January 5, 2013 6:33 AM

Hillary Clinton's concussion: Yet another example of Right-wing hypocrisy and double standards

Several commentators on the right opined via Twitter and TV, those most deadly hosts for the parasites of rumor and innuendo, that Clinton was faking her concussion to duck out on her appearance before congressional committees investigating the attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans…. [T]he attacks on Clinton during her illness, essentially attacks on her character, have been cruel and unfair…. Clinton, who fainted as a result of dehydration after a bout of flu, hit her head and suffered a concussion, after which a blood clot was discovered. She had to be hospitalized while blood-thinning medications were administered and monitored. Although her critics backed off once the clot was reported, initial responses ranged from “She’s faking” to demands for proof of her concussion.

I generally have little use for Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker. Too often, her columns are reflexively Conservative, light on facts, and prone to logical gyrations that too often make her a lightweight read. As a very wise man once told me, though, “Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and again.” To her credit, Parker’s recent column on the irrational suspicion and hatred directed at Secretary of State Hillary Clinton nailed it. As often as I’ve criticized Parker, I feel honor-bound to give her credit where credit is due.

The facts surrounding Sec. Clinton’s condition are widely known and generally not in dispute…unless you’re a Right-wing blogger or Far Right Conservative who harbors a visceral hatred of all things Clinton. The RWNJ (Right-wing nutjob for the uninitiated) community (if it can even be called that) has convinced itself that Clinton has come down with what John Bolton called a “diplomatic illness” during an appearance on Fox News Channel. If Condoleeza Rice had suffered a similar injury during her tenure as Secretary of State, no one, least of all the RWNJs, would have uttered a peep in disbelief. Hillary Clinton, by dint of her impenetrability, her gender, and her political party, will under no circumstances be given the benefit of the doubt by the RWNJs. Nor will be she be accorded the decency and humane treatment the RWNJs would reflexively and unquestioningly provide to Republicans.

The viciousness of the pundit class is disheartening and disgusting. And these days everyone’s a pundit. Got an opinion? Why, step right up to the microphone. If you’re “good TV,” you too can be a “contributor.” ….

Reputations and lives are ruined on the tines of pitchforks glimmering in the light of torch-bearing mobs. And those are just the “news” shows.

One doesn’t have to be a fan of Hillary Clinton, though a Bloomberg poll says that two-thirds of Americans are, to feel tainted by the relish with which she and many others have been attacked — unfairly and disproportionately. Susan Rice, who was Obama’s favorite to replace Clinton as secretary of state, comes to mind.

Clinton has over the years bemoaned “the politics of personal destruction,” a phrase that accurately encapsulates how the Right attempts to destroy talented, capable, and intelligent Democrats on a personal level. The RWNJs, and their allies on Capitol Hill, have discovered that whisper campaigns are an effective way to destroy someone. Even better, it leaves no tracks; no one can be held responsible for destroying the career prospects of dedicated public servants whose only crime is being seen as “too Liberal.” As a card-carrying RWNJ, even if you have nothing of value to offer, you can still destroy a gifted public servant’s career.

Mama would be SO proud….

The truly disturbing thing about the “controversy” surrounding Sec. Clinton’s concussion is the deafening silence emanating from those critics who demanded proof of her concussion. Where are they now that’s she’s been diagnosed with a blood clot related to her concussion? If you’d been thinking they’d be offering abject, heartfelt apologies to Clinton for their hateful mistrust and clumsy attempts at character assassination…you’d be mistaken. I suspect it’s part of whatever Code the RWNJs live by: slash, burn, destroy, impugn reputations, start whisper campaigns, but never, EVER apologize. The RWNJs are, in their estimation at least, never wrong…because to admit error would be tantamount to accepting that they should be held accountable. If there’s one thing these RWNJ cowards live in fear of, it’s the idea of being held responsible. In their world, throwing rhetorical bombs and engaging in whisper campaigns are their inalienable free speech rights; indeed, in their estimation they’re patriots merely exercising their prodigious and boundless love of country.

Hypocrites.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on January 5, 2013 6:33 AM.

The 2nd Amendment: As outdated as the blunderbuss was the previous entry in this blog.

Remembering Farrell Hogg: A wild, untamed soul who wasn't afraid to wallow in the mud is the next entry in this blog.

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