Posted by
Roxanna M. on Saturday, December 01, 2007 11:51:19 AM
Right hand to God, that was my first thought when I heard about the "hostage" situation at one of Hillary Clinton's campaign offices in New Hampshire.
Isn't that a startling thought? Immediately, without any hesitation whatsoever, I pegged her as the behind-the-scenes manipulator of an event that would propel her to the top of the day's news heap. And I was right, at least about the latter.
This is what Glen Johnson of the Associated Press had to say: "When the hostages had been released and their alleged captor arrested, a regal-looking Hillary Rodham Clinton strolled out of her Washington home, the picture of calm in the face of crisis."
Where to begin!
Firstly, Mrs. Clinton was in Washington, D.C., about 400 miles away from the crisis. Secondly, she didn't "stroll" out of her home until the crisis was over. As for the "regal" part, it probably took her all day to get ready for that stroll. She was going to be the top news story, and she was bloody well going to look good. If she had come out looking haggard or tired, one just might believe that she had spent some part of the day worrying about the situation instead of primping for the close-up she knew was coming.
Mr. Johnson's slavish drivel continues: "the Democratic (sic) presidential contender can face disorder in a most orderly manner." Is he for real! She canceled a speech and stayed home all day. Color me impressed!
She expressed "grave concern" when she first heard of the situation. Of my gosh, give her a Nobel. What did anyone expert her to say? So what? Ho hum?
Not to be outdone by the press, Larry Sabato said that she "looked and sounded presidential . . . this was an instance of the White House experience of this campaign . . . they knew how to handle this . . ." Give me a break!
Hillary Clinton was nowhere near the event, nor did she do anything to bring it to an end. She expressed "grave concern" at the beginning, relief at the end, and turned the whole thing to her political advantage.
Mrs. Clinton's calm and regal image was "broadcast just as the network news began." Of course it was. Mighty accommodating hostage taker, wouldn't you say.