Wash. Post's Achenbach: Hillary Clinton "needs a radio-controlled shock collar so that aides can zap her when she starts to get screechy"
SUMMARY: In a January 7 blog post, Washington Post writer Joel Achenbach stated that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton "needs a radio-controlled shock collar so that aides can zap her when she starts to get screechy." Media Matters for America has repeatedly noted the media's attacks on Clinton for her voice or laugh.
In a January 7 post on his blog, Achenblog, which was also published in the print edition of The Washington Post, Joel Achenbach wrote that Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) "needs a radio-controlled shock collar so that aides can zap her when she starts to get screechy," adding: "She came perilously close to going on a tirade. Volume is critical in these things: Ask [former Vermont Gov.] Howard Dean [(D)]." Achenbach was referring to Clinton's performance in the January 5 ABC News/Facebook Democratic debate. As Media Matters for America has documented (here, here, here, here, and here), the media have frequently attacked Clinton for the tone and volume of her voice or laugh. Most recently, following Clinton's appearance on all five Sunday political talk shows on September 23, 2007, the media latched onto Clinton's purported "cackle."
As Media Matters noted, on October 9, 2007, Fox News' Fox & Friends juxtaposed an audio clip of Dean's exclamation during his 2004 concession speech after he came in third in the Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses with an audio clip of Clinton laughing during a September 23, 2007, interview on Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday. During the segment, Republican pollster Frank Luntz called Clinton's laugh a "cackle" and co-host Steve Doocy said Dean's exclamation was "like a cackle."
From Achenbach's January 7 post, titled, "End of the Clinton Era?"
And then there's the junior senator from New York.
At the risk of hurting her feelings let us ponder the possibility that she'll slip all the way to third in Tuesday's vote. I'm going to go see her in Nashua shortly in hopes that I catch her before she drops out of the race entirely. After last night's debate performance there are already people talking about the end of the Clinton era. She came out of St. Anselm's College so torn up she needed to borrow bandages from Mitt Romney.
That may be premature -- the latest poll showed her tied with Obama here -- but when John Edwards, defending Barack Obama, flung his left hand at her face and uttered the words "status quo" you could feel the hull being ripped below the water line. Clinton fought back, but she needs a radio-controlled shock collar so that aides can zap her when she starts to get screechy. She came perilously close to going on a tirade. Volume is critical in these things: Ask Howard Dean.
Sure, she still has fans here. Marc Nozell of Merrimack told me Friday that he saw her last year in Portsmouth, and she wasn't the person so often portrayed as "kinda bitchy, kind of distant, not very warm." He said, "I like the experience. I think she can start working. She knows all the players."
But it's not shaping up as an election where knowing all the players is what the majority of voters want. (Obama, we recall from his most recent book, had trouble even getting into the 2000 Democratic National Convention because he didn't have a credential.)
I do not think she has a bad voice, this is just more nonsense. Instead of focusing on issues members of the American media want to play games.
We agree Sueeld. I think Rudy needs a shock collar that goes off everytime he says; "9/11."
This little tidbit was in the referenced post as well.
Hillary Rodham Clinton cannot be both the "Republican in sheep's clothing" that progressive Democrats claim she is.......,
Do any of you "progressive Democrats" see her as described above?
Actually yeah, kind of. IMO, It is a slight mis-characterization though, because she's sometimes seen as more of the same, i.e. we've had 20 years of Bushes and Clintons. And frankly, I think the majority of Americans are sick of this dynasty.
However, it could be argued, since she's been in lock-step with the Republicans over the Iraq war, that she is more centrist/slightly right than what she claims.
So yeah, there are people that actually feel that way, so no misinformation there.
I don't think a sheep disguise would be very effective camouflage for a Republican, so I can't agree with that description.
Republican comedians - They're everywhere! I just can't get enough of them. And a year from now I'll be laughing them right out of the White House.
Joel Achenbach's blog is meant to be humorous...or tries to be. I'm starting to feel bad for all the crap Hillary has to take, be it humor or personal attacks, but if you read Joel Achenbach's blog on a regular basis you'd probably appreciate his attempt at trying to add some funny observations to politics. I don't know if this guy leans Left or Right...he pokes fun at everyone.
Here's something he wrote about Romney:
I heard the other day that Mitt Romney is so careful with his weight that he will pick the cheese off his pizza. Then I heard from another source that he eats pizza with a knife and fork. That's two sources, two angles: That's practically confirmation.I just can't imagine the American people electing as president someone who does that to pizza. I'm not saying a president has to have a special knack for eating pizza - what you call "pizza talent" - but he or she has to respect the pizza, and look comfortable with it. You want, as a voter, to be able to say, "He looks like he knows his way around a pizza." That's one reason people like Bill Richardson: He looks like a good eater. They liked that about Bill Clinton, too. When you ask people in Iowa what they look for in a candidate, the response is almost invariably a version of "Someone who's down to Earth. A real person. Honest. The kind of person who'll look you in the eye and tell the truth. A straight shooter."
And they don't need to add: "Someone who knows how to scarf down a slice of pizza."
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/2007/12/iowa_journal_a_very_foggy_camp.html#comments
Hey now, I eat pizza with a knife and fork, especially if it's hot...
Hey Snoop,
I've eaten my pizza that way on occasion too. And I've always wanted to try using a knife & fork to eat a candy bar after seeing Mr. Pitt & George Costanza do it--but I keep forgetting ;-)
Yeah, but you and Snoop aren't running for President. If you were, you'd certainly not admit to eating pizza abnormally. :-)
Hey now, I eat pizza with a knife and fork, especially if it's hot...
So you're saying you eat stolen pizzas, too?
No, he's saying his pizzas are sexy!
Oh, thanks. I thought he meant he only used utensils in July and August.
I just throw the entire pizza in the corner of my cell, and pounce on it face first. Vote for me.
That's right! I like my pizza's in a french maid outfit and high heels. Yum!
You change your attire just to eat pizza?
Yeah, I guess I have a wide stance too. =0
Sorry, HBL. I think I'm going to have to vote for Snoopy since he seems to "know his way around a pizza" the best.
You're only voting for Snoopy because he's more androgynous than I am.
That's not true, it's because I'm a dog. You ever see dogs use their tongue? They never tire of licking!
I will need pictural content to decide if that's true.
OK, Snoop wins
Is it me, or can no one but you see this? I keep getting server error 401....
I get server error 403
Ah, it was pretty stoopid anyway. How about this one ?
I got the same error 403. But the new one is working. I did like that site with Snoopy the 3 legged dog and the pup passed out from booze and cigs though.
I still can't vote for either of you. Unless both of you have an independent lab certify that neither of you have EVER cried in your lives.
Once its proven your tear ducts have dried up and died from lack of use, than I will decide.
Tear ducts are the drains. You mean tear glands. :-)
Thanks Jetter, I apreciate the info. Actually, this sounds like the sort of political humor that we all need more of.
It reminds me of a guy out of my home town, Dick Feagler. I read his columns in The Cleveland Plain Dealer since I was old enough to read. (I'm sure he was syndicated to other papers also, at least for a time.) Of course, I didn't even know the difference between left and right politics at the time, but he was still always humorous reading. Same vein as Andy Rooney.
Like I've said before, real Journalists are hard to find nowadays.-:(
Achenbach's humor is an acquired taste. he does serious reporting, but he also does stunts like turning his article over to Dave Barry.
[link to blog.washingtonpost.com]
SueEld I do not think she has a bad voice
At best this is 'faint praise'. The fact is that she is just not a very good candidate. I could go on, but I think that today's results in N.H. are going to make my point.
How times have changed. When Hillary had a big lead in all the polls she refused to discuss specifics or answer questions from the media and seemed to only be comfortable answering planted questions from the audience. Now that she has to try to catch up with Obama, she is suddenly available to answer questions. What a miracle.
And then her embarrassing pity-party crybaby routine yesterday just turned my stomache . And now we see Bill throwing a tantrum because Hillary is not doing well in the polls.
Remember - this primary is a contest between DEMOCRATS. We are deciding the contest between Clinton, Obama, and Edwards (the most likely candidates - sorry Kucinich and Richardson). And we are picking Obama as the best candidate.
What a bunch of crybabies the Clintons are!!!
Mr. and Mrs. Clinton -- media criticsManchester, N.H. -- As New Hampshirites trooped to the polls today, the morning news cycle was dominated by comments Hillary Clinton made in an interview broadcast on ABC's "Good Morning America": her assertion that her two main rivals in the Democratic presidential race, Barack Obama and John Edwards, have been "given pretty much a free ride."
You can read about it here.
Clinton's comments were of a piece with complaints her husband, Bill Clinton, aired Monday during a campaign appearance. The ex-president argued that Obama had been allowed to exaggerate differences between himself on Hillary Clinton, in terms of their opposition to the Iraq war.
"Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen," a clearly exasperated Bill Clinton exclaimed.
================================================
And finally, yes, Hillary's voice is grating and irritating. Why she didn't consult with a speech coach many years ago I simply cannot understand.
And finally, yes, Hillary's voice is grating and irritating. Why she didn't consult with a speech coach many years ago I simply cannot understand.
I'd rather listen to Hillary for an hour than subject myself to the screechings of Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, or Mark Livin for five minutes.
wz,
Are you saying Hillary should get a radio program?
:-)
I'm saying that the right-wing morons on the radio complaining about Hillary's voice have horribly screechy voices - especially Mark Levin.
Mark Levin's has to be the worst voice ever. I feel sorry for the guy. If he has "radio" looks and a horrible voice....well. I'm just sayin', might not be to popular with ladies.
He's not trying to be popular with ladies. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Doh! I didn't know which team he was on.
MArk Levin is actually married and has kids. I feel sorry for his kids, having that lunatic for a father......
Look, it's Mark Levin and his boyfriend Mann Coulter:
http://www.marklevinshow.com/images/photos/freedom2006/full/IMG_0268_JPG.jpg
In 15 plus years of hearing Hillary speak, this thought never once crossed my mind - at least not until the Repugs started bashing her about it - and even then, to me, her voice surely isn't shrill or agrevating.
Then again, I guess you never heard my dear mother yelling at me. -:)
I can feel you on that PJ. My mom never yelled, but my sister certainly did, and I can still think about it today and it feels like someone scratching their fingernails on a chalkboard.Or for me, someone pulling apart velcro (I don't care how wonderful of an invention velcro is, that sound is so grating it puts me in pains....and now I'm thinking about it, I've got to lie down....
wzwriter I'd rather listen to Hillary for an hour than subject myself to the screechings of Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, or Mark Livin for five minutes.
First, Hannity, et al, are not running for the nomination of the Democratic Party. You don't have to listen to those blowhards if you do not want to. But most importantly, why are you comparing Hillary to THOSE guys? Compare her voice to Edwards or Obama. The difference is this: I can listen to Edwards or Obama and not get irritated.
Look, I'm just going to be honest and admit what we Democrats have always known - Hillary is NOT a good candidate and would never have become the Senator of NY if she had not had the great good fortune to marry Bill. If her name was Hillary Smith everyone would just be honest enough to say, Hillary, I'm sorry but you stink as a candidate. Your voice may be good enough for a hog-calling contest in Arkansas, but this is the big leagues - Spend some money of a speaking coach and learn how to use your voice to sound pleasant and persuasive.
There are lots and lots of good vocal coaches who teach people who to sound better. Maybe Hillary is just not able to listen to AND accept honest criticism.
Let me just end by admitting one more thing: Hillary DOES sound like my nagging ex-wife. When I listen to Hillary it's like when I was married and my ex-wife was droning on and one about all the weekend chores I had to do when all I freaking wanted to do was sit on the couch and watch the playoffs.
Obama would be one the guys I could actually enjoy the game with. That's why I'm going to vote for him.
I specifically mentioned Hannity, Savage, and Levin because they have all said very nasty things about the sound of Hillary's voice, when their voices are just as irritating as hers - if not more.
Especially Mark Levin, when he starts screaming like a spoiled brat who isn't getting his way.
Hannity has a boyish voice that some times could be whiney, and he cannot sound angry. Savage on the other hand actually has a good radio voice, it is deep and rich, he has good range and timbre. But Levin has an absolutely terrible radio voice, He has decent politics, his voice is just not suited for radio.
Do you ever get anything right?
Hannity sounds like his nose is full of coke, and his politics sounds like his ...err, his nose is full of coke. Levin sounds like Truman Capote, and his politics sounds like his nose is full of coke. Savage sounds like a street punk with an attitude that took a couple of english classes, and his politics is much like Hitler's.
Oh wait, you were right about Levins voice. Sorry.
WZ, are you leaving Laura Ingraham off of the list? She's like The Nanny crossed with the trombone-like adults in the Peanuts tv shows.
How can you tell the difference between Laura Ingrham and a screechy violin?
You can throw the violin farther.
How can you tell the difference between Laura Ingrham and a screechy violin?
You can throw the violin farther.
Plus you don't need a ten-foot pole to touch a violin. :-)
I was going to say you don't ever feel like punching a violin.
Bill lost NH too and still went on to win, so I wouldn't write her off so soon. It may come back to bite you!
On another related subject, I just love the way these right wing die hards keep showing their ignorance. It takes a real man to tell Hillary to iron my shirt!
Snoop,
What makes you think they are right wing? Did the article state that?
Could they not be dirty tricksters planted by:
a. Edwards
b. Obama
c. Hillary
d. Bill
The correct answer is d.
I co believe I have as much proof as you. :-)
oops. co scoo be do
Rut roh.
Julia's channeling Scooby.
Is she one of those netsurfers who be
sniffin' 'round blogs
and has gone to the dogs?
(like a play-toy, she's found the nets 'tube-y'?)
Hey, it's AA's fault. He brought up scoo be do!
Of course, what was I thinking? They are probably main stream republicans and not extremists. I mean, every conservative thinks a woman should stay home ironing their shirt, right? ;)
Unlike a certain Democrat woman who's political career depends on hanging on to her hubbies coattails. :-)
That is about as obvious a plant as all those Ron Paul signs in the background when CNN reports live from NH.
AA, I don't know who it was that put them there, but it did seem fishy that they were so blatantly obvious about their misogyny. Makes me think something's up...but then again, there are people who do some very, very stupid stuff.
Oh oh, looks like Conservative might be eating his hat!
Har ! Snoop, at the time I checked the totals Tom Tancredo didn't even have double the votes of his GOP competitor Vermin Supreme ! Ouch.
DON'T TASE HER, BRO!!!!!!!
:-)
I guess the fear of castration is leaving the dialogue. And to think, some of the radio-guys were trying to grow balls just to have them wacked.
We are NEVER going to have a female president if the people stuck in the patriarchal/double-standard time warp, (which unfortunately appears to be the majority of voters and media blowhards) don't progress and accept women as competent and true equals of men ! Until then, female candidates will continue to be lambasted for stereotypical bitchy or masculine traits while the issues we should really be concerned with are shoved aside.
What a pathetic country we live in. (Cue troll to tell me to move to another country, sorry but I'm going to stick around and try to make this one better.)
No, people just don't like Hillary. I agree the comments are lame but the media picks the winners and losers and they don't like her right now - not sure they ever did. And, the American people can't relate to her - period. Just because people don't want to elect this particular female candidate doesn't mean no woman will be elected.
PS - I am a woman and won't vote for Hillary - and it has nothing to do with her being a woman. I actually like her but something about her political persona and the legacy of the Clintons and four more years of Bill shooting his mouth off makes me want to run away.
Paul Harvey just said last week I think that Hillary was voted most admired woman in America. Don't tell me grampy is a liar ;-0)
the other choices were Brittany, Paris Hilton, and Cruella deVille.
Who was on the male side since GWB won over there? Satan? ;-0)
No JJ, just like his 2nd run for president he ran unopposed.
WASADEMOCRAT says, “No, people just don't like Hillary.”
RESPONSE: A lot of people DO like Hillary, some certainly do not. You need to temper your blanket statement to, say, YOU don’t like Hillary. That, you can defend.
WAD: “I agree the comments are lame but the media picks the winners and losers and they don't like her right now - not sure they ever did.”
RESPONSE: Have you been away, like on the space shuttle? Out of touch? The media in general despise Hillary, and always have, for decades. She has been vilified and criticized constantly since her husband became president. Are you SURE you haven’t noticed?
WAD: “And, the American people can't relate to her - period.”
RESPONSE: Despite your “period,” I simply disagree. “RELATE TO HER?” In what way? As a human being, as an American, as a politician, as a Democrat? I can “relate” to her just fine on all those counts. How about as a woman, as a mother, as a lawyer, as a wife? What does “relating” to her on these topics, whether you do or not, have to do with the qualifications for being president? Relate to her HOW?
WAD: “Just because people don't want to elect this particular female candidate doesn't mean no woman will be elected. PS - I am a woman and won't vote for Hillary - and it has nothing to do with her being a woman.”
RESPONSE: OK. You decide your choice based on POLICY. That’s great. What policy of Hillary’s do you not agree with?
WAD: “I actually like her but something about her political persona and the legacy of the Clintons and four more years of Bill shooting his mouth off makes me want to run away.”
RESPONSE: I see. You don’t like Bill, or his legacy, or her “persona” (whatever that might mean). I guess that explains your screenname, “WAS a Democrat” -- the 90’s relative peace and prosperity didn’t impress you.
It’s OK. You’re an American, and can make your decisions based on anything or nothing at all. A coin toss, a “feeling,” tea leaves, whatever.
You’re much more likely, however, to get effective governance that pursues goals you agree with if you expand your criteria in picking leadership (to things like policies, competence, experience), other than not wanting to “hear the spouse”.
Great post as always, Tex. :-)
Gotta love the acronym of that handle.
Thank you, Tex !
"but something about her political persona"
What about it ? What is it that you don't like ? Be specific. I'm not asking you to defend your position, just state it clearly.
Obama is pissy and haughty, but nobody seems to be put off by that.
Hill's problem isn't so much with the media as it is with her oxygen thief of a husband:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/
With remarks like that, who needs political enemies?
When you post remarks like that, who needs a brain?
Hog,
I saw that video earlier today & I gotta agree Bill probably isn't helping Hillary though I can understand his frustration. The MSM has made Obama their darling & with few exceptions he's avoided the scrutiny other candidates are receiving..
OBAMA's "scrutiny" is patiently waiting in the wings.
The rightwing has thrown everything they've got at Hillary the past decade, and she still stands. That Gatling-gun of attack and smear is about out of bullets.
Obama is a fresh new "Swift Boating" target, and the rightwing is keeping its powder dry for now, because the attack ads and smear work best just before the main election, when there isn't time to respond.
Job ONE for the MSM is to get rid of Hillary, take her out. She scares the rightwing to death.
Once she's gone, there'll be plenty of time to carve Obama up, lie about him, characterize him, perhaps dig up (or reveal) some REAL dirt about him, etc.
Make no mistake, FOR NOW, the rightwing is backing Obama bigtime. One of their favorite tactics is to pour support, money, and campaigning (and primary "cross-over votes") into the coffers of the candidate they PREFER to go up against, to defeat the candidate they fear most.
I'm not so sure Tex. While that makes for good conspiracy theory, Hill's can be hammered by team Republican all day long. Her negatives are in the high 40% range and she will energize the base to vote against her like no other candidate the Dems put up.
Obama on the other hand leaves a small target to shoot at, has cross-over appeal and seems to be energizing the Dem base.
From what I saw in Iowa, I'm afraid to say, team Obama may be the bigger hurdle.
HOGPRINT:
I'd like to take your "advice and comments" to heart, but before I do, I need to know more about your motivation.
Are you a Liberal? Do you wish Democrats to succeed? Other than personality and characteristics, do you approve of the ideology of the left?
See, if you're a rightwinger, then your every "sincere" comment and evaluation must be viewed through the prism of wishing ill for the Dems.
In the famous Uncle Remus tale about the rabbit begging to NOT be thrown in the briar patch, we learned the lessons of misdirection and reverse psychology. If someone is not your friend, they may well be giving advice that will HARM you (or HELP themselves at your expense).
So, full disclosure, Hog: Should we listen to your critiques as if given in good faith, or do you wish us to throw you in the briar patch? Are you the Liberals' friend, or are you promoting a rightwing agenda?
OK????
My first piece of advice would be to SLOWLY remove the Tin Foil Ten Gallon Hat you're wearing.
Next, you should read my post again. Just for clarification, I wasn't offering you any advice per se, just offering my OPINON.
I have been posting on this forum since Dec '05. If you haven't figured out my stripes by now...
Even Donna Brazil was slamming Slicky for his boneheaded comments.
I can't figure out if Bill actually wants Hillary to make it over the top or not? On the one hand he gets to jaunt around the WH again, but I think his ego is so big that he would be afraid she would upstage him in the legacy department.
Hence the subversive comments like we saw.
"Media Matters for America has repeatedly noted the media's attacks on Clinton for her voice or laugh."
Attacks? Oh, pah-leeze. The media isn't "attacking" her voice or laugh. They're simply bemused at how phony and transparent she is at these momentss. BTY, this observation by Media Matters is even more amusing coming from a blog started by Hillary herself. Don't you realize people know that?
"the media isn't "attacking" her voice or laugh. They're simply bemused at how phony and transparent she is at these moments" --Virtue001
Sorry V, but you're wrong. They are attacking her voice and laugh, and stated as such. And if they did attack what they believed to be phoney or transparent, it would be just as bad. Just once I'd like to see them attack her message instead of her person.
Virtue001, I have to ask: do you really only have 1 virtue?
Actually, still working on 1 :
that is a class title in which the concept is introduced, not a level (as with black belts).
I think her hubby is the one that needs the shock collar........"I can't make her younger, I can't make her taller, and I can't make her a man." What garbage.
Hillary just doesn't have the political skills that her husband has. She is repug-lite and the democrats want a democratic president. These next months will tell if she is a quick study.
Regardless of what term is used for her voice, it's undeniable that Sen. Clinton's personal demeanor simply rubs some people the wrong way. I checked out her profile on www.fittobepres.com and she certainly isn't winning the charisma award amongst the candidates.
Hillary..."needs a radio-controlled shock collar so that aides can zap her when she starts to get screechy'
You mean there are actually people who don't agree with this?
Her screech and her cackle are enough to make my ears bleed.
To echo another comment in this thread, I also went 15 years without giving Hillary Clinton’s voice a second thought until hate radio starting bashing her about it.
With any luck, you probably have only 8 or 9 years more to deal with it.
Then don't listen to it, stupid!
Her screech and her cackle are enough to make my ears bleed.
Oh, that must be why no blood can get to your brain!
Stranger, you obviously do not see Hillary as a person, but as a caricature, and for that, I feel sorry for you.
hillari's voice is actually pleasant, only when she is speaking quietly and calmly, like in her emotional moment just this week. When she starts schreeching it is like fingernails on a blackboard. Sure she can drown out any other candidate's voice, but this does not help her with her voters; sounding like a banshee.
I was wondering when stracist was going to weigh in. If ya wanna be martyred, I'm quite sure the patron saint of trailer park trash can do just a little better?
Do characterize the racially aware as white trash Snoopy, White trash are typically those who are an embarrassment to conscientious whites, they are the bane of the beautiful white race.
Oh, Uncle Cracker. You just can't help yourself, can ya? Thankfully we all know what you are and it ain't pretty.
So there is a positive side to this, thanks S.