thinkprogress covers "crying" and the media

[underpants]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/07/clinton-tears/

Media Torn Over Whether To Cast Clinton As ‘Weak’ Or ‘Calculating’ For ‘Emotional’ Display

Today at a campaign event in New Hampshire, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s (D-NY) “eyes welled up with tears” as she spoke about why she was running for president. “It’s not easy, and I couldn’t do it if I didn’t passionately believe it was the right thing to do,” she said.

In a piece entitled, “Can Clinton’s Emotions Get The Best Of Her?,” ABC News wrote, “Whether Clinton has appeared too emotional, too sensitive or too weak in her recent public appearances is still up for debate.”

Many in the media have been quick to compare Clinton’s emotions to former 1972 Democratic presidential candidate Ed Muskie, who was taunted as weak and unpresidential after he became emotional on the campaign trail. Fox News pundits Michelle Malkin and Bill Kristol, however, took a different tact, calling Clinton’s emotions a “calculated” moment.

Watch a compilation of the media’s coverage:

The media’s excoriation and mocking of Clinton contrast with their treatment of prominent conservative politicians who have cried in the past. Their tears, according to these pundits, are “genuine,” “poignant,” and “extraordinary”:

Mitt Romney:

Mitt Romney’s eyes filled with tears Monday as the Republican presidential contender recalled watching the casket of a soldier killed in Iraq return to the United States and imagined if it were one of his five sons. Adding a poignant twist to a story he often tells on the campaign, Romney recalled the scene at Boston’s Logan International Airport while he was Massachusetts governor.

But the fact that he teared up, people said, “Whoa, we thought he was so wooden and robotic, and there he is actually tearing up.” So actually, I think it does have an impact. It’s a genuine moment. It seems genuine.

President Bush:

The pictures were just what the White House wanted: A teary-eyed President Bush presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to a slain war hero in the East Room.

A tear rolled down Bush’s cheek during the event, an extraordinary display of emotion by the commander-in-chief. Bush has been known to tear up and reportedly once cried in a private meeting with war widows.

The president is tremendously sentimental. Forget about putting his parents anywhere near him. At his inauguration he purposely kept them out of his line of sight so he could stay as dry-eyed as possible. He has learned not to brush the tears away.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates

Robert Gates almost broke down as he gave a speech at a Marine Corps dinner. … Mr Gates’s show of feeling suggests that he brings a more human side to the role of defence secretary.

What is less often visible is the toll this war takes on the people who run the operation. Tonight we have a rare glimpse of emotion from a man who normally carefully chooses his words, the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. … a rare public display of emotion from the civilian in charge of this war effort.

George H.W. Bush

Wiping away tears as he recalled praying at Camp David before ordering the start of the Persian Gulf war, President Bush today offered a testimony of emotion, politics and faith to a cheering crowd of thousands of Southern Baptists.

UPDATE: Matt Stoller at OpenLeft observes, “When Edwards almost gets choked up and talks about how personal XYZ person is on the trail, he’s just passionate. When Clinton does it, she suddenly becomes a hysterical weak woman.”

[Quixote1818]

1. She should have picked a better moment than talking about how hard the campaign is

Crying is seen as admirable if you are talking about people in pain or compassion for children but when you cry because you are having a hard day on the campaign trail it seems a little self centered. If Edwards had done the same thing it would have been a Dean scream moment.

[underpants]

2. That's true

good point

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. No she choked up thinking about what it is that motivates her to face the campaign trail each day

She was asked how does she do it, how does she put up with it? Clinton reacted to two things. A show of basic human empathy toward her by the questioner, and the actual answer to the question. Some really cynical people may think that she is putting herself through all this, and has put herself through a life time of all this, just for the power and glory. I think she's done it because she cares about people and this nation, just like most of us here. Except what Hillary has had to go through to put her convictions into motion outstrips anything the vast majority of us have ever faced in fighting for our beliefs.

My emotions are not getting discussed in cynical terms on national media every day if I express outrage or sorrow about anything that is happening in our nation, or frustration over the slow course of change, or even exhaustion over the constant non ending battle. Hillary, like all of our candidates, is exhausted on the eve of back to back election contests, but she like them gets up each morning to face another 18 straight hours of constant national attention to every move she makes. I wouldn't put myself through a single hour of that if I didn't care extrordinarily deeply about something important. Hillary, like I believe all of our candidates, does. The question put her in touch with a flood of those feelings. I applaud her for them.

[Quixote1818]

4. That wasn't when she started tearing up though

She starts tearing up mostly when she is talking about how the country seems to be missing that she is the best person for the job. This would tie into her sudden decline in the polls and how things look pretty bleak for her.

I think she feels rejected "personally" and she is hurt because the country perhaps thinks she is the most qualified but people are rejecting her personality not for her qualifications. If I felt like I was the most qualified and had the best ideas and was being passed up based on a popularity contest I would be hurt to. Tie that in with being tired and under stress and a lot of people are going to crack.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. I watched it also and I disagree with you.

But this is that fortunate instance where anyone who wants to can watch it for themselves and reach their own conclusion, be that consistent with your view, my view, or something completely different.