Pro-Con Analysis of Hillary Clinton's candidature

PRO

Experience

You couldn’t ask for a more experienced candidate than Hillary Clinton. Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio may huff and puff about the senator vrs governor debate but none has direct top level federal/national government experience. From domestic policy to legislative policy to foreign policy, this is one president who wouldn’t have to learn on the job. Her role in government wasn’t just symbolic. It was pivotal: member of cabinet and the National Security Council. There aren’t a lot of politicians who can say “I was in the Situation Room on the day we got bin Laden.” As far as resumes or CVs go, Mrs Clinton looks great on paper.

Substantive

Hillary Clinton is no show boat. In fact she is wonkish to a fault. On the day before her 2016 presidential announcement bid, POLITICO wrote an article titled “Wonk Warrior” in tribute to Hillary’s comfort with policy heavy lifting. In that article they wrote “Her problem is that she’s far more interested in the how than the why of the presidency, and views her greatest assets as a willingness to engage all participants in a debate and a workmanlike capacity to hammer out policy solutions.” That doesn’t sound to me like a problem at all. In the same article author Glenn Thrush concedes though by saying: “Policy is what Hillary Clinton lives for...” True to her nature the speech was a serious minded address more notable for its policy bias than the number of people moved to tears. Even when Clinton got personal, it dovetailed back to policy. This is her greatest strength: her ability to engage in the nuances of policy work rather than the stylistics of imagery. 

Name Recognition

The reason Hillary Clinton started her campaign as late as she did was because she could afford it. The reason she has adopted the strategy she uses is because people already know her. She isn’t fighting to be known. In fact some will argue she suffers from being too well known. The Clinton brand is one of the most well known in modern politics both domestically and globally. If being president was merely about name recognition or popularity Hillary would have won this hands down. Hillary Clinton is not the kind of candidate who needs to release a YouTube video answering basic Google questions about her identity. She’s known quantity.

Perseverance

Hillary may not be a great campaigner a la Barack Obama but she’s sure got some stamina. Throughout her life, both in private and public, Hillary has demonstrated an ability to go the long haul. This is something that should serve her well. Great things come to people who are not willing to give up or so they say. No wonder she’s chosen “fighter” as her preferred definitional phrase for her persona. It suits her perfectly. There’s absolutely dissonance between frame and persona.

Global Recognition and Foreign Policy Gusto

Americans named Hillary Clinton has been the most admired woman anywhere in the world for 17 out of the past 18 years in the yearly Gallup Poll. The Clintons are well known and admired worldwide. If America was looking to reset their relations with the world, no one better than Hillary will be well positioned to do so. She was America’s chief diplomat during the Obama first term. Before then she got a pseudo rehearsal as first lady. Then there’s the Clinton foundation. The Clinton’s seem to have been auditioning for world president all their lives. Many nations wouldn’t have to learn how to get used to them and this kind of familiarity will come in handy in the intricate world of international relations. Did I mention that she was Secretary of State? I think Hilary has as much foreign policy experience as any candidate can hope for.

Realpolitik

Mrs Clinton is not new to political gamesmanship. With all her experiences from Arkansas to the White House to New York to the campaign stump to the State Department, she knows ins and outs of politicking both within and outside government. She has been called many names but political neophyte wouldn’t be one of them. These instincts should serve her well during the campaign and in government if she makes it.

CON

Baggage

It is pretty clear by now that Clinton’s long involvement in politics comes with much baggage. There are many who will waste little time in pointing on some of her missteps in her political life from her failed attempt to formulate health care policy for the country to her record at the State Department. In addition, the very name and memory of Clinton ignites harsh and bitter partisan sentiments that run deep. This may not be the time to analyze why but the point is that the Clinton’s are both beloved and derided within American politics. The Republican Party is as vocal, visceral and galvanized in their antipathy and opposition to Clinton as they can be. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people turn up on Election Day to vote motivated by their desire to see a non-Clinton presidency than anything else. This is definitely a hard place to be for any candidate who hopes to win a national election. 

 

Personality, Charm and likability

The importance of personal attraction in electoral politics cannot be underestimated. While people want to elect substantive and knowledgeable people as presidents, the smartest person doesn’t always win. Voters are attracted to people with charm, charisma and warmth. Campaigns represent n opportunity to engage and from relationships with voters so there’s a personal aspect to it. Over the years this hasn’t been one of Clinton’s strongest suit. No matter how bright she is on the policy issues her inability to connect on the emotional level with voters might hurt her.

Scandals & Trustworthiness

There are just too many scandals swindling around Hillary Clinton. From Clintogate to emailgate to Beghazigate, they just keep coming. To be a presidential candidate and be subpoenaed by a Congressional Committee doesn’t sound appropriate to me at all. These are serious and credible scandals bothering on issues of trust, judgment and credibility. It will be a huge accomplishment should Hillary pull through despite these hurdles. Not surprisingly these scandals have eroded the level of trust voters have in her according to recent polling. 

Gender

Hillary’s gender and age obviously places her at a disadvantage from the get go. The very fact that America hasn’t elected a female president before makes this an uphill task in and of itself. Next Hillary’s age has been framed as a disadvantage by her opponents and this is of concern because elections are about the future. These are two things Hillary can’t change.