Actually, I was trying to say howzit to Al Joaquin, head of the Secret Service in Hawaii and a fellow Rotarian, but Mrs. Clinton graciously walked over to acknowledge my enthusiasm.
Wouldn't wash my right palm for the rest of the day.
That incident, however, didn't make me respect the former Miss Hillary Rodham. I respect her because she is one smart cookie who doesn't crumble under pressure.
For four years, this wahine has been under attack. First came the medical lobbyists, who accused her of being an air-headed blonde trying to further screw up this nation's already screwed-up health-care system.
Next came the Republicans, saying she committed dastardly deeds such as covering up a good friend's suicide, purging the travel office of its staff, making oodles of money in a white-collar scam and being smarter than her husband. Thus far, only the last has been proved unequivocally.
Now GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole is picking on the little lady of the White House, who is also the author of the book, "It Takes a Village."
In his acceptance speech to the masses at the Republican National Convention, Dole said, "With all due respect, I am here to tell you it does not take a village to raise a child. It takes a family to raise a child."
Not quite, Bob. It may take a family to raise a child, but it sure takes way more people to do it right.
Few of us keep our keiki in seclusion. No matter how protective the parenting instinct, every youngster eventually makes it out the front door. Unfortunately, that's often where his or her well-being is at risk from:
The sorry condition and poor performance of some public schools.
Continued pressure to loosen gun-control laws, which would lead to more mayhem on the streets and in the home.
Anti-immigrant legislation intended to keep America "haole" rather than to embrace its rainbow of ethnic groups.
The curtailing of program funds for welfare, drug-prevention and treatment, domestic and family violence, the homeless and other social services, which may drive those affected to desperate measures.
Quality disintegration of our forests, water and environment.
LUCKILY, Hillary can throw a few jabs of her own. On Tuesday, she gave it right back to Dole when she said, "It takes all of us. Yes, it takes a village" to raise a kid.
It made me proud - until I saw Mrs. Clinton in a candid moment following her speech. After she left the stage, one of the networks caught her on the phone with hubby. "Did you see Chelsea on TV?" the first lady asked the president. "She looked so pretty!"
Oh my. If I had been there in Chicago, I would have pulled her over for a serious heart-to-heart. "Hillary, forget about what the make-up artist did to your daughter," I would have said. "You and Bill did a fine job of raising Chelsea. Now, how about raising the living standards for other families in our village, nation and world?"