I heard comments of that sort from a surprising number (Reply #12)

In the discussion thread: I grew up in a very red, rural community in the midwest. [View all]

Fri Dec 30, 2016, 09:33 PM

12. I heard comments of that sort from a surprising number

of people, and they were not rural, red state folks. The belief that Hillary was somehow crooked or corrupt was very widespread, even if the specifics - Benghazi, child prostitution out of the pizza parlor, that sort of thing - were not believed. If you try to rebut the Benghazi or emails stuff, the response was always something like, "Well, maybe she didn't do those things but she's just... crooked. I don't trust her." Even when the alternative was an ignorant, bigoted (and unquestionably crooked) boor like Trump, they couldn't get past their unshakable belief that Hillary was disastrously corrupt in an undefinable but horrible way.

I have my own theory about how this came about, which might start a flame war, so I won't mention it. However, this belief was clearly a real thing and I have no doubt it cost an awful lot of votes.

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163 replies	Author	Time	Post
I grew up in a very red, rural community in the midwest. [View all]	yardwork	Dec 2016	OP
And a corporate, conservative media that promotes the false equivalence argument,	guillaumeb	Dec 2016	#1
Correct.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#3
Message auto-removed	Name removed	Dec 2016	#9
I agree. I saw and heard it.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#14
Many claiming to be our side did one hell of a hatchet job on Hillary.	oasis	Dec 2016	#28
Message auto-removed	Name removed	Dec 2016	#31
"Voted for Hillary"? Only they know if they even voted at all.	oasis	Dec 2016	#37
No freakin' kidding!	calimary	Dec 2016	#105
You are so right on!!	Angry Dragon	Dec 2016	#96
Similar background, but it's simpler than that - they are stupid. That's why they believe that junk.	Hoyt	Dec 2016	#2
We're supposed to reach out to these folks, Hoyt!	yardwork	Dec 2016	#4
I hear you, but it's a waste of time, sorry.	Hoyt	Dec 2016	#6
Yeah, I was being sarcastic. It is indeed a waste of time.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#7
Salt of the Earth	Hunter Rose	Dec 2016	#87
I'm in a Deep South red state	Phoenix61	Dec 2016	#5
I'm not sure how we can reach the brainwashed and willfully ignorant.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#8
I found a way to get through to the ones that do not know me!	Dustlawyer	Dec 2016	#43
Good job!	InAbLuEsTaTe	Dec 2016	#82
that's the way to do i!	Locrian	Dec 2016	#86
Good tactic	lunatica	Dec 2016	#109
Welcome to DU, Phoenix61!	calimary	Dec 2016	#108
Thanks for the welcome	Phoenix61	Dec 2016	#116
Yes, yes, and yes!	radical noodle	Dec 2016	#118
Okay, well, this is MOST instructive information, radical noodle.	calimary	Dec 2016	#129
Know your enemy	radical noodle	Jan 2017	#135
One-point-six MILLION shares.	calimary	Jan 2017	#150
No doubt about it	radical noodle	Jan 2017	#151
There are a lot of stupid a$$ people who are gullible to lies	kimbutgar	Dec 2016	#10
Thank you!	betsuni	Dec 2016	#11
I heard comments of that sort from a surprising number	The Velveteen Ocelot	Dec 2016	#12
Please share your theory. Here's mine:	yardwork	Dec 2016	#13
That's a big part of it, I think.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Dec 2016	#15
No politician is pure.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#17
True. But Hillary's impurities seemed to count against her	The Velveteen Ocelot	Dec 2016	#20
Confirmation bias. People believe what they want to believe.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#22
Maureen Dowd...	JHan	Dec 2016	#30
Women have always been required to be more "virtuous" than men.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Dec 2016	#32
Yep. +100000	JHan	Dec 2016	#40
Agree	Canoe52	Dec 2016	#48
If she'd been caught on tape bragging about	The Velveteen Ocelot	Dec 2016	#50
You have nailed it.	LuckyLib	Dec 2016	#57
Absolutely. Did Biden/Kerry/Edwards/Gore get crucified by the left over the Welfare Reform Bill?	ehrnst	Dec 2016	#90
Exactly. Or the 1994 Crime Bill, which Sanders actually voted for. nt	SunSeeker	Dec 2016	#99
But, but, but.... Bernie didn't mean it!!! Hillary was sleeping with Bill at the time!!! (nt)	ehrnst	Dec 2016	#124
neither Gore nor Edwards voted for that bill	dsc	Dec 2016	#132
Thanks - Gore was head of the Senate, and was smiling in the photo of it being signed.(nt)	ehrnst	Jan 2017	#145
Here is a good article about HRC's speeches.	StevieM	Dec 2016	#46
Yes, it seems to give credence to the theory that if you repeat a lie	whathehell	Dec 2016	#102
This	DURHAM D	Dec 2016	#18
But they're willing to set aside that feeling to vote against the woman.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#19
yes, guns was a big part of the anit-H vote that is rarely discussed	Fast Walker 52	Dec 2016	#34
This. Nearly half of America is conservative Christian, built on misogyny.	Crash2Parties	Dec 2016	#21
The country was founded on two great crimes: theft of land from its	KingCharlemagne	Dec 2016	#59
You've nailed it, and this election of trump proves it will always be so. trump voters fell back . .	brush	Dec 2016	#91
The racism was "necessary" to maintain high profits. So was the revolution.	Crash2Parties	Dec 2016	#130
Sorry, but Christianity is no more "built on misogny" than Judaism or Islam	whathehell	Dec 2016	#84
Seriously? They're all built on it. Guess you never heard of hijabs?	brush	Dec 2016	#92
Yes, seriously...Thanks for making my point, lol.	whathehell	Dec 2016	#97
Adam and Eve. Also, in terms of sex/gender the Catholic Church is damn conservative	Crash2Parties	Dec 2016	#131
The Book of Genesis which contains the Adam & Eve story is part of Judaism	whathehell	Jan 2017	#136
Misogyny played a large role in this election	Gothmog	Dec 2016	#106
mommy issues.	mopinko	Dec 2016	#53
Similar here.	tammywammy	Dec 2016	#121
Yeah, I deal with these people, too.	herding cats	Dec 2016	#16
Yep	not fooled	Dec 2016	#52
Well said and described, not fooled.	Cha	Dec 2016	#66
No progressive I ever	zentrum	Dec 2016	#23
Just because you didn't hear it doesn't mean it didn't exist.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#24
Exactly, yardwork... I've seen it all too often. No FACTS whatsoever	Cha	Dec 2016	#67
+1000	progressoid	Dec 2016	#27
There were plenty of people who were legitimately concerned	The Velveteen Ocelot	Dec 2016	#29
You might want to check out ...	NanceGreggs	Dec 2016	#36
Thank you for bringing that into the light, Nance.. it really is mind	Cha	Dec 2016	#69
I knew plenty who spread lies from usuncut	La Lioness Priyanka	Dec 2016	#45
"Fake left" news is	zentrum	Dec 2016	#47
Ahh ok. I meant the types of people who call themselves	La Lioness Priyanka	Dec 2016	#49
You must be new here.	brush	Dec 2016	#94
As a matter of fact	zentrum	Dec 2016	#113
You're probably right. All those "corrupt, crooked and corporate whore remarks" must ...	brush	Dec 2016	#126
So they're extremely gullible.	milestogo	Dec 2016	#25
Confirmation bias. They were looking for excuses.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#26
yes, also, she wanted your GUNS!!!	Fast Walker 52	Dec 2016	#33
Funny thing, Obama was supposed to have taken them	The Velveteen Ocelot	Dec 2016	#39
it's almost like the rightwing just believes pure bullshit	Fast Walker 52	Dec 2016	#41
Far too many people are completely incapable of critical thinking.	PoindexterOglethorpe	Dec 2016	#35
Im sure progressives probably do spread false hoods but	lancelyons	Dec 2016	#38
You forgot a power hungry, "will do anything" woman for the Presidency.	DawgHouse	Dec 2016	#42
Was this before Obama took their guns and turned them gay	IronLionZion	Dec 2016	#44
But there are rural, very red communities in the Midwest	Oldtimeralso	Dec 2016	#55
Absolutely my experience in the rural west and southwest	Tumbulu	Dec 2016	#51
Meanwhile Hillary Clinton was born in the Midwest (Chicago), and served initially in the South....	George II	Dec 2016	#54
It suprises me everytime I see someone on FaceBook say	C Moon	Dec 2016	#56
I suspect that people believed all of these lies because they were already biased against Clinton.	Willie Pep	Dec 2016	#58
This really, REALLY, deserves to be its own OP and receive wide exposure. The	KingCharlemagne	Dec 2016	#61
I've thought about your points a lot. I've decided that I need to speak up more often.	yardwork	Jan 2017	#143
I would be surprised if these people could fine Benghazi on a map	MrScorpio	Dec 2016	#60
Yep. I tried to convince people on some local online forums a few months ago...	Buckeye_Democrat	Dec 2016	#62
And, in the final analysis...	ailsagirl	Dec 2016	#63
That, and RUSSIA, because it can't be overstated that less than 1% in most swing	LaydeeBug	Dec 2016	#64
Thank you for this, yardwork! I've overheard similar	Cha	Dec 2016	#65
I've heard people say about Hillary...	Buckeye_Democrat	Dec 2016	#70
They want to believe it.. they're repubs and it's easier to	Cha	Dec 2016	#72
They weren't always Republican, though.	Buckeye_Democrat	Dec 2016	#73
I know.. the m$m has done a thorough job of getting	Cha	Dec 2016	#74
I'm pleased that MOST people voted for her!	Buckeye_Democrat	Dec 2016	#75
I know.. right there with ya.. we were all shocked, literally,	Cha	Dec 2016	#80
Yeah. It was more shocking than Dumbya being elected twice for me.	Buckeye_Democrat	Dec 2016	#81
I actually think that Comey did more than just tip a narrow race one way as opposed to the other.	StevieM	Jan 2017	#144
It boiled down to this?	Buckeye_Democrat	Dec 2016	#78
Indeed	not fooled	Dec 2016	#100
Critical thinking and facts...	Buckeye_Democrat	Dec 2016	#101
Great meme	Gothmog	Dec 2016	#127
What a great thread. Can't rec it enough. This reminds	R B Garr	Dec 2016	#68
Another thing especially to your last sentence....	R B Garr	Dec 2016	#71
+1	Hekate	Dec 2016	#77
For crying out loud he treated her with kid gloves. I suppose he was supposed to coddle her?	dionysus	Dec 2016	#79
Like the time he said she was not qualified for office?	La Lioness Priyanka	Dec 2016	#83
Actually you are wrong-it was the Clinton campaign who handle Sanders with kid gloves	Gothmog	Dec 2016	#133
Hillary Clinton did not attack Sanders because his supporters over-reacted	Gothmog	Jan 2017	#134
They both acted poorly on that one. Booing the guy was rude. It was also low	dionysus	Jan 2017	#149
In reality, Bernie was the one coddled, mostly because he was not vetted.	R B Garr	Jan 2017	#146
K&R	Jamaal510	Dec 2016	#76
Why do millions of people believe these blatant falsehoods?	hamsterjill	Dec 2016	#85
I've heard all of the above. Details are always vague.	blue cat	Dec 2016	#88
I think that plenty of damning fiction could have been easily created about other Dem candidates	ehrnst	Dec 2016	#89
Like the song says	TNNurse	Dec 2016	#93
It is those who style themselves	BlueMTexpat	Dec 2016	#95
Not just rural red places-- low info voters were at least hearing these fake stories everywhere	andym	Dec 2016	#98
I have personally experienced these people and you are correct.	Eliot Rosewater	Dec 2016	#103
Good OP, yardwork.	brer cat	Dec 2016	#104
No, The Systems Not Totally Rigged. But That Idea Sure Helped Donald Trump.	Gothmog	Dec 2016	#107
Except its NOT a bogus claim	LiberalLovinLug	Dec 2016	#114
Sanders was rejected soundly by Jewish, African and Latino votes	Gothmog	Dec 2016	#120
"Sanders helped get trump elected"	LiberalLovinLug	Dec 2016	#123
In the real world in past primary contests, the candidates were all actual members of the party	Gothmog	Dec 2016	#128
Sanders was absolutely right, he needed to run as a Democrat	LiberalLovinLug	Jan 2017	#142
So you are proud of Sanders efforts to get Trump elected	Gothmog	Jan 2017	#153
I can't argue with someone with such a vicious predetermined opinion	LiberalLovinLug	Jan 2017	#154
Then prove me wrong- the facts are clear that Sanders helped elect trump	Gothmog	Jan 2017	#157
Bernie's platform was unrealistic and there was no revolution	Gothmog	Jan 2017	#158
You're confused	LiberalLovinLug	Jan 2017	#159
There is so much wrong in this post that it is hard to pick	Gothmog	Jan 2017	#160
So once again...you do not believe that the system is rigged at all in favor of the wealthy?	LiberalLovinLug	Jan 2017	#162
I was a delegate to the national convention	Gothmog	Jan 2017	#163
The DNC had nothing to do with the fact that Jewish, African American and Latino voters rejected	Gothmog	Jan 2017	#161
Because they read the Enquirer	dreamland	Dec 2016	#110
I have to say	sammcgee68	Dec 2016	#111
I'm with you. Way too much Sanders, and Sander supporters, bashing	LiberalLovinLug	Dec 2016	#112
Did you mean to respond to my OP? I said nothing about Sanders.	yardwork	Dec 2016	#117
+1000	n2doc	Dec 2016	#119
No offense, sam, but this is called hijacking a thread	mtnsnake	Jan 2017	#138
Thank you. My OP is not directed at Sanders or the primaries.	yardwork	Jan 2017	#141
"We live in a world of radical ignorance" Robert Proctor	CousinIT	Dec 2016	#115
Heard a similar story just today	DeminPennswoods	Dec 2016	#122
They heard that "flawed" argument	radical noodle	Dec 2016	#125
"Because millions of people deliberately spread the lies"	mtnsnake	Jan 2017	#137
Thanks! I did leave out the gun issue by accident. The NRA was busy this year.	yardwork	Jan 2017	#140
Thank you, everyone, for your responses.	yardwork	Jan 2017	#139
"They don't know or care what the word deplorable means."	Goblinmonger	Jan 2017	#147
It's a statement of fact, based on my personal experience.	yardwork	Jan 2017	#148
These people can believe	ellie	Jan 2017	#152
She abdicated for 2/3 of the year. She never showed up to campaign in Swing States.	libdem4life	Jan 2017	#155
From what I understand 80k Red votes in one state, equals 2 million Blue votes in another state.	Rex	Jan 2017	#156

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