Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that some of Rush Limbaugh's comments towards women amounted to a "verbal assault," and called "for a return to civility" when asked about the controversy surrounding the conservative radio host and what he said about Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke.
"I try very hard to stay out of the politics, so let me put the campaign and the implications to the side — that is for others to comment on. But as a woman and as someone who can vaguely remember being a young woman, and as a mother of a young woman of that age and generation, I thought the response was very encouraging, the response from the public, the response from women cutting across all kinds of categories, the response from advertisers, so I'll let that speak for itself," Clinton said during an interview with MSNBC.
But Clinton added that public figures have a "particular responsibility" to keep national debate oriented to policy, rather than focus on personal attacks.
"We as a nation have every right, and in fact I welcome it, to engage in that type of debate and dialogue — that's at the root of who we are as Americans. But let's not turn it into personal attacks and insults. We're beyond that and better than that, and people in the public eye have a particular responsibility to avoid that," Clinton said.
Host Andrea Mitchell asked Clinton about comments her daughter had made while appearing on a panel with Fluke last month.
"She and I have something in common," Chelsea Clinton said, according to Buzzfeed. "We both have been attacked by Rush Limbaugh. She was 30, I was 13."
In 1993, Limbuagh drew criticism when, during an episode of a television show he hosted, he said, "Socks is the White House cat. But did you know there is also a White House dog?" He then showed a picture of Chelsea Clinton.
The secretary of State said those kind of remarks were deserving of criticism.
"I think we need to call people out when they go over the line. They're entitled to their opinion, but no one is entitled to engage in that kind of verbal assault. Let's keep it on the issues," Clinton said.
"Whether it comes from the right, the left, up, down, let's all call for a return to civility," she added.
Clinton also downplayed the possibility of a future presidential run, as she has in the past.
"It's very flattering, but I am not at all planning to do that, I have no desire or intention. I want to do the best job I can as secretary of State for this president. I want to then take some time to get reconnected to the stuff that makes life worth living — family, friends, the sort of activities that I enjoy. And I'll do some writing, and some speaking, and will be continuing to advocate on these issues," Clinton said.
In an interview that aired earlier Monday on the network, Clinton's husband, former President Clinton, seemed to encourage his wife to keep the door open for another run.
"It's up to her, really. I don't think she plans to do it, and I think you will understand this in 30 years or so, but Hillary's worked really hard for 20 years — it's just been a constant, relentless thing. She wants to come home, get a little rest, do some other things, she's told you and everyone else that she'll probably never run for office again, but I've been there, I know what happens when you go through this decompression after years of relentless, high-profile activity," Clinton said.
"Whatever she does, I'll support her," he added.
