Hillary Clinton held a press conference Tuesday to answer questions from the media regarding the recent revelation that she ignored federal regulations and used a private e-mail account while she was secretary of state.

But before taking the first question on the subject, Clinton used the opportunity to deflect attention by bringing up gender equality and then slamming Senate Republicans.

"Twenty years ago, this was a lonely struggle," Clinton began at the United Nations event, recalling the struggle for gender equality. "Today, we mark the progress that has been made in the two decades since the international community gathered in Beijing and declared with one voice that human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights."

Clinton went on to say that advancements for women in health, education, and legal protection have made it possible to say, "There has never been a better time to be born a female." However, citing reports by the Clinton Foundation showing women and girls at less than full participation in the world over, "We're just not there yet."

Equal rights for women, Clinton said, "Remains the great, unfinished business of the 21st Century."

Then Clinton moved on to chide the 47 Senate Republicans who dared question President Obama's negotiations with Iran in hopes to bring a "diplomatic solution" to their nuclear program. In a signed letter to the country, Republicans warned that Congress must approve the deal or else it expires at the end of Obama's term.

"Now, reasonable people can disagree about what exactly it will take to accomplish this objective," Clinton said, "and we all must judge any final agreement on its merits."

"But," she continued, "the recent letter from Republican senators was out of step with the best traditions of American leadership, and one has to ask, 'What was the purpose of this letter?'"

Handily, Clinton offered two "logical" answers: "Either these senators were trying to be helpful to the Iranians, or harmful to the commander-in-chief in the midst of high-stakes international diplomacy. Either answer does discredit to the letter's signatories."

Announcing that she would prefer to stay on this subject, Clinton reluctantly agreed to begin fielding questions aimed at her own indiscretions.