I have to blog about the attention being paid to Hillary Clinton tearing up on the campaign trail today. I know there are plenty of people who have full-on animosity toward her (and one lives in my house), as well as others who are passionate about her running for president. Me, I'm on the fence about the whole deal. I have to say that a female candidate is extremely appealing to me, but I do have doubts about whether Hillary is the person we need right now.
But back to the crying.
The fact that anyone thinks this is news isn't surprising. The presidential campaigners can hardly breathe under the watchful scrutiny of voters and the media. And that's as it should be. But that one of the candidates has a *human* moment during this scrutiny is apparently newsworthy. I feel for Hillary here. You know she has to be tired and frustrated, and no doubt, just a little mad too. Good lord, people, she really does have feelings!
My worry is that her breakdown (which is not exactly what I would call it) will be misconstrued as her "working" the crowd. I suppose that's possible. She is savvy to political maneuvering. Political candidates can't eat a piece of cherry pie without the act pointing at their patriotism.
On the other hand, maybe she cried because she was moved to do so. How very girly of her! How weak, how pathetic. How typical! The naysayers will have a field day with this one.
As many woman know, crying in moments of duress is part of the hormonal package. I have been accused (more than once) of crying to manipulate something in a situation. Yet, that's rarely the case. More often than not, I've had to fight the tears back, to look strong, to NOT act like a girl. When the tears have flowed it's because I couldn't hold myself together enough to keep them in.
This is probably the situation Hillary found herself in earlier today. Call her calculating or even false (a lot of people do), but I sincerely believe her tears were not a theatrical production today. And while it's refreshing to know that a politician might have a moment of vulnerability, I suspect Hillary will be accused of being weak. (That is, if she's not accused of faking it.)
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2 comments:
Sweetness: Allow me a diatribe of clarification before I delve into the heart of the matter...
I don't think that "full-on animosity" accurately depicts my ambivalent thoughts and feelings about the female Clinton. (This reference to her is purposeful...)
My appreciation of Bill doesn't translate to appreciation of Hillary. It's really that simple. She's okay. I'd dig having a woman president. Just not her...not now.
- She's too divisive.
- Her "neagtives" haven't moved much from the 50% mark. (All it will take is for the Repug machine to raise them back up a few percentage points - can you say, "Whitewater Swiftboat media barrage"? - and it's all over. Unfair, in my opinion, but true.)
- In 8 years in Congress, she has passed (sponsored) two "major" bills - one about the content of video games?
Obama, in 2 years as a Senator, has passed (sponsored) 4 major bills - involving ethics reform, transparency in campaign finance, health care for veterans and immigration controls. So the "experience" factor is, at best, a wash.
Mostly, though, common sense tells us she has NO CHANCE of being a uniter. Fair or not, about half the country will continue to dislike her no matter what. In Obama, we actually have a chance (slim it may be) of becoming the United (rather than remaining the Divided) States again.
Very idealistic, I know. But I am not ashamed of not being a total political cynic. And Hillary stands in the way of that. This is where my apparent "vitrol" comes from.
It's really that simple. Well, that and the fact that I'd like to see a woman become President ON HER OWN MERITS because I consider myself a genuine feminist. And this particular woman doesn't strike me as all that...
I am willing to suspend my disbelief about her (and all politicians') phoniness and take her tearing up at face value. I think I've seen most of the recent presidents do this at some point - and it usually touches me. (I was even touched when the Texas Idiot teared up.) She should not be held to some more stoic standard because she has a different tool box. I'm sure she is exhausted and I'm sure she thought she had the nomination all but wrapped up. Her life's ambition was close to fruition and she feels it slipping away. (Which it is - and it may or may not.) It evokes empathy. But, like Nature: Politics ain't no Disney movie.
p.s. I probably cry more than you do! So who am I (who is anyone?) to call that a weakness?
:~)
I don't really do politics anymore; I find that segment of our social order way too exhausting. Still, even as an opt-out individual, I heard the "news" about the Hillary tears.
As far as what motivated the tears, I'd say CM's observation that losing her dream may be accurate.
At the same time, I think the general reaction to this headline story speaks quite loudly to the mere fact that being a woman is an issue. The pundits are having a field day with this one, much more so than if it had been Bill or any other man who showed that kind of emotion.
Thanks for this insightful post!
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