Why is Hillary Clinton so polarizing?

Question

People either love her or hate her. Nobody is indifferent about her. What is it about her that polarizes people so much?

Answer 1

I wish I knew the answer. Bill and W are the same way.

You could make the case that its simply the product of our parties RETURNING to being more ideologically homogenous (ideological heterogeneity in parties was really only present from 1920 to the late 1990s). With party leanings reinforcing ideological leanings, you get more intense feelings.
You could also make the case that, for all three of these folks, they represent something as a PERSON that the other side doesn't like. Bill possibly represents moral ambiguity to conservatives; Hillary might represent a more strident feminism that some (CERTAINLY not all) conservatives object to; W. represents a silver-spoon background who shows little intellectual curiosity (different from intelligence)..and that pisses off us Ivory Tower folks as well as the more populist-types amongst liberals.

In other words, these 3 have been so polarizing because of WHO they are, not WHAT they advocate. It's a theory, but I'm far from convinced it's a good one. The cases of Newt Gingrich, Al Gore, and John Kerry would suggest that the former partisan theory has more going for it. However, I wouldn't dismiss the "personality" theory...there's a lot of political psychology around in-groups and out-groups that could support a theory like that.

Answer 2

It probably has a lot to do with being Bill's wife and supporting him during his term. People who didn't like Bill are as unhappy at his "mandate" won by a lot less than a majority of the popular vote, just as Bush bashers are still mad that he came to power with about 48% of the vote. Both would do well to get behind run-off elections instead of complaining about minority Presidents.

Her charge that a "vast right wing conspiracy" was out to get Bill also seemed like a "cry baby" response to critics who were just doing what critics on all sides have always done to Presidents they oppose.

The "I won't be a little Tammy Wynette standing by my man" remark, followed by doing just that, also rubbed a few people the wrong way.

People not being ready for a woman president is also a factor for some (still), but I suspect it is a rather small factor and many of those who don't like her would gladly vote for Liz Dole for example.

Whoever is nominated by both parties will be seen as "polarizing" by their opposition, by the way. Calling Hillary any more or less polarizing than other candidates is just hype I think.

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Answer 3

Many women love her because:

1) She is a woman, like themselves
2) She is a scorned women, which many scorned women can identify with
3) She is pro-choice, and this is important for many women
4) She is a socialist, which the disenfranchised gravitate towards. Folks "without" often want more benefits from government, and she would promise this.

Many folks dislike her because:

1) She lies, maybe more than her husband.
2) She is a socialist. Lots of her speeches are peppered with phrases that support the concepts of "We" or "the group" or "government", and thoroughly revile the "individual."
3) Threat to freedom. Individualism, free speech, the right to keep and bear arms, property rights, and such could be diminished significantly if she becomes president (and has her way).

That about sums it up from my point of view.

Answer 4

There are some reasons, but the main reason is that Fox News is terrified of having her as President. It would destroy many of their 'basic doctrines'. Just look at the condescending way O'Reilly, Shep Smith and Hannity (This idiot spends half of his 'Hannity's America' drivel on 'The Clinton Chronicles, The Clinton Saga, The Clinton Story, The Clinton Something, and the gullible believe all this crap) treat women on their shows.
Why any self-respecting or intelligent woman (this automatically excludes Coulter and Malkin, of course) even appears of any of these shows is beyond me.
But, they are fighting a losing battle.

Answer 5

Because she's been demonized by Limbaugh and other pseudo-con pundits for the past 12 years. She's what makes the howler-monkeys howl.

Why do the pundits on the right have such a woody for her?? Only they know.

Answer 6

She is superficial, moving to a state and running for senate where she never lived nor has any long-term interest beyond political. Also, she puts on a fake personality, sticking by her cheating husband whom she doesn't seem to like, for political reasons and she has a reputation for being very mean to people around her when not on camera.

For the people who don't like her, it's more because of her personality but her political views are overall quite popular so she has a lot of support as well.

Answer 7

Because she is fake as a 3 dollar bill, She is a Socialist borderline communist, And her health care package will put 90% of small businesses out of business. Other than that it might be because she is a bit butch and we are a bit sexist

Answer 8

Her husband, and the general mistrust of her specifically (with multiple good reasons).

BTW it is not just Republicans and independants that do not like her, find her poloraziing, or distrust her, many Democrats feel the same way (proven in poll data).

Answer 9

Because the media continues to make this a theme. Makes for good news story.
Just like Howard Dean's "scream."

Answer 10

She is a hypocritical,egotistic, Socialist, panderer, sexist the likes of which we have never seen before.
Heil Hilary !