Quick -- which is Hillary Clinton's bigger liability as a candidate?:
A. She's an insufficiently ardent feminist; or
B. Her personality is cold, calculating and unfeminine.
If you've been living on Planet Earth since 1992, surely your answer is 'B.' So when Elizabeth Edwards adds fuel to that fire, accusing Hillary of behaving like a man, that is very newsworthy stuff. Unless you're NBC or ABC, that is.
"Today" and "Good Morning America" ran segments this morning on Mrs. Edwards' recent interview with Salon.com in which she made comments critical of Hillary. The networks focused on Elizabeth's relatively innocuous line:
She's just not as vocal a women's advocate as I want to see. John is.
But both shows airbrushed out the more controversial comment that immediately preceded it:
I'm sympathetic, because when I worked as a lawyer, I was the only woman in these rooms, too, and you want to reassure them you're as good as a man. And sometimes you feel you have to behave as a man and not talk about women's issues.
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For a Hillary Clinton who struggles to portray herself as someone possesssing the milk of human kindness, Elizabeth's suggestion that she behaves like a man is an unkind cut, indeed.
So, why did ABC and NBC omit Elizabeth's nasty shot? I'd say it could spring from a desire to protect both candidates. To have highlighted Edwards' below-the-belt blow could have reflected poorly on Edwards herself and by extension on her husband. And relaying the line could obviously have damaged Hillary too, reconfirming an already entrenched, and unflattering, image.
BONUS COVERAGE - JOHN EDWARDS AS GEORGE PATTON: There was some unintentional humor in the "Today" piece, as the NBC show rolled a clip from a new
Edwards campaign ad. Elizabeth is shown saying "it's unbelievably important that in our president we have someone who can stare the worst in the face and not blink." Cut to a shot [above] of John standing in front of a large flag, doing his best George Patton imitation. Wonder what that "worst" was at which John was staring-and-not-blinking? Could this become Edwards Dukakis-in-a-tank moment? The ad seems ripe for some creative YouTube-ing.
View video of John-as-George ad here.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.




















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Comments Policy
So, translated; Mrs.
July 18, 2007 - 07:56 ET by kathleenirishSo, translated; Mrs. Silky Pony is saying her husband is twice the woman that Hillary is?
Anyone who says they support the troops but not the mission is a liar.
kathleen....pretty much!
July 18, 2007 - 08:13 ET by motherbeltkathleen....pretty much! LOL
Another Clinton Presidency......this time WITH pants!! (Wish I could remember who said that!)
Kathleen, LOL-It's not
July 18, 2007 - 08:35 ET by Dave RKathleen,
LOL-It's not even 10:00 yet, but I think that one should win you the comment cookie for the day.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
Twice the Man
July 18, 2007 - 10:32 ET by allanfI think Lizzie Edwards is twice the man Hillary is - and ten times the man her Johnny is.
Finally someone on the public scene more obnoxious than Hillary. Move over Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Where does John Edwards
July 18, 2007 - 07:53 ET by sarcasmoWhere does John Edwards advocate women? He advocates plenty of bigger-government, but that doesn't help women who are not employed by the government. Come to think of it, same with Hillary. How do these 2 differ at all on female-issues, anyway??
JMR
Sarc, I think you have
July 18, 2007 - 08:16 ET by SemperrightSarc,
I think you have to look at the female perspective each brings.
John's inner woman is a 12 year old girl with a "my little pony" collection and Hillary's is a pipe fitter named Svetlania from the Ukrain.
So of course thier opinions will differ on female issues.
Hell, only John could pass for a woman
"Your best is an idiot," Bender
Hillary's is a pipe fitter named Svetlania from the Ukrain....
July 18, 2007 - 09:32 ET by Dave RROFLMAO!
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
What is John looking at? I
July 18, 2007 - 09:32 ET by bassndudeWhat is John looking at? I think it must be a mirror. Anything else would lead to wet pants, in his case.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Macho Macho John Edwards
July 18, 2007 - 08:23 ET by clifcrds"it's unbelievably important that in our president we have someone who can stare the worst in the face and not blink."
Ha Ha
Elizabeth Edwards doesn’t seem to grasp a few facts here . . . she expects us to believe this when John doesn’t have the nerve to appear on FOX, he seems to be afraid of debating some of the “lesser Democratic” presidential candidates, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY it is Elizabeth and not John himself trying to impress upon the public John’s so called macho moxie?
This would be hillarious EXCEPT for the fact that millions of liberal leftist lemmings will bite on this hook line and sinker! Says a lot about how smart liberals are.
Clinton's Military Philosophy - Tanks In Waco OK . . . Tanks In Mogadishu NOT OK
Great point about the
July 18, 2007 - 08:25 ET by Mark FinkelsteinGreat point about the unblinking Edwards fleeing from Fox!
The next step for Elizabeth??
July 18, 2007 - 08:34 ET by motherbeltit is Elizabeth and not John himself trying to impress upon the public John’s so called macho moxie?
Yes, it certainly is. And any day now, expect her to do a "Tipper" and start talking about how "sexy" her husband is.....
Taking that a step further,
July 18, 2007 - 08:48 ET by JDWTaking that a step further, turn it around watch sen Clinton walking the dog around the first couple of straw poll states. She has 'nerve' yet lacks so much else. How can one represent a country to which one cannot 'reasonably' relate? History tells us.
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
Don't you know how proud,
July 18, 2007 - 08:33 ET by Ruths husband BenDon't you know how proud, damn proud, General Patton would be? His legacy lives on in the Silky Pony. Makes you want to go out and slap someone, doesn't it?
Watch it Ben....
July 18, 2007 - 08:38 ET by motherbeltYeah...slap Silky Pony. Except then his mommy would come after you....
Why is Elizabeth doing so much talking?
July 18, 2007 - 09:01 ET by GothampcWhy is Elizabeth doing so much of the talking? You don't see Obama's wife calling in to chastise Ann Coulter. I'm thinking Mrs. Edwards is going to make her opinion known whether we want it or not.
Why is Elizabeth doing so
July 18, 2007 - 09:16 ET by Dave RWhy is Elizabeth doing so much of the talking?
Maybe because John is too weak and/or timid to toss his own grenades.
I will say this for her-going after Hillary in the manner that she did shows me she has far more courage than does her husband. It takes a lot of courage to go after someone as transparently vindictive as the Hildebeast.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
FReeper 'jennyjenny'
July 18, 2007 - 08:49 ET by Mark FinkelsteinAs if unto war
July 18, 2007 - 10:22 ET by sdbJust a little fun for the hump-day morning.
Staring down the worst.
The professional had left, but the plan she had put in place just seemed wrong. He couldn't explain it; he had to see it for himself to be sure. General John S. (Silky) Pony knew it was pointless asking for reinforcements; he would just have to fix whatever mess he found by himself. He looked at the one tool he had available to him. A small compact hastily dug out from the bottom of an aide's purse. Wholly inadequate for the job at hand, but it would have to do. Besides, he'd brought his men back from the brink of disaster before with far less; he could do it again. As his hand went to open the compact, he looked at the tips of his fingers. The once perfectly manicured nails had lost some of their luster, the shine becoming dull and chipped from the many months spent on the front lines of the campaign. And was that... Oh God! A cuticle invading from under the nail bed! Well, no time to deal with that now. There were more important things to attend to.
Opening the compact with a practiced hand, he stared into the mirror and saw a nightmare. It was all wrong! That... 'professional' might as well have been playing games for all the good she had done! He doubted she had seen any real combat. Put her on the campaign trail with a bumpy, air-conditioned bus driving through one-horse towns and nothing more than a tired, ten-cent, plastic comb trying to keep a prefect coif perfectly... coiffed. The front was hanging far too low; it was obscuring the lines of worry that may need to be brought out at a moments notice. It would have to be brought up, but not so far as to reveal the receding hairline. The part was good, but the movements on the right flank needed to be adjusted, also to give the illusion of full front line that was quickly diminishing. He noticed the sideburns had extended themselves too far. Nothing he could do about that in the time he had, but he could move the second and third layers down a bit on the left for reinforcement. General Pony brought his hand up to make his adjustments, pausing briefly as he realized what damage such strenuous activity might cause to his already fragile nail bits. A quick mental calculation told him the sacrifice was necessary for the cause at hand. It did not make the decision any easier, but he pressed on in true warrior fashion.
He had to be quick, but still delicate in his maneuvers. With the boys left stiff from the 'professionals' handy work, one wrong move could send his entire battle plan into ruin. All those hours spent practicing at his many mansions had prepared him for just this moment. After a few minutes of what seemed like organized chaos, it was over. He had prevailed. The enemy had been defeated and he was now perfectly poised to prance before the gathered assembly. With only seconds to spare he put away the compact and took one last look at the fingertips. It had been a hard fought battle, and their sacrifice would not be in vain. He made a mental note to have an aide make an appointment at Toka when he was next in DC, to see if anything could be salvaged of the once beatific nails. And then the cameras rolled, and he was ready.
Talk about a stretch
July 18, 2007 - 09:04 ET by artwhiteIt's pathetic posts like this that have opened my eyes to the vacuity of the far right. There is an endless supply of serious news and genuine controversy yet you have to twist a statement to try and make what is already a moot point. Talk about the dumb following the dumber, wow.
Art, it's posts like this
July 18, 2007 - 09:16 ET by The Wicked ConservativeArt, it's posts like this that make me so proud to be a conservative.
Tell me what you want to see in the US. Not who you want dead, not how much you hate Bush/Cheney/Ashcroft/Roberts/Libby/Haliburton. I want you to describe your Utopian society and how it could be brought about. Stop the Bravo Sierra and show us your lunacy by extolling exactly what your United States looks like. If you dare.
You can't save the Earth unless You're willing to make other people sacrifice. Dogbert the Green Consultant summing up the elite left.
Attack dog unleashed so quickly
July 18, 2007 - 09:40 ET by artwhiteBig jump in topic Mr Burn, with a cadre of arrogant assumptions, but I'll take the bait.
Actually I'm a proud conservative and I believe that most of the characters who hang out here are on the lunatice fringe of the far right spouting unthinking talking points handed down by a tiny elite. But enough vitriol.
The US I love already exists in many homes and workplacs all over thisi great country. I love our democracy as handed down by our Founding Fathers, I love our free-market system and the fact that we are the model for any aspiring developing nation to copy, I love our free speech and I love that we so conclusively defeated the Soviets to be the undisputed leader of the world. I would like to see the GOP demonstrate more backbone once in power and actually be fiscally responsible, I would like to see moral values taught in our schools and revived in our politics, I would like to see our immigration laws respected and strengthend, I would like to see our popular culture rise out of the gutter it is currently residing in, I would like to see us continue to lead the world in scientific discovery and application, I believe we will defeat Al Qaeda, I will be voting for Rudy.
well said Art---other than Rudy--
July 18, 2007 - 09:48 ET by misterbillwell said Art---other than Rudy--(I ma for Fred if he ever jumps in the pool.
Shame on your values--they are so, so----American!I agree with you on the other points. My only regret is that so many of us Americans wait until we are kicked in the shins before we are stirred to action. (e.g. "immigration reform").
Ok, Art, I'm with you on
July 18, 2007 - 09:53 ET by The Wicked ConservativeOk, Art, I'm with you on most... no check that, I'm with you on all that. One thing I'd like to know is what you consider the lunatic fringe right? And your original post deriding the blog sets you up as the elitist. It's fun to make fun of Jonny and Hillary and their mutual gender roll exchange. Lighten up.
You can't save the Earth unless You're willing to make other people sacrifice. Dogbert the Green Consultant summing up the elite left.
Art, "close right" vs.
July 18, 2007 - 09:55 ET by vrwc13Art, "close right" vs. lunatic fringe of the far right?
If claim to be a "conservative" yet voting for Rudy, won't that put you to the far-left(close right) of the conservative band? And by that really put you in a "moderate" pool?
Take Off Your Liberal Blinders
July 18, 2007 - 09:26 ET by clifcrdsIt's pathetic posts like this that have opened my eyes to the vacuity of the far right. There is an endless supply of serious news and genuine controversy yet you have to twist a statement to try and make what is already a moot point. Talk about the dumb following the dumber, wow.
OK artwhite answer these questions – If John Edwards is “someone who can stare the worst in the face and not blink” why is it that he doesn’t have the backbone to appear on FOX, why is it that he wants to subversively omit the “lesser” Democratic presidential candidates from future debates, and why is it that Elizabeth is out in public trying to impress upon the public John’s tough image?
Why is controversy only “genuine” when you say it is?
Obviously you can’t (or won’t) see the hypocrysy in this (like most others) liberal attempt to remake a Democrat into something he/she is not . . . a poltitian with a backbone.
Your diatribe as to what is posted on this site is about as empty as Al Capone’s vault.
Clinton's Military Philosophy - Tanks In Waco OK . . . Tanks In Mogadishu NOT OK
Jedwards--in case you missed it yesterday---
July 18, 2007 - 09:41 ET by misterbillJohn Edwards
I know people talk, but I don't care,I'll spend all I want on my hair,
And when it cones to environmental issues, Like Sheryl Crowe I do not use two tissues,
And just to prove I have my sanity, I would not dare to debate Sean Hannity.
But let me tell you I'm not a weenie, I look better than Hillary in a bikini,
And when I'm campaigning I take off my coat, I know I'll win the women's vote,
I'll go to Manhattan, eat bagels and lox, but you'll never see me on channel Fox,
So you all may sit and wonder, what my platform is on or under,
I know that I will surely win, just look at my expensive grin,
And as for the folk who live 'cross the road , their opinions aren't worth a toad.
And now you know some reasons why, all I have to do is blink my eye
I'm really in my element, that's why I'll be your President.
PS If you have any problems with your doctor, I can make you rich!!!
A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.
Author:
I believe Elizabeth Edwards
July 18, 2007 - 09:07 ET by Dave RI believe Elizabeth Edwards is being used as a back-bench artillery piece in this campaign for only one reason, and that is that the targets of her projectiles might be afraid to fire back at her because of her illness. I know that is a bit cynical, but that is the way I see it. After all, they rolled her out against Ann Coulter, too, as the dims have a history of exploiting people to advance their causes that they think people will be afraid to go after. Remember their recent exploitation of Michael J. Fox?
As for John Edwards, the only military person he reminds me of is John McCain, in that he obstinately refuses to see that his campaign is deader than a doornail. Any resemblance to George S. Patten, Jr. (arguably the greatest combat general this country has ever produced) is purely phonetic, as when John is sporting patent leather shoes while sitting in for one of his spiffy $400 haircuts.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
Spot on Dave R! The
July 18, 2007 - 09:12 ET by The Wicked ConservativeSpot on Dave R! The dummycrats always roll out the victim who is "above retaliation" Their ideas are so pathetic they need an untouchable spokesperson to keep them from being completely dashed upon the very utterance. Coulter covered it very well in "Godless"
You can't save the Earth unless You're willing to make other people sacrifice. Dogbert the Green Consultant summing up the elite left.
I agree 100% Dave. This
July 18, 2007 - 09:41 ET by BruzillaI agree 100% Dave. This woman is truly infallible due to her illness on top of being a woman. John Edwards can't directly attack Hillary because of these rediculous "agreements" that the Democrat candidates have made not to attack one another. Care to guess who started that idea? But that restriction doesn't apply to the wife, so she can't be let loose as the poofy poodle attack dog that can bite Hillary and make Hillary look like a bully if she kicks it.
$400 Haircut
July 18, 2007 - 09:34 ET by GothampcI just read Elizabeth saying "If John knew that haircut cost $400, he wouldn't have had it". Do we really want a POTUS that doesn't know how to ask how much something is going to cost?
What do things cost?
July 18, 2007 - 12:17 ET by Hoosier DaddyWasn't it Bush-41 who was totally at a loss when confronted with a grocery store scanner?
Evolutionists have heard of Darwin; Creationists understand Darwin.
Very poor analogy
July 18, 2007 - 15:01 ET by stratmanVery poor analogy HD.
Edwards presumably has had numerous haircuts in his life. Edwards presumably has learned to ask "how much?" in his life for a service he receives. Edwards presumably knew the "specialness" of the hairstylist before he received the haircut because the stylist was presumably not the regular stylist, which presumably always translates to costing more. Edwards presumably received another haircut from the same presumably "special" stylist and would presumably want to tip the person which would presumably require knowing how much the haircut cost to rationaly determine the amount of the tip. Edwards presumably charged the cost of the haircut to his campaign (tsk, tsk) and was caught in the mistake. Presumably Edwards then found out about the (exorbitant) cost of the haircut but did not publically recognize the hypocracy of receiving $400 haircuts while basing his campaign presumably on feeling the pain of the poor. Presumably Edwards is a phoney.
Bush presumably did not know how to work a grocery store scanner. Presumably Bush does not do the grocery shopping. Wow. Busted!