Because they hate. Their hate is what defines them. They are not defined by what they believe, they are defined by the opposite of what Democrats try to do. (This is why Sanders will never be able to poach Republican voters.) Their tribalism is so profound that they can't even see the other side of the equation.
Josh Marshall lays out a case for the similarities between Obama and Bill Clinton. In some ways, he illuminates more than he knows. While he explores the similarity in how both men were treated, he misses the fact that understanding how violently and vehemently opposed to both men Republicans were and are is the key to understanding how broken our politics are.
As I mentioned the other day, America runs on certain understood, informal norms. And the GOP has been breaking those norms to pieces. The question is "Why?"
The answer is that the GOP believes its own bullshit about Obama not being "American." And by American, I, of course, mean: white. The Birther movement, the constant insinuation that Obama doesn't love America, the secret Muslim, the Alinskyite smears. All of these are bullshit. But the GOP - especially the electorate - believes this bullshit. Just as they believed it about Clinton. Vince Foster, Whitewater, Travelgate...There was no "scandal" too obscure or unbelievable that they wouldn't pounce on.
Obviously, the same will be true of Hillary, but it would be true of Bernie, too.
There is a massive segment of the American population that simply cannot accept the legitimacy of a Democratic presidency. So, violating every norm and rule of American politics does not become a malignancy on the body politic, but a call to duty to protect "America."
It won't change next January when Hillary Clinton is inaugurated either.
We are well and truly screwed as long as the GOP controls any branch of our government.
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