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senz

(11,945 posts)
85. Best explanation I've heard, thereismore.
Thu May 5, 2016, 03:14 PM
May 2016

Her diehard followers have projected themselves, their struggles, and their suffering onto her, so every criticism, EVERY FACT, is another horrible, unfair attack on one who stands, in their minds, for long-suffering womanhood everywhere. It's similar to what the RCC did with Mary; Hillary has become an archetype of religious figure, in their minds and hearts. I think Mary is sometimes called Our Lady of Perpetual Suffering -- and this name is perfect for what Hill supporters have created with Hillary, as well. OLoPS.

They haven't made this psychological transfer with any other woman, and that is why they are strangely unmoved when we tell them we prefer a different woman, like Elizabeth Warren. Sen. Warren's gender doesn't count in the same way for them. If you support EW or any female, but not Hillary, you are sexist. They see EW only as support staff for Hillary. They are unable to see the profound ideological and ethical differences between EW and HRC, but they are aware of EW's strong standing with Democrats, which they convert into an unspoken endorsement of Hillary. (Entirely ignoring EW's contrasting ideology.)

The identification, the projection, is so profound that, as you brilliantly pointed out, everything that happens to Hill happens to them, as well. Her success is their success. Her victory over that terrible man, Bernie Sanders, is their victory over all the forces of patriarchal evil. It doesn't matter that he has always been a better feminist than Hillary. That's why they call every single criticism of Hillary "rightwing" regardless of the content of the criticism.

With Hill's female supporters, as we've seen here, this projection/identification even comes down to her physical appearance, how she's doing in the female attractiveness department. During debates and speeches, they coo about how she looks, what she's wearing, while completely ignoring what she says. If anyone dares to criticize her physical appearance, they go nuts. It is strictly verboten, an instant alert, surefire hide. Even photos of her that aren't attractive are perceived as unthinkable insults to the goddess. This also explains why so many of her followers, especially females, insist on using a very old photo of her as their avatar -- because in their minds she will always be eternally young and lovely, as they wish they could be. Imagine if Bernie supporters insisted on avatar photos of him as a young man! How bizarre that would be -- yet this is what Hill supporters do.

Her behavior, her dishonesty and lack of ethics, her horrible domestic and foreign policy mistakes, simply don't count; they are not really "her," in their minds. Their goddess, like Mary, is pure. Nothing, not even her own character, her own actions, can touch her.

But there is another group of Hillary supporters, and these are the ones who are either a) on the campaign payroll, b) subdued by her (and possibly the DNC's) political power and influence, and/or c) adherents to the ideology that promotes the corporate takeover of government (replacing democracy), the exploitation of the lower middle and lower classes, and a class society. They are essentially conservative authoritarian. They are not, by any stretch of the imagination, liberal/progressive. They use social issues divisively, as rightwing talk radio does, but turned inside out. So Bernie's supporters, even those of us (a majority, I think, on DU) who are female and feminist, are in their minds, young white sexist males. Bernie's supporters who are PoC (e.g. Nina Turner, Rosario Dawson, Killer Mike, Cornell West, and others) don't count. This is the cynical manipulation of serious social issues.

So there are at least two classic types of Hillary supporter. I hope someday this phenomenon will be recognized, analyzed, and dissected in the media.

One frightening parallel with Trump followers is a strong penchant for blind adherence, blind obedience, to an authoritarian leader. That is dangerous. So with these two, Trump and Hill, we, as a people, are in a precarious position.

Because they have no defense other than to attack. Kip Humphrey May 2016 #1
.that^ X100 840high May 2016 #2
Things like the deception over trade policy are just impossible to explain away Baobab May 2016 #121
They are attacks only and you are helping GOP: lewebley3 May 2016 #32
Third way rubbish. R. Daneel Olivaw May 2016 #44
You are correct. OwlinAZ May 2016 #49
Post removed Post removed May 2016 #75
Wait, which is it. Is Sanders a lefty fringe-hair commie R. Daneel Olivaw May 2016 #86
Just the truth: Fame has gone to Sanders head: he got a swelled head lewebley3 May 2016 #78
I guess you tole me... R. Daneel Olivaw May 2016 #87
That is an attack AgerolanAmerican May 2016 #108
.+1 840high May 2016 #115
probably 3 factors--it becomes personal, it's seen as a nefarious Republican corruption MisterP May 2016 #3
I'm curious why, passiveporcupine May 2016 #30
They attack Hillary because she is a threat to the GOP: Many people hate woman lewebley3 May 2016 #33
Many people hate "third way" corrupt power. R. Daneel Olivaw May 2016 #45
Just another Sanders smear: Sanders by your def is corrupt too! lewebley3 May 2016 #76
Oh, yes. You got me. Bernie is so corporate power. R. Daneel Olivaw May 2016 #84
it is not a sanders smear that she supports increasing the H1B visa people and the hollysmom May 2016 #109
They live vicariously. When she breaks the "greatest glass ceiling", they do as well. thereismore May 2016 #4
yes (sadly) Kip Humphrey May 2016 #35
The voters supporting Hillary are very poor: its rich white kids wanting lewebley3 May 2016 #40
That's rich... FailureToCommunicate May 2016 #42
She is gving all her money to the Dem party to help the poor lewebley3 May 2016 #80
You are blatantly telling falsehoods. R. Daneel Olivaw May 2016 #46
No its true:Sanders is supported by mostly white males and white college kids lewebley3 May 2016 #81
On DU I'm pretty sure most Bernie supporters are middle-aged women senz May 2016 #90
or old ones like me who went to college for free hollysmom May 2016 #110
German colleges are accepting applications OwlinAZ May 2016 #54
You've got it, thereismore! 71 year old woman here, long time Democrat. Peace Patriot May 2016 #50
Thank you. Yes, projection is the technical word. thereismore May 2016 #57
Best explanation I've heard, thereismore. senz May 2016 #85
Thank for for a great long response! What a mess, huh? thereismore May 2016 #92
wish i could tweet this yuiyoshida May 2016 #95
Pretty sure it's more than 144 characters, yuiyoshida. senz May 2016 #97
make it its own topic yuiyoshida May 2016 #98
Okay, I don't tweet, so this must be senz May 2016 #99
Yup, go to the sanders group yuiyoshida May 2016 #100
Sorry I never got around to it, yuiyoshida. senz Jun 2016 #132
JPR sounds great... yuiyoshida Jun 2016 #133
Thank you! I'd never heard of Chu's Day before. senz Jun 2016 #134
CHU's day is one of my favorite girl bands, here is their top hit ... yuiyoshida Jun 2016 #136
Very lively, expressive. They're good! senz Jun 2016 #137
most welcome yuiyoshida Jun 2016 #140
Nicely stated. There definitely seems to be that sort of blind adoration BillZBubb May 2016 #107
I just saw this, a week later. pangaia May 2016 #113
Excellent post. 840high May 2016 #116
Excellent analysis emsimon33 May 2016 #120
it's an interesting take on it, and I think you make some really good points. I would disagree about Gene Debs May 2016 #123
I don't think they fully understand what has happened to them senz May 2016 #124
You nailed it. Thank you for telling the truth. n/t Avalux Jun 2016 #125
I really don't see a big difference between Trump and Clinton notadmblnd Jun 2016 #128
That's one outstanding post, senz! RufusTFirefly Jun 2016 #131
wow, senz NJCher Jun 2016 #138
Because they can't argue issues because Hillary's stances on them are weak and JDPriestly May 2016 #5
yup it is rtracey May 2016 #8
Actually, it will be the problem of the Hillary voters. JDPriestly May 2016 #9
Yup. Look out Bernie supporters. Stryder May 2016 #41
Yup. We need to pay attention to how we're being manipulated. senz May 2016 #88
Low post # Stryder May 2016 #94
Is that phot in the bottom corner a photo shopped photo of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump blended Seeinghope Jun 2016 #129
Seems to be. I cribbed it from another DUer yesterday. senz Jun 2016 #130
^^^THIS^^^!!!!! Dustlawyer May 2016 #106
It is up to Hillary and her campaign to convince SheilaT May 2016 #11
Don't forget more fracking and more shitty, job-killing trade agreements. Gene Debs May 2016 #21
Hillary and Bill created 22million jobs and pulled 7.4million out of proverty lewebley3 May 2016 #39
I believe the luck of the 90s was not their doing. R. Daneel Olivaw May 2016 #47
Are you counting the jobs lost as a result of NAFTA? n/t markpkessinger May 2016 #67
Jobs were not lost under the Clinton's: They were lost under Bush: lewebley3 May 2016 #77
That's because of the timing . . . markpkessinger May 2016 #91
She has moved far enough to the left. Enthusiast May 2016 #48
No more lesser of two evils maindawg May 2016 #15
Some of them might write in Bernie's name. senz May 2016 #89
Or as many WI voters will do, go to the polls and write Bernie Sanders in.. HeartoftheMidwest May 2016 #17
No it won't. It will be the democratic party's fault for being corrupt and pushing a dangerously haikugal May 2016 #58
We have argued the issues on behalf Hillary very well: Sanders has no lewebley3 May 2016 #34
And why should those of us ablamj May 2016 #68
You should vote for Hillary to protect the poor: The GOP won't lewebley3 May 2016 #74
I'm not rich ablamj May 2016 #93
her husband was a disaster for the poor. hollysmom May 2016 #111
because rtracey May 2016 #6
"Because they have no defense other than to attack." AgerolanAmerican May 2016 #28
Hillary supporters have only defended themselves against the sick Bernie Bros lewebley3 May 2016 #36
-------------Farron Cousins nails it----------------- turbinetree May 2016 #7
I think it's a function of compartmentalization. Kall May 2016 #10
Not a function of compartmentalization: Infact Hillary is over all the best choice: lewebley3 May 2016 #37
Wow, so evidence-based. Kall May 2016 #43
Its your opinion only: Hillary has been successful and reliable with about everything lewebley3 May 2016 #73
Oh please. Kall May 2016 #82
Again no jobs lost under the Clintons: only under Bush: just a the facts lewebley3 May 2016 #83
she helped with the TPP when it started - do you thionk she does not know what she is doing? hollysmom May 2016 #112
She can't even understand Indiana flobee1 May 2016 #70
Hillary didn't run any ads in Indiana: She is saving her money for the general lewebley3 May 2016 #72
Because "OMG you're helping Trump!!1!" Jester Messiah May 2016 #12
In some cases... yeah, you are. tinrobot May 2016 #14
Bullshit. Jester Messiah May 2016 #16
Wrong! R. Daneel Olivaw May 2016 #60
Because personal attacks on other Democrats is unproductive tinrobot May 2016 #13
So... Kall May 2016 #18
That's a lot of projection... tinrobot May 2016 #22
Oh, brother. Kall May 2016 #23
Those are good points.... tinrobot May 2016 #24
The point is Kall May 2016 #26
--- because they realize there is no progressive substance to her. Its like when an atheist Hoppy May 2016 #19
K & R! TIME TO PANIC May 2016 #20
K&R yuiyoshida May 2016 #25
The ame way Bernie folks do when we criticize him. redstatebluegirl May 2016 #27
Why Do BERNIE Supporters Lose Their Minds When You Criticize Him? trueblue2007 May 2016 #29
Sanders has been crushed by Hillary: Sanders is not facing the facts its over lewebley3 May 2016 #38
This message was self-deleted by its author IHateTheGOP May 2016 #31
I could say the same thing about Bernie Sanders supporters UMTerp01 May 2016 #51
Because you Sanders people are now trespassers on this election. Gomez163 May 2016 #52
Trespassers? truebluegreen May 2016 #62
No Hillary Vote 86derps May 2016 #65
We never had your vote. Try another one. Gomez163 May 2016 #66
Not now 86derps May 2016 #71
lol Skittles May 2016 #69
Why do Sanders supporters lose their minds when facts are pointed out about Sanders? Thinkingabout May 2016 #53
get fucking real Skittles May 2016 #55
Her flaws resemble the republicans a whole bunch. onecaliberal May 2016 #56
This message was self-deleted by its author IHateTheGOP May 2016 #63
Have you stopped beating your wife? apcalc May 2016 #59
Because the truth hurts. Farron nailed it. nt Land of Enchantment May 2016 #61
This message was self-deleted by its author IHateTheGOP May 2016 #64
Conservatives (what a laugh it is to call a middle class person that) believe Jackie Wilson Said May 2016 #79
I voted for Bernie this past March... Stellar May 2016 #96
I am #22 on the Sanders Group ban list. I was banned for criticizing him. Buzz Clik May 2016 #101
I am 193 on the Clinton 840high May 2016 #118
Obvious answer. She is our nominee and attacking her at this point only helps Trump. Trust Buster May 2016 #102
Her actual flaws as a candidate become "trashing her". I submit: silvershadow May 2016 #103
Something to do with personally identifying with her? Experiencing attacks on her record as if the bjo59 May 2016 #104
OMG, that's really rich coming from a Sanders supporter. Lil Missy May 2016 #105
Gotta agree with Farron's comments. This primary has really bbgrunt May 2016 #114
Because Carolina May 2016 #117
They have an image of her which 840high May 2016 #119
False assertion. I'm a supporter and I haven't lost my mind over a criticism. CreekDog May 2016 #122
Honestly both sides of the coin holds such personalities littered throughout.... AuntPatsy Jun 2016 #126
Because your criticisms are mostly untrue. upaloopa Jun 2016 #127
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2016 #135
Only when it is imaginary teabagger bullshit. Darb Jun 2016 #139
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