The Arrogance of the Clintons

317

July 10, 2016

Published in Sueddeutsche Zeitung
(Germany) on 7 July 2016
by Nicolas Richter (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Sandra Alexander. Edited by Melanie Rehfuss.

Hillary Clinton should be thankful for Donald Trump. If she had to run against a serious Republican, she wouldn’t have a chance at the presidency.

Hillary Clinton sometimes seems to be surprised that she is so unpopular with her fellow Americans, but they are only reacting to the example the Clintons set. Too often they demand special rules for themselves. If an affair threatens to come of it, they dispel suspicion with hair-splitting. And if that doesn’t help, they declare themselves victims of nitpicky small-minded people or murky powers. The most notable thing about “Clintonism” is its notorious arrogance.

The email affair is now a further example. As secretary of state, Clinton used a private server and thereby lacked the care and compliance expected of every official in dealing with state secrets. The FBI has now confirmed that she operated on the edge of what is prosecutable, but Clinton doesn’t act as if she’s learned much from this lack of judgment – even if it were only humility.

In a normal election year, Clinton’s pursuit of the presidency would be virtually over: Anyone who behaves so irresponsibly in a government office should not be entrusted with the White House. But this year, the alternative is Donald Trump, who is shoving his way into the highest office with a mixture of comedy and rabble-rousing. Clinton should be thankful because compared to him, she appears to be seriousness itself.

Hillary Clinton sollte Donald Trump dankbar sein. Müsste sie gegen einen seriösen Republikaner antreten, hätte sie keine Chance auf die Präsidentschaft.

Hillary Clinton scheint sich manchmal darüber zu wundern, dass sie bei ihren Landsleuten so unbeliebt ist. Aber die Amerikaner reagieren nur auf das, was die Clintons vorleben. Allzu gern beanspruchen sie Sonderregeln für sich. Wenn daraus eine Affäre zu werden droht, zerstreuen sie den Verdacht mit Wortklaubereien, und wenn das nicht hilft, erklären sie sich zu Opfern spitzfindiger Kleingeister oder finsterer Mächte. Das Auffälligste am Clintonismus ist dessen notorische Selbstherrlichkeit.

Die E-Mail-Affäre ist nun ein weiteres Beispiel. Hillary Clinton hat als Ministerin einen Privatserver benutzt und damit im Umgang mit Staatsgeheimnissen eine Sorgfalt und Regeltreue vermissen lassen, die von jedem Beamten erwartet wird. Das FBI hat ihr jetzt bestätigt, dass sie jahrelang am Rande des Strafbaren operierte, aber Clinton wirkt nicht so, als habe sie aus diesem Mangel an Urteilsvermögen viel gelernt, und sei es nur Demut.

In einem gewöhnlichen Wahljahr wäre damit Clintons Streben nach der Präsidentschaft faktisch beendet: Wer sich schon in einem Ministerium so verantwortungslos benimmt, dem sollte man nicht das Weiße Haus anvertrauen. Aber in diesem Jahr heißt die Alternative Donald Trump, der mit einer Mischung aus Comedy und Hetze ins höchste Amt drängt. Clinton muss ihm dankbar sein dafür, dass sie im Vergleich zu ihm wie die Seriosität selbst wirkt.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Block title

Mexico: The Halftime Show That Enraged President Trump

February 16, 2026. Published in La Razón

Clearly, this year’s halftime show, which Bad Bunny headlined at Levi’s Stadium in California, was one of the most impactful in the event’s history.

France: Europe: Toward a Painful But Necessary Break with the US

February 16, 2026. Published in Libération

Our independence is at stake. And possibly our freedom.

India: How Great Empires Rise and Fall: A Cue to America’s Fate

February 12, 2026. Published in Firstpost

Japan: Diplomacy between Major Nations and Japan: Create a Unified Core of Mid-Level Nations

February 16, 2026. Published in Nishinippon Shimbun

The greatest challenges to be faced are the relationship with the U.S., our ally, and the relationship with China, our neighbor.

Saudi Arabia: Recalling the Night the US Ambassador to Libya Was Killed

February 17, 2026. Published in Asharq Al-Awsat

Topics

Iraq: From Noriega to Maduro: The Logic of Force in US Policy

February 19, 2026. Published in alsabaah

When political legitimacy becomes contingent on recognition by a superpower, populations lose their right to self-determination and democracy becomes a selective tool.

Mexico: The United States: Arms Supplier to Drug Traffickers

February 17, 2026. Published in La Jornada

[T]he U.S. government itself is a major supplier to the cartels that the White House claims to be pursuing with all its might.

India: What’s behind the Layoffs at The Washington Post?

February 17, 2026. Published in Amar Ujala

The Washington Post Guild, the staff union, questioned Bezos' commitment, saying that if he is no longer willing to invest in its mission, the institution needs a steward who understands it.