I know I'm a tad late to the party on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Congo outburst, so I'll keep this short and to the point: You go, Hillary!

Listening to a translation of a question from a student, the usually controlled Clinton reacted with uncharacteristic public fury when she was asked what her husband, former President Bill Clinton, thought about a trade deal between China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Wait, you want me to tell you what my husband thinks? My husband is not the secretary of state. I am. So, you ask my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I'm not going to be channeling my husband.

Clinton was right to be upset about being asked that kind of question in a country and continent where male supremacy reigns unchallenged, generally speaking. Making it clear that she has authority in her own right sends a message to the men and the women in that audience, in Congo and in the rest of Africa that she won't put up with condescension. Not as a woman and certainly not as secretary of state of the United States of America.

Now it turns out Clinton was informed that the translation she was given was wrong. The student was asking her what President Obama thought. So, the secretary did what any self-assured leader would do. As Clinton left the event, she reached out and shook the hand of the student, exchanged some words and a hearty smile. Brava.