John Edwards lost a lot of points today.
His reaction to Hillary's tearing up was cruelly opportunistic:
Edwards offered little sympathy and pounced on the opportunity to question Clinton's ability to endure the stresses of the presidency.
"I think what we need in a commander-in-chief is strength and resolve, and presidential campaigns are tough business, but being president of the United States is also tough business," Edwards told reporters Laconia, New Hampshire
Questions about the value of Senator Clinton's experience, about her capacity to be an agent of change and about her obsession with "centrism" are all legitimate -whether correct or not. But suggesting that she should be disqualified because of a display of emotion, is despicable - especially by someone who plays on emotions the way Edwards does, and who demands others applaud such plays.
Not surprisingly, Michelle Malkin cruelly entitled her piece "Hillary gets leaky:"
Anyone who believes Hillary spontaneously teared up and got emotional on the campaign trail today has been in a coma the last three decades.
While it's fascinating to hear that Malkin has been following Hillary Clinton since Michelle was about seven, the heat of her hatred of Hillary is hard to bear.
Ann Althouse once again deserves nothing but scorn, comparing today's event:
"But it seems a little like the feminine gesture she made at the debate when she said the her feelings were hurt. I think someone — an excellent actress? — is coaching her in how to display womanly emotion."
Incoherently, she continues with a link to a poll indicating Clinton's collapsing numbers:
"But she has plenty to get emotional about. Did you see this?"
So the display of "womanly emotion" was fraudulent, even if honestly earned?
Senator Clinton has earned the right to be exhausted, and disappointed; frustrated and saddened. Whether or not her glands kick in as a result should be totally irrelevant in determining who should be the next President of the United States of America.
(At least it won't be a Bush)
Well said. I wish Edwards would stop treating the public as members of an impressionable jury who might if sufficiently moved award a billion dollar verdict. His cheap shots and superficial attacks on credibility divert from the real substance we ought to be focused on. This guy was briefly on the top of my list, but has basically disqualified himself in my view.
Posted by: farmer mark | January 07, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Thanks for the complimentary comment - and the fact is that he is far, far better than anyone candidate in the GOP.
Posted by: bbbustard | January 08, 2008 at 04:49 PM