For Hillary, Fatigue Can Be Deadly Weapon

Did choking up a day before the polls opened in New Hampshire help Senator Hillary Clinton to a surprising primary win on Jan. 8, stopping what seemed like a tidal wave of support for Senator Barack Obama?

Or was it the pile-on at the debate on Jan. 5, or Bill Clinton's rambling attempt to rescue his damsel in distress by attacking the media?

I can answer the last one. Attacks on the press are always a sign of weakness, yet are often effective. When it comes to the likeability of the media versus that of Clinton, Clinton might as well be Princess Diana and the press Britney Spears.

As for the other factors, it wasn't so much Clinton's behavior during the last few days as the men's conduct.

While it may have been self-pitying and desperate, and focus-grouped and polled, the now famous tearing up in a Portsmouth diner was all to the good. It didn't make Clinton look overly emotional (remember how crying doomed Senator Ed Muskie and Representative Pat Schroeder years ago?).

Earlier she'd up-armored herself against perceptions of being a weak sister on defense by voting for the Iraq war without even bothering to read the National Intelligence Estimate lest the facts hold her back.

And it's not like she needed a Kleenex at that diner. She quickly pivoted to being the smartest, worthiest person on Earth. ``Some of us are right and some of us are wrong. Some of us are ready and some of us are not.'' Guess who is and isn't?

Read the whole column here

Comments

[myskylark]

Why is Hillary Clinton being criticized for saying "some of us are right, and some of us are wrong?" That's what all the candidates are saying about themselves and their opponents. Think about it, it's actually a very gentle bit of campaigning, coming right after an acknowledgement that all the candidates are going through this for love of country. Don't Obama and Edwards put themselves forward as "right" and their opponents as "wrong?" It's amazing how the anti-Clinton talking heads (and that includes you, Margaret) pull out new rules that apply only to Senator Clinton. I'm so disgusted with the constant piling-on. It's reached the point where I have decided that I will never vote for Obama under any circumstances. He is incredibly unqualified, and I refuse to have him shoved down my throat by the Margaret Carlsons, Chris Matthews', Tim Russerts, etc. of the media. Congratulations, you have managed to split the Democratic Party to the point that we may very well snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Too bad Obama didn't take advantage of his place in the Senate to be patient and learn what's necessary to make him a qualified candidate. If he does become the nominee and loses because he lacks the necessary experience, he may never have the chance to run again. Democrats don't like to give the nomination to anyone who blew it the first time around.

[ebbtide]

No, many women saw it for what it was--a pitiful act. You can, as well say, another weapon she used was the race card,with Shaheen's shameful behavior, and many women do not believe she had nothing to do with it. Another of her weapons, you can say, is using her stronger husband and going back to the kitchen, so to speak, while the little woman gets the "fatigues"