Tears Or Sneers?
Charles Krauthammer attributes Obama's loss in New Hampshire differently than most of the developing conventional wisdom. Most people are speculating that it was Hillary's strange, tearful moment that put her over the top. Krauthammer thinks it was more likely an incident that got very little play in the media at all. At a debate, Krauthammer says, Obama did a rather gauche thing and sneered at Hillary.
Was it the tears in the New Hampshire coffee shop? Whenever there is a political upset, everyone looks for the unscripted incident, the I-paid-for-this-microphone moment that can account for it. Hillary Clinton's improbable victory in New Hampshire is being widely attributed to her rare display of emotion when asked how she was holding up. This "Hillary cried, Obama died" story line is satisfying, but it overlooks an earlier moment played to a national television audience of 9 million that was even more revealing.
It showed a side of Barack Obama not seen before or since. And it wasn't pretty. Asked in the Saturday Democratic debate about her dearth of "likability," Clinton offered an answer both artful and sweet — first demurely saying her feelings were hurt and mock-heroically adding that she would try to carry on regardless, then generously conceding that Obama is very likable and "I don't think I'm that bad."
At which point, Obama, yielding to some inexplicable impulse, gave the other memorable unscripted moment of the New Hampshire campaign — the gratuitous self-indicting aside: "You're likable enough, Hillary." He said it looking down and with not a smile but a smirk.
Rising rock star puts down struggling diva — an unkind cut, deeply ungracious, almost cruel, from a candidate who had the country in a swoon over his campaign of grace and uplift. The media gave that moment little play, but millions saw it live, and I could surely not have been the only one who found it jarring.
I did not see the incident in question but thanks to the magic of YouTube, I have now:
I'm not sure I interpret that incident the same way Krauthammer does, but he may be right. Some folks may not have liked the way Obama acted there. Personally, I think it was a combination of many factors and probably has a great deal to do with the way the Clintons have successfully maneuvered politically for decades now. Whatever the reason, Krauthammer's main point is spot on:
It is fitting that New Hampshire should have turned on a tear or an aside. The Democratic primary campaign has been breathtakingly empty. What passes for substance is an absurd contest of hopeful change (Obama) vs. experienced change (Clinton) vs. angry change (John Edwards playing Hugo Ch¿vez in English).
If the canonization of Obama got derailed in New Hampshire, the inevitable coronation of Clinton got beaten down in Iowa. That seems about right. So now we'll see the candidates sling mud and damage one another for a while longer. One can only hope that whoever emerges from the crucible has been severely cooked enough to have real problems in the general election. That is the way things are heading at the moment.
By NortonPete, Friday, 11 January , 2008 @ 8:27 am
My wife and I are big fans of Krauthammer and I try not to miss him on Brit Hume’s report. But that said I agree with your accessment that it was a combination of many factors. Thanks for pulling the youtube as I never watch the debates. By the way, did anyone see Sandy Burglar in an oversized stuffed suit during the vote counting? Waddling out the door?
By martian, Friday, 11 January , 2008 @ 12:57 pm
I remember seeing the clip on the news shortly after and thinking how condescending he appeared.
By Mockin'bird, Friday, 11 January , 2008 @ 5:28 pm
Progressive vs. Progressive. One upping each other in how to take our guns, our money, and then our rights.
I am sick of politics at this point. I wish the general was in April.
By sammyj, Friday, 11 January , 2008 @ 10:35 pm
I just don’t see it that way at all. Maybe that’s because it resonates with the way I relate to cohorts sometimes.
Even though they are running against each other, they are thrown into the same debate situation time after time, and they have to feel some kinship in enduring the exercise. Hillary genuinely seemed to enjoy the retort, “You’re likable enough Hillary, no doubt about it” as both a friendly but sarcastic remark and a chance to move on to the next topic. It didn’t seem to be said with disdain, but with a certain friendly sarcasm that one would tease a cohort with.
So, I say bs on the whole theory.