Hillary Clinton's Sniper Comments Simply An Effort To Fit In, In A Man's World

RFFM.org Commentary by Daniel T. Zanoza

I never thought I would find myself defending Hillary Clinton, but there are times when we must all simply bite the bullet.  However, why am I, a man, the only one to figure out the reason for Hillary Clinton's exaggeration when it came to her trip to Bosnia where she told reporters she was dodging sniper bullets on an airport tarmac.  It's really very simple.  Sen. Clinton is operating in a man's world.  She doesn't have any old football stories to tell.  She doesn't have memories of taking off from the flight deck of the U.S.S. Forestall on the way to a bombing mission in North Viet Nam.  Well, Barack Obama doesn't have such stories to tell either, but somehow, being a man, he doesn't have to.

The media's much to do about nothing is just that.  And I shouldn't have to sound like a feminist in my attempt to defend her because there should have been plenty of others to support the former First Lady in the mainstream media.  But they are so busy playing "gotcha" on behalf of Obama that Mrs. Clinton is not catching a break where one is due.

This is really strange, yet I thoroughly understand where Hillary Clinton was coming from.  What do you do to fit in with the macho mindset that comes along with being the Alpha leader, in any endeavor?  There are no locker room renditions of daring do's to share with the good ole boys while they pat each other on the back over a cold beer.   

I know I am showing my more feminine side with the writing of this column, but the truth is the truth.  Clinton probably thought the situation in Bosnia was fraught with danger and, if it wasn't, she wished it had been--to the point the sniper story became real.  Let me tell you this.  If people are saying Mrs. Clinton can't be trusted because of this faux pas, they missed the boat regarding her honesty a long time ago.  Whitewater and the Rose Law Firm come to mind.  However, let's not go there for now.  I would rather Hillary Clinton exaggerate about a visit to Bosnia in the late 1990's than for her to sit in a church where a Reverend tried to do his best impression of David Duke for 20 years and pretend she was never in attendance when the offensive words were spoken.  There's no comparison in the two political gaffes, even though the media has tried to portray Hillary Clinton as Darth Vader and Barack Obama as Luke Skywalker.  There it is again, that macho thing--which is so prevalent in our society.

So, in this case, I'm going to give Hillary a big, "you go, girl," and tell the dominant press to get a life.  Perhaps those imaginary Bosnian snipers were shooting at the wrong imaginary people.

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Comments

[charlie]

Dan, much as I hate to admit it, you have a point. She just wants to look like she has some experience to talk about. Her husband got away with things like that, and so does her rival Barack, but those supported by the press are allowed those little exaggerations, after all, who expects a politician to tell the truth? Of course, most who have really been under fire, would often rather speak of other things, and those who are exposed to real "sniper fire" are often dead. Funny we train politicians that bending the truth is OK by voting for them. We shouldn't be surprised when they keep doing it.