Hillary Clinton finally responds to campaign harassment accusations — it doesn't go over well

Hillary Clinton late on Friday finally responded to a New York Times bombshell story that accused her of helping coverup allegations of sexual harassment within her 2008 presidential campaign.

According to the Times, her campaign spiritual adviser, Burns Strider, was accused of "repeated" sexual misconduct by a young female staffer. Clinton didn't want to fire Strider, so she docked him several weeks of pay and told him to seek counseling. Meanwhile, the young woman was moved to a new job.

What did Clinton say?

The two-time presidential candidate said she was "dismayed" by the harassment accusations, but "heartened" by the young woman for coming forward and having the accusations addressed "seriously." She also stated that she called the woman on Friday.

"A story appeared today about something that happened in 2008. I was dismayed when it occurred, but was heartened the young woman came forward, was heard, and had her concerns taken seriously and addressed," Clinton said.

"I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard," she added.

I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton)

January 27, 2018

What was the reaction?

For Clinton: not good. The former secretary of state has long been accused of being an enabler of sexual harassment. That's because, as HLN TV host S.E. Cupp put it, she has "betrayed generations of women by standing by a man who’s humiliated her, and she’s smeared all his accusers, and all the while she’s pretended to be on the side of women."

Cupp added:

Emily Miller, conservative woman and former political commentator/reporter:

Tiana Lowe of the National Review:

Daily Caller reporter Amber Athey:

Jim Geraghty, National Review senior political correspondent:

David Shuster, i24 News anchor:

The Reagan Battalion:

Throughout replies and responses to Clinton's tweets, she was widely panned by almost everyone as being all talk and no action.