Tears for Fears

Why are we so surprised that Hilary Clinton has a heart? She answered a question, at the end of a juggernaut of campaigning with a simple unplanned moment of truth. Her obvious love for our country, of the true sacrifice a public servant makes and the one overlooked and biggest reason one would want to hear from a candidate, that they care, that they are grateful for the life they have been given by others who served before them.

It was a real moment, tears or not, and it seemed to cut through the bullshit that accompanies most answers on the campaign trail.

Michael Moore's analysis of her vote for the war was that as a woman she has to "be as 'tough' as a man, she has to be willing to push The Button if necessary, and give the generals whatever they wanted."

Why is a woman's natural emotionality, as well as incredible sense and judgment and compassion and strength, a liability. None of you would be here were it not for a woman's strength -- you men try giving birth, something Mrs. Clinton has done. Most of all, don't we really want a president with a heart, a big, open, warm, loving, mother's heart to lead us out of this bleak despair, into the light of hope and peace.

Please don't just classify her tears as a hoax or a "woman's moment". Classify it as a human contact made in a time of great need and I for one am proud of her commitment to service and duty and honor and yes, tears, for we have so much to be sad about and so much to hope for in the future.

Comments

[kingdem]

Jamie, Jamie, Jamie....An Actress is bowled over by a display of true theatrical proportions the day before a primary? Really...I always thought you had more chops then that.

Look! Real or otherwise, if dwindling Hillary disciples would like to hinge there electibilty on crying games or psuedo-acts of emotion GO FOR IT! It has nothing to do with ones "human" characteristics. If that was even a marginal decision factor then i will frame my concern this way:

What is more Human..Crying at the way your campaign is in shambles or say...crying when deciding to send young men and woman to certain death? Where were tears of emotion and human contact then?

Believe me HRC followers....you don't want to go down the road of who is more Human...Clinton-bot or Obama...Believe me.

[facingeast]

She was crying for herself. Her personal dream of ambition was in trouble (she thought). Big smile now! Happy Hillary! Two thumbs up!

[HansB]

How about discussing the issues instead of a few held-back tears or a cackle or a fancy haircut or whatever? Who the hell cares whether or not Hillary will have the occasional crying bout in the Oval Office, or whether her laugh is charming or not, or how much Vice-President Edwards pays for a haircut. What will her policies be - not just what she says, but also what her record is, which direction she is developing in, which factions she's close to, the kind of people she tends to hire (cronies? professionals? ideologues?)... in short, political journalism.

[Oldtt]

The easiest way to find out if you've become completely unhinged during this primary season is by closely watching and listening to the video clip showing an exhausted Hillary Clinton responding to a question from another wman asking how she can put herself through the stress of campaigning. If you decide she is merely acting, congratulations - you now know you are seriously infected with Hillary Hate and must immediately discontinue all contact with cable news pundits and the HuffPost until you get better.

[transendentilist]

You are a wise lady, Sweetface!

[Delaware22]

Jamie Lee, well said!

[kristin]

Wasn't Hillary asked how she gets up in the morning, every morning on the campaign trail? And she teared up on describing what a struggle it is and how tired she is? Sounds to me as if she teared up in self-pity about the rigors of campaigning to be the most powerful person in the world. Did I misunderstand something?

[texastornado]

Reeeeeeealy? Hillary Clinton has a heart? Tell that to the thousands of dead Iraqies. Tell that to the thousands of ninteen year old vets with no limbs and to their parents. Tell that to the bloated bodies floating in the water during Katrina. Give me a f@#$%ing break.

[BlackandProud]

These politicians go through a year of campaigning with very little sleep while listening to heart-wrenching stories every day.

Of course the tears are real.

Who wouldn't break down eventually.

Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Hillary...they all have these moments. It's nice to see them let down their guard once in awhile.

[Lisette]

Uh Oh!
Now Bush is crying...

[dogwalker]

I don't understand. I clearly saw a concerned and committed woman become emotional over the sorry state of this country and her desire to change what has happened here in the past seven years.
During the Clinton years in the whitehouse I could afford health insurance and gas for my car.
That was just great.
Walker

[thedudeabides]

i am beginning to come to terms with the possiblity that she may be the nominee...it is mildly disconcerting, but may be an inescapable reality...i don't think she is much in the way of tender-hearted or compassionate...she seems more like the iron lady in the tradition of thatcher...but i feel like i grew up with jamie lee, and am her age, so i will try to be open-minded about the hillinator...

[speakingtruth2power]

I am sure Jamie feels Hillary's pain but why should I care what an actress thinks she sees in the heart of another performer. Any frequent 'Huffposter' knows I don't buy Hillary's sincerity or liberal credentials so maybe that's enough said.

[ScandalousCandice]

I am surprised Clinton cried (whipped up fake tears to pander to some votes) because she is in the boys territory. This is exactly what they expected of her. And she buckled just like they knew she would. And whether she did this as a tactic to gain sympathy, or they were real tears, it's damaging.

I don't condone the other people in politics who have cried either. It's one thing to show the human element, it's quite another to use tears as a tactic.

I am not sure exactly what to make of it either. Everyone knows that Hillary is tough as nails. She knew this would be the toughest battle of her life. And that campaigning would be long and grueling. She knows that people prefer her husband over her as well. At least the exit polls suggested as much. Her votes are only because they want Bill back and not her.

She has dealt with her husbands infidelities to new York out right not wanting her there. She made believers out of New York and swallowed the ultimate lump in her throat with Bill
's infidelities. Why would she choose to break down now?

I don't buy that they were real tears. I think it was angle they saw after the debates and they exploited it.

I am also a woman writing this. I am also very sickened that women feel sorry for her. I don't endorse cry babies male or female. I don't believe anyone should have any breaks given to them in the battle for the highest position of office in this country.

I feel like what she did was a cheap yet tactical play on her part to appeal to the women vote which she was losing and would have lost.

[PAISLEY]

I heard a broadcaster on a TV hockey game tell viewers to go to their computers and "punch in" blahblahblah.com, and I thought I suppose it's too feminine to say, "type in." If the description of a government program were to seem by its very language too feminine, might it not lose support among men? What is the great American fear of the feminine side of things?