Can Clinton survive healthgate this time?

A video of Hillary Clinton at a 9/11 ceremony in New York captured her appearing to stagger and faint. Her campaign claimed that she was diagnosed with pneumonia two days ago and she felt overheated at the ceremony. The media has launched a wave of comments on her hiding of her health conditions, Global Times writes in an editorial piece published on Sept. 13.

On Monday, Clinton was interviewed by CNN, in which she said she’s “met a high standard of transparency” about her health and didn’t think the pneumonia was “going to be that big a deal.”

However, she may not be able to persuade some Americans who already have doubts about her integrity.

There are less than two months to go before the vote for the next US president. A few days later, Clinton is expected to face her rival Donald Trump on TV. Earlier, she interrupted her speech involuntarily in a coughing spell, and blamed the incident on Trump by saying “Every time I think about Trump I get allergic.” In the days that follow, she may lose a certain number of voters whenever she coughs.

Clinton will turn 69 next month and Trump is already in his 70s. The Americans have just realized they are witnessing a political rivalry between two elders, in which the average age of candidates from both parties is the highest ever.

The age of recent US presidents has been relatively low. When Bill Clinton was elected for the first time, he was only 46, George W. Bush 55 and Barack Obama 48. This time, the Americans have to choose from two elders. Some analysts believe such a stark contrast reflects the confusion of US society in this complicated era, as it needs someone who is sophisticated and experienced to make decisions.

A president in the White House requires a strong body, as the graying of Obama in the course of his job shows. Clinton fainted even before she is elected, which has frightened the US society.

Clinton has been hit by two waves of emailgate this year, but she remains largely unscathed. The US mainstream opinion has been tolerant toward her, probably because many US elite hate Trump very much. They prefer Clinton no matter what she has done. Consequently, she is likely to be unaffected by the latest healthgate.

The competition between Clinton and Trump in this year’s US presidential election is like a struggle between different factions. This election has shown how much the two are divided. Right now, Clinton has to make sure not to let her opponent catch her next tripping, while for Trump, whether he will succeed depends on how he will persuade the Americans to gamble with him.

This year’s US presidential election is like a farce. The US is standing at crossroads. So is the world. First and foremost, let’s see how the Americans salvage themselves.

Source: Global Times (http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1006340.shtml) Published: 2016/9/13 22:53:39