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The Face That Launched 1,000 Blog Posts
I'm seeing this remarkable photo of Hillary Clinton all over today. On Drudge, first and foremost, but also on blogs that are discussing it. Like Ann Althouse, I first reacted with disbelief. Then a million questions popped into my head. How much of our reaction to this photo is based on Hillary being a woman? Probably a lot. Is that fair? Probably not. On the other hand, if the rigors of the campaign trail are leaving her this bedraggled, how is she going to weather the demands of the presidency? Also, weren't Drudge and Hillary pals just a few months ago?
Lastly, I wonder if Hillary can use this to her advantage in a small way. I've never cared for her personality or her politics, but as a woman, I'm sympathetic. I feel for her. No one likes to see pictures of themselves having a bad hair day, or after missing a few trips to the gym. And that's without the fate of a presidential campaign—her life's ambition—hanging precariously in the balance. The sympathy doesn't last long when I remember the way her campaign has tried to exploit other candidate's perceived weaknesses (see: Obama, drugs), but for once my visceral reaction toward her is not one of immediate dislike.
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