2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumOddly enough, Hillary may now have a real opportunity to appear more "like us"
Nothing speaks more to our collective consciousness version of adulthood than pushing through an illness because, well, you have to.
We've all been there. It is something most people identify with as a nasty part of adulting. And, yes, it really appears this is resonating with a lot of women, especially.
My two pronged prediction--this either registers as a non-event within a few days or Clinton's likability rating actually goes up.
calimary
(81,310 posts)They risk turning her into a sympathetic figure. How long can you pick on someone when they're physically having a bad day? When they're under the weather?
I noticed in the coverage today lots of context.
1) there were reminders that the weather's been brutal, high temperatures, hot direct sun, unbearable humidity. From what I saw, she was in the full sun, no shade, during the 9/11 event today. For an hour and a half. Alex Witt and Kristen Welker on MSNBC were talking about it this morning.
2) Alex Witt mentioned she walked to work in a tank top and shorts because THAT was what you wore outside in such sticky heat, in contrast to her on-camera outfit that covered up far more skin. They noted that Hillary wore a dark long-sleeved jacket and pants, with speculation that her blouse was long-sleeved, too - an outfit clearly not made of some lightweight breezy fabric, either. They even noted almost apologetically that they "don't often cover fashion," but that it was worth mentioning, here.
3) and after the doctor's statement came out, and it turned into "she had pneumonia," um - then it becomes something you really ought to leave alone and not spin to your advantage. But when has The Donald ever spent much time showing restraint - OR compassion?
NanceGreggs
(27,815 posts)But I think that sounds about right.
AnotherMother4Peace
(4,246 posts)been there, done that. I've had to go to work sick, because all my sick leave went to take care of my kids when they were sick, and then to take care of my Mom. We women know how to soldier on. Hillary will have the understanding and sympathy of most women.
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)Yet again, they seem tone deaf and incapable of just telling the truth. No, it has to drip, drip, drip out. What, is her pneumonia some state secret? Had they simply said so early when they knew, there would be no problem, in fact, a lot of sympathy for her. Instead, the campaign manage to make the piss poor handling of this mess the story. Again.
Who is in charge of her campaign? They keep doing a really lousy job. She should be up by 15 points, not 3.5.
This campaign was hers to lose. She still may. Damn, this is fustrating.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)People get sick. Campaigns are grueling. It happens.
I think you're on to something.
LeftRant
(524 posts)They say she got a lot of traction after he 'humanizing moment' in 2008 when she kinda broke down just a touch (or whatever).
I just hope she gets over this quick and stays strong until Nov. 8. Trump is not allowed to be my president.