The thing you notice most about Hillary Clinton is her accent, which rambles around on a continuum from Yale Law School to super-Dixie–depending on what she’s talking about. Or to whom. On 60 Minutes a few weeks ago, Hillary exhibited a distinct twang: “Ah’m not jus’ any ol’ little Tammy Wah-nette standin’ bah mah man,” she’s famous for saying.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
I figured she meant just me. But when I arrived, a few dozen women filled the office–do-gooders, women on welfare, political activists, businesswomen–and Hillary was talking about some of her best friends, like the actress Mary Steenburgen. “Even though we’re here to discuss political causes, what really makes life worth living is relationships,” said Hillary, with distinct prairie-state flatness. “This election is really important,” said the blond, former Republican Park Ridge native–with no trace of anything south of Homewood.
Then Hillary, who described herself as a woman of privilege, peppered some socioeconomic campaign rhetoric with words such as “bringin’” (as in home the bacon), “bustin’” (as in butt, in order to bring home the bacon), “workin’,” “takin’,” and “gonna.” The Arkansas twang crept in as Hillary got more excited and forgot where she was and who she was talkin’ to.
Hillary’s point was incomprehensible, lost in her politically incorrect indignation. She seemed to lose control–in a controlled sort of way. I couldn’t tell what teed her off so much or what she was trying to tell this woman. (Later, the woman came over to Hillary and shook her hand, trying to explain her point about the fund cut a little better. But her point was clear the first time.)
