/c shes still a tricky woman.

Yet she will do the best in November,,,although she will still lose.
Get ready for four more years of Republican Rule!

RUDY 08

Scott LB, Ca (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:24 PM)

Definitely a plant - sorry, but this just doesn't pass the straight-face test! My opinion of Hillary supporters just plummeted if they can't even see through this transparent act! I think we've all had enough of BushClintonBushClinton and their politics of yesteryear. We need a new leader, not some 1990s retread!

End Political Dynasties, Now and Forever! (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:28 PM)

prior to the Iowa lost everything for hillary was peachy why did`nt the sexest remarks come before then ...........being president you can`t cry when things don`t go your way .....you must know that your feeling will be hurt many.... many times.... more get a back bone

Bunnie Bell Salisbury NC (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:34 PM)

wow. all in one day.

1. hill cries
2. bill/hill love on the phone.
3. sexist comments from plants.

==========

Busy, busy, day for the King and Queen of drama. This is the same way it was when Bill was in the White House. It was all about him then, and now it's all about Hillary. They crave that attention, and will do anything to get it. The behavior of Bill/Hill makes afternoon soap operas look legitimate.

You'd have to be a fool to not see the continuous loop Bill/Hill play to make sure the camera is on them. No one else is crying. No one else has these goofy protestors showing up, and right on schedule. No one else is doing cutsie phone tricks the day before an election. But Bill and Hillary get them all done, and in one eight hour day. The entire day was one continuous staged event for Hillary. There is something uniquely sick about that.

Chet Mandal, Redding CA (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:37 PM)

The bitter hatred and delusional fantasies of the obamites make me embarrassed to be a Democrat. They are the doom of the party.

SN, MN (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:48 PM)

Peter Principle: Are you suggesting that it is impossible that her campaign planted these two guys? There is a reason why so many people think this was a plant - her campaign has planted stunts not just once but at least twice this season. So why is it such a stretch to suspect that this is a plant? An incident like this makes her look sympathetic on the eve of voting that could possibily put her out of this race. So yes, maybe too much cynicism, but she and her campaign by their past actions have taught us to be cynical.

MM (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:49 PM)

Common America....you can't even tell a plant from a real plant

John Doe, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:49 PM)

What a wild day in Clintonville. As the parent of college kids, I suspect the sign was a gag. "Make me a sandwich" and "fix my dinner" are standard ironic jokes among the college set, usually meant to either tease a g/f who they know has no intention of doing so, or just to tick off a too-serious feminist. I doubt it was meant as anything more.

alle (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:50 PM)

Hey Chet, I guess the Hecklers at Obama's meeting were planted by the Clinton's too? I wish someone would really make Obama give honest answers to questions and not just make nicey, nicey! Has he ever given us his agenda? He has no real experience to lead other than being a motivational speaker or maybe he does have the experience were just not looking at it closely enough?? . . what do we really know about this man? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

D Doe, Tulsa OK (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:52 PM)

If anyone thinks this was not a setup, I have a bridge to sell you in NYC.
Yikes

Bill Net (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:55 PM)

TOTAL plant. This is Clinton politics- nothing is un-scripted, and particularly moments of witty spontaneity. I've no doubt this is fake, and I certainly hope NBC does its JOB HERE and follows up on whom this individual(s) was (were), and their ties (no matter how innocuous they may seem to at first be) to the Clinton campaign.

She's crackin', and this is the HillBilly game, exhibit A. When down, play the victim. Simple.

Chip, North Bergen, Jersey (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:55 PM)

At one time I was going to vote for Hillary, but now I see how she flip flops on issues. I can't trust her to be the President. She may compromise. If she would just take a stand for who she is and what she really believes in and then stay on that path, I think she would do good. She keeps on changing her mind about what and why she is running for the president. With Obama, we all know and knew where he stood. He may be young, but he is straightforward and has kept his change message from the very beginning. I like John Edwards as well. My Vote will go for Obama or Edwards.

Delores- Columbia MD (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:57 PM)

Oh man. Clinton even has Keith Olbermann criticizing her. And not just for a moment. Its been like the first 10 minutes of tonight's show.
Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 8:11 PM
_________________________________

What Keith Olbermann criticized Hillary Clinton, No get out of here......Oh She's in big trouble now......

What

Leave Hillary Alone (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 9:57 PM)

Haven't we had enough mudslinging during the last 7 years? No one has any proof of a plant, it's all heresay.
What I do know is during the 8 Clinton years we secured Bosnia, captured the persons responsible for the 1st trade center attack, had a great economy- the middle class expanded dramatically, we tharwted the attack planned for LAX new years eve 2000....

Teri MN (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 10:04 PM)

MoveOn, Hillary - and dot your org on the way out.
Oh yeah - and iron THIS.

c'est moi, Helena, MT (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 10:05 PM)

This was funny...really funny. Watching whiny liberals get offended makes my day.

Well done gentleman...well done...

ClassicCon, Trailer Park City, AL (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 10:11 PM)

This is the problem with the Clinton campaign, more of the same dirty tricks. They got caught planting earlier (remember the lady with the wink to the camera), a lot of their crowds are coming from New York where locals are flocking to Obama and McCain, she acts like she's going to cry (no tears... eyes didn't change), goes on Access Hollywood complaining about double standards for women, and now this stunt of obvious plants?? I'm sorry, I started out as a Clinton supporter but am so tired of this kind of politics. Time for Obama!

Brian, Seattle, WA (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 10:12 PM)

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