Idaho Senator Larry Craig, after years of demonizing and legislating against gays and lesbians, finally came out of the closet—or, as the British would say, the “water closet”—at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport a little over a year ago.
Similarly, Conservative Bill Kristol, who for years has been demonizing Hillary Clinton (and her husband), has come out of the closet and revealed his secret love and admiration for Hillary.
In his New York Times column this morning, “A Joe of His Own?”, Kristol admits how “empathetic” he feels about “the anguished cries of Hillary supporters.” Supporters of his dear friend, who “got about 18 million votes this year running against [Obama],” but who was betrayed by Obama when he picked “Joe Biden, who gained the support of a few thousand caucusgoers in Iowa before dropping out of the race.”
He decries how “Obama’s glass ceiling” has kept his beloved Hillary from reaching the Democratic presidential nomination she was entitled to.
In a sincere, heartfelt, and selfless appeal (I can see the tears in his eyes), Kristol begs Hillary supporters to avenge the Obama snub by voting for John McCain and Joe Lieberman in November.
These have to be the words and sentiments of a man truly in love. Why else would a dyed-in-the-wool Conservative wish to help a flaming Liberal in her hour of need?
But, there are still some doubters. For example co-blogger to the Moderate Voice, Robert Stein, writes this morning in “Shedding Tears for Hillary”:
From the sidelines, hopeful Republicans are shedding crocodile tears for Hillary Clinton with TV commercials about being “passed over,” and ardent feminists like William Kristol are bemoaning “The Democrats’ Glass Ceiling.” Such sympathy is touching, coming from those whose political sensitivities have brought on a devastating war and economic chaos…”
“Crocodile tears?” No, not my Bill Kristol!
Unless…Unless—and I hate myself for even thinking of this—Republicans have some ulterior motive for their professed love and concern for Hillary. Could it be that they are trying to split, and steal, the Democratic vote, and divide the Democratic Party? Could it be that they are cruelly using Hillary as a piñata, and her supporters as the candy they are trying to beat out of the piñata?
It couldn’t be!
But just in case, Hillary supporters need to ask themselves the following question, in the privacy of their own conscience and intellect: “Is the sudden love, concern,and respect being expressed by Republicans for Hillary ‘true love,’ or could it perhaps, just perhaps, be hate for Obama in particular and antipathy for Democrats in general?
But back to Bill. Didn’t I hear someone say, “If you really think this is love, I have a bridge to nowhere in Alaska I would like to sell you”?
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.