Ignoring her extensive record of bright colors and big smiles, Fox's Cameron said Clinton wearing both to solve “likability problem”

Written by Matt Gertz

Published


On the May 9 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume, chief political correspondent Carl Cameron claimed that during a May 9 campaign stop in Annapolis, Maryland, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) adopted an uncharacteristic wardrobe and sunny expression in order to benefit politically. He said: “Wearing bright colors, smiling constantly, as if to deal with what polls say is a likability problem, she has surged 10 points since the Democratic debate in three new polls: USA Today/Gallup, CNN, and Rasmussen.” In fact, Clinton has worn bright-colored clothing and smiled in numerous prior appearances.

On January 3, 2001, while re-enacting her senatorial swearing-in at the Capitol:

Image 1

While leaving a rally in Boston on July 24, 2004:

At a February 25, 2005, meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh at his home in New Delhi, India:

At a June 21, 2005, rally promoting the preservation of federal funding for the Public Broadcasting System:

At the national conference of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association in June 2006:

At the international convention of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees in Chicago, August 2006:

Celebrating her re-election to the Senate on November 7, 2006 (photo #3):

Being sworn in for her second term on January 4, 2007:

Cameron's assertion recalled the remarks of Washington Post editorial page editor Fred Hiatt, who in his March 26 column wrote that in a photograph of a March 4 commemorative civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, Sen. Clinton “appear[ed] grimly determined to walk on,” while former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) were “each grinning and apparently having the time of his life.” Hiatt, who conceded that the photo may have been “an unlucky shot,” had earlier asked, “Is it coincidence that the two touted as the front-runners at the start [of the presidential race], Hillary Clinton and John McCain, seem to be having the least fun?” Although Hiatt did not specify which photograph he was discussing, other photographs of the Selma march show Sen. Clinton smiling along with President Clinton and Obama.

From the May 9 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:

CAMERON: In Annapolis, receiving the endorsement of Democratic Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton has surged back to a significant lead in the polls over Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're very excited about the first girl president.

CAMERON: Wearing bright colors, smiling constantly, as if to deal with what polls say is a likability problem, she has surged 10 points since the Democratic debate in three new polls: USA Today/Gallup, CNN, and Rasmussen. The Real Clear Politics average of national polls gives Clinton a double-digit lead across the country. And with a quasi-national primary set for February 5th, national polls may matter as much as the early test states like New Hampshire, where Clinton also has the advantage.