The Hatred That Dare Not Speak Its Name

I’ve been going around the block on the Obama v. Clinton, Clinton v. Obama thing. Really, I don’t care which one gets the nomination. They both have terrific credentials. They both have assets that make them great candidates, and they both have negatives.

I wrote earlier about the “Obama is a secret Muslim” lie, which seems to have legs (indeed, a Kansas newspaper reprinted the phony allegations from that e-mail as if they were fact. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that other small town weeklies have done likewise.)

So when a friend tells me that she thinks Obama will “at least get a honeymoon,” I’m not convinced.

On the other hand, when Hillary Clinton supporters say she’s been “vetted,” I just don’t buy it. The Clinton hatred out there is palpable. A Clinton still can’t get a fair shake by the media (this nonsense from Clown Hall is a case in point, as is this bullshit from ABC News’ Jake Tapper).

The media will peddle the most insane things about a Clinton, just because they can get away with it. No lie is too outrageous, from Bill Clinton being a serial rapist to Hillary Clinton murdering Vince Foster. Really, these right-wing lies set a low bar for what is acceptable from the rest of the punditry. The media has been poisoned by these smears, and we need to quit acting surprised when “legitimate” media figures like Chris Matthews make outrageous anti-Clinton statements. It’s tame compared to what’s been said by DrudgeCo, and is absolutely predictable after 15 years of well-poisoning by the right-wing media.

You’re not vetted, Sen. Clinton, because they keep making up more shit about you, and they show no signs of stopping.

This is going to be a problem if Hillary Clinton is the nominee. But as the “secret Muslim” e-mail makes clear, it’s going to be a problem if Barack Obama is the nominee, too. It's a problem for both candidates, and Obama supporters need to wake up and quit acting like they're getting some kind of pass. You're not.

Bottom line: Democrats need to address this reality, or we’re going to lose in November.