I was surprised, like rest of the common folk AND political pundits, when I heard of Clinton's victory in New Hampshire. Every major poll in the US predicted that Obama was going to win. They got it all wrong. I am not a big fan of Clinton as she does appears pretty cold, calculated, and insincere to me.
I think her almost tearful response to a women's question on TV, "how do you do it" (how do you stay upbeat under all the stress of campaigning?) had a big role in causing Bradley Effect to kick-in, resulting in her victory with a narrow two-point margin. Her response didn't make any sense to me. She said:
Well, if she believes in her message so passionately, shouldn't it be easier for her to be upbeat? Besides, such a soft side is not an asset to a Commander-in-Chief.It's not easy, and I couldn't do it if I didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do. You know, I have so many opportunities from this country just don't want to see us fall backwards.
Also, rumors on Obama probably didn't help him, to say the least.
5 comments:
I used to like Lady Clinton for all the insightful columns she used to publish, even here in India (Deccan-Herald had a regular weekly publication during her husband's presidency). But I was completely turned-off from her when she made that famous "not your neighbourhood petrol pumping Gandhi" quote, when she apparently quoted the more famous Gandhi. I will tell one thing to her now - That neighbourhood Gandhi is who keeps you running.. curse him and you will see your destiny change..
Anuj, Well said.
Gopa, the funny thing is this - the Indian Americans were understandbly upset with her about the comments and demanded a retraction and apologies (which they got.. that act never helps to delete the aftershock waves). But I am quite sure that they were doing so empathising our great father - Mahatma Gandhi. I do not really know how many of them truly empathised with the "real" agreeved party in that derisive comment from Lady Clinton - 'the petrol pump Gandhi'.
It is such a shame that these hard workers (Indian, Bangladeshi & Pakistanis alike) who brave the odds (life-threats included) for a pittance, were the ones being wronged and the apology was not rendered to them.
Or is it that I am mistaken & the apology was directed in the correct direction?
Okay.. I should have googled first before asking ... Here is a link on the Petrol-Pump Gandhi Episode:
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/06/elec04.s.mo.farmer.clinton.ap/
Perhaps, it WAS recognized that the INDIAN community was being tittered at and the apologies were indeed directed to assuage the petrol-pump-wallahs.
Anuj, Thanks for the comments and information. First of all, I think Hillary didn't mean (and wouldn't dare) to insult Gandhiji. However, I did have a feeling that she was stereotyping Indians w/petrol pump operators. I think there is no need for us to feel offended because any where you go in the US, you see Indian petrol pump owners. It is kind of weird that we managed to infiltrate so well into gas station/hotel/motel businesses. We shouldn't be so sensitive and stern.
For example, people all around the world make jokes about Americans. Even when there is an element of truth to the humor (ridicule), Americans go with the flow and enjoy the humor. They don't go around burning effigies of Musharraf or Sonia Gandhi. I strongly believe that people in our subcontinent get agitated about these things due to deep-rooted inferiority complex.
Post a Comment