Hillary Clinton marked one year since the launch of her presidential campaign by noting pay equity day, but neither she nor opponent Bernie Sanders were talking about her attempt at humor with Mayor Bill de Blasio last weekend, which some say ended up offending more than amusing. Josh Robin filed the following report.
Hillary Clinton says she especially knows the risks of pushing for higher women's wages.
"People will say 'Oh, there she goes, she's playing the gender card.' And what I say to that is, if talking about equal, and paid leave, and more opportunities for women and girls is playing the gender card, then deal me in," Clinton said.
Clinton is not only hoping many women vote, but she's been courting African-American voters, visiting three churches last Sunday.
Could that support be jeopardized by a joke at an annual spoof, off the expression "colored people time?" It came as Clinton said it took Mayor Bill de Blasio long enough to endorse her.
de Blasio: Sorry, Hillary, I was running on CP time.
Leslie Odom Jr., actor, "Hamilton": I don't like jokes like that, Bill.
Clinton: Cautious politician time.
In an interview with Cosmopolitan Magazine Tuesday, Clinton said it was de Blasio's skit. The Mayor's Office has said it was meant only to mock the mayor, not offend anyone else.
Also Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest weighed in, attesting to de Blasio and Clinton's record on civil rights.
"I haven't seen the joke and so I'm reluctant to wade into this very far," Earnest said.
Clinton's rival Bernie Sanders didn't talk about the flap, even as he's had trouble drawing African-American voters.
Sanders didn't hold back from attacking Clinton on her "credibility gap."
"Does anybody seriously believe that you can be an agent of change if you are taking money from the most powerful special interests in this country?" Sanders said.
Clinton's campaign hit back that Sanders devoted little time on pay equity day to that actual issue.
Whether a President Hillary Clinton, or President Bernie Sanders, would be better for woman's rights is in dispute. What is clear is that both candidates wield more than just policy promises.
Tuesday, Clinton was flanked by a member of the world champion U.S. women's soccer team, who recently filed a wage-discrimination action against the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Sanders has been leaning on surrogates like actor Rosario Dawson.