In Hillary Clinton’s latest book, “The Fall of Roe: The Rise of a New America,” she takes no prisoners. Clinton dives deep into the tumultuous landscape of American politics, unflinchingly assigning blame for her 2016 loss to Donald Trump on a variety of factors—most notably, on women voters.
Clinton’s new release reads like a bitter postmortem of her failed presidential bid, and she pulls no punches when it comes to calling out those she believes let her down. Within its pages, she portrays a dystopian future under a second Trump administration, where women’s rights, gay rights, civil liberties, and even the foundational principles of American democracy are at risk. The former Secretary of State spares no detail in painting a grim picture, yet her focus often swings back to the female electorate who she claims abandoned her in her time of need.
One of the most provocative aspects of Clinton’s narrative is her critique of women voters. She argues that these voters deserted her after then-FBI Director James Comey reopened the investigation into her emails just before the election. “But once he did that to me, the people, the voters who left me, were women,” Clinton stated. Her contention is clear: societal double standards demanded perfection from her as a woman candidate, while Trump, flawed and controversial, was seen as a viable option simply because he fit the traditional image of a president.
Clinton’s account extends beyond personal grievances to broader political criticisms. She lambasts her Democratic peers for their inaction on protecting abortion rights at the federal level, even when they controlled Congress. Democrats, including Joe Biden, often shied away from making abortion a legislative priority, she notes, and this lack of action has now led to dire consequences.
Her sharp rebukes aren’t limited to Democrats. Clinton also takes aim at the four Supreme Court justices—John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—whom she accuses of being strategically positioned by conservatives to dismantle Roe v. Wade. This, she warns, is just the beginning of a broader conservative agenda that could unravel decades of progress on various civil rights issues.
Interestingly, Clinton acknowledges Trump’s tactical approach to abortion rights. Aligning himself with pro-life advocates, Trump managed to secure significant support from women despite the numerous allegations of misconduct against him. “Politically, he threw his lot in with the right on abortion and was richly rewarded,” Clinton notes.
She’s one of those people who, much like Stacey Abrams, wants to blame everyone but themselves for their own losses.