Piers Morgan Grills Condoleezza Rice for Being Single

By Maggie Coughlan Posted Jan 20th 2011 11:42AM

Sounding off on topics like the Iraq war, Sarah Palin and President Obama is nothing new for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- the diplomat has remained an authority on government and policy since leaving the White House in 2009.

But during Rice's hour-long interview with Piers Morgan on 'Piers Morgan Tonight' on Wednesday, an unexpected topic came into play and was for some reason discussed at length -- Rice's marital status.

"You are and remain one of the most eligible women in Washington," Morgan said. "How have you avoided being snared in the marital trap?"

"Well actually I live in California now," Rice answered. "But I always said that I expected to grow up and get married like any nice Southern girl, but the fact is that you don't get married in the abstract. You find someone you'd like to be married to." See Piers continue grilling Condoleezza after the jump.

Morgan continued questionioning Rice, who is the current director of Standford University's Graduate School of Business' Global Center for Business and the Economy, about how what kind of wife she'd be and how he could "woo" her.

"How close have you come [to being married]?" Morgan asked.

"I've come close," Rice said.

"How many times?" Morgan continued.

"I'm not going there," Rice said. "The fact is I've just never found anybody I was going to spend my life with. But I think it's a wonderful thing, marriage. But who knows, maybe someday."

"Do you hold out hope?" Morgan said.

"Sure, why not?" Rice answered.

Jezebel, a website aimed at women, expressed anger toward Morgan's inquiry into Rice's personal life. "We get 'humanizing' questions. We get 'human interest' questions. But then there are insulting questions that we can't imagine [Morgan] would direct at, say, Warren Christopher. Questions like, 'Are you high-maintenance?'"

Morgan debuted 'Piers Morgan Tonight' Monday on CNN, taking over the timeslot previously occupied by 'Larry King Live.' Watch the clip:

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Tags: Condoleezza Rice, Piers Morgan

Comments

(20)

Thursday 20 January

By Harbo

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Morgan was a mistake from the start. He's a God-awful interviewer and an even duller personality. His questions are not well-thought out, many are simply stupid and he interrupts too often. His ratings are already tanking. How long do you give him? Maybe six months.

By bsfurg

he wont last long.. hes to nosy for americans....

By chicobombico

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Peers IQ is more than like 1/2 of what Condoleezza Rice's IO is and he is interviewing her. Here is a guy that goes from talking to dirt bag Howard Stern and then wants to interview Ms. Rice she should have walked off the show after all Peers is not qualified to interview a turnip. CANCEL HIS SHOW NOW HE IS USELESS

By Pattyy

Dull...that's a good word.

By vanstheman

This guy is a joke. Everyone on CNN is so boring and a disgrace to what that network used to be. Larry King sucked badly with his style but he did somehow make a name for himself. Nobody under the age of 35 in America probably knows who Morgan is. He came off super arrogant going into this gig announcing a ban on Madonna (oh how will her career survive now?). And now instead of grilling Condi about possible illegal b.s. that may or may not have gone on in the Bush years, he's basically asking her if she's a lesbian or not. How quick will it be before this joker gets replaced?

By dfs1961

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I love Piers Morgan. I like his interview style and will continue to watch no matter who he interviews.

By Winston

Did he ask Anderson Cooper why he is still single or anything at all about his sexuality? Did he ask Oprah? Stern?

By LibelFreeZone

Piers Morgan said in a recent interview that he’s been reading tabloids since he was seven years old and has “always wanted to be a journalist.” The problem is, when one sucks news at an early age from the teat of shock headlines, one has no idea what real journalism is. Thus, Morgan has a repugnant history as first a reporter for and then the editor of three notorious British tabloids. I don't think he'll EVER be able to wash the stink off himself from being mentored by Rupert Murdoch and Kelvin Mackenzie, both repulsive yellow journalists. Morgan calls himself a serious journalist, yet he spent over a decade lying, exaggerating and printing salacious rumors about the rich and famous at The Sun (1989–94); News of the World (1994–95); and the Daily Mirror (1995–04). Now he's trotting himself out as a quality but "dangerous" mainstream interviewer when he should be hunkering down to actually learn the ethics and skills of responsible journalists. Shame on CNN for hiring this disreputable and lame excuse for a journalist. It’s a sad day for journalism when Piers Morgan is considered mainstream.

By California Suzy

Although I did not see this interview, I have read extensively about Dr. Rice and am in awe of her many talents! She is a brilliant and gifted woman who has never been given the credit she deserves!

Saturday 22 January

By speech

True Suzy; but her talents was wasted in the 8 yrs. of George W. Bush - no one took her seriously and blacks disowned her

By bmc9999

Maybe his interview style works in the UK but it seems off here. He interrupts constantly and his nervous laughter distracts from the interview. I watched the first 3 shows and felt like he got nothing new from any of his subjects - who are all very good personalities. His questions were inane and he talks too much. I was excited when Larry King was FINALLY leaving but this is not an improvement.

By hope

I've always liked Condoleezza, I hope she finds someone to share her life with.

Sunday 23 January

By el buitre

she's ugly as sin and she prolly likes girls.YOU KNOW IT!!!!

By joanjmak05

What the hell was CNN thinking when they hired this Boring Loser to replace Larry King. Please take him off the air and ship him back to England.
Piers Morgan YOU SUCK. Condoleezza Rice doesn't have to answer to you about her marital status, she is a very intelligent woman and she told you NOT to go there and what do you do A-Hole? You totally disrespect her.
You are an A-HOLE Piers Morgan.

By sharhamil

I have nothing against men or marriage, but if you are an intelligent, educated woman like Ms. Rice, with a high-powered career and stimulating activities outside of work, what can marriage really give her at this point? Are we still stuck in the 1950's?

Friday 21 January

By Athena

I understand people's issue with this, but honestly, I've heard many successful men get asked the very same question. It's a known thing that as a male politician, if you want to make it big, you need to be married. Can't really play the "sexism card" on this one.

By kron

Lighten up, Jezebel. They ask the same questions of George Clooney and other men.

George Clooney is my hero; no woman pins him down

Friday 28 January

By americangirl2011

PIERS, YOU OWE BRITIAN AN APOLOGY!! You lied about pic of soldiers torturing Iraqis - LIAR!! Bad Karma will follow you for this and CNN is tanking. And whats up with that ugly blue background on your show??

Friday 11 February

By Norma J. Franklin

Disappointing. Frankly, had a crush on the guy until I watched a few interviews. If he would not try so hard and let it flow more naturally it might work. When interviewing the twin on the facebook thing, he hardly let them finish a sentence. It was a challenge, not an interview. Like I said at the outset: Disappointing!

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