Just when it seemed that the scandal surrounding Harvey Weinstein couldn't get more sordid, current and former aides and advisors of Hillary Clinton have rushed to her defense after Anthony Bourdain, a famous chef and host of his own program on the Cable News Network, defended girlfriend Asia Argento, one of several women accusing the Hollywood mogul of sexual harassment, assault and even rape.
The liberal host of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown criticized the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate for taking five days to address the accusations and characterized Clinton's response as “shameful” and “a terrible response to questions about a 'friend' who's been tormenting women for decades.”
“I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein,” Clinton said in a statement. “The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior.”
Clinton then conducted an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, clips of which aired on Wednesday evening, in which the former presidential candidate said she would re-donate the money she received from Weinstein, but did not specify where it would go.
Bourdain tweeted:
I have to say, Hillary's interview with Fareed Zakaria was shameful in its deflection and its disingenuousness.
{K}now what Hillary Clinton is NOT? She's not stupid. Or unsophisticated about the world. The Weinstein stories had been out there for years.
“Mindless Hillary hate aside,” he continued, “I have met Hillary Clinton. I liked her. I admired much about her. This interview was a real disappointment.”
Bourdain then added: “And please … this is not about blame or equivalency. My feelings about Mr. Trump are well known. No one should take satisfaction from this.”
Still, “Hillary is CLEARLY not responsible for anything Weinstein. That's screamingly obvious. Her response to questions though has been uninspiring.”
“Secretary Clinton was one of the most intelligent, well prepared, well briefed politicians ever,” he noted, but “I can assure you that the victims of Mr. Weinstein's three decades of predatory behavior are disappointed too. I'm sitting next to one.”
However, an article by Breitbart News Editor-at-Large John Nolte stated that Bourdain “is under attack by Hillary Clinton aides. His sin? Daring to criticize Clinton’s response to the news that one of her longtime friends and biggest donors is the stuff of nightmares.”
The celebrity chef, Nolte indicated, “is now being treated like the Democrats treat all apostates: scorched earth.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Kugle -- assistant social media editor for the Washington Free Beacon -- noted in an article that Clinton followers “ganged up” on Bourdain, and Clinton's communications director, Nick Merrill, told him to “get a grip. She did an honest interview, condemned HW, is returning contributions.”
Former Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon mocked his television program by telling him to “Go eat a scorpion or something.”
In addition, Adam Parkhomenko tweeted: “On Hillary Clinton’s wedding anniversary, Bourdain had nothing better to do than attack her. Sad.”
“The Clinton aides also went after CNN media reporter Dylan Byers,” Kugle stated, “who tweeted that Clinton should donate the Weinstein money on top of what she already gives to charity 'in order to mean something.'"
Kugle also addressed Weinstein's financial connection to Hillary Clinton:
Weinstein has donated thousands of dollars to Clinton throughout her political career.
He maxed out donations ($5,400) to Clinton's failed 2016 presidential campaign and gave more than $30,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint fund-raising committee between Clinton's campaign, the Democratic National Committee and more than 30 state Democratic parties.
“The Hollywood mogul has also given at least $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation,” Kugle added.
As if things weren't bad enough for Weinstein, the reporter noted that “the powerful Hollywood producer and Democratic mega-donor was the subject of a story in the New Yorker detailing how Italian actress Ambra Battilana Gutierrez staged a sting operation with the police, during which she secretly recorded Weinstein admitting he groped her and that he does so to other women often.”
Nolte summed up the situation by stating: “It looks as though the unbelievably nasty Clintonistas have not changed at all from the 1990s.”
“Those of us who were around then will always remember how every female Bill Clinton accuser was relentlessly smeared and defamed -- not only by White House staffers, but by their allies in the national media,” Nolte added.
Of course, the Weinstein scandal will probably continue to unfold for some time to come. To keep up with the media reaction to this shameful situation, check back often to the NewsBusters website.
