The new birthers: Debunking the Hillary Clinton health conspiracy

[DesertRat]

(CNN)From Donald Trump and his top surrogates to the right-wing media and its engine rooms of outrage in the blogosphere, Hillary Clinton's opponents are ramping up efforts to sow doubt over the candidate's health.

The campaign -- which goes back years -- has escalated to shouting over the summer, as Trump spiraled in the polls while mostly failing to connect with voters outside his base demographic. Now, as the race enters a crucial phase, there has been a growing push to fundamentally undermine Clinton's candidacy.

Much in the way "birthers" (Trump was among the most prominent) sought similar ends by questioning President Barack Obama's citizenship, the "healthers" are using junk science and conspiracy theories to argue that Clinton is suffering from a series of debilitating brain injuries.

There is absolutely no credible evidence to backstop any of these claims, including on the "videos" Giuliani cited. Clinton's physician -- the only person to speak on the record who has actually examined her -- has repeatedly affirmed the former secretary of state's health and fitness for the highest office in the land.

More here:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/22/politics/hillary-clinton-health-conspiracy-theory-explained/index.html

[Avalux]

1. Hillary just opened a jar of pickles on national TV and laughed at "wacky" Donald.

She's obviously in good health. As she said - Trump makes stuff up and says it, hoping someone will believe it.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. For Christ's sake.

Okay, she is 68 years old. Not exactly a spring chicken, but big deal.

I know there have been rumors about health issues with her, and I can't tell if they are legitimate or bullshit, but I'll go for the latter explanation. I would hope that if there really were health flags, people whose integrity was clear would have brought this up by now.

Yes, a person of that age faces the possibility of health challenges someone 30 years younger doesn't face, but the Donald is a bit older, and men face more health challenges and die younger than women. Need I say more?

[Control-Z]

3. You could/should have said less.

"I know there have been rumors about health issues with her, and I can't tell if they are legitimate or bullshit..."

There is zero evidence of any health issues along with a legitimate doctor's clearance in writing. What possesses you to question that? You have a lot to learn about our candidate if you're questioning one of the ugliest lies about her yet.

[whistler162]

4. It is my diagnosis that Trump is suffering

from a case of Monuzilleazz. A very advanced case. I am not a health casre professional but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn.

[Gothmog]

5. A new birther movement

[NurseJackie]

6. Andrea Mitchell should be FORCED into retirement. Some say ...

... that she's a little long in the tooth for that job.

[Nonhlanhla]

7. It's the subthread that's the issue

Obama supposedly being born in Kenya had an underlying thread that had nothing to do with the literal truth: that as a black man he is not truly 'Murican. That is why it never mattered that he showed his birth certificate. It's the underlying sentiment, and not the literal statement, that his detractors believed in, an no birth certificate could change that.

This is similar. Hillary could show herself to be in Olympic athlete shape, and it would not change the narrative, since the underlying thread is that as a woman, she is weak, lacking in stamina, not muscular.

Both are just plain old-fashioned prejudices against those who are not white males: a black man is not a true American, and a woman is weak. And no amount of debunking of the literal story will change that subplot for the racist, sexist rightwingers who despise both Obama and Hillary.

[DemonGoddess]

8. ^^^This!!!

[NewJeffCT]

9. excellent post

you're 100% right.

I keep posting it over & over - Hillary sat through 11 hours of grueling questioning and made it through with flying colors while making the House Republicans look like idiots in the process. Trump got whiny and pissy when the debate went over 2 hours, and he was only getting questioned part of the time.

[DesertRat]

10. Well said

Thank you.