If They Can't Take the Punches, It Don't Mean a Thing

I have seen in a couple places the contention that Claire, on Heroes has been given a passive, weak, stereotypically girly power- the ability to take unlimited amounts of abuse with good humor and aplomb. With due respect to those who have espoused this view, I would like to dissent from it.

Claire is the second most powerful main character on the show, and the third most powerful overall. I would love to say Claire is the most powerful, but I can't- Hiro is an atrocity of power, and Sylar seems pretty excessive also. But, next to Hiro, Claire is the most powerful among the heroes of the show.

( There are spoilers (sort of) for episodes that have already aired behind this cut. )