Tears are not enough

First off, let me say that, if I had a vote in the U.S. elections, Hillary (sometimes Rodham) Clinton would not get it. This has more to do with her position on the Iraq War than just about anything else. Believe me, it pains me to say that, now that a woman could be leader of the free world, I couldn't back her.

That said, I hate the sexist attacks on her.

Today brings another. She got a little farklempt during a campaign pit stop:

PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire (CNN) — Hillary Clinton became visibly emotional at a New Hampshire campaign event today after a friendly question from a voter.

At the close of a Portsmouth campaign stop, Marianne Pernold-Young, 64, asked Clinton: "How do you do it? How do you keep up… and who does your hair?"

 

So the vultures, starting with political rival John Edwards, swept in.

"I think what we need in a commander-in-chief is strength and resolve, and presidential campaigns are tough business, but being president of the United States is also tough business."

Right. Best not to show your emotions. Best not to have feelings. Best be jokey and and impervious like George ''Bring 'em on'' W. ''You're doing a heckuva job, Brownie'' Bush.

Needless to say, the cybercons have also piled on, claiming that Clinton doesn't have the right stuff, she's afraid she is going to lose, she's crying crocodile tears, and so on.

To be honest, I found her very minor meltdown humanized her.

I also want to know what brand of mascara she uses.

UPPITY DATE: Just watch her.

Comments

[sooey]

Too funny. Waddaya wanna bet boyishly handsome in a weasly shitheel kind of way John Edwards just lost himself the women's vote?

[sooey]

What the hell is John Edwards talking about anyway: "what we need in a commander-in-chief is strength and resolve"? No. Actually. What you need in a commander-in-chief is a functioning brain.

[...pat.]

I read something recently that it's probably more acceptable for male candidates than females to tear up... http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/19/yes_theres_crying_in_politics/

Reminds me of a kvetch a friend and I used to share: only men can act like they're OTR these days; women can't, because we can't be seen as hormone-driven biologic material.

[Uhclem]

First, it's an unalloyed joy to have you back!

Not sure what context Edwards was talking in, but Hillary devalues her own real emotion a bit cheaply to my ear, when she goes into, "That's why we need someone who knows what they're going to do day 1."

I agree that it humanizes her, and I agree that I wouldn't vote for her anyway.

[RossK]

It's a decision that the Edwards campaign appears to have made at the lackey level.

I heard that Mudcat Saunders guy on Rachel Maddow's show banging the same gong earlier on in the day.

The most interesting thing about was the fact that when the feminist Ms. Maddow would have none of it Mr. Saunders immediately retreated to the weeds and started doing his good 'ol boy shuck and jive schtick.

.

[Ed01]

Didn't do Ed Muskie any good crying about the famous Canuck letter in New Hampshire back in 1972
I wonder about emotion in a campaign. We're all so cynical about politican's motives/actions these days.

[Elle]

First off if I were American I would blow my brains out. That country is a freak show. So with that thought hovering in my brain I saw Hillary's 'thing' today as her feeling total exasperation at having to witness the Oprah/Obama show with the knowledge that her quickly disintigrating country (thanks Cheney) is picking up speed on it's journey down the toilet. In a country where the Dr.Phil/Britney thing can occur without anyone going "WHAT?" I saw Hilary's verklempting today as a psychologically sound reaction to exhaustion and hopelessness.

[Ed01]

Though I guess, some of us with long memories, remember the fake tears from Bill at Ron Brown's funeral so many years ago...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDtcyVbPvC4&feature=related

[Ed01]

Though for dodgy emotional swarminess, John Edwards probably takes the cake if Bob Shrum, his former adviser's memoirs are true.

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t74015.html

Sadly, no video up at Youtube of Muskie's famous moment in New Hampshire. This is the closest that I could get.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYhD7iN2vMI

Shame Bill Loeb wasn't still runing the Union Leader for serious hijinks during primaries. Too bad, he wasn't around for Hilllary, let alone Bill.

[sooey]

Besides, "strength and resolve" is what got them into this mess. They need change. And then more change. A little more. Change back a bit. Change over the left. Chaaaaaange. There. Perfect.

[Mary Lynn]

I really like how she handled that Chris Matthews wanker!

[Antonia]

Didja notice how he PINCHED HER CHEEK????