There’s Something About …
February 12th, 2008 at 11:21am Andrea Zimmermann
There is something about Hillary.
As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination drags on, the nation remains transfixed on the senator from New York.
Her words, outfits, decisions and personality are continually picked apart on national talk shows, in newspaper columns and around dinner tables.
It’s not only because she is running for president. There is just something about Hillary.
New Yorker editor Susan Morrison also noticed the way Clinton “pushed different kinds of buttons than other politicians pushed.” So naturally Morrison decided to give 30 respected female scribes a national platform to flesh out her theory.
Well, it’s just another book to add to an ever-growing bookshelf.
This weekend, I popped into my favorite Springfield bookstore. Among the vast 20,000 books, I stumbled across three tall bookshelves devoted to U.S. presidents and yet another devoted to their wives.
I scanned the titles and was not surprised that books about Hillary Clinton dominated the section. I even purchased two of the books because it epitomized the Hillary fascination – “The Case Against Hillary Clinton,” by Peggy Noonan and “The Case For Hillary Clinton,” by Susan Estrich.
The other books claimed to be about her failed healthcare initiative of the ‘90s, about her husband’s sex scandal that nearly cost him the office and about her rise to power. On the surface, the books profess to be about Clinton’s policies, but I would be willing to wager my small monthly paycheck that most of the pages are spent parsing her personality, not her policies.
Similarly, Morrison’s book likely has some high points, if the reviews are any indication, but it is also clear that it hits some real lows — namely, an essay about whether Clinton is a dog or cat person and another about her eating habits based on past lunch choices.
Really? Are those facets of Clinton’s life really that fascinating?
Perhaps they are. Something tells me that we would be really bored if we learned Barack Obama enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crusts cut off or found out that former Vietnam prisoner-of-war John McCain was a cat person.
Even if we were interested, books like that about male presidential candidates will probably never appear on the shelves of American bookstores.
Clinton has been under a microscope for much of her adult life, and largely, by her own volition.
Since the 2008 presidential race actually began early last year, I have kept a keen ear out when people – and by people, I mean the ones at our favorite coffee shops and around our kitchen tables, not the pundits – begin explaining why they dislike Clinton.
It is rare that someone will provide anything but a superficial criticism. There is probably plenty to not like about Clinton – perhaps her hawkishwar stance or the millions of dollars her healthcare proposals would cost the country.
Yet many just don’t like her.
Sometimes politicians are slimy people who betray the public’s trust. Those people deserve our anger and contempt.
But it seems unfair to dislike a politician’s personal attributes, whether it is Clinton and her “Miss Frigidaire” exterior, or Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his perfect hair.
Perhaps if people spent more time dissecting the issues, not the person, then we can truly, as Clinton is wont to say, start the conversation.
What do you think? Is this sort of criticism warranted?
Entry Filed under: national politics, Hillary Clinton
13 Comments Add your own
1. Anthony L. Milano | February 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I would like to know just what does Hillary’s clothes, choice of food, and laugh, have to do with her wanting to be the first female President of our country, have to do with the issues be presented.
I as a senior citizen (male) wish the media would get off the bashing and get back to the basic rules of campaigning.
The issues as, I see them, is to reistablish respect and credibility around the world. Hillary has the knowledge and know how to bring this about. “VOTE FOR HILLARY”.
2. Curtis | February 12th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
There’s something about Hillary that I just love, and always have. I’m picking her for President because I believe she’s the only candidate with the strength and experience to bring about the change that we need!
3. James | February 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I want Hillary for President. I want a woman and thats HILLARY! Hillary has the knowledge, the strength and experience. “VOTE FOR HILLARY”.
4. P. Gessner | February 12th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
What do you expect? Over 300,000,00 people in the United States and look what we have to choose from in candidates. It’s pretty sad when we can’t come up with at least two that we feel comfortable with to lead the country in the right direction.
The majority of the american people are completely uninformed about world events. They vote for a candidate because she is a woman, or he is a black man, a war veteran, a preacher, etc. I think voters should have to take a test before they are allowed to vote.
That should be interesting since 18% of high school students could not find the United States on a globe.
Lets get serious folks.
5. Ella | February 12th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I am African American! I will vote for Hillary Clinton. i think she is capable of running the country. She has the experience to be President. She knows all the policies. She’s been a outstanding leader for years and has proven, even among all obstacles than she can withstand anything and come out on top. I don’t know that much about Obama’s policies. I also would like to add this note about the racial thing. God knows I wish my comment could be on the CNN and MSNBC stations because most of those commentators ( I guess that’s the appropiate title) they were the first ones who started the race thing. If you remember, when Obama won Iowa and it was thought that he would win New Hampshire the night of the polling in New Hampshire well, let me go back to Iowa, they were saying “since Obama won Iowa
where it was mostly white people, now the african americans in South Carolina can vote for him” - I may not have quoted it right, but what they meant was, “since the white people in Iowa voted for him, now the blacks in South Carolina will vote for him” I think that was racial, but seems like nobody caught those comments because there was no response on those tv stations. And a lot of black people especially in South Carolina where Obama won and Hillary lost and I honestly believe it was because of her comments, about Dr. Martin L. King, they got mad at Hillary because of her comment about Dr. Martin L. King and mad at Bill because of his comments. I understood what she was saying. That’s just like if I have an invention and I don’t know how to market it but you do, then we both make progress. That’s the same about Dr. King and President Johnson. So the media and those tv stations commentators started the racial thing and then when Bill started his comments, they wanted to put all the blame on him. And I hope somebody will bring this to those commentators and tv stations attention where it can be broadcast nationwide.
Thank You!
6. Deb | February 12th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I agree with Anthony and Curtis. I also believe that, with Hillary’s life already having been picked apart, she stands the better chance to win in November. Obama has never been “microscoped” by a Republican candidate so we don’t know how he will react to all of it….and there will be lots of dirt dug up about him if he wins the nomination. But I am willing to bet that he wouldn’t handle it even half as well as Hillary has and will continue to. Besides, with the country in the shape that is it today, we need someone with extensive experience to dig in there and clean it all up! HILLARY CAN DO THE JOB!!!!!!
7. Ella | February 12th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Add-On to previous comment:
I said the blacks - African American voters - I should have said some African Americans especially the ones in South Carolina were mad at Hillary and Bill, when they should have been mad at the media and those tv commentators on CNN and MSNBC. Not all of them on these tv stations started the racial thing. I don’t think any commentators on Fox News commented on the racial thing. I see them doing their job just reporting the news and not adding their two cents worth. I know the racial thing has died down but I think those commentators who started the racial thing, it should be brought to the attention of the public and made known publicly! That really bothered me!
Respectfully,
Ella
8. JACK SLOAN | February 12th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Hillary has said what she will do for this great country and i belive her!!!!!! She has a record to go by, but Obama has no record to judge him by, so i will have to give my support to Hillary. I am male 65 retired.
9. john polifrono | February 12th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
It’s tragic, that Hillary’s efforts to reach the White House, will be desrtroyed by her worst enemy, and that’s certainly not Obama, and isn’t even the republicans, it’s media. Media have sought, from the beginning, to undermine Hillary, and certainly her campaign. I cannot find words to describe the revulsion that I feel for creatures like Chris Matthews, Tim Russert, Wolf Blitzer, etc.. These people make me feel ashamed to be a male. They are truly monsters, and undermine everything decent and worthwhile in the human experience.
10. Fannie | February 12th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
It appears that the Rockford Registar star is so baised in their reporting of the Democratic Campaign between Senator Clinton
and Senator Obama.
The paper is not reporting pertinent information about this campaign, perhaps, hoping this stratergy will influence the voters to make decision based on what the editiors tell want you to think.
When can we think for ourselves and not let others push their ideas down our throats?
11. DUSTIN | February 13th, 2008 at 4:24 am
SENATOR CLINTON FOR THE WHITE HOUSE . TWO TERMS . END OF STORY .
12. TESSIE B. MARCOS | February 13th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I have met and spoken with Senator Hillary Clinton whe visited us in GUAM , where America’s day begins . I have admired her since then and continue to admire her intelligence . She is a woman of strength and truly will be a great PRESIDENT for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .
13. SHITTU | February 13th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I used to believe that American’s and indeed the public will display its literacy level to the world on pressing issues as electing a president. As far as i’m concerned you guys are shadow-chasing! THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING WITH KEEN INTEREST, YOUR LEVEL OF RATIONALITY! HOW DARE YOU COMPARE HILLARY’S NEAR 30 YEARS TOP-LEVEL PUBLIC SERVICE (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) with others. Its a disservice! Let me ask you, WHO WOULD YOU ASK TO HEAD A MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION (where you have large stake)? A LADY WITH ABOUT 30 YEARS COGNATE EXPERIENCE WHOM YOU CAN’T STAND HER GUTS OR AN AMIABLE MAN WITH 4 YEARS COGNATE EXPERIENCE! WHICH OF THEM IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO BRING ABOUT A MUCH NEEDED TURNAROUND? WAKE UP AMERICA, PRESIDENCY IS NOT HOLYWOOD MAKE-BELIEF! USA is at a cross-road and needs a dispassionate assessment of its candidates. The major criteria should be WHAT HAVE DONE UP TO THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE TO WANT TO LAY CLAIMS TO THE HOTTEST SEAT IN WORLD POLITICS, WHAT’S YOUR CREDENTIAL AND YOUR TEMPERAMENT. LIKE THEY SAY, THEORY IS NOT PRACTICAL! ITS EASY TO COACH FROM THE STANDS BUT WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN, I TELL YOU ITS A DIFFERENT BALL GAME! MAY GOD LEAD AMERICA AS IT TRIES TO MAKE ITS DECISIONS.
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