Opinion: Mrs. Roboto

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The uncanny valley theory of robotics states that as an entity becomes more human-like, it eventually reaches a point at which people react to it not with empathy, but revulsion. Hillary Clinton’s clenched-jaw debate face seems to demonstrate the point.

Clinton has been unfairly blasted, especially by conservative talk-radio hosts, for her throaty laugh. She’s been criticized for showing her wrinkles and her cleavage. Most of this can be dismissed as the ravings of angry, pink-skinned males threatened by a powerful, mature woman. But that smile! Seriously, it’s got to go.

Clinton’s fake smile is undoubtedly brought to us by image consultants who have been urging the candidate to soften her look by pasting a mirthless grin on her mug and keeping it frozen in place even while Barack Obama is pissing all over her healthcare plan. After watching her for 10 minutes in a debate, my face starts to hurt — it’s like she fell into the same vat of acid that turned Jack Nicholson into the Joker.

In person, Clinton is not the robot-like figure she seems in speeches and debates. Maybe it’s coincidental, but it seems like Clinton’s nosedive in the primaries started happening at around the same time she went into Permasmile. She’d do better by simply being herself.