Hillary Clinton: Why is She Hated by Progressives and Right-Wingers Alike? [View All]

Published on Sunday, July 15, 2007 by the Independent/UK

Hillary Clinton: Why is She Hated by Progressives and Right-Wingers Alike?

America’s anti-Hillary Clinton alliance is growing by the day

by Leonard Doyle

WASHINGTON — There is something about Hillary that raises the blood pressure of otherwise easy-going Americans - and they don’t need to be Republicans. At a 4th of July barbecue, with the band working its way through the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, I made the mistake of asking a pleasant young woman what she thought of Hillary’s chances. Red white and blue fireworks were going off over Capitol Hill, as she morphed into the sort of person who goes on the Jerry Springer Show. She would “never, ever” vote for America’s most famous politician, she said. More than 50 per cent of Americans agree with her.

With everyone on tenterhooks over terrorism and the looming defeat in Iraq, there is a febrile atmosphere in the US. Many are taking their anger out on Hillary as she attempts to break through the last remaining glass ceiling. Something called the “Hillary Conundrum” has emerged to cause deep unease inside her party while giving comfort to the Republican party, which by now should be in disarray.

The most seasoned political honchos are uneasy about the candidate who looks like a shoo-in as next year’s Democratic nominee for the presidential elections. Hillary has the war chest, a formidable political machine and she is riding highest in the opinion polls.

She is probably the most competent in the field. Virtually everyone agrees that she should have the best chance of wresting the presidency from the Republicans in 2008 and repairing the damage from the wrecking ball (omega) of the Bush presidency. She also has Bill Clinton by her side, a formidable campaigner who took to the road for the first time in Iowa this month.

But behind the scenes, Americans are deeply worried at the prospect of having Hillary (and Bill) back in the White House. While she inspires ordinary women voters, men are not so moved and she has the highest voter-disapproval ratings of any top-tier candidate in the race. She also has a big problem with left-wing feminists.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/15/2545/