Hillary Clinton has labeled Republican women as “handmaidens to the patriarchy,” reviving memories of her controversial “basket of deplorables” remark that many believe contributed to her 2016 election defeat.
At a Glance
- Clinton made the “handmaidens to the patriarchy” comment during a discussion at The 92nd Street Y in New York on May 1
- She named Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and former Rep. Liz Cheney as exceptions to her criticism
- The remarks echo her 2016 “basket of deplorables” comment that became a rallying cry for Trump supporters
- Clinton expressed support for women candidates including Kamala Harris
Clinton’s Latest Controversial Remarks
During a recent discussion at The 92nd Street Y in New York on May 1, Hillary Clinton sparked fresh controversy by referring to most Republican women as “handmaidens to the patriarchy.” The comment came during a conversation with Margaret Hoover while discussing what advice she would give to women in politics. Clinton’s remarks, captured in a video posted on May 15, have quickly drawn comparisons to her infamous “basket of deplorables” comment from the 2016 presidential campaign, which many political analysts believe damaged her electoral prospects.
“Well, first of all, don’t be a handmaiden to the patriarchy, which kind of eliminates every woman on the other side of the aisle, except for very few.” – Hillary Clinton.
In her comments, Clinton identified only a handful of Republican women she considers exceptions to her criticism. She specifically named Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has opposed several of former President Trump’s actions, including certain nominations and pardons. Clinton also mentioned former Representative Liz Cheney, who played a significant role in the investigation of the January 6 Capitol riot and subsequently lost her 2022 reelection bid. Cheney has since endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Echoes of 2016 Campaign Rhetoric
Clinton’s latest comments have reignited discussions about her 2016 campaign strategy when she famously referred to half of Donald Trump’s supporters as a “basket of deplorables.” That remark, made at a fundraiser, became a defining moment of her campaign and was widely criticized for alienating potential voters. Following backlash, Clinton expressed regret for the generalization but the damage was already done, with the phrase becoming a rallying cry for Trump supporters who proudly embraced the “deplorable” label.
“Last night I was ‘grossly generalistic,’ and that’s never a good idea. I regret saying ‘half’ — that was wrong.” – Hillary Clinton.
The timing of Clinton’s new controversial remarks is particularly notable as Democrats face similar challenges in connecting with certain voter demographics. Political observers point out that Clinton’s 2016 campaign had attempted to broaden its appeal to include independent and Republican-leaning white voters, particularly women. Her campaign had shifted focus from exclusively liberal positions to include messaging that might resonate with moderate Republicans disaffected by Trump’s candidacy, a strategy that ultimately fell short.
Support for Women in Politics
Despite the controversial nature of her comments about Republican women, Clinton used the same interview to express continued support for women candidates in politics. She specifically mentioned Vice President Kamala Harris as someone she believes would make a good president. Clinton has consistently advocated for increased female representation in politics throughout her career, framing it as essential to challenging what she perceives as entrenched patriarchal systems in American governance.
“Look, first we have to get there, and it is, you know, obviously so much harder than it should be. So, you know, if a woman runs who I think would be a good president — as I thought Kamala Harris would be, and as I knew I would be — I will support that woman.” – Hillary Clinton.
Clinton’s comments reflect her long-held belief that American politics remains deeply affected by gender bias. Her critique of Republican women as enablers of patriarchal systems rather than challengers of them highlights her view that simply having women in positions of power is insufficient if they do not advance what she considers progressive gender policies. This perspective continues to drive division among female voters along partisan lines, with many Republican women rejecting the notion that their political values represent submission to patriarchy.
