Were Sen. Hillary Clinton's tears the key to her surprising New Hampshire victory? Is it a positive or a negative for her to show emotion on the campaign trail? Here's what DiversityInc readers had to say:

I feel her show of emotion was definitely a sign of strength. I too get emotional over my country. I bleed red, white and blue and will do whatever is necessary to keep her safe. I am a former soldier [who] now works for the government as a civilian Marine, and I am so proud to do so. This is a great nation and to watch it get abused by the present administration is maddening to say the least. I applaud Hillary for being so genuine and letting America and the world see how passionate she is about this magnificent country.

--Jocelyn Hart

Her tears definitely moved the voters in New Hampshire. However I don't need a teary-eyed president of either gender to start to break down behind a presidential race. What happens if there is a real threat of security in this country? Is she going to break down and start weeping? It was a pathetic way, whether real or not, to get her way. It worked once. It will not work again. Hopefully, Barack Obama will not comment on her crying. That will only make him look "insensitive" and propel Hillary forward.

--Onaje Allan Gumbs

I am disgusted by anyone that would perceive Hillary's expression of passion and caring for this country as weakness. Here you have one of the core problems in the social culture of this country. A person can be both caring and competent at the same time.

--Marjorie Facio

The notion that [both] showing emotion and being tough as nails are mutually exclusive is pure macho nonsense. It is equally possible to be both at the same time as it is to be one without the other. We know all too well the danger of having a tough, rigid leader who operates without emotion. Give me a leader who is both tough and emotional any day. After all, a leader without humanity can never be a true leader of humanity.

--Dan Brown

Hillary Clinton's show of emotion was viewed by many as being "staged" and not genuine. While I don't believe her "humanity" is a sign of weakness, I question the authenticity of that public display of emotion. It's a very calculated move on her part. Of all the years Hillary has been in the public eye, including her husband's humiliating infidelity where any show emotion from her is not only appropriate, it would have been viewed as very human, alas, no signs of any emotions from her--not anger, not sadness, nothing. She was stoic throughout. So, I have to question her motive. Is she weak? Heck, no! Is she genuine? I don't think so.

--Aitam Tran

I think she is full of it. Just like her husband.

--John Nulph

I don't think showing emotion is a sign of either strength or weakness. It is a visible sign of emotion. Presumably, people who don't cry also have emotions but just don't show them. It would be very scary to think that not crying means a candidate does not have emotions!

--Martha Murphy

No, Hillary's teary eyes were NOT a sign of weakness, but one associated with the realities of the pressures connected with a presidential campaign, and with balancing the image of being a strong and dependable woman with that of being a caring and feeling human being.

--Ines Fraenkel

When one knows that s/he is right about something and that folks are not getting in, it can bring tears down one's cheeks. There is no doubt about her strength. She is an extremely strong woman we can count on.

--Yank Auguste

Obama is the only candidate who has demonstrated so far during this short campaign that he possess the ability and will of spirit to unite Democrats, Republicans, independents, women, men, youth (both young and old). He inspires hope and activism even among citizen who have become disillusioned with the whole political process.

--Sylvia Iverson

I was moved by her show of emotion. I believe it reveals her humanity more than anything else. We all know Hillary is a fighter, but this shows a side we have not seen before. She has my vote.

--Ed Manti

I think that women, as are people of color, [are] dammed if they do, damned if they don't. The whole time she has been advised to not show emotion at the risk of displaying weakness. But then she is berated for being too unemotional. Then when she breaks down, and rightfully so in light of the grueling schedule and stress she has been under, not to mention the importance of this election, she is then accused of playing to the audience. Frankly, I think that she needs to find her own voice … and speak to what she feels and believes in. The reason why we need a woman in office is so that we have an honest conversation, but not the McCain type. Go Hillary! We need you.

--Josie Herrera

She's human. I cry when I get REALLY MAD. Men misinterpret this "skill". She has successfully transitioned from White House First Lady to senator. And in N.Y. of all places. She's tough. I think they are afraid of her.

--Sandra Nichols

Tears come from passion, strength and commitment, and certainly in times of sadness. However, tears are only a sign of weakness in weak people, and Hillary is definitely not a weak person!

--Laura Hedges

I think those tears were a sign of weakness and guilt. Clinton bashed Obama during her campaign. Her husband had the nerve to throw stones although he lives in a glass house.

--Elnetha Pickett-Martin

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