The Clinton Foundation is looking for an unpaid intern, and one job requirement is turning heads for all the wrong reasons: “discretion.”
The posting, reported by The Daily Wire, lists the standard duties you’d expect from a charitable foundation run by former politicos—research, drafting memos, transcribing speeches, data projects, scheduling, mail management, and office support. The skills section also looks routine: good writing, communication, work ethic, collaboration. But near the top sits one line that has raised eyebrows: “A high level of professionalism and discretion.”
In almost any other workplace, that phrase wouldn’t stand out. But attached to the Clinton name—and the Clinton legacy—it’s a different story. The Clintons have a well-documented history with interns, most notably former President Bill Clinton’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, which led to his impeachment in 1998. So the demand for discretion in an intern job posting has proven too ripe for mockery.
“The Clintons write their own jokes. This is too perfect,” said Buzz Patterson, a former White House aide, in a social media post. Film critic Christian Toto added, “Imagine late night TV ignoring this … but they will.”
Some observers saw the posting as a sign that Bill Clinton had lost his intern privileges, while others warned applicants that a blue dress—like the infamous one worn by Lewinsky—was optional. The jokes write themselves, as the saying goes, and social media didn’t disappoint.
The internship is unpaid, which also drew criticism, especially given the Clintons’ advocacy for a “living wage.” But the foundation’s defense might be that unpaid internships are common in the nonprofit world, and the experience could be invaluable for a young person looking to break into politics or philanthropy.
Still, the optics are hard to ignore. A Clinton entity demanding “discretion” from an intern is a little like a fox applying for a job as a henhouse security consultant. The irony is thick enough to spread on toast.
Meanwhile, Bill Clinton’s office is also hiring—a “Special Projects Associate” with a salary range of $50,000 to $55,000. That posting prompted another round of jokes, as people pointed out the Clintons’ vocal support for a “living wage” while offering a salary that falls short of the cost of living in New York City. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average annual cost of living for a single person in New York City is $66,426. So the offered salary is about $11,000 to $16,000 below what a person needs to get by in the city, let alone thrive.
Critics were quick to note the disconnect. The Clintons have been outspoken advocates for raising the minimum wage and ensuring workers earn a “living wage,” yet their own office offers a salary that barely covers rent and groceries in one of the most expensive cities in the country. Supporters might argue that the salary is competitive for a non-profit role, and that the position offers valuable experience and networking opportunities. But the juxtaposition is undeniably awkward.
The Clinton Foundation, for its part, has not commented publicly on the criticism. The foundation continues its work on global health, climate change, and economic development, among other issues. But the ongoing jokes suggest that the Clintons’ past continues to haunt their present, and that every hiring decision is scrutinized through the lens of history.
Buzz Patterson, who served as a military aide to President Bill Clinton, was among the first to joke about the internship posting. His tweet, which was widely shared, captured the sentiment of many: the Clintons have a complicated relationship with interns, and asking for “discretion” from one is the punchline to a joke that writes itself.
Christian Toto, a film critic and blogger, also weighed in, noting that late-night TV shows would likely ignore the story—a common complaint among conservatives who feel the media treats the Clintons with kid gloves. Whether that’s true or not, the story has generated significant online chatter, with many users sharing their own jokes and memes about the posting.
The internship itself is not paid, which is another point of contention. Unpaid internships have been criticized for favoring wealthy students who can afford to work for free, and for potentially violating labor laws if the intern is doing the work of a regular employee. The Clinton Foundation, which is known for its charitable work, has found itself in the middle of this debate, with some calling the unpaid internship exploitative and others defending it as a standard practice.
But the real story here is the word “discretion.” It’s a word that, in any other context, might be seen as a positive trait—an ability to keep confidences, to handle sensitive information with care. But in the context of the Clintons, it’s a reminder of a scandal that defined Bill Clinton’s presidency and continues to follow the family.
The Clinton Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the internship listing or the salary for the Special Projects Associate position. As the jokes continue to circulate, one thing is clear: the Clintons may be able to write their own headlines, but they can’t control the punchlines.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/clinton-foundation-seeks-intern-with-requirement-that-writes-its-own-punchline