Hillary Clinton's popularity serves as red flag to US hatred industry

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hillary Clinton's popularity serves as red flag to US hatred industry

Hillary Clinton: It has been revealed that the former first lady called Monica Lewinsky a "narcissistic loony toon". Photo: AFP

News that Hillary Clinton called Monica Lewinsky a "narcissistic loony toon" does not reveal a great deal about the former first lady.

But the reception to the news, and other tidbits garnered from the same trove of documents in which it was discovered, reveals much about how some Republicans plan to tackle the overwhelming favourite to be the Democratic Party's next presidential candidate.

Clinton made the ''loony toon'' comment at the height of the sex scandal that engulfed her husband during his presidency, and it was recorded in notes by a friend, the political science professor Diane Blair. Those notes, part of an archive that includes correspondence, diaries, interviews and strategy memos concerning the Clintons going back to the mid-1970s, have surfaced this week after they were accessed by the conservative online publication the Washington Free Beacon.

The story was amplified by the Drudge Report and Fox News, both outlets that made themselves part of the conservative media firmament with relentless attacks on the Clintons during the Lewinsky scandal.

Conservatives have found in the archive evidence of Mrs Clinton's alleged ruthlessness and of her support of a government-funded healthcare system. "'Ruthless' Hillary Clinton returns as the '90s make a comeback", read the headline of a column by the conservative Cathleen Decker.

Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency in 2016 has seemed likely since she lost the nomination to Barack Obama and inevitable since she stepped down as secretary of state.

Since then the Republican Party has been rightly concerned about her relentlessly high approval rating.

It is almost three years until the next presidential election but Clinton holds formidable leads over all rivals in her party and the country. Some polls give her almost three-quarters of Democratic support for the party's nomination and so far she leads the apparent Republican candidates. She holds a 20-point lead in a CNN poll over Jeb Bush, a former Florida governor and brother and son of two presidents. Against scandal-plagued New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Clinton leads by 16 points. Other rivals - former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Kentucky senator Rand Paul and Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who ran for vice-president on Mitt Romney's ticket in 2012 - trail Mrs Clinton by 17, 18 and 15 percentage points respectively.

Republican opponents have concentrated criticism on her role as secretary of state when four Americans, including an ambassador, died in the attack on the diplomatic and CIA compounds in Benghazi. This has failed to seriously undermine her.

Meanwhile, polls show the Republican Party is trailing among minorities and among women voters.

According to a CNN/ORC International poll released on Friday, 55 per cent of respondents said the Republican Party does not understand women. In this context it is perhaps not surprising that Paul has begun attacking the Clintons over the Lewinsky affair; reminding voters of the original scandal while tarnishing Clinton's status as a feminist icon. He has cast Bill Clinton as the predator who took advantage of the 22-year old-intern and Hillary as his cold-blooded defender.

It is hard to see Paul's tactic working. Despite years of Republican assault - including claims the Clintons were guilty of drug running and murder - Clinton left office with the highest approval rating of a president in US history of near 70 per cent.

Republican strategist Karl Rove has chastised Paul saying: "Frankly, Rand Paul spending a lot of time talking about the mistakes of Bill Clinton does not look like a big agenda for the future of the country."

If nothing else, the echoes of the Lewinsky years might remind Americans that the visceral hatred of the President by some opponents is not unique to the Obama era.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/hillary-clintons-popularity-serves-as-red-flag-to-us-hatred-industry-20140212-32i56.html#ixzz2tA4LAhyl

[Pooky 3,784]

Some people dislike her because she has a reputation as a deceitful, unethical b!tch that stretches back 40 years.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I doubt anyone got to high office by being nice.

[Pooky 3,784]

I doubt anyone got to high office by being nice.

Deciding the lesser of two evils is a poor way for the electorate to vote for who they wish to represent them in high office.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Fact of life. Unless you vote for extremists or fringe groups.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Papa Lazarou

[deleted-05292014 331]

Some people dislike her because she has a reputation as a deceitful, unethical b!tch that stretches back 40 years.

Isn't that as much of a misogynistic statement by calling her a (just because she is a woman) as if you called Obama a N***** because of his race?

Can you explain to me the difference?

I just think it's unfair to call women in seats of power "bitches" because they had to play hardball to get there. In men it is an admired trait ie: you know he was a hardass or a shrewd businessman to reach the top.

....and there you have it. Why Hilary will beat the Republicans because women will vote for her b/c of those types of sentiments.

[Pooky 3,784]

Isn't that as much of a misogynistic statement by calling her a ###### (just because she is a woman) as if you called Obama a N***** because of his race?

Can you explain to me the difference?

I just think it's unfair to call women in seats of power "bitches" because they had to play hardball to get there. In men it is an admired trait ie: you know he was a hardass or a shrewd businessman to reach the top.

....and there you have it. Why Hilary will beat the Republicans because women will vote for her b/c of those types of sentiments.

I do not call women in seats of power by a specific name, nor do I group women by a derogatory name simply because of their sex. I save specific terms for specific people and situations. I have called certain male politicians the same ... and worse.

And I abhor racial epithets under any circumstances.

Unlike you, however, I do not save my disparagement for politicians of a certain stripe. I have no political affiliation, nor do I need one. A vote for one party over another in this country is simplistic and only further divides the electorate. If you refuse to consider the policies of both parties, and whatever fringe candidates may throw in their hats, you do this country and yourself the greatest of disservices.

Hillary Clinton has been proven to be deceitful, unethical and more than willing to go the route of political expediency, rather than standing by her principles. I, for one, will not vote for her.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Some people dislike her because she has a reputation as a deceitful, unethical b!tch that stretches back 40 years.

It's just a vast right wing conspiracy.

[deleted-05292014 331]

I do not call women in seats of power by a specific name, nor do I group women by a derogatory name simply because of their sex. I save specific terms for specific people and situations. I have called certain male politicians the same ... and worse.

And I abhor racial epithets under any circumstances.

Unlike you, however, I do not save my disparagement for politicians of a certain stripe. I have no political affiliation, nor do I need one. A vote for one party over another in this country is simplistic and only further divides the electorate. If you refuse to consider the policies of both parties, and whatever fringe candidates may throw in their hats, you do this country and yourself the greatest of disservices.

Hillary Clinton has been proven to be deceitful, unethical and more than willing to go the route of political expediency, rather than standing by her principles. I, for one, will not vote for her.

Hey I was just asking...you called her a B I didn't. I'm just pointing out that that word is misogynist term mainly directed at women, and in particular it is used to describe women in power more often than not. In case you didn't know that, I'm just giving you a friendly bit of information.

I wouldn't say I save disparaging comments for a certain political party. I call them all out......and as far as who people vote for and why it is irrelevant. It is fundamentally our right, as Americans, to vote for anyone who we want no matter how ignorant or lack of justification that may be perceived. If you think differently then you fail to grasp the meaning of democracy.

That's fine you are free to believe she is deceitful or unethical. Hell you can call her a commie, I was just pointing out that you diminish whatever argument you have by calling her a B. It is the mistake that Republicans will make. Rush Limbaugh will soon be on the air telling his faithful followers that its ok to call her a C or a B to their own ignorant detriment.

[Pooky 3,784]

Hey I was just asking...you called her a B I didn't. I'm just pointing out that that word is misogynist term mainly directed at women, and in particular it is used to describe women in power more often than not. In case you didn't know that, I'm just giving you a friendly bit of information.

Most people will use the word in that manner, I agree. Personally, I do not. And I don't restrict that particular derogatory term to women, either.

I wouldn't say I save disparaging comments for a certain political party. I call them all out......and as far as who people vote for and why it is irrelevant. It is fundamentally our right, as Americans, to vote for anyone who we want no matter how ignorant or lack of justification that may be perceived. If you think differently then you fail to grasp the meaning of democracy.

I will be the first to admit that I have not read everything you have posted since joining the fray, here on VJ. However, in the posts that I have read, I have only seen you use derogatory references when writing about Republican, or conservative personalities. Hence, my assumptions regarding your politics.

You are indeed correct in your assertion that every American has the power to cast their vote as they see fit. I just wish more of them would engage their brain fully before doing so.

That's fine you are free to believe she is deceitful or unethical. Hell you can call her a commie, I was just pointing out that you diminish whatever argument you have by calling her a B. It is the mistake that Republicans will make. Rush Limbaugh will soon be on the air telling his faithful followers that its ok to call her a C or a B to their own ignorant detriment.

Hillary Clinton is no Communist. I lived in the UK through the 70's and 80's and experienced firsthand the last throes of Communism trying to subvert the government, ultimately unsuccessfully. The overblown fears of the talking heads are almost amusing, given how far from the mark they are.

As far them calling her names, I doubt very much whether it will have the slightest effect on the Presidential race in 2016. There are plenty of more serious points that will damn her candidacy. Plus, calling women names never hurt Bill Maher, when he did something similar.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Pooky