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,'...
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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
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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.
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Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 8)
61. Let's be clear about the Clinton's. They come as a package deal. One for all, all for one.
They lied their way into the White House, not once but twice. And then to show how hill billy they are, stole things as they were leaving.
After all the free money that they have got their greedy hands on, you can bet, if allowed, they will pick the White House clean!
BETTYEJ at 12:20AM on Sep 29th 2007
62. By the way, all the Democrat's, Hillary as their leader, have done since President George W. Bush, has been in office is lie, pi$$ and moan and try to sell our country to any enemy we have!
BETTYEJ at 12:24AM on Sep 29th 2007
63. Its not the laugh, its whats wrong.
I see someone post and say the numbers show
whats wrong in the schools and point to the
Republicans?
The numbers from the schools show a strait
drop since 1962 when God was kicked out of
the schools by liberals who brought in all
there good ideas which have been failing
ever since. They brought in evolution with
the lie, we want to teach it with
creationism but lied. They even won the
court ruling in their favor and all the
evidence provided in the court has since
been proven fakes or idiots making the
asumption a pigs tooth was that of a man
in our lineage, Knasas man was made from a
pigs tooth yet you can still see his
likeness in an evolution museum.
Lies and idiots believing a lie and being
damned just as the word says.
But God is merciful and not willing that
any man perish but that they should know
the truth and by it be set free from the
lier.
William Ehlert at 12:35AM on Sep 29th 2007
64.
I'd knock them boots!
vegastracon at 1:23AM on Sep 29th 2007
65. That woman boosted her career over making a mockery of her private life. She used to stand for something when she was first lady. I got to hear this woman speak at the AMA convention back in the 90s about her medical ideas. At that time I thought wow.... what a great idea. The problem is that this woman can't pick an idea and stick to it. It used to be everyone covered under her idea and now in her head elderly people aren't important enough to have that to. Once the political world truly gets someone under their claws then they are just lost to the world. This woman is getting the best revenge she knows how on her husband for his adultery. I don't trust her as far as I can throw her!
E at 1:52AM on Sep 29th 2007
66. personally shes better than bill
Joe at 5:19AM on Sep 29th 2007
67. I know I won't vote for her, for many reasons.
But have yet to decide who? will be the best. I just keep watching the news and the reading who's who? Eventually I hope to pick the right one.
Anything but Bushy and his gang, again. Heaven forbid.
ShirlGirl
Shirley Cox at 6:19AM on Sep 29th 2007
68. Mo, I think you are forgetting that Hillary probably was thinking back to when Chris Wallace* interviewed Bill Clinton, and Wallace sandbagged Clinton by asking him about going after bin Laden (to make it seem like he hadn't done enough before Bush came in) when they had agreed the interview would be only about his "Global Initiative."
So I think she was having a laugh at the irony of having to be interviewed by Wallace, the guy to whom Bill Clinton replied that he did the right wing's bidding with a "nice little conservative hit job" in springing the bin Laden question.
*Every time I see Chris Wallace I can't help but wonder what his father thinks of him.
Richard Kimble at 8:57AM on Sep 29th 2007
69. The affected laugh and the foreseeable loss of additional White House furniture are the least of my worries. Simple truth is that neither party has a candidate with the ability to see the "big picture," which encompasses so many more national problems than the War in Iraq. A few: no growth whatsoever in meaningful employment; an educational system that's an abysmal failure at best; porous borders that blind men on mopeds can penetrate in full daylight; trade agreements a kindergartner would never endorse; the reverential bowing and scraping to lobbyists and egotistical airhead contributors who dump obscene amounts of money to further their own selfish interests. Why mention our pitiful medical insurance situation, decaying urban infrastructures, or the realty collapse? No candidate I've seen could lead a horse to water. They just don't get it! No leader is on the horizon!
John Ferris at 8:28AM on Sep 29th 2007
70. Hillary's laugh is the most revealing thing about her. It betrays her phony, insincere, duplicitous, scheming personality. It speaks volumes without saying a word.
Dave at 8:51AM on Sep 29th 2007
71. The laugh does not bother me. We need to worry about honesty and the politic of promises! I myself, being a woman, would love a woman president that could do the job. ( I am not convinced of Hillary) With this said, I am not convinced with any of the parties and I feel many Americans feel the same. I hate to say this, but many of us may not vote for president this election. A Woman, A black man, and many well known candidates running! It would be a shame for all of us (who have had enough) to feel this way. What is America going to be in the future. I am not convinced of Hillary or any of the parties! They are all crooks.
small business owner at 10:29AM on Sep 29th 2007
72. People want to get on politicians for their spending practices and the fact that they're rich and this choice and that choice. I think you need to realize that there are VERY few politicians out there nowadays who are upfront about everything they do. In order to get where you want to be in politics, you have to compromise nearly everything you stand for. I know that sounds cynical, but it's often true. I'm not a huge fan of Hilary, and in fact, used to be one of those who really hated her. I've come to realize that a lot of that had to do with jumping on a political bandwagon to be on one side or the other, and making sure you hated the opposition.
I'm kind of a fan of Obama's (I'm from Illinois too), because he does seem to be a fresh face, smart and seems honest. You just wonder how many skeletons we'll find in his closet. Sad, isn't it?
I don't think it's any mystery that there have been so many movies, books and shows about a refreshing, honest twist on politicians, people who care. The first I remember is Dave (with Kevin Kline) and it continued with West Wing and other like-minded shows. I think we all dream of having people represent us who are upfront and honest and who will lead us well. I just truly wonder if we can have that in today's political environment.
Kurn at 11:54AM on Sep 29th 2007
73. WOW, why would you say hating Hillary is so last millennium?? I can't stand her, why would my opinion change, because it's not fashionable and so last millennium?? She is a poor role model who has let her husband disgrace her time and time again internationally, but becasue she is so driven politically she has decided to "stand by her man." Any self-respecting woman or person, for that matter, would not have let someone humiliate them for as long as Bill did. Get a backdone, woman!
sophiababy12 at 8:09PM on Oct 2nd 2007
74. Chris Wallace is not a comedian and yet he got more laughs from Hillary than a Jay Leno monologue.
There is nothing worse than a contrived laugh and so don't be surprised to hear a jolly "HO HO HO" for the Christmas season.
"ha ha ha ha ha ha- oh Chris you're just so funny he he he he"
Rich at 1:04PM on Sep 29th 2007
75. I did not ever hear her laugh till now and I am SHOCKED!!! She shrieks and yet her laugh is SOooo
PHONEY......Gosh, what a falsehood.
Jane Biggers at 2:11PM on Sep 29th 2007