• Although she won't reveal what he told her, Hillary indicates that Bill described to her what his relationship was with Monica.  Hillary's reversal indicates she would be a fool to reveal what she found out.
• Hillary, like the President, declines to comment on any specific allegations.  Her reversal correctly anticipates the allegations will be obscene.  In another reversal, she says that she and her unfaithful mate will "win it" - apparently as they had done with previous bimbo eruptions.
• Hillary says she doesn't know Monica and is not even sure if she ever met her while her reversal pegs Monica with a perfect descriptive metaphor.
• Hillary supports Vernon Jordan's claim that he has helped hundreds of people in addition to helping Monica find a job.  Her reversal, however, criticizes Bill for using Vernon Jordan to take the heat.
• Hillary paints a picture of a couple being unfairly accused of things for a six year period.  However, her reversal forgives the accusers since she knows many of the charges were true.
• Hillary stresses the length of her marriage, something she had included in her notes prepared for the interview.
• Hillary does not believe her own propaganda about a "vast right wing conspiracy."
• When speaking about how she and the President have discussed the sexual allegations with their daughter Chelsea, Hillary thinks about accosting Monica as a slut.
• Hillary indicates she had prepared Chelsea for sexual allegations against her father and feels Chelsea will get through this one also.  Metaphorically, Hillary says the same thing, referring to Chelsea's skin.
• Hillary diverts attention from the scandal by referring to the good economy.  Her reversal reinforces the diversion.
• Hillary Clinton and Matt Lauer end the interview on a friendly note while their reversals  demonstrate that their conversation is occurring on two levels simultaneously.  Their reverse speech conversation complements the forward conversation and is much more open about what is going on.

Matt Lauer:  "But he has described to the American people what this relationship was not, in his words.  Has he described to you what it was?"
Hillary Clinton:  "[Yes and we'll, we'll find that out] as time goes by, Matt."

    But I now fool, fool to say.          fool.ra

"I'm not going to comment [on any specific] allegation because I've learned we need to put all of this into context [and it will be] put into context."

    If it's obscene enough  //  we will win it          obscene.ra
Comment:  Based on what she knew about her husband's predilections, Hillary correctly anticipated that the allegations would be obscene.  Hillary's attitude matches her training as an attorney.  Regardless of the truth, she must win the dispute.  She and Bill, also an attorney, had won many previous controversies involving bimbo eruptions.

Matt Lauer:  "Do you know Monica Lewinsky?"
Hillary Clinton:  "No. Uh uh."
Matt Lauer:  "You've never met her?"
Hillary Clinton:  "[I may have, you know there are] hundreds and hundreds of young people who serve as interns and, you know, we have big events for them.  We take pictures with them, but, unless they work directly in my office, I'm, I'm not likely to meet them."

    Hardly, the hen.          hen.ra
Comment:  Here is a very apt metaphor for Monica.  Just like the mental image that arises when one thinks of a clucking hen, Monica is somewhat plump and quite talkative.  Also note that seven forward syllables here reverse to four syllables.

"You know, I just can't describe to you how uh, outgoing and friendly Vernon Jordan is.  I mean when he stood up and said what I believe to be [the absolute truth, that he has helped] literally hundreds of people" ...

    Why say shit? There Bill sat.          sat.ra
Comment:  Hillary likes Vernon Jordan and resents the fact that Bill sat passively by and used Jordan to take the heat for his problems.

"Think of what we've been through for the last six years.  [And think of everything we've been ac]cused of."

    Can not be myth, you're right, forgive it.          forgive.ra
Comment:  Hillary has to forgive the accusers since she knows many of their charges are true and not myths.

"You know, we've been married for [twenty-two years, Matt]."

    I am sir use these notes.          notes.ra
Comment:  Mrs. Clinton apparently had some written notes which she reviewed before her appearance on the Today Show.  One of the points she wanted to be sure to mention was the length of her marriage.

"[The great story here for anybody w]illing to find it and write about it and explain it, is this vast right wing conspiracy that has been conspiring against my husband since the day he announced for President."

    We don't mean it, Earl, for eight year old scare with it.          scare.ra
Comment:  Earl is a metaphor for that part of the self which has already achieved all goals and dreams.  Having achieved their joint goal of obtaining the Presidency, Mrs. Clinton does not really believe her own propaganda or scare tactic rhetoric that a vast right wing conspiracy exists.

Matt Lauer:  "How often do you talk to Chelsea about it, or have you?" (referring to the sexual allegations involving Monica Lewinsky)
Hillary Clinton:  "[We've talked a lot, both, uh,] Bill and I have talked to her a lot."

    A slut, I'll accost you.          slut.ra
Comment:  This is what is known as a trailing reversal.  Mrs. Clinton's thoughts still involve the subject just mentioned, Monica Lewinsky and the allegations of her sexual escapades with the President.  She feels animosity toward Monica and wants to accost her as a slut.

"So I have told her that this was the kind of thing that would happen and she has seen many, many examples of it in her very short life.  [So it's not a pleasant experience but it's given her] sort of the grounding to be able to see what this is and get through it."

    We're gonna fix it up, her skin is up with answers.          skin.ra
Comment:  Skin is the outer protective appearance of the self.  Mrs. Clinton and the President intended to fix any damage which the allegations inflicted on Chelsea by answering any questions that she had.  Note common expressions of a similar nature, e.g. someone has a thick skin or a thin skin with regard to being able to withstand criticism.

"When I balance what he's accomplished and the hope he's given to people and the way the economy has created opportunities for people, against all of the challenges we've been through personally, it is worth it.  [Now do I wish that] we didn't live in a time where people were so malicious and evil minded?  Of course."

    Let's see how well we done.          well.ra
Comment:  This is another trailing reversal, i.e. Mrs. Clinton is still thinking about her previous sentence where she gave her husband credit for the economy, etc.

Matt Lauer:  "[Uh, go ahead, I'll give you an opportunity]."
Hillary Clinton:  "Thank you, well, [you know the child care] proposal has been, I think, well put out there and we're getting a fabulous response from around the country."

    Matt:  Give her an extra bunny, we gotta help ya up  //
    Hillary:  Great flash, the bunny          bunny.ra
Comment:  Here is a good example of communication being carried on two levels simultaneously, forwards and backwards.  Today Show host Matt Lauer wants to do something nice to help Mrs. Clinton.  Metaphorically he refers to it as giving her an "extra bunny," something nice which, in this case, was the opportunity to speak about whatever she wanted to after their interview was over.  Note that her brain registered hearing his reversal since she repeats the term "bunny" in her reversal immediately thereafter.  This is not a coincidence (as a skeptic might claim if she had merely repeated his own words in her reply) since she used different words to create her "bunny."

Copyright 1998, 1999
by Mark Commerford