Crooks And Liars Editor: I Was An Ardent Hillary Hater…Until I Read Her Emails

In a Facebook group this morning, I stumbled across a powerful op-ed piece that I want to share with Liberal America readers. My hope is that this piece will help some liberals and progressives who still can’t get behind Hillary Clinton as our nominee to rethink their positions.

On January 28, 2016, Blue Nation Review ran an article by “Anna Whitlock,” a writer who was using a pseudonym. “Whitlock” explains how she made the transition from “one of the most ardent Hillary haters on the planet” to being a huge Hillary supporter.

The writer has now made the decision to come forward publicly and reveal her true identity.

“Anna Whitlock” is Karoli Kuns, managing editor of the popular and outspoken liberal site Crooks & Liars.

Kuns shares that her hatred for Hillary Clinton began during the vitriolic 2008 election, during which Clinton vied for the presidency with then Sen. Barack Obama. A passionate Obama supporter, Kuns’ attitude towards Clinton began to change when Pres. Obama appointed her as Secretary of State.

Hillary Clinton Facebook
Hillary Clinton Facebook

Kuns points out what most liberals also believe: Hillary Clinton did an outstanding job in her role of Secretary of State and John Kerry, while competent in his own right, “walked through the doors Secretary Clinton opened for him.”

Then came the email “scandal.” And Kuns decided that she was going to read the emails. Every single one of them.

What she discovered in her reading was “a Hillary Clinton I didn’t even know existed.”

  • A woman who cares about employees who lost loved ones
  • A woman who took the time to personally write notes of condolence and congratulations
  • A woman who is a “tough negotiator and firm in her expectations”
  • A woman who has a genuine concern and worry for people she doesn’t even know
  • A woman whose primary concern in life is the well-being of women and children
  • A woman who understands power…and how to use it responsibly and for good
  • A woman who can strike a hard bargain
  • A woman who gives a damn “about the country, the Democratic Party, and all of our futures”
  • A woman who holds a deep respect and admiration for Pres. Barack Obama
  • A woman who will preserve Pres. Obama’s legacy and build one of “inclusion and inspiration” for herself

Kuns makes it clear that the “Hillary caricature” we all see in the media is not who Hillary Clinton is. Clinton treats billionaires and people living in poverty with equal respect. She is not “fake.”

Her piece ends with this:

“Here’s something else I learned about her through those emails: She’ll fight. And she’ll fight hard. She won’t shy away from a renegade Congress and she won’t always play nice. But she does play by the rules, which is more than I can say for a lot of the candidates on the other side.”

Read the entire article at Blue Nation Review.

I had a successful career actively working with at-risk youth, people struggling with poverty and unemployment, and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. In 2011, I made the decision to pursue my dreams and become a full-time writer. Connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.