UPDATE below
I have resisted writing about any of the rumors of Hillary’s ill health. Until now.
We’ve seen Hillary freeze in the face of protestors, appearing to have no idea how to cope with them until one of her handlers (Secret Service? Personal physician?) tells her to keep talking. Hillary’s had prolonged coughing fits while campaigning. She’s also needed help to climb a few stairs.
Today in New York, while attending a 9/11 Memorial service, Hillary fainted and was escorted to a waiting van for the short trip to her daughter’s apartment in Manhattan. Her staff reported she was overheated despite it being only in the 70’s. (Good thing she wasn’t at Liberty Farm yesterday where the temperatures were well into the 90’s!) Somewhere along the line Hillary lost a shoe so she is hobbling toward the Secret Service van when she appears to collapse again as she tries to enter the van. See the story and videos here. For the next 90 minutes Hillary was out of communication and no press was allowed anywhere near her. After that she emerged from her daughter’s apartment building, said she felt fine, and left to recover at her home in Chappaqua.
Now even the Washington Post is questioning Hillary’s health. This from Chris Cillizza who has staunchly defended her and her health as recently as last week. Today he said,
Whereas Clinton and her campaign could laugh off questions about her health before today, the “overheating” episode makes it almost impossible for them to do so. Not only has it come at a time when there was growing chatter — with very little evidence — that her health was a problem but it also happened at a 9/11 memorial event — an incredibly high-profile moment with lots and lots of cameras and reporters around.
But the issue is that Clinton kept reporters totally in the dark for 90 minutes after her abrupt departure from the 9/11 memorial service for a health-related matter. No reporter was allowed to follow her. (Clinton has resisted a protective pool for coverage because Donald Trump refuses to participate in one.) This is, yet again, the Clinton campaign asking everyone to just trust it. She got overheated! But she’s fine now!
Clinton may well be totally fine — and I certainly hope she is. But we are 58 days away from choosing the person who will lead the country for the next four years, and she is one of the two candidates with a real chance of winning. Taking the Clinton team’s word for it on her health — in light of the episode on Sunday morning — is no longer enough. Reasonable people can — and will — have real questions about her health.
I agree with Cizzilla. Reasonable people are questioning Hillary’s health. We deserve answers.
More on the story here and here.
UPDATE, as of 5:30 this evening Hillary’s campaign is reporting that she was diagnosed with pneumonia two days ago. From the Washington Post:
“Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies,” Dr. Lisa R. Bardack said in the statement. “On Friday, during follow up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. 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.”
Pneumonia is debilitating and it’s not something she can recover from instantly. She will need to take days, if not weeks, off from campaigning. Hillary is very ill.
UPDATE: Here’s video of Hillary attempting to get into the Secret Service van this morning. Judge for yourself.
