Is Clinton's "Moment" Being Overplayed By Press?

It has become the seminal moment of last night's debate.

Depending on your political vantage point, Sen. Hillary Clinton either resurrected her campaign, ripped a line off of John Edwards, or offered her valedictory address to voters when she declared: "Whatever happens, we're going to be fine. I just hope that we'll be able to say the same thing about the American people, and that's what this election should be about."

The Clinton camp trumpeted the quote as "the moment she retook the reins of this race," and her words have received the preponderance of press attention from last night's debate.

Oftentimes, the write-ups read as if she received the night's lone standing ovation.

"And at the right time... at the end... earning one of the only standing ovations in the 40-plus hours of debates," wrote Marc Ambinder.

"When she finished," wrote Newsday, "the audience gave her a standing ovation that took many, including Obama, by surprise."

"Was it a pivotal moment that could change the campaign, or the swan song of a candidate who may be nearing the end of her U.S. presidential bid?" reads the Reuters analysis. "Hillary Clinton's concluding statement in a televised debate on Thursday drew a standing ovation from the audience and plaudits from analysts."

But the response to the senator's remarks, which came at the conclusion of the debate, may be getting exaggerated attention. "There were standing ovations in and out of almost every break," a CNN debate producer told The Huffington Post. A review of debate video tape confirms this.

The producer noted the standing applause wasn't the result of applause lights or crowd-warmers. "It was spontaneous," he said, remarking that the crowd was more enthusiastic than any he'd seen at previous debates.

In any case, all the attention was enough to make the Obama campaign jealous. The next morning an email was sent out to reporters offering a "moment" of their own.

"In our view, the moment that most clearly demonstrated the difficulty Hillary Clinton would have drawing a clear contrast with John McCain in a general election was when she, quizzically, attacked him for supporting the war in Iraq," the email read. "Clinton also voted for the war."

Comments

[Mscomment]

06:39 PM on 02/23/2008

HP just can't give credit ... any credit to Hillary.
Her answer was an amazing moment.

I have realized as I have watched the netroots morph in to Rush Liberal... that the netroots have destroyed themselves for Obama...
They are no longer credit worthy - no longer credible.. If B.Obama and Michelle become a disaster .. will the net roots apologize to us?? I don't think so but I do thank them.. I am back in the land of the real roots.. to see real and constructive change happen in this country..

Oh and I am not a Hillary supported or a racist... Imagine that

[TJJJ]

05:43 PM on 02/23/2008

The good thing is that whether obama's bemused supporters accept it or not-Its now evident that OBAMA's eloquent speeches are mostly stolen speeches- he has none of his own. he claims that he opposed the war, maybe he did not want to fight a muslim nation?
However, Obama later supported all the legislature supporting the war progrom-----he has nothing that is really his---Thats what we know now--John edwards does not hold proprietary claims to "Ill be fine" as earlier post indicated that hundreds others say, "ill be fine, just worried about you," the American people. That is not a speech....Obama borrowed whole speeches and should say who gave it to him, even if it is given to him

[NursePatric]

05:31 PM on 02/23/2008

My impression watching the end of the debate is that Hillary was robbed of her ovation. Certainly half the room at least rose spontaneously in response to her comments. The commentators knee jerk response was to rush past that and thank everyone. You had people then standing with a kind of trepidation -- unsure if they were applauding Hillary or both candidates. He is not a golden boy and she is not a mean old witch. The media is managing this race rather than reporting it.
In talking about her internal motivation and "honoring" Barack she was giving voice to what those of us who have followed her career recognize as truthful (and to some of us very obvious) sentiments.
It was the shining moment in the debate. It was a refection of maturity and grace -- rejecting cynicism and choosing to hang on to HOPE no matter what.
Certainly deserving of a long and rowdy ovation.

[TJJJ]

04:21 PM on 02/23/2008

CORRECTION: Young white male REPUBLICANS voting in democratic primaries just to vote Hillary out-its all over the blogs about how they are doing it---boasting about it AND URGING OTHERS TO DO SO!
REPUBLICANS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE AFFECTED THE OUTCOME.
IF Obama is not gay, he should send attorneys after the men making these claims on youtube and make them take it out- is he afraid to confront them?
Once a COcaine user, always a cocaine user
once gay, always gay!!!!!!!!

[justmeinAz]

04:26 PM on 02/23/2008

I couldn't care less if he was gay, though his wife and children make that claim at the least suspect.
I've also read many blogs that say repubs are voting for Hillary, because all the polls show that McCain will beat her but not Obama. I think the end result will be negligible (I've read,) though it is irksome that they would try.
Still, thanks for focusing your irrational hatred a little more clearly for us.

[Homa]

04:04 PM on 02/23/2008

I cannot believe that so many people fell for Hillary's final 'moment' of Grace. She pulled a Classic Hollywood Stunt by ending the episode/debate on an ambiguous note... Get Ready, Set...

Hillary, Part XX ...coming to a television set near you!

[TJJJ]

03:56 PM on 02/23/2008

WHAT IS MOST DISGUSTING IN THIS CAMPAIGN IS THE ROLE THE WHITE MALE PLAYED IN ALL OF THIS.
FROM HIS CONSTANT ATTACKS ON CLINTON IN THE MEDIA.........IF SHE SHOWS STRENGHT, OH MY GOD SHE IS A VENOM. IF SHE IS SOFT , SHE IS TOO WEAK TO BE PRESIDENT.....YOUNG WHITE MALES ARE VOTING IN THE DEMO PRIMARIES JUST TO PILE UP VOTES FOR OBAMA TO BEAT HILLARY---------------HE WOULD RATHER VOTE A BLACK MAN BEFORE HE ENCOURAGES THE WOMAN WHO MADE HIM KING---------I ALWAYS SAID WHITE MALE WAS A SNAKE AND HE IS STILL A SNAKE- AS TO WHITE WOMEN , ESPECIALLY THE GULLIBLE YOUNG WHO FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THIS HISTORICAL MONMENT------IT WILL BE ANOTHER 50 YRS BEFORE A WOMAN IS THIS CLOSE TO POWER------IN THE MEANTINME, THESE YOUN FEMALE IDIOTS CHANT AND PANT AFTER OBAMA , THE MESSIAH-"OH, HE MAKES ME FEEL GOOOOOOOOOOD," OH HE'S SO INPIRING-----THIS IS A HISTORICAL MOMENT , NOT SEX---------- BESIDES, EVIDENCE ON YOUTUBE SAYS OBAMA IS GAY

[Homa]

04:06 PM on 02/23/2008

Oh, my goodness!

[And, people say that Obama supporters are fanatics!!!!!]

[justmeinAz]

04:11 PM on 02/23/2008

Good thing you're not one to generalize, or we might be led to think that you were sexist, racist, ageist, and homophobic. Luckily, you put your whole comment in caps, which really emphasizes your calm, measured, thoughtful demeanor, so we all can tell that you're credible.
One small suggestion though, the only thing I can see that you left out is any trace of felinism. Perhaps you could add something to make clear to us all how much kittens suck as well. That would truly cover all the bases, and make this a fine, thorough bit of insight.

[TJJJ]

05:14 PM on 02/23/2008

The calm calculated demeanour to which you hold claim is precisely what i am talking about------That is how you get the dagger in deep----making the rest of us adher to your standards. you have abandoned and cariicatured your woman right in front of our eyes with the immense power of the press . Those of us keen to support her are amazed at the how resourceful you are when you have to get to an end------

[DocGreen]

03:26 PM on 02/23/2008

Well it does show one of several faces of Hillary. The very next day we saw the venomous, Rovian face, calling Obama names, distorting his record, etc. We are in for more "don't cry for me Argentina" moments, to be sure. Which Hillary would show up in the White House? (A roll of the dice?) Note that a number of generally pro-Hillary news sources (NYT for example) are reporting on her incompetence in managing her campaign. What we don't need is more incompetence.

[autumnal]

02:04 PM on 02/23/2008

well of course it's being overplayed, I've yet to see anyone say how it proves she's Satan so there's got to be something wrong about it all...duh! Kind words and coronets are for the Obama only, didn't they get the memo?!?!

[Aquarius52]

12:25 PM on 02/23/2008

The import of "the moment" has been largely exaggerated by the media. It's a clear demonstration of the concept of low expectations making mediocrity seem phenomenal. Hillary is seen, with good reason, as cold (called Miss Frigidaire by her college class mates), robotic and insincere. so ANY fleeting demonstration of human-ness is viewed with awe.

For me, "the moment" seemed contrived and valedictorian in using overemphasis for effect. I thought it was as scripted as the infamous "Xerox moment" and Clinton was just waiting for a suitable juncture in the debate to use it. After all it's the sort of tactic that could have been used several places in the debate. I dont buy the "it was totally spontaneous, she didnt know what she was going to be asked" BS. She could have dropped that bomb anywhere. So she hadnt done it all night and then realized that was the last question. "Aha!!! Here goes....."

A few minutes ago I received email from the Clinton campaign signed by Bill Clinton himself. Here is an excerpt from the email:

"Everyone in the upcoming primary states of Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont needs to see that moment. The campaign has put together a 60-second ad with the video, but we cannot run it without your immediate financial support. We need to raise $1.3 million in the next 24 hours to put this ad on the air"

So that "moment" was totally honest, spontaneous and unrehearsed, right? Hmmmmm.

[hollyo]

01:09 PM on 02/23/2008

It was total rehearsed schmaltz but on the other hand she should be allowed to save face. The press is a sucker for 'emotional' moments from any candidate...Howard Dean's 'yahoo' was played endlessly and Muskie's one tear entombed him.

[justmeinAz]

01:16 PM on 02/23/2008

"low expectations making mediocrity seem phenomenal."

That's a perfect assessment right there.

I don't know how people can watch Mrs. Clinton's mannerisms change so dramatically from appearance to appearance and still take any of it as genuine.

What happened to the laughing? After decades in the public eye without ever being caught laughing on camera, suddenly she laughs inexplicably on (I believe,) 4 different news shows the SAME MORNING, and the Clintonistas all lap it up as genuine emotion. And now that laughgate is over, she doesn't laugh anymore again. Clear calculated response to public opinion of her as "cold."
Same thing with her whole affect in this debate. Her whole demeanor was sooo different than it has ever been before, as if to say, "see? I'm caring!" And her fan base once again don't even think to question it's genuineness.
It's endlessly entertaining to read her stormtroopers here, so completely blind to her forced and less than subtle manipulations, shriek on about "Obamacons," and how we're blindly following a "messiah."

Incidentally, I don't think everyone who supporst Hillary is a Clintonista - that's just the rabid attack dogs among her following who would kill your dog if you said that Hillary's shit stank. Come on, you know who you are. :)

[Aquarius52]

12:01 PM on 02/23/2008

The import of "the moment" has been largely exaggerated by the media. It's a clear demonstration of the concept of low expectations making mediocrity seem phenomenal. Hillary is seen, with good reason, as cold (called Miss Frigidaire by her college class mates), robotic and insincere. so ANY fleeting demonstration of human-ness is viewed with awe.

For me, "the moment" seemed contrived and valedictorian in using overemphasis for effect. I thought it was as scripted as the infamous "Xerox moment" and Clinton was just waiting for a suitable juncture in the debate to use it. After all it's the sort of tactic that could have been used several places in the debate. I dont buy the "it was totally spontaneous, she didnt know what she was going to be asked" BS. She could have dropped that bomb anywhere. So she hadnt done it all night and then realized that was the last question. "Aha!!! Here goes....."

A few minutes ago I received email from the Clinton campaign signed by Bill Clinton himself. Here is an excerpt from the email:

"Everyone in the upcoming primary states of Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont needs to see that moment. The campaign has put together a 60-second ad with the video, but we cannot run it without your immediate financial support. We need to raise $1.3 million in the next 24 hours to put this ad on the air"

So that "moment" was totally honest, spontaneous and unrehearsed, right? Hmmmmm.

[MPeter]

12:14 PM on 02/23/2008

Someone may have already posted this but I could not resist the fact that the so-called Hillary moment was actually plagiarized. Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H60y8mHMpmU

[itapua]

11:23 AM on 02/23/2008

Hi everybody,

I just posted a new video on YouTube with a side-by-side comparison between Edwards' and Hillary's closing lines. Here's the
link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhwQk8yhunw

Please check it out and spread the word.

Btw, I don't really care that Hillary borrowed Edwards' lines, but it's certainly pretty ironic that she ended up falling into her own campaign's trap...

[TJJJ]

05:05 PM on 02/23/2008

WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO IS CAMOUFLAGE THE FACT THAT OBAMA WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE MESSIAH OF INSPIRATION, PLAGIARIZED THE WORDS OF DEVAL PATRICK PATRICK AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND BORROWED OTHER PEOPLE'S IDEAS WITHOUT GIVING THEM CREDIT.
IF YOU HAVE CLAIM TO ORATORY-THEY OUGHT TO BE YOUR OWN WORDS.EVEN IF PATRICK GAVE THE WORDS TO OBAMA , OBAMA OUGHT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT PATRICK GAVE IT TO HIM.
WE ARE CHANGING ALL THE RULES TO SUIT OBAMA . HE ATTACKS CLINTON BUT YOU CANT ATTACK OBAMA BECAUSE IT WOULD BE RACISM.
OBAMA IS PLAGIARIST OF IDEAS AND WHOLE SPEECHES--WORD FOR WORD-HE HAS NONE OF HIS OWN-HE IS A CON MAN. OHIO WILL BE HIS WATERLOO-------

[stumped]

11:22 AM on 02/23/2008

Clinton gets heckled by Obama supporters for her tearing-up moment in NH, and now this criticism in the Huffington Post.

When will the press actually take a look at Obama's disgusting Yes, We Can! speeches and his sickening alignment of his candidancy with the revolutionary war (!), slaves and their lives (!!), and the civil rights' struggles in the 60s (!!!). Why won't the press say, "Right, Obama, your little run for the presidency is JUST LIKE those things." People get so wrapped up in his preacher man bit, and his soaring, ridiculous sermons, that no one actually listens to what he's saying. "Go, Obama! Go, Obama!" Like sheep.

And why is Clinton and her team just sitting back and letting him go on about his anti-war talk. He voted four straight times for Iraq war appropriations! And supported the new fangled Patriot Act. Somehow, this is his being against the war and for people's rights.

I love all the "underdog rhetoric" that Obama
supporters fall for. "No one told us". On and on. He's still using that gambit. Americans love underdog stories, so does Disney. Hope and underdog rhetoric. Grab your pixie dust and follow me.

[repubstheirownworstenemy]

12:06 PM on 02/23/2008

Yeah, what a dick that guy is! Our commander-in-chief (enabled by your candidate, thank you very much) puts our kids in harm's way and Obama actually has the audacity of protecting them until we can muster a collective scrotum in Congress to bring them home?!?! The nerve!

BTW, screw you and your condescending attitude. As long as people like you can support someone who voted FOR the war, FOR sabre-rattling in lock-step with GWB on Iran, AGAINST banning cluster bombs,SKIPPED the vote on telecom immunity in the FISA extension, is bought and paid for by special interests and lobbyists, etc., etc., you can't sling any accusations of Obama supporters being sheep. Face it, if she wasn't married to Bill Clinton we wouldn't give her the time of day.

[stumped]

12:59 PM on 02/23/2008

Obama isn't being funded by special interests! Good lord.

And nice to see that old misogynistic Matthews comment rearing its head again. Never get enough of those.

Somehow we're to believe that because Obama has voted four straight times for Iraq war appropriations that he would've, if he would have been in the Senate at the time, voted against the Iraq war. His voting record on the Iraq war since he has been a senator puts that retroactive credit severely in doubt. He'd be actually going against what he's done.

You can take your "screw you" and mash it up with your pixie dust. Keep Hope Alive!

[evekendall]

01:06 PM on 02/23/2008

What was that you were saying about disgusting Yes, We Can! speeches?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhCikLeXb7c

You wouldn't call that "plagiarism," would you?

[stumped]

01:32 PM on 02/23/2008

What? Where in my post do you hear me talking about plagiarism? Please re-read.

[Felicty]

11:07 AM on 02/23/2008

Meanwhile, Hillary's been practicing at the neighborhood firing range, and is this morning searching for a book depository with many dark windows.

[godwillen]

10:59 AM on 02/23/2008

I suppose it's progress, of a sort, that the Left finally has it's own Fox News - our own Huff Post - in which everything Hillary does, Obama can do better. Hillary finally hit one out of the park Thursday, and here is Mr. Stein, ready to tell us, well, it grazed the foul pole and barely cleared the fence. But when Obama, a far-more gifted orator than Hillary, so much as burps, we are treated, by this site and its reporters, to a round of cheers worthy of an Italian soccer match.

Voters who are "turned off" by politics are said to prefer Obama - and readers who are turned off by propaganda, may wish to read a real news source, like the New York Times, rather than unfair and unbalanced Huff Post.

[justmeinAz]

01:51 PM on 02/23/2008

I think the problem is that many of us aren't hinging our vote on whether a candidate can finally, after over a year of practice, deliver a public performance that reflects our interests as reported by opinion polls. You don't do the job of a president by putting on a performance, so Hillary's great "performance" in the debate doesn't counter her bad positioning on some key points, and her unimpressive record. It's just not enough, and to be honest, it wasn't that great anyway. If you love Hil, you probably loved it, but if you're just luke warm on her, well, nothing special really happened.

[DepartmentalAsset]

10:43 AM on 02/23/2008

Both remaining canidates have scandal pending Renzi and Resco????????? Who said good gals, finish last!!!

[repubstheirownworstenemy]

11:00 AM on 02/23/2008

Who said sexism was for men only?

[justmeinAz]

01:53 PM on 02/23/2008

I'm so glad to see you licking your lips in anticipation of a character-bashing scandal. What a great new direction and break away from politics as usual that will be.