Opinion: El ex-presidente likes Clinton for next presidente

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There can’t be more than two or three public figures left who have not published a book and gone on television to plug it in recent months. Take off that list now Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, who was on CNN’s ‘Situation Room’ the other day.

And although he can’t vote in the U.S., the Mexican came this close to endorsing Hillary Clinton for president.

Fox was on the show to talk about and promote his new book, ‘Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President.’ True, Wolf Blitzer did mention the book -- twice, in passing. But as regularly happens, the entire discussion was directed elsewhere.

They talked about immigration and Iraq and the United Nations. But a little bird had told Wolfie that Fox’s favorite U.S. presidential candidate was Sen. Clinton.

‘Women, yes, yes, ladies,’ said Fox, ‘I mean, it is what we need in this world in the 21st century.’

Wolf: ‘So you think the United States needs a woman to be the next president?’

Fox: ‘I would love to see a woman leading this nation, yes, because compassion, vision, love, smart, talent, that and give us a drive towards that leadership that we are missing in the rest of the world from the United States. That leadership is lost.’

Wolf: ‘So we can take this as an endorsement, in effect, of Hillary Clinton?’

Fox: ‘No, not necessarily.’

Wolf: ‘But you want a woman.’

Fox: ‘This will be decided by the American people.’

Wolf: ‘But she is the only woman who is running.’

Fox: ‘I like women everywhere, starting with my wife, Marta.’

So there you have it, a sort-of endorsement until Fox smelled trouble and backed away.

--Andrew Malcolm