MC: If you become president, how will you handle having to negotiate with countries that are committing human-rights violations against women?
BO: I believe there’s a spectrum. In a place like Darfur, rape is used as a military weapon there are no excuses, and you simply don’t abide them. You mobilize the international community to change behavior in those countries. When it comes to countries like Saudi Arabia or Pakistan or others in the Middle East where women are still in second-class positions, it is important for us to recognize that the culture is not going to transform overnight. But we won’t be bashful about speaking out on these issues and affirming a core belief in the equality of women. My mother specialized in international development. And her focus was on helping women get a foothold in the economy, microfinancing helping them buy a loom or a sewing machine, or some cows so that they could then sell the milk. She was very clear that the best indicator of how a country is going to develop is how it treats its women and whether it educates its girls. And so, part of the argument we want to make is not just based on our values and our ideals, but also on practicality letting countries know you’re not going to develop as quickly if you’ve got one hand tied behind your back. You’re not going to do as well economically if all this enormous talent represented in your female population is undereducated and not given the same opportunities as men.
MC: Discussing the importance of reading to kids, you said in the town meeting that you’ve read the Harry Potter books to your daughters. Who’s your favorite character?
BO: All the characters were wonderful . . . Dumbledore’s a very cool guy.
MC: Well, he’s gay, apparently.
BO: [laughs] No comment on that.
MC: So, Rolling Stones or Beatles?
BO: Rolling Stones.
MC: Iron Man or Batman?
BO: Batman.
MC: If your mom were still alive, what would she think of all this?
BO: She would be bursting with pride. I don’t think so much about me as about her grandchildren our daughters and my niece. For her to see these three beautiful, graceful, highly opinionated girls, that would bring her great joy.
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