I rarely blog about raw politics. This is more of a cultural blog. But, I have talked about Hillary Clinton before, comparing her demeanor (mostly through photographs) to four other respected female leaders. But, she didn't cut it - as I explain.
Now, I want to show the Hillary who "stands by her man." This has been her position throughout her adult life. There is nothing wrong with that. Women are always standing along-side their husbands, often with roles without which their husbands couldn't stand by them.
Of course, it was the visual aspect which interested me, when I saw her standing next to (behind) Obama in last week's unity campaign. I was struck by her pose, something I hadn't seen her do throughout her own campaign, but which resembled some she had during her husband's terms.
Did Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, and Queen Elizabeth I (or II) have that self-effacing expression?
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But, Hillary's point, I believe, has always been different. She stands by her man, to later grab at the coat-tails to move in a direction she wants, away from the man/husband.
After all, her "vast right wing conspiracy" moment must have been a strategic plan for her future moves - and yes, that included a leadership role somewhere, sometime. And now, with Obama, she started off with her accusations of misogyny, but is subserviently once again standing by her "man." 2012, right? Well, I never predict, but in this case, I will.
This reminds me of Gore's sudden change in personality early on in his Vice Presidentship, when he was a more vocal, alive partner to Clinton and then suddenly went robotic.
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I think Gore did this to promote his own image for a future presidential bid. To keep behind the lines, waiting for his time without causing controversy. But, people could never get the robot out of him.
This was Hillary's shining moment, which was caught in the fervent crowds she managed to attract, and under whose chants she did glow for a while. But those chants didn't accurately gauge her mediocre campaign.
She should have fought cleverly from the beginning, instead of arrogantly thinking the race was over in Iowa! As we see now, New Hampshire was not a come-back. Hillary ended up spending all her money so she couldn't move on to battle into the summer.
She now needs Obama badly, both to keep up her image and presence in the public, and to bail her out of the mess she put herself in, thinking him inconsequential. So much for strategy - which of course her ill-chosen team (by her) couldn't affect.
Clinton, like Gore's climate change obsession, will start some self-involved activity that might garner her world attention, and maybe a prestigious prize. That is after all what narcissistic personalties are good at - getting attention. But the famous Clinton machine (her husband is now too old and too bitter) is really over.
I have to feel sorry for her. But, then, it's almost as though she didn't want it to happen. So much for her self-ascribed "strong woman." These four ladies could swat her away with a flyswatter.
There was one tell-tale moment, though. I caught the final part of their live "Unity" appearance. At some point, after the speeches and congratulations, both Obama and Clinton were left on the stage with, it seemed, at a slight loss for words. Clinton then left the stage rather abruptly, walking to the left. Obama was left to take a swig at his water bottle, a little confused, wandering around the stage. He then walked down the steps, heading right.
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A not-so-radiant Clinton.