Fascination with Clinton's health 'quite bizarre,' says Canada's ambassador to the U.S.
Part of it's just social media...and the fact that there hasn't been a lot of policy discussed: MacNaughton
Canada's ambassador to the United States has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Hillary Clinton's health scare, branding the attention the issue has received in the media as "quite bizarre".
"It is quite remarkable the attention, and the media focus on her getting into a vehicle," David MacNaughton told CBC News Network's Power & Politics. "It's quite bizarre actually."
"I feel badly for Secretary (of State Hillary) Clinton and I'm sure many of us have had ailments like pneumonia before. I think that with rest she'll get over it," he told host Rosemary Barton.
On Sunday it was revealed that Democratic Party presidential nominee had been diagnosed with pneumonia. Her campaign made the information public after a video emerged of the candidate stumbling and then being helped into a van by her secret service detail.
Clinton took a break from campaigning but has since told supporters she's feeling better.
Thanks to everyone who’s reached out with well wishes! I’m feeling fine and getting better. -H
—@HillaryClintonMacNaughton said the fascination with Clinton's health stems from a lack of policy debate in the presidential election campaign.
"Part of it's just social media, 24-hour news cycle, and the fact that there hasn't been a lot of policy discussed, so people focus in on things that perhaps aren't the most important," he said.
MacNaughton admits to being critical of the U.S. media in the past, but says the length of such a sustained campaign is part of the problem.
"We went through an election last year where we were all complaining about the length of our campaign," MacNaughton said. "But when you think about them, I don't know how they do it, and how the media does it. It's 24-hour news now and everybody's looking for the latest little tidbit. It's not terribly uplifting."
