The Insecure Male Behind Hillary Hate

[ehrnst]

Having covered Clinton for 20 years, Mr. Junod discussed the phenomenon of male Hillary-hate, declaring that it is “deeply, deeply sexual.” But how can it be when those who “hate” her make her out to be so undesirable? According to Junod, Hillary is “an attractive woman with a full and appealing laugh,” yet she is painted as a “mean nun.”

Further, it is as if no one can feel anything good about her without reflexively adding a negative. Why? Even while Junod reminded us that Hillary’s had long been a “trailblazer” and was the first woman with a shot at “real power,” he tempered his compliment by insisting “she is not a transcendent figure,” telegraphing competitiveness with, or fear, of the encroaching female. Clinton’s tireless work to empower women here and around the world presented us with a unique opportunity to grow societies’ economies and help the peace process, since it is proven fact that when a society’s women are involved, peace has a better chance of being achieved, and of lasting. What could have been more transcendent?

Junod, Barro and others must see “transcendence” as the purview of the male, automatically diminishing the female. While Junod gives no reason for the “deeply sexual” roots of Hillary hate, he gets the reason right: Power. Sex is power. In that light, the “mean nun” descriptor makes more sense.

By the way, Josh Barro’s Twitter bio reads: a man at night and a man in the morning.

No comment.

https://anitafinlay.com/the-insecure-male-behind-hillary-hate/

[DURHAM D]

1. This has gone on forever.

In late 1972 a Republican party operative told me they were watching Hillary Rodham. I said "Who?"

He responded "You know that girl on the cover of Life Magazine and one who graduated from Wellesley. She gave a speech that insulted Senator Brooke." I just looked at him and he went on to say she was one of those women libbers and they were afraid she would become really prominent in the effort to pass the ERA. He went on for several minutes about how smart she is and their fear of her.

That Republican operative was one of three people who started The Heritage Foundation. He is still active in the Republican party.

[ehrnst]

2. OMG. (nt)

[northoftheborder]

4. Too many sick insecure men around.

Mothers, teach your boys well. And a father who respects their mother is extremely important.

[shenmue]

5. Yes

[ehrnst]

3. The sheer number of clearly unresolved mommy issues towards Hillary that pop up here on DU

now is mind boggling.

[athena]

6. Great article.

My only consolation is that those men will never have a woman half -- even a quarter -- as attractive and smart as Hillary even mildly interested in their company.

Perhaps that's what makes them so bitter and hateful. It's a vicious circle.

[radical noodle]

7. I wish someone could explain

the females who are infected with Hillary hate. I know a lot of women who fall into that category.

[ehrnst]

8. Women who derive their identity and power from the men they align with

Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, the women of FoxNews.

So many young women are profoundly influenced by media and popular culture that the more desirable you are to men, the more power you have. And it's not even conscious.

I think that so many of the young white women that followed Bernie were aligning with men. Yes, Gloria Steinem put it poorly, but yes, those young women were supporting their men.

What their man hates, they hate. What their man is passionately interested in, they are as well.

Much like the women who supported Trump.

[radical noodle]

9. Thanks for the reply

I can see how that could be the reason for many of them.

[athena]

10. That explains so many things.

I thought I understood why some women hate Hillary, but I really didn't. I thought it was some form of jealousy or defensiveness, or learned sexism. But what you say makes so much sense. Many women are married to men who, despite knowing very little, will speak with great authority about every topic, including politics. Their confidence dazzles their wives, even when they are more knowledgeable than their husbands.

In fact, I recently lost a good friend because her husband decided to be angry with me because of a perceived slight. In this case, the woman is smart, reasonable, and the breadwinner, while the man is unstable. She's convinced that he's a brilliant creative type. She must have decided in the end that he knew better.

BTW, she also supported Bernie. She saw him as a good man with integrity. I now think that this was probably her husband's view. It's sad to see such a strong and intelligent woman conform her views to her husband's so easily.