Major Women's Groups Silent On Hillary Clinton's 'Abuse Of Power' Comments

Hillary Clinton set the internet ablaze on Sunday when she told CBSs Sunday Morning that the affair between her husband, former President Bill Clinton , and then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky was not an abuse of power .

The former secretary of states remark as well as her suggestion that her husbands sexual relationship with Lewinsky was consensual because Lewinsky had been an adult at the time appeared at odds with the Me Too movement Clinton herself has championed.

Lewinsky, who was 22 at the time of the affair, previously said that her sexual encounters with Bill Clinton had been consensual, but has reconsidered that view recently. Several other women have accused the former president of sexual misconduct going as far back as the 1970s, which he has vehemently denied.

Advocates against sexual violence have said its impossible for a president to have a consensual sexual relationship with an intern , given the unequal power dynamics.

But six major womens advocacy groups EMILYs List, National Organization for Women, Times Up, Planned Parenthood , Ultraviolet and Feminist Majority have been noticeably silent on Clintons controversial remarks.

These organizations have been outspoken supporters of Me Too or deeply critical of the numerous sexual misconduct allegations against President Donald Trump or both.

EMILYs List, National Organization for Women, Times Up, Planned Parenthood, Ultraviolet and Feminist Majority had not tweeted or issued statements about the interview as of Wednesday morning. None of the groups immediately responded to HuffPosts requests for comment, except for NOW, which declined to comment.

Correspondent Tony Dokoupil looks at the historical under-representation of women in elected office, and the spike in female candidates in 2018

In this clip Hillary Clinton talks about her position on her husband's affair https://t.co/EzPbExjuwY pic.twitter.com/ZGS9UVnccF

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Correspondent Tony Dokoupil looks at the historical under-representation of women in elected office, and the spike in female candidates in 2018

In this clip Hillary Clinton talks about her position on her husband's affair https://t.co/EzPbExjuwY pic.twitter.com/ZGS9UVnccF
CBS Sunday Morning (@CBSSunday) October 15, 2018

Neither Tarana Burke, who started the Me Too campaign in 2007, nor Alyssa Milano, an actress and prominent womens rights activist who helped the campaign go viral a year ago, have responded to HuffPosts requests for comment on Hillary Clintons interview.

Burke, in an interview published Tuesday on The Root , said Bill Clintons affair with Lewinsky was absolutely an abuse of power.

When I think about the things Hillary Clinton said about the Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton affair not being an abuse of power that is just tragic and its wrong, Burke said.

Youre talking about an age dynamic but youre also talking about the president of the United States, she added. The amount of power, the amount of accumulated power that is in that position alone, versus an intern.

Hillary Clinton should not be held responsible for her husbands actions. But critics say the way she chooses to respond to the multiple sexual harassment and assault allegations against him warrants scrutiny.

Although the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee noted that Lewinsky was an adult, the potential for sexual abuse and harassment exists even if someone is over the age of 18, said Laura Palumbo, director of communications for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

Its very understandable why some believe its impossible for someone in a position of unmatched power, i.e. the president of the United States, to have a consensual relationship with an intern, Palumbo said.

Power imbalance always impacts somebodys ability to consent, she added.

Palumbo said Hillary Clintons comments to CBS about Lewinskys age and her denial that the affair was an abuse of power were problematic in nature.

In the context of Me Too and all of the ways we have seen the public dialogue around sexual harassment, abuse and assault moving forward, it is always a challenge when there are counter-messages that are potentially silencing for victims of sexual assault and also sending misinformation, Palumbo said.

At least two women have claimed they were sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton, including Juanita Broadderick, who has alleged he raped her in a hotel room in 1978 when he was Arkansas attorney general.

When the wave of sexual harassment and assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein dominated the news just over a year ago, Hillary Clinton declared that this behavior cannot be tolerated anywhere, whether it is in entertainment or politics.

I really commend the women who have been willing to come forward and tell their stories, she said at the time. There has to be a recognition that we must stand against this kind of action, which is so sexist and misogynistic.

But Clinton was quick in her interview with CBS to steer the conversation away from her husband and toward the numerous women who have accused Trump of sexual harassment or assault.

Let me ask you this, wheres the investigation of the current incumbent against whom numerous allegations have been made and which he dismisses, denies and ridicules? she asked. So there was an investigation and it, as I believe, came out in the right place.

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On Monday, women worldwide, including some of the womens groups mentioned above, posted tributes on social media to mark a year since the #MeToo hashtag went viral and prompted a massive reckoning on sexual violence and inequality in the workplace and beyond.

But some are left wondering to what extent if at all the movement changed the mindset of one of Americas most high-profile feminists.

This story has been updated with additional information about Tarana Burke and EMILYs List.

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website .