I've had enough of all of the sarcasm I've been hearing within conservative circles regarding the upcoming Hillary Clinton miniseries that will be airing on NBC. I don't get it... Why is everyone so quick to assume that the project is being used as a shameless propaganda tool to promote Hillary's 2016 presidential candidacy? Talk about cynicism!
The real explanation seems pretty darned obvious to me.
When you think of all of the significant, transformational leaders this great country has had throughout its long, complicated history, doesn't Hillary Clinton's name naturally rise to the top of that list? Of course it does!
Just think of all of the glass ceilings in American politics that this trailblazer has shattered throughout her career. She became the first female candidate to run for the U.S. Presidency, after all!
What's that? There were actually several before her? Oh. Okay. Uh... Let me rephrase that then: She was the first woman to win her political party's nomination for the U.S. Presidency!
What do you mean she didn't win the nomination? Oh, that's right.
Surely, she was the first female Secretary of State then, right?
No? The third? Really?
Okay, okay. Let's not worry so much about the whole trailblazer angle. Let's get to all of the outstanding achievements throughout her public service career, because that's where she really shines.
As First Lady of the United States, Clinton skillfully survived multiple phony scandals like Whitewater, Travelgate, and Filegate - scandals that were clearly fabricated by the "vast right-wing conspiracy." Bravo, Hillary! You showed them.
Next, there was her graceful and admirable response to the public airing of her husband's extramarital, sexual indiscretions. Hillary served as a true role-model for strong, independent women all across the country (like Huma Abedin) by demonstrating sheer integrity in standing by her man out of love and loyalty, and not at all for notoriety and political convenience.
And ask yourself this question: How many First Ladies of the United States can honestly say that they dodged enemy sniper-fire in Bosnia alongside stand-up comedian, Sinbad? The answer is easy: Only Hillary, baby! I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm very much looking forward to this remarkable example of fearlessness and athleticism being portrayed on film. Rumor has is that Tyler Perry has already signed on for the role of Sinbad, and that the action-scene coordinator from the Lethal Weapon movie franchise is being brought on to work his cine-magic. Goosebumps!
After her time in the White House, Hillary pulled off the absolutely amazing feat of winning a U.S. Senate seat from the great state of New York - a state where Democratic politicians always have a hard time winning. She galvanized an ideologically-divided constituency behind her by convincing voters that after living alongside them for a long 13 seconds in the great state of New York, she was the candidate most in tune with their interests.
As a two-term U.S. Senator, Clinton was so skillful and convincing in her portrayal as a political moderate and an adult, that it lost her her party's nomination in her run for the presidency in 2008.
Lastly, she was the most effective Secretary of State in our nation's history... or at least the most traveled one. They mean the same thing, I'm told. She smoothed over our damaged relations with Russia, ended global tensions with North Korea, and brought sweeping peace and stability to the Middle East. And if you doubt that any of those things are true, you're clearly not watching enough MSNBC.
She ended her tenure as Secretary of State by authenticating her reputation as a caring and compassionate leader. She comforted the mourning families of the four American patriots that we lost in Benghazi, Libya on September 11th, 2012. She left them with her endearing promise to bring to justice the party responsible for their murders: Some director of a YouTube video.
If this isn't the story of one of the greatest, most fascinating leaders in American history, I don't know what is. It easily warrants a 4-hour miniseries, possibly even a full-length series, over multiple seasons, because her story is not yet over, my friends.
I can only hope that NBC approaches this project with as much integrity as CBS approached The Reagans television-movie back in 2003, as a lasting tribute to our 40th president. The Reagans, as many of you know, is considered the most honest and accurate portrayal of Ronald and Nancy since the music-video, Land of Confusion by the rock-band Genesis.
So far, the signs are good that the Clinton project is being taken seriously. From what I understand, actress Diane Lane (who has been cast to portray Hillary) has even waved her contractual obligation to appear topless in all on-camera roles, in order to bring her acting prowess to prime-time, network television. It's always encouraging to see performers sacrifice for their art.
So I'm excited about this! NBC hasn't created a good mini-series since the original "V" from the 1980s. And if the story of Hillary Clinton doesn't generate at least the level of interest that a fork-tongued, alien-human hybrid baby did... I don't know what will! Can't wait to break out the microwave popcorn for this one!