This is a Family Value?
Michelle Obama's husband is not yet officially the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, but she already is facing a lot of the hate e-mail, blogs and other diatribes spread by the crazy fringe of the Republican right-wing as Hillary Clinton has faced for more than a decade.
We saw the ultimate use of this hatred in the impeachment pro- ceedings against President Clinton, but it continues in the hate e-mail flying around without anyone stepping in to set the record straight.
One of the Hillary-Hate messages lifts selective quotes, labeled as "Marxist," that she cited in speeches and writings. They are simply presented out of context to make it look as though they expressed her beliefs. Fortunately there is Snopes.
So what is behind this hate spread by people who identify with the party of "family values?" (See sample posting to the right, which carries the label, "With apologies to the horse.")
One explanation could be that both Clintons are highly intelligent and well-read people, whether you agree with their opinions or not. The anti-Hillary e-mails that go round and round with little correction are spread by far less-learned people and perhaps that is why they support someone of the opposite mien, e.g., the current President Bush.
Even though women appear to be as well-represented among the haters as men, it could be they view a woman who appears to have a real shot at the presidency as "uppity," that her place is in the kitchen. And many of them appear to harbor racist ideas, as well, meaning that here in the 21st century they have not evolved along with most of the rest of the country.
Or their problem could be something else entirely. It is a puzzle. Until they are able to explain it themselves in a literate manner and with- out relying on cliches, Fox channel screaming and other unresearched statements passed around, how can we know.
People of this persuasion form the basis of the idea Clinton is a divisive candidate and might be least likely among the Democratic candi- dates to draw the votes of the undecided she needs to win the election, a feeling that could end up denying her the nomination.
Sen. Clinton is vulnerable for her stances on many issues, to a lesser extent because of her iceberg personality and lack of hands-on experience, but she should not be vulnerable to attacks based solely on deep-seated hatred practiced by these strange people.
