Face Your Mother

Last week on James Corden's late night show, he had Hillary and Chelsea Clinton on as guests to promote their book, The Book of Gutsy Women.  The interview was enjoyable and lighthearted, with a few thoughtful questions thrown in, like how to debate Trump.  (To precede that, Corden brought out the infamous photo of Trump "stalking" her in the 2016 debates).

After a commercial break, though, he had the two back for a game, "Face Your Mother."  For my taste, I think "games" are a bit over-used on talk shows these days, though occasionally they are amusing and well-done if they try to bring something substantive to the table, not just to be goofy.  Happily, this fell into the amusing category.  Mother and daughter each get separate questions, and the other tries to match it.

A couple of comments first. 

One of the questions is " What is one thing you think your mother is terrible at?"  The reason Hillary's answer is so brief yet gets a big laugh is that they had discussed this "weakness" at length during the interview, with a funny story of Chelsea telling her mother to stop not long after she'd learned to talk.

And second, another question is "What is your mother's most annoying travel habit?"  It's not that the answer Chelsea gives is anything special -- but considering Hillary Clinton's persona ("She's likable enough"), it's very unexpected and I found wonderfully endearing.

This is just a game.  One acts thoroughly differently than when on the campaign trail for president or simply at work.  But I would suggest that if a hint of this personality had come through during the campaign -- or during her career -- the results might have been different in 2016.  Again,this is playing a game.  Nothing is at stake.  I don't expect a high-end politician with issues of the world at stake to either act the same or even close.  But if this is part of your personality (which it clearly is). it's a shame that such things can't be seen, or weren't, if only in part.