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In Iconic Photo, Clinton Is Aghast—or Just Coughing?

The photo is 'riveting,' but it may be misleading

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted May 5, 2011 8:17 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Situation Room photo taken during the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound has quickly gained "icon" status, racking up 1.6 million views in 38 hours. On Salon, Joan Walsh called it "riveting," noting that "Hillary Clinton is beyond anguished; her hand is over her mouth, her eyes red-rimmed." But it turns out she might not have been "anguished" so much as "suffering from allergies," the AP reports.

"Those were 38 of the most intense minutes," Clinton says. "I have no idea what any of us were looking at at that particular millisecond when the picture was taken." But why was her hand over her mouth? "I am somewhat sheepishly concerned that it was my preventing one of my early spring allergic coughs," she explains. "So, it may have no great meaning whatsoever." Click for another reason to be wary of the photograph.

Hillary Clinton and others in the Situation Room.
Hillary Clinton and others in the Situation Room.   (AP Photo/The White House, Pete Souza)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
JoeQ
May 8, 2011 12:53 PM CDT
Looks like she had Olive Garden for lunch.
acerbus80
May 6, 2011 6:54 PM CDT
This is pretty obvious to me. She was pulling a drag off a Marlboro Red (that she bummed off the prez) because she was so stressed out and the White House staff conveniently photochopped it out. Duh...
browzman
May 5, 2011 12:35 PM CDT
Nobody caughs like that. She is showing human emotions and everyone should appreciate it.
 

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