(CNN) – Actor Richard Gere told Wolf Blitzer in an interview on Monday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “misspoke in the moment” when she said that human rights “can’t interfere with the global economic crisis.”
While on a diplomatic trip to Asia in February, Clinton said that the global economic crisis, climate change and security take precedent over human rights issues when dealing with China. Gere said that Clinton has always been on the “forefront of human rights.”
“Let’s assume she said more than that because she’s more complicated than that,” Gere said. “For me, these are all the same issue. If you want to make it about human rights, that’s perfectly valid. From my point of view, human rights are very important. To an American, human rights are desperately important and you have to say the words.”
Gere is the chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet, which has focused on fighting for human rights and democratic freedom in Tibet. He attended a reception with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Monday afternoon to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dalai Lama’s exile from Tibet.
From CNN Politics
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Unfortunately, as the US Secretary of State she cannot afford to "misspeak", especially when she is abroad doing her job. It was a foolish thing to say. Step it up Secretary Clinton, you'll need every ounce of tact and accuracy that you can muster.
She did not misspeak.
She knows that we need China to fund our debt by buying our T-bills.
Saving our country is more important to this administration and government than human rights.
Enough said...
Gere doesn't get it. We have no say in China. Zero. We can't tell them what to do. Pretty soon, China will own most of our debt, and we'll have to do things their way...
Richard who? Why would CNN even print this crud. And if Hillary misspoke, why does she clear it up? The DEMs have strange bedfellows, don't they now.
Richard Gere does not talk for the United States and his groveling to the Dalai Lama is pathetic!
Blitzer is not an impressive interviewer.
I Would watch Gere just sit there an do nothing – what a wonderful man, and quite handsome.
Yeah, I look to Richard Gere for opinions about world affairs. I mean, he's played some pretty smart guys.
It is amazing how often she misspeaks. Getting shot at in the middle east, etc. Learning tricks from Bill, I see.
This is all about making money from cheap slave labor Richard.Rights dont apply,or havent you heard.It was ok to start trading with communists like china,buts its not ok to become evil socialists or trade with cuba.
Ok when did the news media anoint Hollywood nut jobs to become the spokespeople for our countries Secretary of State?
Where does this person get off telling people Hillary misspoke! If she did then why not just ask her so.
No need to get this person to speak for her. She is a big girl in a big job and she does not need this nut case to speak up for her.
Since when do actors speak for government officials? Hillary speaks the way she does because she is not the right person to be secretary of state, but I would rather hear her make her own blunders instead of all thse actors who feel that they need to force their belief on the government.
Now what would Gere's comment have been if Hillary was a Republican?
Thank you Richard Gere. I was wondering the same thing when I heard that Clinton had said that. Then again she and Bill have been in bed with China for years.
Since when has Gere become Clinton's spokesman. She can speak for herself and, to date, she did not correct herself. So I guess she means what she says and does. If human rights were a priority for her she would have at least visited Gaza, the greatest open air prison and ghetto in the world.
All well and good Richard,but im guessing if a republican had said it,you wouldnt be giving them so much lee-way
I am so sick of celebrities talking politics. Who cares what Richard Gere thinks!
uhm...that doesn't sound like a slip up to me...It sounds like she clearly said what she meant. With all of Bill's business dealings in China, how does she have any credibility when dealing with the Chinese?
an actor making excuses for the Sec. of State?
are you kidding me
I hope Gere's right and we see some rephrasing or refocusing of such remarks. There is no real economy if it's not built on human rights.
Now actors are saying politicians are misspeaking??? Just admit you dont agree with her, but dont pretend to know what she really meant to say.
is richard gere now a spokesman for the Obama administration?
What is the administrations position?
Who cares what an actor has to say?
She didn't misspeak. Her actions following the China comments and the State Department's lack of comment when China shut down the country's biggest human rights lawfirm show just where Hillary's loyalties are.
She is just as big a wimp and an appeaser as any of her past counterparts.
Isn't it something that all these liberals fight for human rights, animal rights, environmental, etc.....but yet when it comes to saving the life of an unborn child they are all for killing it! Gere just needs to shut up like all the rest of the hypocrites that are for abortion.
Why would anyone in the real world care what a guy like Gere thinks or says. He lives in a make believe world has lots of money and reads other peoples words for a living. tell him to live in his L A L A fantasy world. His input was as good as GW BUSH,