Comments on Sympathy for the Clinton Tears

God, all this attacking Clinton and sucking up to Obama (see the debate) is making Edwards look like he's running for... Obama's VP? How weird. Seriously. Just let Clinton sniffle--it was hardly a breakdown--and the press will go nuts.

I like Obama. A lot.

Wouldn't it be amazing to have a president with actual feelings and emotions and cared about our country?

I wish Kathleen Sebelius had run. We could have had a serious female candidate who wouldn't carry so much baggage and be hounded quite so mercilessly. I'd have probably even picked her over Obama.

Oh well.

@3... she cried when asked , "why don't people like you?", not when she was asked, "why don't you care about america?"

@5: You're still on about the debate? No, this was in response to a question about how she how she gets her hair done every morning. Seriously.

huh? am i missing some context here? @3 is implying that crying shows a candidate has emotions and actually cares about the country. do you agree with that?

and i don't get what you mean by, "you're still on about this debate" as i don't recall being a part of any debate. i did post in another thread that:

well, crying isn't the same as an emotional break down, and perhaps the focus on this is a bit sexist. i don't care if a candidate cries. but i'd rather then cry over something other than their self.

and...

it needn't be a men's club. but, unfortunately, hillary clinton has to know that crying might not appeal to people who are used to men, and used to them acting emotionally "strong" in these cases.

which, i think, hardly makes me the poster you might be confusing me with.

uh... Bush cried during his inaugeration. Not exactly the composure of strength.
Hillary is the one who presented herself as being tough and ready. It does seem that it is the prospect of being elimnated that has her choked up. Not her for vote for the war etc, etc.

My gut tells me that if Hillary does not make at least a strong second place showing tommorow (at least trying to come close to tying Obama) Hillary Clinton is toast. No one has one their party's nomination by loosing both Iowa and New Hampshire, have they?

And Hillary has proven what has been known for years: America loved Bill Clinton and hated Hillary.

Don't like the HRC crying jag -- yes she's human, that's not the prob, the problem is she does not paint a picture of a future with her as president, she does not let us envision the better future we'd have with her.

Bush cried during his inaugeration.

HE cried MAN TEARS of pride. Not womanly this-would-be-on-tv-every-night-running-up-to-the-election tears of defeat.

If Hillary pulls off the win in NH, can we expect an awkward Sally Field "You really like me!" moment?

Edwards had a total dick response, and Obama showed some class. I may have been rooting for Dodd since Richardson flamed out, but with him out of the game, I'm for sure supporting Obama.

I'm planning on voting for Edwards, but I agree that was a total dick response. In any case, the guy who's been unfairly attacked for his hair probably shouldn't be making low blow comments about how another candidate isn't tough enough.

@8: I was referring to the Democratic debate on Saturday. I'm not confusing you with anyone. You said, "She cried when asked, 'Why don't people like you'?" That question was posed at the debate, and though she made a sad face, she did not cry. She DID get sniffly after someone asked about her hair. I was just correcting the record.

Anyway, I couldn't care less whether Clinton cries. I don't think it's a sign of passion, as Carollani implied; and I don't think it's a sign of weakness, as Edwards implied. It's a sign of exhaustion and the fact that she's slipping in the polls. Big deal.

@10; I know it doesn't really count because of Harkin, but there was that one guy, what was his name...

I said it at the end of the last comment thread and I'll say it again. This whole conversation makes me abandon any hope of a female president anytime in the next 20-30 years.

HRC is fucked if she's a cold, hard ice queen and she's fucked if she displays one little tiny iota of an emotion (she did not burst into tears or have an emotional breakdown).

Any woman who gets far enough to be a candidate for president has to be ambitious, driven, career-oriented, etc. Many people (both men and women, at least, the soccer-mom-type women) are going to interpret these qualities as meaning she's an ice queen bitch.

In this country, where likeability matters so much, it's going to be virtually impossible for a woman to be perceived as tough enough to be able to deal with the "terrorists", but not so tough that people think she's a bitch and won't vote for her.

@18 - I'll agree that women presidential candidates will face an unfair hurdle, but I honestly believe a lot of the shit Hillary takes is really about Hillary; she isn't just any arbitrary female candidate, but one with a history of ruffling feathers and a scent of opportunism. Women like Kathleen Sebelius or Jennifer Granholm, if they ever run for president, might face some of that if they ever run for president, but there just isn't the same history and accumulated bad blood there.

tsm @19... I would argue that the bad blood about HRC "ruffling feathers" comes from the fact that she didn't sit around and bake cookies and read to pre-schoolers during her term as First Lady. A fact for which I respect her greatly, but which pissed off alot of people who thought that she was overstepping her bounds.

Understand that the bad blood is there, and we/she needs to deal with it, but I think about 75% of it comes from this weird, knee-jerk, who-does-she-think-she-is-anyways reaction that so many Americans had in the early 90s. People can't get over that first impression.

I think there are a handful of women (as you mentioned) who have sucessfully walked that too tough/not-tough-enough tightrope, but, obviously, none has been successful enough to become president of our fine, all-men-are-created-equal country.

I thought Hillary's moment today made her seem human. I saw two brief moments in the debate too, where a person peaked out from inside the politician. I think she'd do well to let that side show more often - might whittle down that 49% disapproval rating. She should have learned that lesson from Gore - his real personality is much more engaging than the politician character he tried to play.

I agree Edwards's response was harsh, but I must say his comments always sound more Grouchy Old Guy in print than they do when he they come out of his mouth. I'm still an Edwards guy though.

Bill Clinton lost both IA and NH. Although there were some other dynamics going on. Also the primary schedule was not so front loaded.

Man, she didn't even cry. I would not vote for Hillary. But, I see her *real* response as refreshing and Edwards' response as stupid and sexist. Obama wins again!

Here's another couple of takes on Edwards response: His wife is dying of cancer and probably has about the equivalent of 2 presidential terms of life left. Hillary may lose the nomination, but she's got a long productive life ahead of her if you put it in perspective.

Also, Edwards realizes the problems we face economically and in foreign affairs are tough enough that he realizes that much of the public won't respect or support a potential leader to face these problems when she crumbles while facing adversity on the campaign trail and in political life in general--she asked for it.

A perfect example of Obama's diplomacy. He doesn't take cheap shots, but he doesn't compromise more than either of his opponents, either. That's why he's the best choice -- he has a chance to transform the country in a way that's bigger that's bigger than partisanship, but most of the benefit will accrue to the Ds.

Hillary may deserve a little sympathy, but it's hard for me to muster when she's crying through her talking points. She needs to get over the idea that it's all about her and see that she's not the candidate who's best for this country or the world. She'll make a good Senate majority leader or Supreme Court justice though...

Gosh, Obama is so into CHANGE! Different = good, right? And his diplomatic answers! Soooo classy! I have no idea what he thinks after he is finished answering, but it sure did sound nice, so I am happy! And the momentum his campaign has built up from winning 38% the 12% of people in one small, lightly populated state that caucused! No wonder the media is sucking his dick! Gooooo Obama!

Yeah, change and difference is good when it breaks up two repellent dynasties in one fell swoop, brings along a once-in-a-generation kind of leader, and promises to move the history of social justice forward a few notches in a positive direction.

I couldn't agree more! Obama has NOTHING to do with the existing political machine! No lobbyist money, no big business sympathies, and he is not a millionaire like the others! Hoooray for change!

I must be getting old. The first thing I thought of when hearing this story was how Ed Muskie's tears during the 1972 NH primary blew the election for him.

@24,

So Edwards is fighting for the nom because his wife is going to die soon? Wha?

I have never been a big follower of politics and find all of the previous remarks insightful, however, Hillary did appeal to me in her humanism (I know its not a word) I work graveyard shifts and have a family and small children, 18 hour days sometimes get to me also... I couldn't imagine having to deal with the stress she's under, no sleep, behind in the polls, public opinion falling and still having to look presentable and somewhat attractive...UGH! But I suppose that what real every day people have to deal with, I know we expect our leaders to be SuperMan or in this case SuperWoman but if I knew that our future
president cared enough about the hard work getting into office and the harder work she faces once she's there, enough to tear up or become emotionally passionate, I think I'd be comfortable and happy with that choice, now I know there are negatives to that thinking but
women have an innate act of nurturing the things we care about and I think this country needs a little nurturing, TLC and "Us Time"... Call me weak or a woman if you want but it'd be nice to have a president where our country and our people were top priority... (Just a Thought!)

Ron Paul is going to be on the Tonight Show tonight.

@28 Obama = no lobbyist money? Well, now he does. Edwards is the only one of the three who can say he's never taken lobbyist money.
Obama's aw-ight but Edwards is the bomb.

Speaking the Truth@33
American Sheep @28 was being sarcastic. Read AS's comments @26, and of course take note of the name "American Sheep."

SHE DID NOT FUCKING CRY. Some emotion came into her voice. Julie @18 is right. Fuck this shit. And I don't even like Clinton (for POLICY reasons, droll I know).

Edwards has a penis and nice hair. What more could you want in a commander-in-chief?

She won. :)