Will Media Fall For and Promote Hillary’s Second Crying Game?

February 4th, 2008 2:17 PM

Remember at the beginning of January, just hours before the New Hampshire primary, and days after a devastating loss to Sen. Barack Obama in the Iowa caucuses, Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton teared-up in front of the camera, and a sycophantic media fell for it hook, line, and sinker?

Of course, many political pundits felt this was partially responsible for her victory in New Hampshire the following day.

Now, with polls showing Obama in very good position to shock the world in tomorrow's Super Tuesday primaries, Hillary's tearing up again (video available here), raising some very important, albeit likely obvious questions:

  • Will media fall for this again?
  • Will television stations coast to coast show this video every hour on the hour for maximum effect?
  • Will this show of emotion propel her to success around the country during these critical primaries?

In sum, will media really allow Hillary to cry her way into the White House?

*****Update: Suddenly, my mind wanders to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (video available here):

Now if there's a smile on my face
It's only there trying to fool the public
But when it comes down to fooling you
Now honey that's quite a different subject

But don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
'Cause really I'm sad, Oh I'm sadder than sad
Well I'm hurt and I want you so bad
Like a clown I appear to be glad ooh yeah

[Chorus:]
Well they're some sad things known to man
But ain't too much sadder than
The tears of a clown when there's no one around
Oh yeah, baby baby, oh yeah baby baby

Now if I appear to be carefree
It's only to camouflage my sadness
And honey to shield my pride I try
To cover this hurt with a show of gladness
But don't let my show convince you
That I've been happy since you
'Cause I need to go, oh I need you so
Look I'm hurt and I want you to know
For others I put on a show ...

[Chorus]

Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my surface hid
Smiling in the crowd I try
But in a lonely room I cry
The tears of a clown
When there's no one around, oh yeah, baby baby
Now if there's a smile on my face
Don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Don't let this smile I wear
Make you think that I don't care

Actually, I always thought the English Beat's version was much better.

*****Update II: Another question comes to mind -- when media report this, will they advise readers and viewers of how Hillary was again crying about herself, and not someone else's suffering?

If you recall the first episode, Hillary was crying about her own struggles on the campaign, NOT about anyone else's hardships.

The media missed this nuance!

This recent bout of emotion came as someone spoke about HER and HER accomplishments, not about what was going on in Iraq, or poor people's struggles here at home!

HER!

Will media report that, or just that she once again cried?