Allergies or Anguish?
In this iconic image from the White House situation room, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is covering her mouth in what seems like a gesture of anguish or distress---or, at least, that's how I (and I think others) read her body language in this picture:
But, apparently, that interpretation was wrong:
The photo shows Clinton with her hand to her mouth in what looks like a gesture of anxiety over the outcome of the operation.
"Those were 38 of the most intense minutes. I have no idea what any of us were looking at that particular millisecond when the picture was taken," she said on Thursday when asked about the photo during a visit to Rome.
"I am somewhat sheepishly concerned that it was my preventing one of my early spring allergic coughs. So it may have no great meaning whatsoever," Clinton added.
I don't know, call me a skeptic, but her face seems more anxiety-ridden than allergy-ridden to me. What do you think? Also, isn't it a bit strange of Clinton to qualify her initial statement ("Those were 38 of the most intense minutes. I have no idea what any of us were looking at that particular millisecond when the picture was taken") with the allergies remark?
Methinks the lady doth protest too much. Regardless of whether allergies or anxiety overcame her in that particular moment, it's as if she actively does not want people to think that she was reacting emotionally---as any human being would---to what must have been an emotional experience. What's up with that? Do you think it has anything to do with her being a woman?
- Comment (29)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
May '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
At least she has the courtesy to not spray Bill Gates with phlegm, but the last thing anyone would want to do would be insult Mrs. Clinton by referring to her as lady-like...she likes her boilermakers too much.
The real military men in that photo know what it means to order men to their deaths. Obama looks like he wants to cry or fill his pants. Or both.
Jun '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
Emily, I am glad you bring this up. I wanted to post it on the member feed but never got around to it.
It is total malarkey on Hillary;s part to claim she is covering an allergy cough -- Obamacare hasn't yet kicked in.....surely the Sec of Def has access to a Sudafed tablet.
When I saw the picture I felt an emptional connection to her. She was human for once! Her expression captured the gravity of the situation and made me imagine the crushing burden all in that room felt as they watched the SEALS confront Osama knowing that they may have been sending those men to their deaths.
She is absolutely trying to cover up her emotions because she, one of only two woman in the shot, is expressing the emotion outwardly, rather than maintaining a stoic front.
Look at Biden. Doesn't he just look confused? As if he's wondering why it's dark out over there.....what's up with that.....it's the middle of the afternoon??? Hmmm....wonder if there are any Snickers bars left in the vending machine....Pie!...Doughnuts!
Dec '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
It has to do with her harboring an ambition to run for President. She's lying, just like she did about "landing under fire in Bosnia." She feels compelled to advertise her Presidential-caliber toughness, maybe more so because of her gender but also because of her past reputation for wimpiness (baking cookies in a pink sweater, letting her husband make a fool of her, etc.). The position of her hand and the horror in her eyes belie her cover story about allergies.
Jun '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
Maybe she thinks that if she admits emotion, it'll lower her stock for any potential primary run at the President. I'm not sure I believe she is really considering it though. A lot of politicians don't like to "look" weak, they only want to look human under scripted, controlled circumstances.
Oct '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
If she is spinning, then her remarks are another lame example of post-facto focus group messaging. I perfeclty understand her body language and expression as an unremarkable response to a remarkable event. She should be proud to have come across as so exquisitely human. That has not always been her trademark and is something noticeably lacking in public performance of her official duties.
Feb '11
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
They are tense because want to know if their team will complete the drive for a touchdown, so they can decide if they want to spike the football.
May '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
TV's Andy Levy speculates that what they were watching at that millisecond was a rerun of Monk. Because they all have that inevitable expression that accompanies such occasions. "Why am I sitting here watching a rerun of Monk?" And yet none has the energy to change the channel.
You'll notice that Joe is in the driver's seat, channel-wise, which explains so much.
Jun '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
If she is anxious... so what? Isn't she watching a bunch of our men go into a dangerous situation and the carnage that ensues when a group of scumbags meets the efficiency of the SEALS?....
Her reaction seems appropriate. I'm not sure why this is a story.
Edited on May 6, 2011 at 7:46amJan '11
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
For some reason, the truth of this event must be suppressed. I think this secrecy is needed for reasons other than protecting identities, technology and capabilities.
Was the original a digital photo? I suspect there is a time stamp. What is the delay for satellite data between Pakistan and Washington?
Her new story should be that was her reaction when the damaged helo was scuttled.
Feb '11
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
Look at Mr. Gates face in particular his mouth and eyes. Now look at Mrs. Clinton. They maybe looking at the same thing but I doubt they are sharing similar emotions.
Jan '11
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
I would be upset if I was her as well. The press has always been unkind to her, I'm sure they had multiple pictures to choose from, and this was a bit insulting to her. I do understand why she's upset, although I don't quite buy her explanation. The Commander in Chief looks shrunken, and somewhat uncomfortable.
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
StickerShock: .
When I saw the picture I felt an emptional connection to her. · May 6 at 7:11am
Yes, exactly, me too!...which is why I was flabbergasted when I read that she tried to explain her emotions away.
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
For what it's worth: I suffer from hay fever, and can assure you that at this time of year it usually explains every expression on my face. I say "usually" because Istanbul has had the most miserably cold and rainy spring I can recall, the only mercy of which has been the lack of pollen. I understand that the pollen count in Washington right now is unusually high and making allergy sufferers just miserable. And as someone who's tried every antihistamine on the market and found that every one of them, even those advertised as "non-drowsy," makes me drowsy-verging-on-comatose, I'd sympathize if the Secretary of State felt that it was best not to risk dozing off during a day like that.
So, yes, I'm inclined to think she's human enough to have allergies.
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
Kennedy Smith: TV's Andy Levy speculates that what they were watching at that millisecond was a rerun of Monk. Because they all have that inevitable expression that accompanies such occasions. "Why am I sitting here watching a rerun of Monk?" And yet none has the energy to change the channel.
You'll notice that Joe is in the driver's seat, channel-wise, which explains so much. · May 6 at 7:40am
Oh Kennedy...
Aug '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
If I had to play the game "Guess Which Bodily Function?", I'd guess she's suppressing an echo of her last meal. I mean, if you were a gal, you'd look pretty anxious if you felt burpy during a Major State Occasion, too.
But I'm inclined to agree with Samwise. Why should this be a story? If her gesture is anxiety... so what? If her anguished expression really does "come from allergies" (as an allergy sufferer myself, I know anguished expressions can), so what?
I think in polite society, people are allowed to come up with lame excuses for awkward gestures and be given the benefit of the doubt.
But I'm being a prune in taking this so seriously, right? Y'all are joking?...
Edited on May 6, 2011 at 8:50pmRe: Allergies or Anguish?
So many things here. For one, I'm inclined to put the best construction on what Hillary says. If she says she was suppressing a cough or whatever, fine. How in the world are we to know?
And that brings me to my main point -- I've worked in enough newsrooms to see that the place where the worst journalistic crimes are committed is the photo desk. If the photographer likes someone or if the copy editor picking the art likes someone, they get better photos of that person to print. The opposite is also true. This is an interesting photo, but it's also true that we don't know what in the world is happening in it. A second later might have revealed a dramatically different look. So we should be thankful that we got this cool photo but not put too much stock into it, I think.
Aug '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
Oh Kennedy... · May 6 at 8:17am
Oh, Ken-ne-dy, my home and native la...
Jul '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
Claire, come to Marin County. For decades, when I lived in New York, St. Louis and Philadelphia, I suffered from sinus problems so severe that I needed constant medication and nasal sprays and even underwent sinus surgery. At one point, my condition advanced to septicemia and I nearly died.
In the two years I've lived in Marin, I haven't had a single symptom and, for the first time in memory, I can breathe freely.
Mar '11
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
It's clearly a case of PTSD, from when she landed her helicopter under fire in Bosnia and then she had to blow it up to remove the evidence... it also brought back so many memories of what took place in the Oval Office, nearby.
Dec '10
Re: Allergies or Anguish?
The more significant question: Why is an Air Force general playing Farmville at such a sensitive time? Unless he's using Call of Duty to provide a visual for the group, based on the audio feed from the CIA....