The first desi in the Oval Office?

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Relax, this post has nothing to do with Bobby Jindal. Banish the thought and just bear with me for a moment. Last week, after one of the candidates I was eyeing as the potential recipient of my vote made a monumental policy blunder (which made me question everything about this candidate), I started giving a closer look to another candidate who had more sensible and educated things to say on the same issue. And that is when I decided that it was finally time (after months of my teenage-like infatuation where I contemplated the perfect post that might get her to take notice of me) to write about an awesome potential development that would take place IF Hillary Clinton goes on to win the White House. I’m talking about that goddess beautiful and capable assistant of hers, Huma Abedin. Huma currently serves as Clinton’s “body man,” similar to the character of Charlie on the show The West Wing. If she doesn’t go on to become the Chief of Staff, she would certainly remain one of Clinton’s closest advisors, with daily access to the Oval Office. From an article I first read in April:

Last June, under an oppressive sun, at a rally to save the Niagara military base at the University of Buffalo, all of New York’s top politicians–George Pataki, Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton–poured sweat.

Yet there was exactly one member of the wilting delegation who managed, somehow, to stay cool: Hillary Clinton’s mysterious, glamorous and eerily unflappable aide de camp, Huma Abedin.

“It was like 110 degrees outside,” recalled the source, a political aide who asked to remain anonymous. “We were all just pouring down with sweat. But I have this distinct memory of Huma traipsing in in this blue pantsuit–it was like this wool pantsuit–not a bead of sweat on her brow, not a hair out of place, with everything perfectly organized in her Yves Saint Laurent handbag.”

That sort of fantastical, supernaturally tinged tale is not unusual. Indeed, in the insular world of New York and D.C. politics, Huma Abedin has become a sort of mythical figure. [Link]

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p>Huma was born in Michigan to an Indian father and a Pakistani mother. She interned at the White House in the mid-90s and graduated from GW. If she goes on to become Chief of Staff it is entirely possible that she could broker a lasting peace in South Asia by helping to end the Kashmiri conflict. I’m just saying, if I was at the negotiation table I’d commit to any concession she proposed. Let’s give peace a chance.

“I think she has special powers,” said public-radio broadcaster Katia Dunn, who recently crossed paths with Ms. Abedin and Mrs. Clinton at a café on Capitol Hill.

Ms. Dunn explained that she had heard about the “cult of Huma,” but had never met her. “All of a sudden, I turn around and there was this woman I now know to be Huma. And it wasn’t just that she was gorgeous–she did just sort of have this presence. She stopped me in my tracks for a second…” [Link]

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p> For those of you who think that the “special powers” quote above is an exaggeration, check out this clip. She is as agile as a secret service agent in protecting Ms. Clinton from the attacking flags (apparently Clinton forgot to wear a flag pin on her lapel and the flags in the audience were really pissed). At the end of clip you can see her calming down some of the flags:

“This might seem too over-saccharine, but I love Huma,” said Oscar de la Renta, who is a personal friend and intensely loyal supporter of the Clintons. The legendary designer was speaking to The Observer on the phone from his compound in the Dominican Republic. He has known her for nearly a decade. Indeed, he noted, Ms. Abedin has actually been a guest at his island home. He described her as “discreet,” “loyal,” “beautiful” and “half-Pakistani.”

“She is an unbelievably feminine and gentle person, but at the same time she can accomplish so much,” offered Mr. de la Renta. He recalled that she had great style, but hastened to point out that “she’s a Muslim” and “she’s very conservative.”

“I always say I don’t want to die without seeing [Huma] in a strapless dress,” he said, with a laugh. But did the dapper dressmaker know, say, where his dream girl grew up?… [Link]

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p>I never thought I’d have so much in common with Oscar de la Renta. Who knew? There are rumors that she once dated John Cusack for a while. That is not conservative. But honey, didn’t you watch High Fidelity? That bum is a commitment-phobe and it was always going to lead to a failed relationship. I’m not like that. I also love politics and believe in government service so we’d have a lot to talk about.

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p>Now, as for the other rumors, I find them just disgusting. It is a combination of misogyny and racism that motivates the spreading of innuendo that Clinton is having a lesbian affair with her Muslim aide. It is dirty politics at its absolute worst (even worse than what happened to McCain in 2000). Some segment of our society (in both parties) just can’t accept one strong woman working with another without feeling threatened by it.

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p>I’d like to conclude this post with what I predict would be some notable developments should Clinton win the Presidency and Huma accompany her to the White House:

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p>1) Secret Service budget would be increased exponentially as it would need to staff up because of all the brown men that would suddenly become interested in seeing Clinton speak at events.

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p>2) Peace between India and Pakistan. How could two nations that combined to form a Huma keep fighting?

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p>3) Raghubir “the foil” Goyal would ask the White House Press Secretary, “ummm. so, how’s Huma? Did she say anything about me?” at every press briefing.

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p>4) The Saudis would lower oil prices (Huma grew up there and could probably place a call to make it happen)

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p>5) USINPAC would suddenly become Islamaphilic.

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p>6) Huma action figures by Kridana.com

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p>7) SM blogger Abhi would quit SM to run Huma fan club website

8) Secret Service would investigate Abhi…again.

150 thoughts on “The first desi in the Oval Office?”

  1. 47 · Manju political achievements? isn’t she a butler?

    No kidding! It seems odd to “celebrate” her (as opposed to lust after her).

  2. beautiful people get more attention. in every culture. we’re all the same.

    I agree with this psot.

    Also, I think Obama should win. All the other candidates have to make do with their hot aides-de-camp or spouses, whereas Obama is hot all by himself – he doesn’t even need Michelle to prop him up.

    Ahh, politics.

  3. beautiful people get more attention. in every culture. we’re all the same.

    this is immature. “we’re all the same tralalala” doesn’t account for societal perceptions cultivated by years of living in a society that doesn’t treat us the same. No one is arguing that beautiful people don’t get attention, the idea is.. this is the first that I (and I’d say many others) have even heard of this woman… and it looks like she’s selling perfume rather than working at the white house.

    There’s a reason for that. And Kucinich’s wife isn’t a valid counterpoint.

  4. Back up the truck (please horn please ok):

    one of the candidates I was eyeing as the potential recipient of my vote made a monumental policy blunder (which made me question everything about this candidate

    ARE YOU MAD?? I mean, I can totally see how investing in space exploration is more important than reforming a crumbling education system. After all, why fix things when we can launch illiterate kids into orbit? Can we also divert funding from the safety of currently deployed forces in favor of a system with a really cool name?

  5. I m just saying, if I was at the negotiation table I’d commit to any concession she proposed. Let’s give peace a chance

    .

    Dinner with Clintons Cast : Bill, Hillary, Atal, General Musharaff, Sonia, BB, chinese President, Chinese kid, MAdhuri dixit. Setting : White house You can read the entire play in the above link but getting straight to the end (pg 6)…

    Madhuri Enters… Bill : It is not without difficulty ( looks at Hillary ) that I’ve negotiated things with Madhuri. General, CIA has informed me reliably that your army will gladly settle for Madhuri in exchange for Kashmir. There will be a mutiny if you refuse. So General why don’t you take Madhuri out and see if you can come….to any conclusion

    Exit General and Madhuri…

    Atal: Madhuri, Madhuri.

  6. Also, I think Obama should win. All the other candidates have to make do with their hot aides-de-camp or spouses, whereas Obama is hot all by himself – he doesn’t even need Michelle to prop him up.

    Totally agree with Nina. And with Andrew Sullivan.

  9. Not much substantial to say about Abedin the staffer. She’s a gofer, not a policy figure, in the Clinton campaign.

    But in real life, Huma Abedin is also an editor of the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, founded by her late father, the Indian scholar Syed Z. Abedin. The journal isn’t available to non-subscribers on-line, so you’d have to be in a university to see what it’s all about.

    Here’s a quote from Syed Abedin on minority issues:

    In the matter of gathering information and seeking solutions to minority problems, it is also absolutely essential for the Ummah to realize that minority living is a two-way street. You talk and you listen. You take, but you also give. You respect first and then you gain respect and attain credibility- and dignity. There cannot, absolutely cannot, be any discussion of minority problems with only one side present. Dialogue is the essence even of dawah. It needs above all moral courage of the highest Islamic order, especially in present times when religious and political polarization has reached lethal proportions

    You don’t need to be a Muslim minority to take that piece of advice. It applies to Desi-Americans as well.

  10. 59 · Ikram It needs above all moral courage of the highest Islamic order, especially in present times when religious and political polarization has reached lethal proportions You don’t need to be a Muslim minority to take that piece of advice. It applies to Desi-Americans as well.

    Err, not so much, actually . . . . thanks for the thought, though.

  11. You don’t need to be a Muslim minority to take that piece of advice. It applies to Desi-Americans as well

    What if the majority of desi-americans belong to a religion which does not inculcate a minority-complex?

    M. Nam

  12. and it looks like she’s selling perfume rather than working at the white house.

    she’s not working in the white house. she’s hillary’s butler/rumored lover. ergo, the counter-example of kucinich’s spouse. dana perino, in a far more weighty position, gets a similar treatment, though she chose not to pose in a mag. hillary’s done a vogue spread, as as dem fundraiser particia duff, of the top of my head. vogue, btw, has been critized for not featuring women of color. i recall annna wintour having some nasty things to say about j.lo once.

    if anything, i would say white women get objectified more and desi women are sterotyped as smart.

  14. What if the majority of desi-americans belong to a religion which does not inculcate a minority-complex?

    All the squealing of the spoor lams in America suggest every desi-american group has members who inculcate a hysterical persecution complex, as many squealers prove in the comments threads here.

  15. Ikram

    Dialogue is the essence even of dawah.

    Other desi-Americans don’t have a concept of ‘dawah’ so it’s not an exact fit.

  17. 66 · Manju apparently, the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Dina Habib Powell, is a hottie too.

    And, she’s leaving her “gubmint” post for a job at Goldman. My kind of gal. 😉

  18. i recall annna wintour having some nasty things to say about j.lo once.

    I know this is OT, but what did she say about J Lo?

  19. Obama’s comments on suspending space exploration for education may harken back to Martin Luther King’s quote:

    “And I say to you today, that if our nation can spend thirty-five billion dollars a year to fight an unjust, evil war in Vietnam, and twenty billion dollars to put a man on the moon, it can spend billions of dollars to put God’s children on their own two feet right here on earth…”

    I agree with the sentiment and the money can come out of the military budget–no need to touch space exploration. See Ben Cohen’s stacks of oreos–it’s pretty insane. There’s more than enough $ to go around.

    (For the record, I’m still on the fence regarding who I’ll vote for . . .)

  20. I know this is OT, but what did she say about J Lo?

    it was always j.lo’s dream to appear in vogue. early in her career she approached vogue with the idea only to be rebuffed. anna was rumored to say something about “trashy” “low class” etc. wintour has long been accused of avoiding “ethnic” models as they call them in the biz. but since that uproar, i think j.lo has appeared.

    i forgot who my source is on this, but i knew a few people in the industry at the time, including one who worked closely w/ wintour. i thinks its widely known but maybe JOAT can swoop in to confirm.

  21. MoorNam wrote: What if the majority of desi-americans belong to a religion which does not inculcate a minority-complex?

    Wonderful thought. But numerous comment threads here complaining of persecution of Hindus suggest otherwise (as does the California taxt book thing). In fact, you could argue that Indian Hindus, a majority, have a minority complex.

    But that would be off-topic.

  22. And, she’s leaving her “gubmint” post for a job at Goldman. My kind of gal. 😉

    yeah: bush administration, goldman…that’s hot

  24. ikram: perhaps the religion of perpetual persecution to which MoorNam refers is multi-cultural secular progressivism. You know, No WOC in Vogue. We’re oppressed! WOC appears in Vogue. Hey, stop objectifying us!

  25. OK so she’s very pretty. She’s got great hair, a greater wardrobe, and has received lavish praise from none other than Oscar de la Renta.

    What is to be politically celebrated about her? We all know Hills wouldn’t hesitate to bitch slap the woman into submission if she stepped out of line. Yes, she’s privy to things most would only dream of. But her “power” is somewhat nonexistent.

  26. numerous comment threads here complaining of persecution of Hindus suggest otherwise (as does the California taxt book thing). In fact, you could argue that Indian Hindus, a majority, have a minority complex

    A minority-complex and a persecution-complex are two different things. As the history of the sub-continent has played out, for a thousand years it was the minority Mughals/British persecuring a majority. Even in the California text book case, it was the minority(leftist professors, academics) persecuting a majority (taxpaying Hindus).

    You are automatically assuming persecution=must-be-minority. Not true at all.

    M. Nam

  29. there have been some attempts to sex up condi rice, including a vogue spread in an evening gown, but they never quite stuck. but her legs are spectacular, i understand, and i recall Ariel Sharon was quite mesmerized by them.

  30. Does anyone here think that Hillary Clinton is not a lesbion?

    Human and Hillary are banging or scissoring as they say on South Park.

  31. she’s not working in the white house. she’s hillary’s butler/rumored lover. ergo, the counter-example of kucinich’s spouse. dana perino, in a far more weighty position, gets a similar treatment, though she chose not to pose in a mag. hillary’s done a vogue spread, as as dem fundraiser particia duff, of the top of my head. vogue, btw, has been critized for not featuring women of color. i recall annna wintour having some nasty things to say about j.lo once.

    if anything, i would say white women get objectified more and desi women are sterotyped as smart.

    True, I meant to say “potentially working in the white house” kucinich’s spouse is not a counter example, because its the combination of sexuality & politics with TWO people.

    As for vogue not featuring women of color, that criticism could very well hold. The issue here isn’t who vogue choses to and not to feature, rather its how they’re featuring this particular person.

    The vogue picture doesn’t indicate any kind of relationship between huma and hill (rumored or otherwise).

    if Hill does a vogue spread, it’s somewhat moot, because from other sources, we all know where her true talents (or lack thereof, if that’s your opinion) lay.

  32. Does anyone here think that Hillary Clinton is not a lesbion?

    i don’t believe it, but then again, gennifer flowers has never been known to lie:

    There’s something you need to know. I’ve been hearing tales around town that Hillary is having another thing with a woman.” I watched his face to see his reaction, and couldn’t believe it when he burst out laughing. I was stunned! I asked him what was so funny. “Honey,” he said, “she’s probably eaten more pussy than I have.” Bill said he had known for a long time that Hillary was attracted to women, and it didn’t really bother him anymore. His first clue came from her lack of enjoyment of sex with him. She didn’t like to experiment and insisted on the missionary position and nothing else. Because she wasn’t enjoying herself; neither was he. Sex with her became a duty; nothing more.

  33. Huma is going find that working with either Hillary or Bill is going leave her with a bad taste in the mouth in the end…

  34. HMF:

    You’re right. I am using my Wintour contacts to lodge a protest with Vogue. Next time, they should reveal Huma’s true talents by portraying her doing what she does professionally: servicing Hillary.

  35. Huma is going find that working with either Hillary or Bill is going leave her with a bad taste in the mouth in the end

    HAHAHA I get it. Bad taste in her mouth. Priceless.

  36. Interesting post. I agree with Bill and Hillary closer to the Indian community than ever this would prove to be great for the community. Many Hillary staffers are Indian Americans and I’m sure they will work within the administration if all comes about. I have met Huma a few times and will tell you she is a bit intimidating. Keeps close tabs on Hillary and knows all of whats going on. She doesn’t like to talk to many people and kind of is a more interpersonal Secret Service agent that is protecting Hillary from everything but physical harm. Although I am sure she wouldn’t be chief of staff, she will def. be one of the top advisors and assistants to a second President Clinton.

    None the less I think at large this will be good for the Indian American community.

    Varun http://www.usinpac2008.com

  37. don’t worry vikram. that’ll only happen if she blows it. the way things are going with her, she’ll be sitting on the presidential staff in no time.

  38. don’t worry vikram. that’ll only happen if she blows it. the way things are going with her, she’ll be sitting on the presidential staff in no time.

    Hopefully it won’t stain her career or reputation.

  39. I think she can take the heat. She is most likely used to Hillary coming down hard on her all the time.

  40. Hopefully it won’t stain her career or reputation.

    well, she’s taken on quite a load. Hu knows what’s to come.

  41. She is most likely used to Hillary coming down hard on her all the time.

    Bill better watch it. Huma will be taking his rightful position

  42. well, she’s taken on quite a load. Hu knows what’s to come.

    She might choke under the pressure of her position.

  43. Huma is more like a care giver then a advisor. Since it get’s so cold in the winter time in New York, she always makes sure Hillary has a muff around her mouth.

  44. Bill is going leave her with a bad taste in the mouth in the end…

    vikram: in the mouth or in the end. make up your mind

  45. Since it get’s so cold in the winter time in New York, she always makes sure Hillary has a muff around her mouth.

    if the healthcare fiasco is any indication, it is hillary that likes to muffle her advisors

  46. vikram: in the mouth or in the end. make up your mind

    All depends on how Bill spins around the issue at hand.

  47. If hillary comes out of the closet or is outed by the rightwing, will this affect the election ? Any opinions >

  49. Hillary is just using Bill Clinton as a beard to hide her relationship with her Muslim aide. You know who else has a beard? Osama. Whose name rhymes with Obama. As for Obama, he’s courting the alien vote, which is why he’s against space exploration and keeping Mars a safe harbor for Martians.

    Fox News, you heard it here first!

  50. If hillary comes out of the closet or is outed by the rightwing, will this affect the election ? Any opinions >

    Ever since Gary Bauer, it’s pretty much been a rule of politics that sex scandals (and being ‘outed’ does count as a scandal in america) scupper your chances of winning elections. I think there’s been maybe one or two ‘openly’ gay congressmen, but none who were previously a public hetero, were ‘outed’ and then won their election.. The GOP would rest easier, no doubt, if such a story would gain traction in the mainstream media. Fortunately for Hillary, a publication like Newsweek/TIME/NYT (to my knowledge) hasn’t decided that this rumor deserves a spot online or in print.