About us Login Get email updates
Research
Print

CNN's Borger: Clinton is "a robo-candidate" who "suddenly ... show[ed] some humanity"

January 10, 2008 2:09 pm ET
image

47 Comments

On the January 9 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, while discussing whether Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) emotional remarks during a January 6 campaign event contributed to her victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, senior political analyst Gloria Borger called Clinton a "robo-candidate" who "suddenly ... show[ed] some humanity."

From the discussion on the January 9 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, featuring Borger, host Wolf Blitzer, commentator Jack Cafferty, and legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin:

BLITZER: Here's the most intriguing comment that Hillary Clinton made in her victory speech, I thought, last night.

CLINTON [video clip]: I want especially to thank New Hampshire. Over the last week, I listened to you, and in the process, I found my own voice.

BLITZER: What do you think, Jack?

CAFFERTY: I think that's one of the better lines of the entire campaign. I'm not sure exactly --

TOOBIN: Can you say what it means?

CAFFERTY: I was going to say, I'm not sure exactly -- I'm not sure I know what it means.

BORGER: It sounds good.

TOOBIN: It does sound good.

CAFFERTY: Boy, is it a great line. No, it's a good line. It's a little bit of that humanity thing again that we don't see a lot of out of Hillary and that we saw in the diner on Monday and that I will go to my grave convinced is what drove her to the victory last night.

BORGER: All I can say, Jack, is, whoever thought that tearing up would be a really good career move for a woman.

TOOBIN: For a woman.

BORGER: Never. I never thought so. But when you have a robo-candidate and suddenly she shows some humanity -- and there are those people who believe it wasn't real, but I actually do believe it was real -- it actually helped her.

TOOBIN: And there is a sort of wonderful historical circle with -- you know, in the same state where Ed Muskie's career went up in flames because he cried, perhaps Hillary Clinton is being politically resurrected because she misted up. I mean, I still am a little skeptical about this whole misting up -- the significance of it. But apparently -- I mean, the people in her campaign seem to think it's important. Jack Cafferty thinks it's important, so it must be important.

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by jeter2 (January 10, 2008 2:11 pm ET)
         
      MMFA please fix the technical problems here...or is it just me having them? :-/
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Clevenative (January 10, 2008 2:54 pm ET)
           
        It's not just you, Jetter2. Last evening all posting was stopped with a message at the bottom of each story something like "We are undergoingmainteneance at this time. All posting has been suspended." Then this morning I couldn't login because the submit button was missing from the login page. When I looked at story posts all the text was bold-faced. I found the problem was only with IE7 but OK in Firefox - and emailed them. Well now you can log in and post and the text is not all bold, but there is still problems with text formatting (paragraphs) and links (URLs). Hang in there - they're working on it.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by jeter2 (January 10, 2008 3:02 pm ET)
             
          Thanks PJ. I couldn't sign in earlier, then I could sign in but even if a thread said there were 14 posts I could only see one or two of them. Now I post then have to sign off to read all the posts. Maybe I should get some work done & return later when things are fixed ;-)
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Clevenative (January 10, 2008 3:13 pm ET)
               
            I have a feeling they've updated the software to scan posts differently before they are actually posted. At any rate, what used to be an instantaneous posting now seems to take a few minutes before your post will actually show up. (It took me an accidental double-post to realize this - I thought my "save" didn't "take" when I posted the 1st time and it didn't show up right away like it usually does.) If you noticed, we also lost the text formatting buttons (for bold, italic, URL, etc) - yet if you manually enter the HTML tags they seem to work. Problem is, most users don't know HTML or how to use the tags shown. :( I've run community websites and know it's not easy to keep it up 24/7 while you are also making changes and enhancements to the software or code - so I sympathize with MMFA. Not so sure how many other users feel the same. Like I said, hang in there.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by Sams Politics (January 11, 2008 9:29 am ET)
                 
              I thought it was the DARK SIDE attacking and damaging the FAR LEFT SWAMP PIT. SO... I Re-Registered and that worked OK but I was too new to be allowed to post. Now I'm just testing to see if I'm still too new or not?!
              Report Abuse
      • Author by DorisRussell (January 10, 2008 3:21 pm ET)
           
        No, the technical problems are bad today.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by dave (January 10, 2008 2:19 pm ET)
         
      OK, maybe I was wrong about Hillary's emotions. Maybe they were sincere and not scripted like everything else Clinton, Inc does. And since Barack has not put in the "spade work", I might even think about voting for her. Just maybe.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by wolf kotenberg (January 10, 2008 2:22 pm ET)
         
      yeah, can you fix them. I just had a fantastic comment on Mathews worthwile to share here. Something about him losing his direction and what his job is on a news channell. oh yea, G Borger comment. I can apprecicate Mrs Clinton's comment and subsequent trembling, for i felt the same thing in the past when our Constitution has been put to the test, and almost falield. It is a huge honor to live in this country. I also trembled when I earned my citizenship Nov 1, 1974. I remember that day like it happened yesterday.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Clevenative (January 10, 2008 2:26 pm ET)
         
      I’m just glad I never ran for public office. It’s as if you need to prove you have two totally and separate talents. #1, qualifications and intelligence to do the job – and #2, the ability to win a beauty and personality contest. This is one fault of this country for which we have no one to blame but ourselves. Until there is a bipartisan effort to squelch the #2 requirement we are stuck in our sick superficial world with superficial politics – where nothing gets accomplished because we are all so busy finding pimples and blemishes while the disease is killing us inside.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by pete592 (January 10, 2008 2:43 pm ET)
           
        "nothing gets accomplished because we are all so busy finding pimples and blemishes while the disease is killing us inside." That's one of the best metaphors for American politics and government that I've seen in a while.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 2:38 pm ET)
         
      I am getting more and more depressed as the days go on. We are never going to have a female President ! I can't believe I'm saying this at my age. I'm in my 40's. It's not like I'm in my 90's and on my death bed. Misogyny and sexism are still alive and well in this country, and I am particularly disappointed when women, especially mature women, engage in it. Borger apparently expects women to be soft and fluffy, hence her robo comment. I practically cried just a few minutes ago talking about this with a male co-worker who is also shocked by the anti-Hillary blood lust and outrageous displays of sexism. And f*ck it, I'm not going to feel bad that I got emotional, because this is a BIG DEAL. Maybe this is why Clinton teared up, not because of her own potential shattered dreams, but because of the rampant sexism and the political glass ceiling which threatens ALL women.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by tommy (January 10, 2008 2:42 pm ET)
           
        Would you be as depressed if it were a conservative woman?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by pete592 (January 10, 2008 2:45 pm ET)
             
          And that conservative woman received the exact same skepticism and smearing from media bobbleheads?
          Report Abuse
          • Author by tommy (January 10, 2008 2:47 pm ET)
               
            I am talking about their ideology, not their press treatment.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by dbeden4153 (January 10, 2008 2:52 pm ET)
                 
              Tommy, I think Pete was clarifying your question.
              Report Abuse
            • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 2:56 pm ET)
                 
              I'm talking about the treatment. If the same thing happened to a Republican women presidential candidate, I would be just as depressed.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by tommy (January 10, 2008 3:02 pm ET)
                   
                "I am getting more and more depressed as the days go on. We are never going to have a female President"........then I misunderstood the reason for your depression based on the first two sentences of your post. Sorry.
                Report Abuse
              • Author by mefirst (January 10, 2008 8:15 pm ET)
                   
                i heard something today about the women who came out for clinton and had also watched saturday night's debate. almost half had seen the debate. and she was unfairly treated. she was asked a question about her likability, and she was clearly frustrated by it, since she was singled out. and she made some reference that she thought obama was a nice guy and he said in return, in a peevish manner, "you're likable enough, hillary." i think he or any of the other male candidates could have scored a point by saying that is an inappropriate question. i think that frustration came out in the monday event in which she seemed a little choked up. i think that brought women out in such numbers and it was so late that the polls did not catch it. i think she also did herself a favor by showing up for the victory speech in that outfit. not a power suit, but a sedate jacket with a pattern. sort of, i am hillary, hear me roar, but i want to look good too.
                Report Abuse
          • Author by wolf kotenberg (January 10, 2008 3:09 pm ET)
               
            I don't remnember Elizabeth Dole getting pummelled !
            Report Abuse
            • Author by tommy (January 10, 2008 3:12 pm ET)
                 
              I don't remember Elizabeth Dole whining about the all boys "meanie" club.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by Clevenative (January 10, 2008 3:15 pm ET)
                   
                So what came first with Hillary, the chicken or the egg?
                Report Abuse
                • Author by tommy (January 10, 2008 3:20 pm ET)
                     
                  You'd have to ask her poultry grocer, I have no idea.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Clevenative (January 10, 2008 3:29 pm ET)
                       
                    I don't remember Elizabeth Dole whining about the all boys "meanie" club.

                    What I'm getting at is that the "boys meanie club" accusations would have never happened if they weren't true. E. Dole didn't get the attacks because Dems generally don't play that game, for sure not 18 months before the elction, like has happened with Hillary.

                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by tommy (January 10, 2008 3:43 pm ET)
                         
                      PJ, It was her Democratic opponents that Hillary was referring too, this is primary season and her comments immediately followed one of the Democratic debates. I just don't remember E.Dole whining about it from anyone, from either party.
                      Report Abuse
                      • Author by mefirst (January 10, 2008 8:33 pm ET)
                           
                        and i don't recall photos of elizabeth dole being all over the media after a hard day of campaigning.
                        Report Abuse
                  • Author by anotheramerican (January 10, 2008 3:41 pm ET)
                       
                    Hillary will check the pollos and get beek to you.
                    Report Abuse
              • Author by pbg (January 10, 2008 3:30 pm ET)
                   
                If she wasn't being treated badly, why would she complain? But you're saying Hillary was being treated badly because she complained about being treated badly? I see.
                Report Abuse
              • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 4:51 pm ET)
                   
                Why do you use the word "whining" ?
                Report Abuse
              • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 4:53 pm ET)
                   
                Tommy, is this "whining" ? http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=49 As Secretary of Labor, Dole initiated the "Glass Ceiling Study" to identify barriers to senior management opportunities for women and minorities and make recommendations for effective change. 62% of her senior staff at Labor were women or minorities. Of this work Dole said, "My objective as Secretary of Labor is to look through the 'glass ceiling' to see who is on the other side, and to serve as a catalyst for change."
                Report Abuse
                • Author by tommy (January 10, 2008 6:24 pm ET)
                     
                  As Sec of Labor, it was under Elizabeth Dole's job description to look into all sorts of labor associated issues, this being one. As a presidential candidate, it's far different.......I cannot believe you made the comparison.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 6:43 pm ET)
                       
                    Whose job is it then to ensure that women can have a chance of being President ? There is no federal department to oversee this. The responsibility falls on each individual person, including those women who seek the office. Now that Dole no longer holds her office, if I find a quote from her in which she continues to complain about the "glass ceiling", will you call it "whining" ? Because it's no longer her job, therefore (according to your logik) she should complain about it.
                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 6:44 pm ET)
                         
                      I mean to type "she should not complain about it".
                      Report Abuse
                      • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 6:56 pm ET)
                           
                        I found this in 1 minute, I'm sure I can find more: "While great progress has been made, there is still more to be done before all the barriers are down, before the glass ceiling meets the same fate as the Berlin Wall. " - Elizabeth Dole in Ladies Home Journal interview, May 5, 1999. Please note that her position Secretary of Labor ended in 1990. She did not hold any pubic office at the time she made that comment. Therefore she shouldn't have an opinion about the glass ceiling, therefore she is "whining", right Tommy ? Am I getting your logik correct ?
                        Report Abuse
          • Author by wolf kotenberg (January 10, 2008 3:11 pm ET)
               
            I don't remember Elizabeth Dole getting pumelled.
            Report Abuse
      • Author by anotheramerican (January 10, 2008 3:09 pm ET)
           
        Rampant sexism? Yes. In reverse. Hillary is the beneficiary of the most reversed sexism in history. She is a Senator because, as someone said, her husband fooled around. I think it is disgusting that she has to rely on sympathy and poor poor, pitiful me, whining in order to get votes. Has she ever done anything successful on her own that hasn't been tainted with scandal? No.. she panders for voters to elect her simply because she's a woman. Anybody asking any of the men how they get out the door every day and who does their hair? Can you imagine Obama or Edwards or Romney tearing up? (Except for Edwards. I can see them asking who does his hair. ) :-) They'd drop faster than Muskie. Sheesh. Hillary is an embarrassment to women who want to be taken seriously.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by wolf kotenberg (January 10, 2008 3:14 pm ET)
             
          your sarcasm cracks me up.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by pbg (January 10, 2008 3:35 pm ET)
             
          And all the Republicans would have to do to neutralize all that is run a woman opposite her.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by Clevenative (January 10, 2008 3:38 pm ET)
             
          Have you been taking notes from The Rush Limbaugh Show again today? You are an embarrassment to America who wants to be taken seriously. Don't you have a He-Man Woman-Haters Club meeting to attend in the tree fort this afternoon?
          Report Abuse
        • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 4:57 pm ET)
             
          AA, do you have a daughter ? Because I'm sure she'll really appreciate it when you attribute her successes to her connections with men.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 5:44 pm ET)
         
      I wrote this in another thread and I'm putting it here too. Look at the following quotes, and then someone tell me why Clinton's remarks are considered offensive or, as Tommy puts it, "whining", and yet Obama's remarks are not considered offensive or "whining". Clinton at Wellesley: "In so many ways, this all women's college prepared me to compete on the all boys' club of presidential politics [...] We need to shatter that highest glass ceiling" Obama at the Union Missionary Baptist church in Waterloo Iowa: "Some folks still have barriers before them, barriers of discrimination, lack of education, families that have disintegrated because this country has systematically devalued the black family," Why is it OK for Obama to acknowledge racism-induced inequalities but it's not OK for Clinton to acknowledge sexism-induced inequalities.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by foghornleghorn (January 10, 2008 6:26 pm ET)
         
      May be off-topic, but after the debates CNN had a panel discussion featuring Donna Brazile, Bill Bennett and Ralph Reed. Why is Reed still qualified to be on TV after his Abramoff ties were revealed?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by atheist (January 10, 2008 6:50 pm ET)
           
        I actually question Bennett's appearance on the panel ! What the hell does he know ? So they had two wingnuts and one Dem on the panel ?
        Report Abuse

my.MediaMatters.org

Login  Sign Up

Push Back

Phone calls, emails and letters from the public do make a difference. Remember that to be effective you must be polite, and professional. Express your specific concerns regarding that particular news report or commentary, and indicate what you would like the media outlet to do differently in the future.