At first, I chalked all this up to the usual Fox idiocy, but then I read this ABC news story, linked from TPM:
[John] Edwards offered little sympathy and pounced on the opportunity to question Clinton's ability to endure the stresses of the presidency.I would've thought John Edwards was above this kind of misogynist bullshit. A candidate gets emotional while considering the state of this country and her chances to improve it, and Edwards (and the MSM) jumps on her for not having "strength and resolve" or not being ready for the "tough business" of governing?
"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," Edwards told reporters Laconia, New Hampshire.
Earlier in the day, Clinton became emotional when speaking to a group of voters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
"My question is very personal, how do you do it?" asked Marianne Pernold Young, a freelance photographer from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Getting emotional, Clinton said, "It's not easy, and I couldn't do it if I didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do. You know, I have so many opportunities from this country [and I] just don't want to see us fall backwards," she said....
Her voice breaking and tears in her eyes, she said, "You know, this is very personal for me. It's not just political it's not just public. I see what's happening, and we have to reverse it."
Edwards jumped on the chance to express his readiness to face the strenuous demands of the presidency: "What I know is I'm prepared for that and I'm in this fight for the middle class and the future of this country for the long haul, through the conventions, straight to the White House."
Come on, John, you're better than that. Whether she's tired or whether she's sincerely and emotionally invested in changing this country's direction, you really should've just taken a cue from Barack Obama, who said he hadn't seen it and wasn't going to comment on it.
I know that when I "see what's happening" in this country thanks to BushCo, I ALWAYS feel like crying -- or throwing up. Would it have been better if she'd just looked kinda green and said she felt like throwing up whenever she thinks of the direction this country's going and how she felt obligated to run?
Man, I hate presidential elections more every time they happen. And I hate the media.
6 comments:
To play devil's advocate, I would like to think that Edwards would've done this if a dude had gotten emotional. I think he just wants to solidify his #2 position. I'm not defending it, but I think he would've regardless. As for the MSM fuckers, well, they're all idiots.
But the whole episode shows that anyone who gets emotional or wells up is seen as weak. Fuck, that's strength. If you want or have to do that, and don't, then you're being a fake. We've had enough of those.
But that's a societal thing, showing emotion or tears is seen as a weakness and frankly, I don't think that'll ever go away, and I think Edwards subconsciously tapped into the bullshit men-don't-cry garbage. Which I guess makes your point. So I guess I agree. :)
Weakness - there is a misused word. And misunderstood.
What is strength anyway and what does that mean?
The whole thing is just horrible. I am no Hillary supporter, but man she is taking a beating that she, no candidate for that matter, deserves.
What a bunch of morons. People cry, for heaven's sake. She's stressed and probably running on about two hours of sleep at this point. Heck, I cry during Bugs Bunny when I'm tired and stressed. She's still not my choice.
I work in NH and live in VT, so it's been quite a spectacle.
I don't really have a problem with Edwards's quotes so much as how the media characterizes them, which may or may not be accurate.
The reporters tell us that Edwards "offered little sympathy and pounced on the opportunity to question" and that he "jumped on the chance" to put her down, etc. He may have appeared eager to contrast himself emotionally, or he may not, but this story seems a little whipped up to me.
Obama actually said something rather sympathetic and dismissed it as a non-issue, saying something like "Yeah, this process can be a real grind."
I think Hillary's emotional moment got her the win in New Hampshire - people may have thought she is more sincere than they realized.
Crow--you poor guy.
Vik--you're right that the story made even more of it than he probably meant. I did, however, think it was still a cheap shot.
Mauigirl--I think that's stretching it. I can't imagine anyone changing a vote over a few tears and some emotion--unless they were already pondering voting for her in the first place.
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