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Hillary Clinton set the Internet on fire Sunday by informing CBS of "Sunday Morning" that the bond between her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and White House intern, Monica Lewinsky, did not constitute an abuse of power.
The remark of the former Secretary of State – as well as her suggestion that her husband's sexual relations with Lewinsky was consensual because Lewinsky was "an adult" at the time – appeared to contradict the Me Too movement that Clinton she defended herself.
Lewinsky, who was 22 at the time of the case, had previously stated that his sexual encounters with Bill Clinton had been consensual, but recently reconsidered his point of view. Several other women have accused the former president of sexual misconduct since the 1970s, which he vehemently denied.
Advocates of sexual violence said it was impossible for a president to have a consensual sexual relationship with a trainee, given the unequal power dynamics.
But five major women's rights groups – the National Women's Organization, Time Up, Family Planning, Ultraviolet, and the Feminist Majority – have obviously ignored Clinton's controversial remarks.
These organizations are declared supporters of Me Too or deeply critical of the many allegations of sexual misconduct against President Donald Trump – or both.
The National Women's Organization, sunrise time, family planning, ultraviolet and feminist majority had not tweeted or issued a statement about the Monday afternoon interview. None of the groups immediately responded to HuffPost's requests for comment, with the exception of NOW, who declined to comment.
Neither Tarana Burke, who launched the Me Too campaign in 2007, nor Alyssa Milano, a prominent women's rights activist who helped the campaign go viral a year ago, did not publicly comment or respond to HuffPost's request. regarding Hillary Clinton's interview.
Hillary Clinton should not be held responsible for her husband's actions. Critics say that the way she chose to respond to multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault against her deserves close scrutiny.
Although the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate has noted that Lewinsky was an adult, the risk of sexual abuse and harassment exists even if a person is over the age of 18, said Laura Palumbo, director of communications for the United States. National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
It is "very understandable" why some people think that it is impossible for a person with "unequaled" power, that is, the President of the United States, to have a consensual relationship with a trainee, Palumbo said.
"The imbalance of power always affects the ability of someone to consent," she added.
Palumbo said that Hillary Clinton's remarks to CBS about Lewinsky's age and his denial that this case constituted an abuse of power were "problematic" in nature.
"In the context of Me Too and all the ways in which public dialogue on harassment, abuse and sexual assault has progressed, it is always difficult to propose potentially silencing counter-messages to victims of aggression. sexual. sending wrong information, "said Palumbo.
At least two women claimed to have been sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton, including Juanita Broadderick, who was allegedly raped in a hotel room in 1978 while he was Attorney General of Arkansas.
When the wave of sexual harassment and aggression against Harvey Weinstein dominated the news a little over a year ago, Hillary Clinton said that "this behavior can not be tolerated anywhere, either in entertainment or politics ".
"I really congratulate the women who wanted to make themselves known and tell their story," she said at the time. "We have to recognize that we have to oppose this kind of sexist and misogynist action."
But Clinton did not delay in her interview with CBS to steer the conversation away from her husband and towards the many women who accused Trump of sexual harassment or sexual assault.
"Let me ask you this: Where is the investigation of the current incumbent against whom many allegations have been made and what he rejects, denies and ridicules?", She asked. "So, there was an investigation and she, as I believe, went out to the right place."
On Monday, women around the world, including some of the women's groups mentioned above, published social media tributes to mark the first anniversary of the #MeToo hashtag transfer.
But some wonder how, if at all, the movement has changed the minds of one of the most prominent feminists in the United States.
Need help for? Visit RAINN's National online hotline against sexual assault or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center Website.
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