Hillary's Non-Muskie Moment

07.01.2008

I wasn't at the Hillary event Noam mentioned below. And if Ben Smith says she choked up, I'm certain it seemed that way in the room. But having just seen footage on TV I highly doubt this is going to play out as some Ed Muskie moment. There was a real vulnerability to Hillary's voice, no doubt, but it probably wasn't enough for a full viral YouTube effect. (And I agree with Noam that, to the extent she seemed emotional, it was sympathetic. Although who knows what damaging gender-stereotypes it could accentuate, especially among male voters. After all, the only word Hillary's campaign invokes more than "experience" and "change" is "strength.")

P.S. Having been prompted by a question in part about her hair, Hillary's moment reminded me of an oodball experience: Yesterday I did a quick segment on Fox News. This involved the always-emasculating experience of someone applying heavy makeup to my face. But my charming makeup artist assured me I was in good hands. It turns out, you see, that the woman applying foundation to my rosy cheeks is also Hillary's designated pre-debate powderer. She explained that Hillary loved the job she did before one summer debate in New Hampshire that she's specifically requested her for every debate since--I think she said she's made her up eleven times now--and even flies her to out-of-state events. (About which I am making no judgments--honestly: I'd obsess over makeup too if I was debating in front of millions of people!--just one of those weird campaign-trail moments.)

Incidentally, I asked my beautifier whether Hillary is a basket case in those final pre-debate moments. She insisted not, and said that that sitting in the makeup chair seems to be one of the few moments of zenlike peace the candidates ever get.

--Michael Crowley

Posted: Monday, January 07, 2008 2:09 PM with 2 comment(s)

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jwsevert said:

From all I've read, Winston Churchill was a crier. He cried about puppies. He cried about children, his and those of others. He cried about sad movies and, what some might consider, maudlin sentiments in letters.

I don't believe there was much weakness in Winston Churchill.

Yet in the many years that Mr. Churchill was "in the wildnerness", I've never read anything that suggested he cried about his own political situation or that somehow his inevitability was no longer inevitable.

January 7, 2008 9:24 PM

ericad said:

With the usual preface that "I'm not a big HRC fan", I will say that the headlines of "meltdown" and "Muskie moment" are greatly exaggerated. I was disturbed that a woman leader was "crying" or "tearful" when no man was (or was in public anyway). However, listening to the clip on the radio (without any visual input/cues obviously), what I heard was actually someone choking up with a passion, with feeling that the sentiments she was expressing was causing. She was being passionate about her love for this country and expressing something akin to admiration for everyone who was running for President because she felt they ALL were doing this out of love for the country and a desire to change it for the better. I agree it made her seem more sympathetic and genuine.

January 8, 2008 1:35 PM