My Interview with Presidential Hopeful: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

She has to, ever so carefully, decide how much vulnerability to show or how much strength. By the way, how is an American female candidate supposed to dress, anyhow?  She has to make all of these decisions in a super digital world where everything is critiqued and scrutinized more than any previous election.

What makes her road even more awesome is the manner in which women are judged. For example, in Saturday's debate she was criticized for getting angry and defensive-but it seems as though when the men get upset it’s different. Hillary gets upset in a debate and all of a sudden she's "melting down." When instead, she told me today-she is merely passionate about the changes she’s made. I promise you, I'm not that girl. You know, the feminist with a chip on her shoulder who believes every shortcoming in a female's life is based on gender discrimination. But, in Hillary’s case it is true - at the very least to some degree.

Moreover, as I said earlier, when she IS tripped or misjudged in a debate or in an interview (or even stumbles as she is entitled), what example does she have to refer to in attempting to recover?  She has but only herself.

As far as my actual interview went, I sat down with her to see "the other side of Hillary." Though I may not have attained too much in that vein, I fully understand how hard it is for someone in her position to be totally forthcoming. Could she, for instance, admit that her guilty pleasure is the show "I Love New York?" She didn't and probably can't. (FYI - that's MY guilty pleasure and not hers...though she confessed to watching "Dancing with the Stars occasionally with her mom!)  In our sit down, I did see a warm presidential hopeful who is extremely passionate. I asked her about Chelsea, about the young female vote and about Barrack getting the women to come out and vote for him. Though some answers you may have heard, I cling to those I haven't. It was nice to hear that it is indeed "daunting" to be the first female candidate for president. That was real to me. She has an iPod-but doesn't know how to use it. I don't know how to program mine either. I was able to ask her other questions that I've personally been curious about and she gave me more time than we were originally allotted which was wonderful.

I am, by no means, endorsing Hillary or any other candidate. I am simply acknowledging the reality of the situation as well as, my observations. Years from now, when a female candidate makes a serious run for the office of United States President, they will have the luxury of studying and referring to the road that Hillary is paving right now. I must also acknowledge that Barrack Obama, himself, is in a similar predicament.  As an African American on the threshold of being elected, he too is a lone, pioneer and one whom I would love to converse with.

For now - hope you're able to catch the interview with Hillary. I would love to interview Chelsea next. As I told Hillary, I think she is her secret weapon. The young female voters want to connect with her, and I hope they will afford me the opportunity to do that just that.

Some fun notes: I did see Chelsea briefly roaming the halls. She was wearing jeans and a cute blazer. She looked great! On a side note, my best friend from high school, Alyssa, came up from Boston to visit me on my quick 10-hour trip. Alyssa ended up having some fun small talk with Chelsea in the bathroom. I asked Alyssa if she pleaded my case to get the interview. She rolled her eyes and laughed. (Fine Alyssa, you can stick to bringing me my Dunkin Donuts…lol).

As we waited for Hillary to arrive I played hockey in the hallway with some of her staffers. I beat them – and I did it in high heels! (It just so happened that there were sticks and balls and being a lifelong hockey fan I couldn’t resist!)

Incidentally, Hillary asked me before the interview if I liked my job and I told her, “yesterday I was filming lions and tigers at Tippi Hedren’s Shambala Preserve and when I finished that interview I was on my way to the airport to interview you. Of course, I loooove my job!"