When Hillary Cried

Hillary Clinton’s surprise, comeback win in the New Hampshire primary is being at least partly credited to her tearful talk about the stress and importance of being in a Presidential campaign. Exit polls show mostly older women voted for Clinton. I guess they’re the demographic that feel it’s OK to cry.

Some people – mainly men – have been pretty critical of Mrs. Clinton’s public emotions. In case you didn’t see or hear it, it’s not as if she broke down and sobbed. She simply became glassy-eyed and her voice broke as she spoke.

Perhaps I’m a little more understanding because I sometimes tear up at the most unfortunate times. If I’ve been holding something back, no matter what it is, when I finally talk about it, it will be followed by a tear chaser. If my feelings are hurt, you’ll know it, because I’ll have a narrow rivulet of salt water running down my cheek. As much as I’d like to be more difficult to read, there is absolutely nothing I can do about wearing my pain on my face and I suspect, neither could Hillary.

I do think Hillary Clinton would make a good President. I believe the same about Barack Obama. But in the convoluted, confusing and complicated electoral system, they still have a long road before Americans find out who will be selected as their leader.

As much as I do like Hillary, I had to laugh at Chris Rock’s comedy bit about her run for the White House. I’m paraphrasing here but he basically said that being married to a President doesn’t qualify her to be one herself. “If you’re getting on an airplane you don’t want to find out that the pilot’s wife is gonna be flying that day!”