Weepy
ABC News’ Kate Snow reports on Sen. Hillary Clinton’s emotion moment earlier today, when her eyes fill with tears.
Watch the video HERE.
Those in the room seemed to see her response as warm and emotional (though one Republican male friend noted that she was able to pivot and turn the moment into an implicit slam on how she’s experienced, unlike certain Obamas.)
Sen. John Edwards seemed to pounce on the moment as evidence of weakness, as reported by ABC News’ Raelyn Johnson and David Muir.
"I think what we need in a commander-in-chief is strength and resolve," Edwards said, "and presidential campaigns are tough business, but being president of the United States is also tough business."
Changing the subject, perhaps, from her watery eyes to his chilly heart.
What do you think?
When’s the last time you cried?
– jpt
UPDATE: We talked about this on the ABC News Webcast.
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She cried. Rightly so. Who could look upon the current plight of our nation and not weep? Only those with no heart. Does that make her weak? Absolutely not! Does that indicate she is sincere in her quest? Maybe. Does John Edwards proclamation of the fight being ‘personal’ mean he is more sincere? We don’t know, because no one knows a man’s heart but that man (or woman). This isn’t a tabloid issue, this is real life, folks. And, Clinton, as the other candidates are real people, under enormous stress to reach one of the most honorable positions that we, the American people can place them in. Never before has every moment in time been instantly available to the world. Could you never get teary eyed talking about a passion? Never get angry when personally attacked? Never look strained, tired, upset, exhausted while on this uphile march to the White House? We, as a nation, expect them to have no emotions, yet criticize them when they don’t have compassion. If you want a machine for president contact IBM, maybe they will build you one. Personally, I would rather see someone show me their heart, or at least show me that they have one.
Posted by: Deborah Finnell | January 7, 2008, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
I don’t have a problem with Hillary Clinton’s show of emotion – everyone is far too critical of her because she is a very strong Presidential contender and a female – I’m sick and tired of all the picking. The male candidates are showing just how intimidated they are by her. People have been critical of Hillary’s “likeability,” so what’s a little show of emotion – the woman is human – she’s a strong business woman, but can also show a softer side. Give her a chance – she has the experience and desire this country needs right now. Plus – a savvy Presidential candidate will also need experience working in Washington – where do you all think the phrase “being political” means – you need to have experience with the insiders to know how to facilitate change – experience that Obama and Edwards do not have. I think they are in over their heads in my opinion – they are great motivational speakers and cheerleaders – that’s about it – no substance!
Posted by: Gail | January 7, 2008, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
Tearing-up in public when seeing and feeling the suffering of others is one thing, tearing up for oneself when you are loosing a primary is quite another.
Posted by: Bob | January 7, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Misty eyes are blessed little expression of sadness for the condition our country is in at home and abroad. The tears are human compared to the cold,snyde,uncompremizing attitude from those who have no idea how life is at the bottom of the problems.
Posted by: Mary S. Stickney | January 7, 2008, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
Last time I cried was five minutes ago when I learned that tearing up on the campaign trail indicates you are unfit for the Presidency, while saying that the earth was created 6,000 years ago and human beings were created by some character named “God” makes you a frontrunner for that same Presidency.
Posted by: DKNY | January 7, 2008, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
Better than having blood-shot eyes from smoking too much weed or snorting too much blow like young Mr. Obama used to do.
Posted by: Geevill | January 7, 2008, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
Frankly, I think she teared up because it’s just dawning on her that she’s going to lose.
Posted by: MizLiz | January 7, 2008, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
“Junkie. Pothead. That’s where I’d been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man,” Obama wrote. “Except the highs hadn’t been about that, me trying to prove what a down brother I was. Not by then, anyway. I got high for just the opposite effect, something that could push questions of who I was out of my mind, something that could flatten out the landscape of my heart, blur the edges of my memory. I had discovered that it didn’t make any difference whether you smoked reefer in the white classmate’s sparkling new van, or in the dorm room of some brother you’d met down at the gym, or on the beach with a couple of Hawaiian kids who had dropped out of school and now spent most of their time looking for an excuse to brawl. … You might just be bored, or alone. Everybody was welcome into the club of disaffection”
She who cries first cries best. America will not elect a self admitted “Junkie Pothead”
Posted by: Geevill | January 7, 2008, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
To “Bob” who commented at 4:47 – your opinion is typically being “male.” The race is far from over – Iowa is hardly a sample of what the entire country thinks. When it gets down to serious debate, we’ll see who the winner is – clearly not Obama or Edwards. I am disgusted with how easily bowled over the American public is with Obama – he has said nothing – all talk – no substance. He has the gift of gab and frankly, B.S. Edwards thinks he’s still a trial lawyer. We desperately need a President – not motivational speakers and not trial lawyers – there’s much to much to fix and repair in this country. We do not need “cheerleaders” promising change they are hardly equipped to make. Oh Help Us! My sincere hope is that the American public take some serious interest in this election – it will probably be one of the most important in a long while. We need a serious candidate with experience – there’s no time for on-the-job training.
Posted by: Gail | January 7, 2008, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
Give us a break! Are we really supposed to vote for someone that can’t handle pressure? Its a tough world folks…and she is not ready by showing her emotions on her sleeve. No…I am NOT against a female president…Elizabeth Dole would make a far better president than Hillary could ever wish she could be. Hillary is just NOT able to break the hate cycle we have lived under for too long. Sorry that she has to bare that cross dems. Find another woman that can bring us together next time.
Posted by: clarkohrepub | January 7, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
I would be weepy to if I was running for President and I was named number one on the “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians for 2007″, by Judicial Watch.
Anyone who votes for her is doing us a great disservice! She should be ashamed to call herself a public servant. I think a better way to describe her is a self serving and corrupt opportunist!
Posted by: Cindy | January 7, 2008, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Amazing. Hillary tears up and it’s news. An experienced reporter asks her if she is “likeable”. Obama has no record to speak of and just happens to be a good politician(like those already entrenched in Washington), John Edwards sounds like a broken record of “I take this personally” and it is her tears that become an issue. She is the only candidate offering specifics solutions to the real problems we face – not the illusion that some are creating. This country needs to wake up. The news media needs to bring the real issues to the American people so that we arrive at the polls informed – not buffaloed. We need to have the information on the real state of the economy, the true state of health care for the middle class, the demise of our educational system. The tears were probably because no one is listening.
Posted by: Debbie | January 7, 2008, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
I really think Americans should wake up.How many men have we had as presidents and how many have we really cared for. What have they done for the people and the country. I think a woman would be a change and would fight for the people. Our country is going to the dogs right now, give the woman a chance. We women have always voted for men now you men should vote for a woman.She is a strong person and has a lot of experience. What does the other Dem. candiates have, a big mouth and someone who cannot stand to lose, think, think and think before you go to the polls, voting for those two will give the president to the Republicans. Is that what you really want? I do not think so. Vote for Hillary. Thank you.
Posted by: Catherine McKone | January 7, 2008, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
Hillary is not weak, even if she did get emotional about this.
The last time I cried was this morning, thinking about this election.
Posted by: JAH | January 7, 2008, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
Does America really want someone who either tears up or goes into an angry rant when they are not getting what they want? What has “Bill-a-ry” really done or accomplished on her own?
“Bill-a-ry” needs to up the Prozac dosage. Her mood swings are as bad as her campaign swings. Strange that after her recent campaign loss, she is now making herself “available” to the press and just happens to have an “emotional” softer moment for the press. Let’s really be realistic here.
Posted by: Marie Shelton | January 7, 2008, 9:05 pm 9:05 pm
Let He who hasn’t cried: let him cast the first tear. Looks like another training sesion coming up on being a uniter not a devider. The last one failed and cost us the country. This one may cost us our lives. All this crap and nothing is going to change. The good old boys club is already contemplating his demise. The only positive thing which come out of the election is there will be another one in four years maybe.
Posted by: jack-cass | January 7, 2008, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
She cried and that is human but the issue here is why she cried. She cried in frustration because she is losing for the moment and she is concerned about her candidacy. Now no one is saying she has does not have the right to cry in frustration if that be the case but do it in private. The world is watching and to show such weakness because she is not getting her way or winning right now is very unprofessional period. In addition it leaves to wonder how she would handle real stress as commmander-in-chief if she were not to be winning some kind of engagement.
Posted by: Vincent | January 7, 2008, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
She cried on cue, and in the midst of it she managed to get out all of her talking points intact. This was planned in order to get the sympathy of the dupes who have come out here to defend her humanity. But once you realize how rehearsed the whole thing was, it is clearly something other than simple humanity.
Good for Obama for not taking the bait and commentingon her tears. Edwards fell into that trap.
Posted by: calfine | January 8, 2008, 1:39 am 1:39 am
She’s watching her vision of power slip away and will say or do anything to stop that from happening. This looked like pitiful begging, and it’s too bad the press is so willfully blind of the fact that it was an obvious set-up, a desperate ploy just a day before the primary.
I wasn’t in the room, but I’ve watched the video a few times and if there were any tears in her eyes, I sure didn’t see them.
Posted by: squeenter squillo | January 8, 2008, 1:43 am 1:43 am
I’m disgusted with Hilarious’s antics these last couple of days. Her cry, cry, baby scene was as weak and lame, as it was desperate. There is no way she could win the election, and there is no way I would vote for her. She’s too old to be PMSing, so the rag can’t be blamed for her roller-coaster of mood-swings. But I guess you’re never too old to be calculating and manipulative. Hilarious let it be known that this election was personal. It’s about Hilary, Bill, their agendas, and their legacies. America, and it’s problems, is obviously second.
Posted by: GiveMeABreak | January 8, 2008, 6:15 am 6:15 am
All the Libs are taking points from the Reality TV shows – Got of Love it!!
Posted by: spock | January 8, 2008, 10:41 am 10:41 am
I know that this country is in need of change, but I have to agree with the majority, that what we do not need as a nation, is a president who is unable to keep their emotions in “check”. It has to be frustrating to come in third in Iowa, and even more to not even get any votes thus far in New Hampshire. Her campaign funding has been sketchy to say the least. Is this karma?
Posted by: Scott | January 8, 2008, 10:44 am 10:44 am