So Hillary is human. Of course she is, poor woman.
She remained hard when Bill betrayed her in the public eye. She was angry, we knew; we watched her shake off his hand as they prepared to board a plane, but she never shed a public tear.
Was that a bad thing? Who's to say? Would I have cried on the nightly news in similar circumstances? I have no clue. I might have, but most likely I'd have had my armor on-- like Hillary did-- for the public.
And because she fastened her armor tightly, we all said, "How cold. She's a stone. Has she no emotion?"
And then, "She needs Bill. She wants to stay in politics. She'll never dump him."
And she didn't. For whatever reason-- love or politics-- she didn't.
But today, years after Bill had his fling with Monica, and the world watched for Hillary's response, she showed a soft side.
Exhausted, she spoke in New Hampshire on the eve of the primary elections, answering question after endless question. And she wavered, sounded teary, weary, and emotional.
Hillary is human. Of course she is, poor woman.
I will not vote for her, but she melted me.
It might have been scripted- a political maneuver. Her advisors might has said, "Act softer, kinder and gentler. Be more human."
My husband said, "Remember Edmund Muskie." Muskie's presidential run went south the moment he shed tears, tears in defense of his wife.
But he was a man. Hillary is a woman. Muskie's tears were genuine. Were Hillary's almost tears real?
Isn't that what we want first and foremost in our president? A living, breathing, feeling human? One who shares our pain? One who works for us because he or she understands? One with passion? One with a heart.
Sure. And one who is strong on foreign policy, and the economy, and health care, and national defense, and . . .
There is no such a person. But each candidate wants to convince us he is. Or she is.
Other countries have, or have had, woman in high elected positions, but not the US. We think about it too much. We analyze it too much. We think it matters too much.
Gender.
And race.
The 2008 elections are just gearing up, and already are wearying-- for the common man as well as the candidate.
Stay tuned.
~~~~~
I think it's about time we voted for senators with breasts. After all, we've been voting for boobs long enough. ~Clarie Sargent, Arizona senatorial candidate
Comments
I agree with your husband about old Ed Muskie. I was talking about him last night with Alan. It creates a double standard, doesn't it? That she can cry and look human, and old Ed looked weak. Whatever it is, I think Obama is going to win NH.
Wait until the Republican machine gets hold of him! I pity the American public for the next eleven months.
I will stay tuned.
Looking at the US election race from the outside, what boggles my mind is that next U.S president will likely be a woman or a half African man whose middle name is Hussein.
v.
Janice~ I agree, but in a matter of days she made a better showing in New Hampshire. Time will tell. I hate to think gender and race even matter, but . . . they seem to.
Ross~ Love your anecdotes and humor . . . and British history lesson. I just may write something about a class election. I cancelled one earlier this year due to bribery. :>)
Sarah~ Don't you miss American politics? :>) Maybe you actually do.
Wanda~ Thanks! How nice of you.
Voyager~ We'd make better decisions if we were blind and deaf and just got to read-- in Braille, I guess-- a script of the candidates views, I think.
It does make you think, though.
I want to stop before trying to determine the legitimacy of someone else's tears.
Ruth - you just said everything that was in my head!!! And so much more
beautifully than I ever could have. I completely agree. It's all so sad.
Tere: You say things pretty nicely, yourself! Thanks.
***Darn! every now and then when moderating comments I hit "reject" instead of publish. Part of my left/right confusion? I hope not. I just multi-task and that's the result of thinking one thing while doing another.
Here's the url to Tere's blog: http://livingthelifeoftere.blogspot.com/