Yesterday, Hillary Clinton endured 11 hours of the Republicans' Benghazi hearing circus. (I sent her $11 last night -- one dollar for every hour.)
I use the word "endured" because that's what women do best. We smile, we nod, we seethe inside. We have to if we want to keep our jobs, or get a better one. Or if we want men to like us, we dare not rail outwardly at the subtle insults we so frequently endure. It might hurt their feelings.
We make sacrifices. We work through the pain. It's always expected of us.
Why can't Hillary Clinton be "authentic"? Because she's a woman -- and worse, a woman in politics. Can you imagine Bernie Sanders putting up with that shit yesterday? Hell, no. He probably would have pounded the table, told the committee members to shove it up their collective ass, and stomped out of the hearing room. Even the journalists would have cheered.
But Clinton doesn't have those options. In order for a woman to become president, she has to be a robot. She can't show emotions. She has to smile when they badger her, she has to listen thoughtfully as they spout lies and insinuations.
She has to think like a hostage.
And don't think she wasn't a hostage. She wasn't free to leave. She had to jump through those hoops, and she had to do it perfectly, with patience and without a hint of resentment.
She should get the Oscar.
I was in awe of her performance. I wasn't the only one. Last night, I saw hundreds of pissed-off women on Twitter who praised her ability to endure -- and sent money. I saw dozens of women voters who said, "I was leaning toward Bernie, but anyone who can endure what she just did has my vote." Even Republican women took to Twitter to express their outrage over the committee's treatment of Clinton.
This isn't how it works, Reince. This isn't how you get women to support your candidate, by bullying Clinton as if she's a criminal defendant.
There's still much that can happen between now and next November. But I'm pretty sure the Republican thugs just propelled Hillary Clinton into the White House. As Markos put it last night:
Hillary was "meh" with significant portion of the activist left. Thanks GOP, for helping change that!
— Markos Moulitsas (@markos) October 23, 2015
I was honestly on the fence until I watched the #BenghaziCommittee. @HillaryClinton was brilliant. #Hillary2016 https://t.co/bIlEMKnfxR
— Barbie Williams (@Barbie892) October 23, 2015
Hillary is made of steel. Unless she really screws up she has my vote and I never thought that would be the... https://t.co/Rxe1Pbzn2m
— Connie Devine (@Corrie) October 23, 2015
@albyselkie @HillaryClinton She handled it just fine. Before today I was looking at other candidates. Tonight, Hillary has my vote.
— twit2face (@twit2face) October 23, 2015
@tamrock74 Hillary now has my vote.
— gsmccann (@execoach12) October 23, 2015
@morningmoneyben I voted for Obama twice and was unsure about Hillary until today. She has my vote.
— JoAnn Peterson (@wilmaroohoo) October 23, 2015
#Hillary just convinced an undecided #voter she has my vote #BenghaziCommittee
— Pam Lewis (@pammielewis) October 23, 2015
#BenghaziCommittee Republicans making tiresome fools of themselves. HRC has won my vote by her measured, thorough, intelligent testimony.
— Katie Loss (@ktloss) October 22, 2015
Hilary, you got my vote. Anyone who can restrain themselves from attacking the MFers 4 10 hrs has my vote
Lol i just donated to Hillary. Never ever thought this day would come. It's not even necessarily an endorsement but omg she's earned it.
— John (@linnyitssn) October 23, 2015
