Clinton addresses a table of voters at Cafe Espresso in Potsmouth, NH (Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
In a brief, unguarded moment yesterday, Hillary Clinton gave us a peek behind the curtain.
It was great. In breaking down and becoming emotional at a diner in New Hampshire, she may have done more for herself than all her handlers and consultants and campaign strategists could ever dream of doing. She became one of us. In all the years I have watched Hillary in the public eye, I don't remember ever seeing her like that.
And maybe that's part of her problem. Not that anybody has asked, but what if Hillary threw away the script? Instead of lecturing and speechifying and hitting us over the head with her resume, what if she focused on the shared concern the vast majority of people have about the future of their country. That's exactly what Barack Obama has tapped into, and it seems to be working quite well for him.
See the American people are not as easily manipulated as some people think. We really do get it. It's just that it sometimes takes a while to wake us up.
I think we're awake now. And the candidate who recognizes that fact and realistically taps into our hunger for our leaders to level with us will be the next president. The problem for Hillary is it may already be too late. But at this point, what has she got to lose?
Here’s my question to you: Should Hillary Clinton throw away the script?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Dennis writes:
Unscripted? Not a bad idea, but Hillary crying reminds me a bit too much of Dean screaming. Edwards said it: the campaign trail is a tough business for all of them. I believe presidential candidates need to maintain their composure and keep their cool when the rest of us are angry, sad, or upset. People riding emotions end up voting for things like the Patriot Act.
Janet from Andover, New Hampshire writes:
Hillary's phone volunteers here in N.H. seem to be winging it already. I got a call this afternoon asking if I was going to vote for Hillary. When I said "No", I was asked "Why not?" When I said that there were other candidates whom I liked better, the woman snarled "It's not a popularity contest, you know!" Nasty, nasty.
Bucko writes:
Hillary learned her politics at the elbow of one of the most charismatic, off-the-cuff, unscripted politicians of our time. She should use that experience to present herself exactly as she is and not as a resume running for the presidency. She has the skills and the experience to do the job better than any of the rest; she just needs to let it out.
Kevin writes:
Why is does it now seem as if Bill Clinton is running for president? Don't we have term limits in this county? I am 34, male, white, independent, informed and voting for Barack Obama. I will vote Republican before voting for Hillary Clinton.
Bettina writes:
I have never liked Hillary Clinton one bit. I have likewise never been inspired to write in to your wonderful TV program, but this question, I had to answer. Something about Hillary moved me yesterday. She should definitely drop the script because yesterday she wasn't an overt politician, she was a strong and real woman.
Carroll writes:
This is a message to Bill and Hillary Clinton: When the party is over, it is polite to leave!