WASHINGTON — Seconds into HIllary Clinton’s remarks at a fundraiser for women in Washington, she was greeted with a silent protest by one of the few men in attendance — who stood on his chair to unfurl a huge black banner reading “Obliterate Iran? Apologize” in bold pink lettering.

Clinton told “Good Morning America” a day before the Pennsylvania primary that the US would react strongly if Iran ever launched a nuclear attack on Israel, saying “we would be able to totally obliterate them.” That

As one woman fought the lone protester for his sign and the crowd began to boo, Clinton silently waited it out — until finally the man was escorted from the room by security amid chants of “Hillary! Hillary!”

“I certainly hope he didn’t step on any of the cookies,” Clinton said.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Just a few minutes later, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin stood up near the front of the room and began shouting about the children in Iran and Iraq, and demanding that Clinton apologize for her “obliterate” comment and her Iraq vote. This time, as Benjamin was escorted out holding up two-fingered peace signs, Clinton acknowledged the protest.

“That’s alright,” she said. “I’m happy that people feel so intensely. And I hope they paid to come.”

But she took umbrage at press reports suggesting that only Barack Obama’s supporters feel so strongly about their candidate. “There seems to be a lot of coverage about how passionate the supporters of my opponent are,” she said. “I think I’ve got some pretty passionate supporters myself.”

She credited those supporters for keeping her in the race. “We’ve been voting now for about four months. It seems like four years, but it’s only been four months,” she said. “I’ve been counted out more than once, but thanks to all of you, I’ve come back.”

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