McClatchy’s Take on Hillary

It’s generally understood that if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, it won’t be by virtue of a sterling reputation. Although at the time of this writing she leads in most polls, she enjoys all the popularity of soggy brussel sprouts. The right hates, the left yawns, meme accounts roast, and the youth cringe. Her unfavorability ratings consistently surpass 50%.
So what thinketh McClatchy? Are we representative of our nation, and if not, where do we fall? In an effort to find out, I interviewed a diverse pool of fifty CKM students and faculty, of all grade levels and program-affiliations.
Of those I interviewed, 90% said they would not consider Hillary a “likable person.” What stood out most about this group was an inability to articulate the reason why. Aside from a thoughtful few, interviewees “umm”-ed prolongedly when I pressed for the reason behind their discontent with the candidate. After some time, most settled for something like “untrustworthiness,” “fakeness,” or “she tries too hard to appeal to youth.” The quick but poorly thought-out “no’s” suggest that there’s just something innately cringeworthy about the Democratic nominee.
To better understand the common, subconscious aversion to Mrs. Clinton, I dug deeper with a follow-up question: “What animal do you think represents Hillary’s personality traits?” This inquiry revealed much about people’s unflattering perceptions of her. For although most struggled to communicate their issues with Mrs. Clinton explicitly, many could identify an animal that embodied her perceived faults. One interviewee only shook his head when I asked why he didn’t like Hillary. But when I asked for an animal? “A snail, because she’s slimy.” There you go.
I got many intriguing responses. One student compared Hillary to a chipmunk, because chipmunks hold nuts in their cheeks like Hillary “holds secrets from the public.” Another likened her to a jellyfish, for “spinelessness.” A faculty member said the former Secretary of State reminded her of a sly fox. Nine of the fifty survey-takers chose a snake. Other picks included chameleon, jackal, naked mole-rat, praying mantis, and komodo dragon. You can infer the connections.
Despite all the bashing, there was some good news for Mrs. Clinton. 40 of the 50 survey-takers said they’d vote for her, despite any qualms with her personality. 37 of these 40 admitted that blocking Donald Trump from the white house was their primary motivation, however.
To put it shortly, McClatchy sees Hillary Clinton’s character as if through a “Bernie or Hillary” meme. But now that the proposition is “Donald or Hillary” instead, it would be wise to forget any petty misgivings about personality and support the lesser of two evils. Thankfully, the contrast between her likability rating and polling numbers shows our school realizes this. Come November, hopefully the rest of the nation will too. If the US hopes to save face, we must apply to Hilary’s faults Mr. Trump’s own advice – “Deal with it!”