It is the question that every presidential candidate must have a good answer to: Why do you want the job?
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton had a pretty punchy, pithy response this afternoon in Nashua, N.H., when a voter, Marilyn Learner – who has been leaning toward a Clinton rival, Senator Christopher Dodd – approached her with the query. Here’s the exchange, which took place at Martha’s Exchange, a restaurant popular with politicians.
Ms. Learner (tentatively): “Can I ask you a very naïve question?”
Mrs. Clinton (pursed lip smile, nodding): “Yeah.”
Ms. Learner (a little exuberantly): “Why do you want this job?!”
Mrs. Clinton (lol): “Well, the mess we’re in is so bad, I’m the only one with the experience to begin turning it around. And what can they do to me? I’ve been through it all.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/what-can-they-do-to-me/