When Democratic front runner Edmund Muskie appeared to cry in 1972 while standing on the steps of the Manchester Guardian newspaper, it begin the end of his campaign. Muskie was frustrated by attacks from the newspaper's editor, William Loeb, on him and more importantly his wife.
May be Muskie cried. May be he didn't. It might have been snowflakes. But the appearance of tears was enough to effectively spread doubts about Muskie's manhood at a minimum and effectiveness as a leader at the maxium.
Ironically, Loeb's newspaper endorced Republican New Gingrich in this campaign season and gave Gingrich a must needed infusion of credibility. Gingrich cried last week. when Frank Lutz, friend and supporter of Gingrich asked him a question about Gingrich's late mother's last illness.
It seems acceptable for Republicans to cry but not Democrats. George H.W. Bush can cry when he preceives that people are picking on his son, George. But if Bill Clinton gets choked up about Hillary, people accuse him of being fraudulent. It is tempting to say that times have changed. But they haven't. Romney typically attempts to have it both ways--"I won't cry, but I do."
What should move people to tears is the idiotic statements made in Iowa about abortion. Rick Perry told people in Iowa today that he is proud to support legislation to end abortions in the case of rape and incest and to stand with the Founding Fathers about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In the same breath. What an obscenely ahistoric linkage. There is no basis in reality for that statement. Or that campaign.
