Media Influence on Campaigns
This is a poll taken on my site in August 2007. According to the votes, if the readers had to pick a President that day, an overwhelming number would have chosen Hillary Clinton. Around this same time, a lot of other blogs were conducting similar polls. Clinton came out the winner in all of them.
Fast forward to January, 2008. Although Barack was picking up support, Hillary was still expected to be the next Democratic nominee. People loved her, especially the gay community. I read blog after blog showing support for her.
During a debate on January 31, 2008, I started to see signs of something bad. A live debate between Hillary and Barack was televised. I remember that Rodney and I were trying to pack for our trip to New York, but couldn’t keep our eyes off the TV. Something wasn’t quite right…
Every time Hillary was asked a question, she was cut off. She also got all the questions first, which seemed to provide an open opportunity for Barack to spin off whatever she said. Meanwhile, when it was his turn to speak, the mood was much different. People listened quietly, patiently. Hillary never seemed to get the same respect.
A few days later, Hillary took over Super Tuesday. The excitement in New York could be measured by the energy of people in the streets. There were so many supporters, people handing out stickers, holding signs. I remember walking proudly through the streets of New York with my Hillary sticker on and other people cheered when they saw it.
That night, she delivered an inspiring speech that made me a bit misty eyed. I felt so inspired for the future of America. It was a good time for Hillary Clinton supporters.
But the crack continued. Every time there was a debate, she got the short end of the stick. She finally spoke up and asked to receive questions second. I felt as though she was scoffed at. The media had a field day, trying to build her up to be some mean old bitch.
I was watching with my own eyes, it really did seem that she was being unfairly treated during the debates. I saw nothing wrong with her asking to be questioned second.
From there, the rollercoaster started. Hillary started receiving blow after blow in the media, she started to fight back, projecting the negativity onto Barack.
In retrospect, I think this was a mistake. She came off as too harsh, too negative. She even made me second guess my support. But what can you say? When you’re truly passionate about something, it shows. Just as she says, “America is worth fighting for.”
All it took were a few months, and nothing is the same for Hillary. News report after news report portrays her negatively. Blog post after blog post attacks her. I tried to do a search tonight for recent blog posts that said something nice about her, and couldn’t find any.
But when you block out all the noise from the media, Hillary is still loved by millions. She won some of the most populated states, including New York and California, and she even won swing states, which have historically helped predict who will win in November.
The only thing I know to say is expect the unexpected. Just a few months ago, most people thought Hillary was the top choice. The tides can change quickly, and clearly there are still millions of voting Americans who do want her as President. It isn’t entirely impossible that the super delegates could turn the tables again.
I can’t help but wonder where the 53% of people who voted in this poll last August disappeared to. Anybody out there?
(Edit: I have no doubt I’ll upset some Obama supporter with this post. I want to point out that I am not Anti-Barack, and I never have been. Feel free to scour my archives. I’ve never said a negative thing about the man. I’m simply Pro-Hillary.)
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McCain?
Well Nathan, you know I’m still a huge Clinton supporter. And I don’t know what I’m going to do if Obama wins. Given the choice between Obama and McCain I can’t feel comfortable voting for either. So if Clinton does not get on the ticket then come November when I walk away from the polls I’ll just be depressed voting a person I don’t even really want in office. But I’m still holding out hope that something happens and Clinton makes it as the candidate.
I think you’re absolutely right about the respect issue. She’s been ridiculed right along.
I think it’s worth remembering that black men received the vote long before white women did. I think that says something about attitudes in this country.
She lost my support when she appeared on the O’Reilly Factor.
I can forgive SNL, The Daily Show and even the WWE, but not that person’s “No Spin Zone”.
I can’t help but feel that if she somehow swings the Superdelagates (don’t get me started about that super stupid system) to her side, the Dems will lose the election to Grampy McCain who considers us second-class citizens.
Politics is rough business. I don’t think anyone knows that better than she. I doubt we have seen the last of her!