Cheers for Terry Gross of NPR for getting out of the tank and asking Hillary Clinton some good questions:

"So what’s it like when you’re in office and you have to do all these political calculations to not be able to support something like gay marriage, that you actually believe in.

Obviously you feel very committed to human rights and you obviously put gay rights as part of human rights but in doing the calculus you decided you couldn’t support it.

Correct me if I’m reading it wrong."

You are reading her exactly right.  On same sex marriage, and Iraq, Hillary Clinton is nothing but a cynical opportunist, as the article goes on to show:

"Then ensue seven awkward minutes.

Among the worse lines:

“Just because you’re a politician doesn’t mean you’re not a thinking human being.”

“One of my big problems right now is that too many people believe they have a direct line to the divine and they never want to change their mind about anything. They’re never open about new information and they like to operate in an evidence-free zone. I think it’s good if people continue to change.”

“I think I’m an American. (laughter) I think that we have all evolved.”

“Because I said I’m an American so of course we all evolved and I think that’s a fair conclusion–”

“I have to say, I think you being very persistent, but you are playing with my words and playing with what is such an important issue.”

“No, I don’t think you are trying to clarify. I think you are trying to say that I used to be opposed and now I am in favor and I did it for political reasons. And that’s just flat wrong. So let me just state what I feel like I think you are implying and repudiate it. I have a strong record. I have a great commitment to this issue and I am proud of what I’ve done and the progress were making.”

“I did not grow up even imagining gay marriage, and I don’t believe you did either.”

So actually what Clinton is saying is: she used to be opposed, and now she is in favor, but NOT for political reasons. Rather, because she is an American. And, as an American, she evolved.

But this is actually a more interesting question. When you and your opinions have had to exist in the public eye as long as Clinton and her opinions have, this does put you in a fun position on this particular issuewhere it is hard to have and eat your cake simultaneously.

On Iraq, she was all for the war until she had a challenge from then Senator Obama.  After all, who can forget her Senate speech explaining the vote?

On same sex marriage, she again has been reading polls and calculating her positions.

The NPR interview was a shot across the bow from the left.    My guess is that many in the left are not ready to support her.  They'd rather support someone, like Senator Warren or Senator Sanders, who has not been dancing around the issue.

In other words, Hillary Clinton has a lot of explaining to do to lefties who aren't buying her message.

P.S. You can hear CANTO TALK here & follow me on Twitter @ scantojr.