righteous anger

This extract from an email to (Obama-supporter) Andrew Sullivan is quoted approvingly on his blog:

I was in a good mood as I walked to the subway this morning -- it was sunny out and I was enjoying my coffee.  As I crossed the street I past a woman wearing a "Hillary" cap, and I became overwhelmed with anger.  I caught myself, and felt stunned and ashamed by what I had just experienced.   This morning I realized my opinions on how much damage would be left in the wake of Hillary's march to the White House were no longer the product of some abstract political conversation I was having in my head.  No, I too was going to be one of those Americans torn apart by the Clintons' divisive and dishonest brand of politics. 

Now, if you're thrown into a fit of overwhelming anger by the sight of a Hillary baseball cap, and then you blame, not yourself, but Hillary Clinton for your irrational rage, then I'd suggest that reflecting on the kind of politics you approve or disapprove of seems rather besides the point. You need therapy.

Comments

[wolynski]

I've lived in America for 36 years and I've never seen such animosity to do with elections - and that's amongst democrats, no less. Hillary and Obama have practically the same position on every issue, so what's the problem?

I have no idea why Obama is considered "inspirational" or even a good speaker - his clipped, pedantic tone is grating.

I have no idea why Hillary is so despised - she's intelligent, eloquent and tough. Her vote on Iraq was abominable, but then Obama wasn't even in the Senate yet, so he should crow. Obama has voted for every war funding bill, so why is he considered anti-war?

Why is Hillary considered the spoiler and not Obama? The states he's carrying so easily against a Democrat, he'll lose to a Republican.

I don't understand anything anymore.

[Batocchio]

I agree on the therapy part. Sullivan himself has a hatred of all things Clinton that goes far beyond anything rational. I'd have to dig up the post - I believe it was Kevin Drum or Ezra Klein - but one of them observed that Sullivan ascribed absolutely everything either Clinton did to some sinister calculation. It's striking, because while American right-wingers share this pathology, plenty of more moderate Republicans felt begrudging respect for Clinton, and Sullivan fancies himself an independent thinker. Certainly most Americans preferred Clinton's administration to the current one!