BBC’s Ghattas Frets to Hillary: You’re So ‘Ahead of Your Time’ You’ve Faced ‘A Lot of Prejudice’

Curtis Houck
November 7th, 2016 11:00 AM
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After posing for photos with her most ardent supporters (aka the news media) on Monday morning, Hillary Clinton held a brief press gaggle before they boarded her plane for Election Eve rallies and amidst that, the BBC’s Kim Ghattas lobbed one of the most adoring questions one will ever see about the “prejudice” Clinton has faced by being “ahead of your time.”

The question that could end up in the next edition of Notable Quotables came after Clinton expressed how “excited” she was to have one last day to campaign and especially a “really meaningful” nightcap at Independence Hall with President Obama and the First Lady.

Ghattas then interjected (as the author of a fawning book about Clinton as secretary of state) to tout the presidential candidate as “ahead of your time” but “misunderstood”: 

I’ve observed you — I’ve observed you over the years and it seems to me that over time, you have been often ahead of your time. You’ve been sometimes misunderstood. You have encountered a lot of prejudice. Do you think that today America understands you and is ready to accept you? 

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Clinton appeared thankful for the question as she addressed her faithful subject, telling her that “I have some work to do to bring the country together” because “I really do want to be the president for everybody, people who vote for me, people who vote against me, because I think that these splits, these divides that have been not only exposed but exacerbated by the campaign on the other side.”

Perusing the NewsBusters archives, the last time that Ghattas appeared was on July 31's Reliable Sources when she defended the idea of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) fetching more airtime than the Republican one because “this is a historic moment” for so many and “inspiring” for a party to have nominated a woman.

If Ghattas’s adoring question to Clinton wasn’t enough, her press took to Twitter to tout Clinton emerging from her “Scooby van” on the tarmac to FaceTime with granddaughter Charlotte. 

The relevant portion of the transcript from the Hillary Clinton press gaggle on November 7 can be found below.

CNN Newsroom with Carol Costello
November 7, 2016
10:03 a.m. Eastern

HILLARY CLINTON: I’m really — I'm really excited about having a chance to make all these stops today. The event tonight at Independence Hall is really meaningful to me, about where it is and everyone who's there. 

[REPORTERS TALKING]

KIM GHATTAS: I’ve observed you — I’ve observed you over the years and it seems to me that over time, you have been often ahead of your time. You’ve been sometimes misunderstood. You have encountered a lot of prejudice. Do you think that today America understands you and is ready to accept you? 

CLINTON:  Well, Kim, I think I have some work to do to bring the country together. As I have been saying in these speeches in the last few days, I really do want to be the president for everybody, people who vote for me, people who vote against me, because I think that these splits, these divides that have been not only exposed but exacerbated by the campaign on the other side are ones that we really do have to bring the country together. 

ANDREA MITCHELL: Can do you that? Can you heal the [REPORTERS ALL TALKING]

CLINTON: Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. I love this country and I believe in our people and we have a big agenda ahead of us but I'm excited. I think we will get a lot done and I do think we will bring the country together. 

NANCY CORDES: Any concerns about tomorrow at all? Any concerns?

CLINTON: We just have to work until the last vote count is in. 

MITCHELL: And how much damage did that Huma thing —

CLINTON: We are on a good track.

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