Democrat or Republican, we all want change. This election, perhaps even more than ones in the past, has us paying closer attention to both party's candidates. The best person for the job is the one that American citizens want to elect. That could mean crossing party lines for some voters.
Hillary Clinton is in the forefront of the race, not just because she's a Senator, but because she is Bill Clinton's wife. If there has ever been an example of riding someone's coattails; this is it. Bill is campaigning so hard for the little lady, it almost seems like he owes her a debt.
Mrs. Clinton has debated with the other candidates and is currently traveling the circuit kissing babies, shaking hands and showing up at unsuspecting folk's homes for more intimate sit down discussions. She is pointing out her record number of years of service to this country and all of her accomplishments, while downplaying her opponent's records. She is doing what every other candidate is doing. Except for the tiny, barely there tears she sported in New Hampshire.
Several debates occurred prior to the tear incident. Many passionate issues had been discussed by both Democratic and Republican candidates in heated debates leading up to the N.H. caucus. Not least among those issues are the war in Iraq, deaths of our service people, health care for everyone and the recent death of a teenager who had insurance, but died because the company refused to pay for a life saving transplant.
Several candidates discussed this unimaginable story with outrage, anger and determination to make changes. But no tears were shed for a child whose parents had insurance, who died because a company waited too long to reverse a decision not to pay for a transplant. The outrage and obvious anger that this could happen in this country was sufficient to convince everyone watching that issue was being taken seriously.
So if a child dying, hundreds of thousands of people without health care and the loss of life because of the war in Iraq can't move Hillary to tears, what can?
It was a simple question about how she holds herself together; her hair and make-up, her outfits and staying so put together on the campaign trail. That's it. That's all. She got all misty eyed because of that mundane question. She responded with, "You know, I think, well luckily, on special days I do have help. If you see me every day and if you look on some of the Web sites and listen to some of the commentators they always find me on the day I didn't have help. It's not easy."
Then she began to get teary and said, "It's not easy, and I couldn't do it if I didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do. You know, I have so many opportunities from this country just don't want to see us fall backwards."
More tears and cracking voice as she continued, "You know, this is very personal for me. It's not just political. It's not just public. I see what's happening, and we have to reverse it."
What does that have to do with the question that was asked? How could that question illicit tears from anyone? Imagine John McCain or Barack Obama getting emotional when talking of pressed suits and clean ties. Or could shoe polish bring Edwards and Huckabee to sobs?
If there was ever a time to get teary, this was not it. Her crocodile tears were insulting to many people who may have been considering supporting her. Families who have medical issues right now and no insurance, soldiers in Iraq and their families; many people would have been moved by tears and real emotion about the issues surrounding these important topics.
Strong emotional responses usually come when a person is passionate or angered about an issue. The biggest issues surrounding this election haven't been able to elicit one single tear from Mrs. Clinton. Given these facts, it seems safe to assume Hillary is extremely passionate about her personal hygiene, wardrobe and make-up. This is not the kind of reaction anyone expected from a Presidential candidate.
