[Brown:] It's the new video providing fresh meat for those in the business of trying to analyze, scrutinize and sometimes criticize the Clintons. And now you may have seen some portions of the sound bite from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reacting very strongly to a question while talking with students in the Congo. We want to make this clear. The question was incorrectly translated making it sound like the person who was asking how her husband, former President Bill Clinton, felt about a deal between the Congo and china. But in fact, the student wasn't asking about Clinton, he was asking about President Obama and what he thought. We want you to hear the entire exchange unfiltered. Listen.
[Unidentified Female:] Mrs. Clinton, we've all heard about the Chinese contracts in this country. Their interference from the World Bank against this contract. What does Mr. Clinton think through the mouth of Mrs. Clinton and what does Mr. Mutombo think on this situation? Thank you very much.
[Hillary Clinton, Secretary Of State:] Wait, you want me to tell you what my husband thinks? My husband is not the secretary of state, I am. So you asked my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I'm not going to be channeling my husband.
[Brown:] So did Secretary Clinton snap there as some have suggested? Or are some just looking to take a cheap shot after she was given the wrong question? With us in Washington, CNN contributor and Democratic strategist James Carville. You love this one. And here in New York, "Daily Beast" contributor John Avlon. John, I'm going to start with you. I mean, this is like a war
[John Avlon, Contributor, "the Daily Beast":] Sure. Well, I think it's such a reveal. I mean, I think really you have a highly scripted political pro and a very unscripted emotional moment. And that's where I think made it news. Plus in the wake of the whole North Korea questions, a lot of beltway gossip about Bill Clinton being the envoy for a successful mission. I think that ended up stirring the pot for a lot of people.
[Brown:] But I've got to tell you, I saw that as her making a statement about women. I did, and women's rights. I saw her in an African country in the Congo where women are treated poorly and her saying I don't this isn't about my husband, this is about me and that's how it should be in your country. I mean, Hillary Clinton to me, and James, I think she's too smart to snap as some people suggested she did. I don't care how much jet lag she had. What do you think? Was it a good moment for her?
[James Carville, Democratic Strategist:] Well, you know, I don't think it was necessarily a bad moment. You've got to remember too in the Congo has one of the worst records in the country of mutilating women. And I think that, you know, the combination of that and jet lag and actually when you listen to the question that she thought she was getting to be fair the student that asked it wasn't the question he did, but anybody spending time in foreign country deals with interpreters. I know this happens. I almost see where she would come out. And it's kind of odd because women have reacted to this I think somewhat differently than men. But I can see where she sort of took offense to that. You know, she's been a United States senator for eight years, been secretary of state, you know, becoming very close to being the party's nominee for president of the United States. I can see why something like this would happen. And I think that she probably was pretty stressed and she, you know, cares very much as anybody would. But she, in particular, about the way these women are mutilated in some of these places. So the combination of things have probably led to that. I don't think that she snapped she did appear to be a might peeved to me.
[Brown:] Well, I know, but I was going to ask you that because you know her. I mean, does this woman ever lose her cool, though? She seems so thoughtful, so precise...
[Carville:] Right.
[Brown:] ... hard for me to imagine her actually losing her temper.
[Carville:] Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say she lost her cool. I think she had an understandable reaction to what she thought was a question after, you know, on something that she cares especially about. But she's like the rest of us. She's a human being, and you know so often we say, well, gee, look at them, they're always scripted and, you know, she had one tear of. I don't know what it was a misty eye in New Hampshire which was, you know, voluminous commentary on that. And I think you got to understand that something like this happens. She is secretary of state. I actually you know, my wife kind of defended her passionately about this. And, again, I think that the reaction of women have been a little bit different than men. I was kind of proud of her.
[Brown:] Yes.
[Carville:] I mean, like, hey, excuse me, but I am I'm the person, I'm the secretary of state of the United States.
[Brown:] Hold on, James hit on something. When you talked about her, you know, when she had that moment where she teared up in New Hampshire and we covered it for weeks, that's it.
[Avlon:] Right.
[Brown:] That people have this endless fascination with Hillary Clinton and anything you know, her reaction to anything and everything.
[Avlon:] Right. And that's because we've lived the drama of the Clintons' lives for better and for worse for the better part of 20 years. We are invested in it. But on the point about there's this geopolitical spin about she was standing up for women's rights and there may have been an element to that. But I think the strongest message America can send against sexism or the gender part side that does exist around the world is through the power of our example. That's the message that three out of the last four secretaries of states have been women. That's a lot more eloquent a message than just, you know, teeing off at a college student.
[Brown:] I thought she was pretty good. All right. We'll agree to disagree. John Avlon, James Carville, as always, thanks, guys. Appreciate it.
[Carville:] You bet. Thanks
[Avlon:] Thank you.
[Brown:] In tonight's breakout, an American idol-style competition where the contestants are actually risking their lives. You're going to want to see this.