In a recent column in the Herald Dispatch, Milt Hankins discussed Hillary Clinton’s 1990s comment regarding a “vast right-wing conspiracy.” I must admit that at the time, I, too, thought it was just typical Clinton political posturing.

Two decades later, I agree with Mr. Hankins again. It is impossible to dismiss her comments as just politics when the ultra-rightwing “journalists” and bloggers have bashed, denigrated, villainized and slandered Democratic candidates and officeholders up and down the line for more than 20 years. Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Barrack Obama and our own Ted Strickland have all been demonized in terms that go way beyond politics.

Not even Max Cleland, former U.S. senator from Georgia and Vietnam War veteran honored with both a bronze and silver star, who lost two legs in and an arm in the service of his country, was immune from attack. His rightwing opponent and the even farther rightwind media claimed he was “unpatriotic.” Now, it is Hillary Clinton’s turn.

In Hillary Clinton’s case. The attacks go way beyond mere character assassination. Mr. Trump and his minions now want Sec. Clinton in jail. One might ask where these justice seekers were when Dick Cheney was playing fast and loose with the truth about the Iraq War. But I digress.

Countless ultra-rightwingers have been “investigating” Hillary Clinton for over 20 years and have not come up with the factual evidence (as opposed to wishful thinking, innuendo, internet rumors and faux news reports) to justify a criminal prosecution.

After all that time, a fair-minded person is left with two possible conclusions: 1. Hillary Clinton is probably innocent of these purported “crimes,” or 2. She is much smarter than the legions of right wingers who have been after her, including Mr. Trump.

Either conclusion implies Sec. Clinton, with her wealth of experience and genuine concern for the American people, is the most capable candidate in this presidential race.

Merlyn Marten
Proctorville