This past weekend, Hillary Clinton voiced her endorsement for a book that casts her in the light of a long-persecuted figure, subjected to decades of what the book describes as right-wing disdain. After sharing her praises for “The Hunting of Hillary: The Forty-Year Campaign to Destroy Hillary Clinton,” she curtailed responses to her post, only allowing comments from those she directly “follows or mentioned.”
Clinton’s exact words about the book on the social media platform were: “I’m biased! But I think Michael D’Antonio’s book, cataloging decades of right-wing misogyny and mythmaking, is a stunner.”
But in the vast sphere of the internet, voices find a way. Despite the restricted comments on her post, users didn’t hold back their views elsewhere.
One user pointed out a perceived inconsistency in Clinton’s stance: “What could be more misogynistic than advocating for men identifying as women to compete in female sports, access women’s private spaces, and establish definitions for ‘womanhood’? This seems to reflect true misogyny.”
Notably, this isn’t the first time Clinton faced online banter. Recall the 2022 instance when she requested movie recommendations during a quarantine period, following a positive COVID test, and the public had a field day with their suggestions.
Going back to the endorsed book, a 2020 publication, reviewer Joe Klein gave insights in The Washington Post. While acknowledging D’Antonio’s almost venerating portrayal of Clinton, Klein noted that the author draws a parallel between her and ancient myths – casting her as a symbolic representation of collective insecurities. The review also touched upon the Clintons’ purported lapses, especially their alleged sense of entitlement and questionable ethics.
One particularly intriguing excerpt from the book was a quote from former Democratic Arkansas Gov. and Sen. Dale Bumpers, giving an intimate look into the Clintons’ personalities. Bumpers observed: “Clinton ought to be most grateful … but he never is. You can never do quite enough for him and Hillary. … They are the most manic-obsessed people I have ever known in my life, and perhaps even the most insensitive to everybody else’s feelings.”
It’s clear that the narrative surrounding Hillary Clinton remains a topic of fervent debate. Regardless of one’s personal political inclinations, it’s undeniable that her impact on American politics has been, and continues to be, significant.
