Horrors! A presidential candidate showed emotions

Last updated on: May 9, 2013 at 6:09 am by Faithful Democrats

Horrors! A presidential candidate showed emotions 2013-05-09T06:09:09-06:00 Faithful Democrats

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Newscasters had a range of responses to Hillary's emotion – some were appalled, some shocked, some confused, some concerned. All of them felt this was a bad thing!

Monday, January 7th, one of the top news stories, played again and again, showed Hillary Clinton being, just a bit, emotional. Newscasters had a range of responses – some were appalled, some shocked, some bewildered, some surprised, some confused, some concerned. All of them felt this was a bad thing! PBut what exactly did Hillary do? Did she cry and sob? Nope. Did she break down? Nope. Did she shed tears? No. (They said she was teary, but not once did she brush away a tear or blow her nose!) Did she have a slight catch in her throat when making a statement? Yes. Hillary said one of the most authentic and honest statements in this campaign: “I’m running for President because I just don’t want us to go backwards!” Like many of us, Hillary has watched so much that makes our country great being destroyed, so many gains that have been hard won, being tossed aside. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Hillary had a slight catch in her throat over America! PWhat’s the problem with emotions? What’s the problem with the newscasters? There’s a form of sexism going on with their responses. Although sexism can be defined in many ways, and contains many different elements, there are two to mention in this blog. Sexism says that women are supposed to be in the home, in private space and family space. Men are to be in the public square – making policy, showing leadership, taking charge. We have come a long way on this in the last 40 years, although by no means have we cracked all the glass ceilings. Hillary had to endure another sexist comment the morning of the New Hampshire primary, when a man in the crowd shouted “iron my shirt!” Subtext – “get out of the public square and back in the home doing housework where you belong!” We can be sure that Hillary is used to this, but it does tell us that as things heat up, some of these sexist comments will start coming to the forefront. PSexism also says that men are reasonable and logical, which is good, and women are too emotional, which is bad. Therefore women can’t be trusted in the public square, where the light of reason must prevail. So, anyone who shows emotions, therefore, is not fit for the public square. Muskie got tossed out because he shed tears over how his wife had been treated. Which one of us wouldn’t want our spouse to care about us enough to show some emotions if we were abused?! Who among us hasn’t felt some strong emotions during the last seven years over what has happened to our country? Perhaps we felt anger. Rage. Frustration. Shock. Bewildered. Befuddled. Irritation. Annoyance. Anxiety. Fear. Hurt. Sadness. Regret. If we haven’t felt anything, then we probably don’t care who gets into the White House, and don’t understand the importance of the candidates who are willing to go through fatiguing days, and plenty of mud-slinging, because they don’t want to see our country go backwards again.

PHillary has had a difficult minefield to walk as the first viable woman candidate for President, leaving footprints for all those who will come after her. She has to be diplomatic, but tough. She has to be flexible, without being a push-over. She has to be attractive, without calling attention to how she looks. She has to be warm, without being sentimental. Gracious, without being overly feminine. Knowledgeable and prepared, without being overly logical. Smart, without coming across as A Brain. I’m amazingly impressed with her, and how few missteps she’s made. Perhaps we can all make some big leaps toward equality, simply because she’s out there, proving that a woman President is a possibility!

PDr. Linda Seger is the author of

Jesus Rode a Donkey: Why the Republicans Don’t have a Corner on Christ

Featured Writers

Previous Post

January 10, 2008

A Bit Of Hope - Finally!

Next Post

January 15, 2008 A bit of humor

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Us About Us Action Center Advertise Ask a Theologian Ask a Theologian Blogs Books Campaign Blog Candidate Spotlights Commentary Donate Facebook Featured Writers Fellows Fellows From the Pulpit General Information Hillary Clinton Interfaith Blog Latest Media Center Media Center Media Center MyBlog MyBlog News Newsflash Newsflashes Our Team Reader Blogs RSS Sermon of the Week Shop Social Networking Static Items Support Talking Points Test blogs The Basics Theology Uncategorized YouTube

Select a Month November 2020 October 2020 February 2020 August 2019 July 2018 July 2017 March 2017 February 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 January 2006 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

James John Peter Paul