Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Live by the gimmick, die by the gimmick



The most dramatic contrast between Hillary Clinton and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) may not have been in their announcements, although Rubio’s live and inspiring speech was certainly different from a polished video in which Clinton barely appeared. The real difference, and the challenge, for Clinton came afterward.

She was driving being driven to Iowa and making small talk ignoring people at a fast-food restaurant. Since she said nothing about any issue and merely identified with “everyday” people, each tidbit of exceptionally not-everydayness brings smirks. As Politico noted, “Clinton’s new campaign manager, Robbie Mook, has instructed his staff to adopt a humble, underdog’s posture, but it’s been hard for Clinton and her rich, powerful family to shake off some of their gold rust. As the new candidate was rumbling across the gritty byways of Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio — stopping to gas up and scarf Chipotle — daughter Chelsea was gracing the cover of Elle in pricey Cartier jewelry, her hair blown into a glamorous corona by a wind machine. And Clinton’s friends told The Associated Press that the former first lady had made her final decision to run while vacationing at the waterfront mansion of her dear friend, the fashion designer Oscar de la Renta.” This, however, was her choice. She could have said something of substance, given a speech and sat through interviews on meaty matters. Live by the gimmick, die by the gimmick, I suppose.

Rubio gave a speech, a really good one, and also sat through a lot of interviews — with ABC, NPR and Fox.

...In sum, he can easily navigate through policy issues because he knows what he believes and has no qualms about saying it. Clinton, on the other hand, is apparently still trying to figure out what she will be saying, so naturally any substantive interview would be hard. Moreover, any interviewer worth his or her salt would soon start grilling her on the e-mail scandal, the foreign countries’ donations to her foundation and her wealth.

But here is the question: What happens when Clinton can no longer hide in a van and behind sunglasses at a Chipotle? At some point, she will need to say what she thinks and sit through probing interviews. What’s she going to do then?



◼ Halperin Praises Clinton’s Newness: ‘We’ve Never Seen Her Get a Burrito Before’ - Mediate



◼ Hillary Clinton´s Candidacy Is Depressing - Dennis Prager/National Review
◼ Hillary Clinton’s insultingly vapid video - Washington Post
◼ Reporter: Team Hillary Hoping Handpicked Journos at Off-Record Dinners Echo Favorable Talking Points - Breitbart Big Journalism



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