Even if you’re a seasoned veteran of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority’s subway system, it can still be a pain in the ass whenever time is of the essence. Have a big meeting to get to across town? Seems your MTA card decided to bail out beforehand. Trying to catch your train before it leaves the station? Tough sh*t, because this turnstile doesn’t care about your commuting needs. Such was the situation former New York senator and current Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton found herself in on Thursday, when her Metrocard decided to #FeelTheBern during a photo op with the press.
Reporters from CNN and MSNBC, as well as several local affiliates, caught Clinton swiping her card fives times at the 161st Street station near Yankee Stadium. She spent much of her time on the train talking with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and making occasional comments about the election, but all anyone seemed to care about was that damned anti-establishment turnstile. Even with CNN anchor Carol Costello and Clinton surrogate Randi Weingarten arguing about the campaign off to the side, the footage of Clinton’s subway fiasco was mesmerizing.
Unsurprisingly, Twitter had many giggles to make and criticisms to utter about the spot. Everything from sympathetic comments about the MTA’s difficulties:
Yes, it took Hillary Clinton three or four swipes to get through the turnstile. Also, it takes everyone three or four swipes.
— Dan Merica (@merica) April 7, 2016
@danmericaCNN took me like a dozen swipes yesterday morning
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/jbarro/status/718072420687544321
https://twitter.com/oliverburkeman/status/718106336693764096
To jabs at the would-be President’s inability to swipe a simple card through a simple turnstile.
@danmericaCNN dan i think you're doing it wrong
— Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) April 7, 2016
@danmericaCNN only takes me one swipe
— Matthew Claiborne (@MattJClaiborne) April 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/status/718100868764147713
https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/status/718101661101789185
https://twitter.com/AndrewStilesUSA/status/718084027350196225
Just like George H.W. Bush baffled by a checkout scanner, except not mythical.https://t.co/Qslc29cWkw
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) April 7, 2016
Hey, remember when the NYTimes used to mock candidates for things like Clinton's subway stunt? pic.twitter.com/woJ5nBI4HD
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) April 7, 2016
(Via Mediaite and Huffington Post)