Hillary Clinton Denounces Anti-Islam Film as "Reprehensible" in Powerful Statement

[K Gardner]

Last edited Thu Sep 13, 2012, 12:38 PM - Edit history (2)

..given at the State Department in front of an evidently Moroccan audience. This begs the question, will Mitt Romney scurry out to demean our Secretary of State for denouncing the anti-Muslim film?

"The United States government had absolutely nothing to do with this video. We absolutely reject its content and message," she said at the start of talks with senior Moroccan officials. "To us, to me personally, this video is disgusting and reprehensible. It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose: to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage."

Just posted at National Journal:

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made clear on Thursday that the U.S. government had nothing to do with an anti-Muslim film she personally finds “disgusting and reprehensible” as protests over it spread to Yemen after assaults on embassy compounds in Egypt and Libya.

"The United States government had absolutely nothing to do with this video," Clinton said alongside Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Saad-Eddine Al-Otmani at the State Department. “... We have the greatest respect for people of faith… this video is disgusting and reprehensible. It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose, to denigrate a great religion and to promote rage."

Clinton stressed that the U.S. has a history of free expression, and the government does not stop individuals from expressing their views, “no matter how distasteful they may be,” Still, Clinton said, “violence in response to speech is not acceptable."
“There is no justification, none at all, to respond to this video with violence," she said. "We condemn this violence in the strongest terms.”

http://www.nationaljournal.com/nationalsecurity/clinton-u-s-government-had-nothing-to-do-with-anti-muslim-film-20120913

Will continue to look for further transcript or video of this powerful speech. And all I can say is, "Hillary 2016".

[Voice for Peace]

1. good. thank you Hilary.

[madrchsod]

2. mittens won`t but his minions will

nor he will not smack them down.

[K Gardner]

4. She went on to speak eloquently about our Freedom of Speech and also denounced

the violence that is occuring. She was simply breathtaking in her poise and statesmanship.

I only hope the full video is released soon !

[madrchsod]

3. yes that was an great statement...

simple and to the point.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. As I said yesterday, the people in both Egypt and Libya have spent their entire lives

living under a government that controlled every aspect of their lives. Their governments did determine what movies and videos were released. So, not fully understanding our democracy and laws, they hold our government responsible for the release of this video/film.

[K Gardner]

6. Exactly. And she explained that point in very simple, but not condescending, terms..

she hit exactly the right notes.

[DURHAM D]

7. It was carried live on MSNBC.

[K Gardner]

8. I saw it on CNN... hopefully they will link the video. nt

[ananda]

9. Thank you Secretary Clinton.

nt

[jillan]

10. I really wish she would say something like - while we enjoy freedom of speech in American, there are

times where you should stop and think if your speech could cause harm to fellow Americans here and abroad.

Something like that... something that just states that words have consequences, without taking issue with the first amendment.
Yes it is a fine line to walk.

But - Dubya had no problem walking that line.

[K Gardner]

12. She actually did address that point. I can't find a full transcript or full video yet, still looking

[JohnnyLib2]

11. Another high point in a truly astounding career.

My wife and I are in the same age group and well aware of how women were typically perceived as her public life began.
She's made a remarkable change in the role of women......

[K Gardner]

13. She is truly, truly amazing - a leader in every sense of the word. The Sec of State position,

I think, was the best thing that could have happened to her. I do hope she will run in 2016.

[WinkyDink]

14. THANK YOU! I was about to post, INCLUDING with your same bolding. SOME PEOPLE HERE DON'T GET IT.

[alfredo]

15. Was Adelson or other prominent Republicans funders behind the film?

[K Gardner]

16. Evidently there are investigative reporters trying to figure out where this came from

as we speak. The actors were not informed they were going to be "dubbed over" and the film was produced under a pseudonym.

[K Gardner]

17. New Details Emerge about Film's Producer and Production...

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/world/anti-islam-filmmaker/index.html

This all looks murky and suspicious to me. But then I have my tinfoil hat on today.

[longship]

18. Happy to R&K nt

R&

[Ebadlun]

19. Could be a bit nuanced for Republicans

There are at least two different concepts in it.

[L0oniX]

20. ...but it's ok for Bill Maher to make a film ridiculing Jesus.

[K Gardner]

21. Apples and oranges. Anyone who knows religions and the history of depictions of

Mohammed knows there is no comparing the two.

[L0oniX]

22. Not comparing the 2 religions. Comparing freedom of speech and reactions to it.

[K Gardner]

24. Ah.. gotcha. n/t

[Arkana]

23. Yes, just as Terry Jones is free to do what he did.

What's your point?

[L0oniX]

25. The double standard sucks.

[lapislzi]

28. Where is the double standard?

Everyone is free to offend. I like to think of myself as an equal-opportunity offender. I dislike all religions just about equally and find them all ridiculous. I'm not afraid to say so, even though I know that somebody will find even the mildest criticism offensive. If I let fly with what I really think about religion, I'd have no friends at all except for a few like-minded atheists.

Put on your big boy pants and deal with it.

[L0oniX]

31. I'm sure freedom of speech offended the British too ...to the point of causing violence.

Maybe the civil war had some freedom of speech going on too. I am not ok with making an exception for freedom of speech because some assholes decided to murder. We've had enough of our rights taken away and or minimized. As for your petty attempt to insult me with your "Put on your big boy pants" I'll take it for what that is ...childish.

[qanda]

26. ...

...and the government does not stop individuals from expressing their views, “no matter how distasteful they may be,” Still, Clinton said, “violence in response to speech is not acceptable."

Not sure I understand your point since you are free to call what Maher did vile and reprehensible as well.

[lapislzi]

27. Yes, it is.

You may not like it, but it's perfectly OK to make a film ridiculing anyone. It was perfectly "OK" to make the "The Innocence of Islam," but it is inflammatory and offensive.

A film ridiculing Jesus would likely elicit the same condemnation from Secretary Clinton, especially if it could be linked to violence and loss of life.

Sorry, but nobody has the right not to be offended. That "right" doesn't exist. There are adult ways of dealing with your offended state, and violence should not be on that list.

What is your game?

[L0oniX]

29. Your welcome to blame the game or movie for causing violence.

I blame the murderers.

[reformist2]

30. It's better strategically/politically for Hillary to do it - Obama can comment later.

[K Gardner]

32. Exactly. And she was absolutely breathtaking in her diplomacy and resolve in delivering

this statement.

[reformist2]

33. She's awesome. I hate to admit this, but I used to dislike her. Now I think she's a national treasur