The irrational hatred of Hillary Clinton boggles my mind. After all, this woman is quite accomplished in her long career of public service. I have come to the conclusion that she is disliked primarily because she is a woman whose strength and unapologetic determination is regarded as lacking in feminity. It is fundamentally an unhealthy case of “sexism”. Attributes such as strength and courage are rarely celebrated when found in a woman. I think it is also partly the reason Hillary has related so well to black women and other minority groups. 

During Hillary’s campaign for the presidency, she has consistently reached out to black women. Let’s not forget, she began her long and impressive career working with a black woman, Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. I had this thought again while watching the Democratic Convention and listening to the speeches delivered by the ‘Mothers of the Movement’. I discerned a very real connection between Hillary and the black mothers who had lost children to gun violence.

As I read through the Slate article, The Hillary Haters, I noted  one common thread, most, if not all, of the vehement haters were white people. Maybe Hillary is becoming our first black female president after all..

“It may be that the moment she starts to claim more power, it elicits a negative response,” 

Republicans and the corporate news media, have done effective damage to the image of Hillary Clinton. This media bias is very real and borne out by the research data. Right wing propaganda, conspiracy theorists and GOP talking points have smeared, maligned and vilified Hillary Clinton to the American people with vicious consistency. Who can withstand a constant barrage of negativity? Yet this woman, against an onslaught of hate-filled propaganda, has persevered. I give her much credit for that.

For example, when I watched Hillary testify for 11 hours straight during the Benghazi hearings, that Republican circus, I knew then that she was the best choice to succeed Barack Obama for president. Her toughness and stamina, her calmness under pressure and her intelligence in responding to the relentless questioning demonstrated her character and strength for leadership. In my opinion, the treatment of Hillary Clinton, and the level of hatred that is heaped upon her is similar to that of the hatred I have seen heaped upon black people in the United States of America. It’s peculiar. It’s sport. It’s insane.

I like Hillary, and Barack Obama for that matter, for their pragmatic approach to politics. Pragmatism doesn’t always enjoy popular support. In some cases it turns people off entirely. It’s not sexy. It doesn’t titillate. Pragmatism in politics is a workhorse, and it makes the effort to reach across the aisle.This is something that Hillary and Obama seem to have in common. Politics, after all, is the art of compromise. So, it makes perfect sense that the first black president will likely be succeeded by the first woman president. This is the real ‘revolution’, and both Hillary and Barack are and will be held to a very different standard.

I predict Hillary will win in November, but if Donald Trump were to take the White House, heaven forbid, the blame will lie squarely on the backs of hateful GOPers, low information voters, Hillary haters, Third-Party supporters and Bernie-or-Bust cultists.Truth be told, Libertarians are disgruntled Republicans, and the Green Party folks are disillusioned Democrats. Let’s face it, a vote for Third-Party candidates, Jill Stein or Gary Johnson is a vote for Donald Trump. As for me, I’m headed for the Hills! #StrongerTogether!