There are several reasons Hillary Clinton has built what looks like an insurmountable lead in the race for the Democratic nomination: She's been a solid New York senator. She's got a great command of policy. She's got name recognition. And she speaks clearly and in complete sentences. (Sadly that has become a factor. Let's face it: Over the last six and a half years, the Bully Pulpit has been bullied to a pulp syntactically.)
It's also fair to say that hating Hillary is so last millennium. To still dislike her the way many did when she first burst on the scene seems irrational. Hillary is hardly a radical. Her problem with Democratic primary voters is that she's not ideological enough; that she's been too pragmatic.
Still presidential politics is often about the little things that add up to being likable ... or unlikable. And Hillary's still not quite ... likable. But there are things she can do.
First off: Fix that laugh!
Here's Hillary yesterday on Fox News Sunday, one stop during her talk show rounds, followed by an investigation into Hillary's laugh we did last June:
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
Mo's Blog Roll
Resources
Hillary's Biggest Problem: That Laugh!
Posted Sep 30th 2007 9:30AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, Mo Rocca, Hillary's Laugh, The Clinton Cackle, Pimp My Candidate
Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Mo's Video
The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...
Most Popular Stories
- Don't Like Goodbyes...
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Is it Time to get some Cheerleaders?
- How NOT to give an Oscar Acceptance Speech
- Could Jim Belushi Win the Nobel Peace Prize?
- Spring Break Sexy T-Shirt Removal Training!
- Quest for the Crown 5: Plastic Wrap to Make you Less Fat!
- Quest for the Crown 4: Work Those Heels!
Most Commented On
-
Coming Soon
Recent Comments
- not-pboyfloyd on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- mac on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Roert Dean on General Clark is Absolutely Right!
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Ryan Anderson on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
Mo's Bio
Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Top News Headlines
Political Machine Blog
- Axelrod Says Health Reform Supporters Are on the 'One Yard Line'
- The Risk of Being the 'Deadline President'
- Latest Round-Up Of Obama Poll Ratings by State
- Obama's Copenhagen Climate Deal: Real or Not?
- The New Senate Health Bill Explainer: Changes You Should Know About
- Health Endgame: Time To Embrace Half a Loaf (And Learn to Love It!)
- Former Hill Staffers Made up a Large Army of Lobbyists on the Health Bill
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 8)
16. tip your waiter 20%
cg2006cinci at 10:53AM on Sep 24th 2007
17. The only thing that might be wrong with Hillary's laugh is that is not feminine enough for the public at-large. It's a double standard - we don't think a woman is powerful enough to run our country. But if she is going to run it, we want her to have a cutesy, submissive way (laugh) about her that we can all find attractive.
Bleh.
mo-NEEK-a at 11:07AM on Sep 24th 2007
18.
I think Hillary should limit her laugh to one cackle instead if six. What I like about her laugh is it is joyful and authentic.
GB's laugh is fake and annoying and everyone makes fun of it.
His laugh makes me sick , Her's is fun but often inappropriate. Heh!
marsha beckerman at 11:10AM on Sep 24th 2007
19. She sounds likeable to me. I think it gives her character.
KC at 11:15AM on Sep 24th 2007
20. Hillary's laugh is a nervous laugh. It is also arrogant. Her laugh is just a slick way of getting a pause. I could not imagine listening to her for four years.
She is intelligent and sneaky as a fox. She is addicted to power, plain and simple.
Read this book and you will see what make Mrs. Clinton tick.
Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited by Sam Vaknin and Lidija Rangelovska (Paperback - Jan 4, 2007)
Steven at 11:22AM on Sep 24th 2007
21. It's a phoney laugh...just like the rest of her.
twann9852 at 12:00PM on Sep 24th 2007
22. NANCY POLOCI HAS THE WORST LAUGH, HAVENT YOU HEARD IT? HILLARYS BIGGEST PROBLEM ISNT HER LAUGH, BAD AS IT IS, HER BIGGEST PROBLEM IS SHES A LYING, DECEIVING WITCH. OH YEAH, AND BEING MARRIED TO A LYING, SEXUAL DEVIENT.
KAREN at 11:59AM on Sep 24th 2007
23. Aw Mo,
Sometimes you've got to squeeze the lemons and make lemonade.
In other words, I think a savvy campaign staffer should edit Hillary's laugh into The Laughing Song!
Hahahaha Hahaha.
Remember, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
Kimball '08
Johnchg at 12:05PM on Sep 24th 2007
24. A laugh is a funny thing. It's a sign of nervousness and a sign of one trying to take command. Laugh in a group and the leader stops laughing first. These are non-verbal clues to social behavior and bonding, but Hillary should never play poker. The laugh is a sign of nervousness in her. Look also at her head bob and her eyes. In my opinion, she's rarely ever truthful. How do you know she's not telling the truth if you don't know the truth yourself? Someone should ask, "Do you love Bill?" We all know the truth to that answer. She's using him. She's "Clinton's Bush." She also has absolutely no respect for Blacks. It will be too late for Blacks to realize it before these leaders do anything about it. Obama as the VP? Fughettaboutit! I'm laughing are you?
Cecil Jones at 12:16PM on Sep 24th 2007
25. HER LAUGH IS UNNERVING, SHE SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A SCARY MOVIE, BUT HER "SCRETCHING" YELL WHEN SHES TRYING TO GET A RISE OUT OF HER LISTENERS IS SUCH I HAVE TO TURN DOWN THE RADIO WHEN SHE DOES IT, I CANT IMAGINE HAVING TO LISTEN TO THAT VOICE FOR 4 OR GOD FORBID, 8 YEARS!!
TOM at 12:29PM on Sep 24th 2007
26. Sounds like a smokers kackle to me... Or a hillbilly that wants to be noticed, "Look at me I've got a sense of humor."
KIM at 1:10PM on Sep 24th 2007
27. "To still dislike her the way many did when she first burst on the scene seems irrational."
To make this comment is a bit irrational. A presidential candidate that foresees a time when you have to show proof of insurance to apply for a job. Or who recognizes that her government supplied insurance is not as good as what is available on the private market so she with penalize by tax those that want to pay for the better plan for themselves and their family. This is a presidential candidate who says that privitization is "never" the answer. To me that makes her a socialist at best and a communist at the truthful worst. I have plenty to dislike about her, ESPECIALLY as a presidential candidate.
Eddy at 1:01PM on Sep 24th 2007
28. ITS HARD FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESNT DO IT OFTEN TO SOUND AUTHENTIC. IT WAS SO OBVIOUSLY PUT ON AND...FORCED. SHE MAKES ME WANT TO THROW UP.
MARY at 1:15PM on Sep 24th 2007
29. Her phony laugh is just one quality that betrays her complete insincerity...
BirdmanJones at 1:15PM on Sep 24th 2007
30. Hey I just saw outside of Columbia. I can't wait to see your blog posting.
jessica at 1:16PM on Sep 24th 2007