The XX Factor: Slate women blog about politics, etc...

The Authenticity Robot

Dahlia argued yesterday that Obama is appealing because it's simpler "to be yourself than to be a piece of precision machinery." At the outset of Hillary's victory speech last night, she claimed to have had an epiphany along these lines: "Over the last week, I listened to you, and in the process I found my own voice." The crowd roared, and I was moved, too. I'm undecided still, but leaning toward Obama (even though he seems a little windy) because I think he has a better chance in the general election. When I heard Hillary's opener, I was momentarily convinced that her Iowa loss, the debate dust-ups, and the Diner Sob--and the seemingly positive voter response to all of it--had delivered us a new Hillary, one who can win: open, honest, authentic. But then the speech rolled on, and as the crowd subsided it became possible to hear the clanking of her political apparatus as it shifted from the Experience setting over to To-Thine-Own-Self-Be-True: "very full heart", "we all spoke from our hearts", "politics isn't a game", "this campaign is about people". A calculated pitch to show how authentic and uncalculated she is!

I'm happy about the New Hampshire results. It's great Democrats will have more time to make their decision. But I don't think Hillary the Authentic will be convincing for long.