In the past week—perhaps not coincidentally as speculation about a 2020 run emerged—Hillary Clinton has stepped up her Twitter attacks on President Donald Trump.
And while they’ve been a salve for some on the left hoping for a rational response to America’s bizarre politics, they are chum in the water for sharks on the far-right.
Take, for instance, yesterday’s vehement statement after Trump floated the possibility of allowing the Russian government to interview U.S citizens, including the former ambassador to Russia.
WH press sec Sanders acknowledged that Putin talked to Trump about his interest in prosecuting financier Bill Browder and former US ambassador Michael McFaul. she declined to rule out US cooperation in that effort, saying Trump would consult his national security team
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) July 18, 2018
Ambassador @McFaul is a patriot who has spent his career standing up for America. To see the White House even hesitate to defend a diplomat is deeply troubling. https://t.co/gI8K8Tjg3M
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 19, 2018
Michael McFaul was the target of a smear campaign by Putin during his time in Russia that accused him, among other things, of being a pedophile. So it is fairly horrifying to think that a U.S. president would leave an ambassador out to dry, simply because the president disliked the previous administration.
But Clinton’s wording left a huge opening for conservatives still mad at her, over, you guessed it: Benghazi.
https://twitter.com/Peggitha/status/1020126336055234560
https://twitter.com/mkorneski/status/1020157236197363712
https://twitter.com/CraigRWhitworth/status/1020256842302345218
— Ron Gabucci (@JustRight747) July 20, 2018
Speaking of Patriots here's a few real Patriots LOOK AT THEIR FACES YOU MONSTER pic.twitter.com/KKgmvU4x1g
— Nikolina Minkov (@MinkovNikolina) July 20, 2018
For over six years now, Clinton’s actions in the lead-up to, and the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Benghazi— where she was accused of a variety of conspiracies, including refusing to provide adequate protection for ambassador Chris Stevens, who was killed, as well as issuing a stand down order when the attack occurred that led to the death of more Americans—have been at the forefront of all the right-wing vitriol slung her way.
And while Clinton has been thoroughly investigated for her actions again and again, to no avail by Republicans, that won’t ever stop the conservative mob online from jumping at any chance they get.