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Remember that “coughing fit” that Hillary’s people and doctor claimed was absolutely nothing? In fact, they completely castigated anyone in the media who said that it raised issues about her health.
Well, now that she was caught on video nearly collapsing during the commemoration for the victims of the 9/11 attacks, her medical and campaign teams have a new excuse: She has pneumonia.
A statement from Dr. Lisa R. Bardick, Clinton’s personal physician, explained that her rapid exit from Sunday’s event — when she had to be carried to her van by security and was seen being propped up and struggling to stand — was all due to pneumonia.
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“Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies. On Friday, during follow-up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia,” Dr. Bardack’s statement read.
Dr. Lisa R. Bardack, M.D., Clinton's doctor, says the Democratic nominee has pneumonia. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/qloLbhjdZy
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) September 11, 2016
“She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule. While at this morning’s event she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now re-hydrated and recovering nicely.”
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I know that pneumonia isn’t the most pleasant thing in the world to have. However, take a look at video of this — with Clinton tripping over a curb and losing a shoe — and tell me that this doesn’t look less than good for someone who’s faced continuing rumors over health problems.
Hillary Clinton 9/11 NYC pic.twitter.com/q9YnsjTxss
— Zdenek Gazda (@zgazda66) September 11, 2016
Back during the Watergate scandal, America became familiar with the term “limited hangout” after John Erlichman used it with President Nixon to describe how to handle the mounting evidence the White House was involved with the break-in at Democrat National Committee headquarters.
Former CIA Deputy Director Victor Marchetti described a “limited hangout” as when a spy or other figure engaged in subterfuge realizes that their “veil of secrecy is shredded and they can no longer rely on a phony cover story to misinform the public” and “they resort to admitting — sometimes even volunteering — some of the truth while still managing to withhold the key and damaging facts in the case.
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“The public, however, is usually so intrigued by the new information that it never thinks to pursue the matter further.”
Now, of course, this could just be pneumonia. After all, she did show her face to the world after resting at her daughter’s New York City apartment. (Gosh, I wonder why it wasn’t Bill’s?) Two things, though. Let’s start by pointing out that firstly, lingering pneumonia is seldom a sign of good health.
But secondly, and more importantly, Hillary Clinton does not have the collateral of trust with the American people. We’ve all seen how she handled the events surrounding her email server, which was done with limited hangout tactics. We saw what happened back during her husband’s adultery scandals, which were handled with limited hangout tactics. We’ve seen how she handled Benghazi with limited hangout tactics.
When it was her needing help to climb stairs, anyone who questioned her health was a right-wing lunatic. When it came to a mysterious coughing fit, we were all blowing things out of proportion. Now, when she probably fainted just from standing up out in public, it’s simple pneumonia. Nothing to see here!
Why on earth would we trust this individual to be straightforward about her health when she hasn’t been straightforward about anything else? Nothing Hillary Clinton has done should lead anyone who’s paying attention to genuinely believe her.
It’s time for a thorough and rigorous evaluation of Hillary Clinton’s health and medical records by an independent board of physicians. Nothing else can or should reassure voters that she has the necessary strength to perform the duties of the presidency.
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