LOVE ISN'T FOR SALE: RICH & FAMOUS PEOPLE WE LOVE TO HATE

Money and fame appear to be in high demand. Reality TV specials such as Fear Factor, demonstrate just how far people will go for just a little bit of either. For those who have both; however, it never seems to be enough. One has only to walk through the local supermarket to experience the down side of fame, but most never actually imagine how it would feel to be on the other end of publicity that is often cruel.

Just about every actor or actress deals with critical comments about his or her physical appearance or lifestyle, thanks to magazines that capitalize on locating not so perfect photos of movie stars, as well as the revelation of secrets most would prefer to keep behind closed doors. But what of the smaller number of people who seem to get more than their share of our hatred. What must fame be like for them?Scapegoating begins on elementary school playgrounds, but I do not believe it ends there. Here are just a few examples of famous people who consistently receive the thumbs down side of fame.

John Edwards: People love to hate rich people who speak out for the poor. It didn't help that Edwards cheated on a wife who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and denied that his love child was his own. He moved from a somewhat respected democratic candidate, to one of those we love to hate, and the process really did not take all that long. Edwards was guilty of some pretty unacceptable behavior, but did he really never do anything right? Why have we forgotten the aspects of his personality that caused him to be a political success initially.

Sarah Palin: While Sarah may have stepped into a realm somewhat larger than that for which she was prepared, did she really deserve the intense hatred she received? Those who worship Sarah are out there, but she takes a large amount of dumping and ridicule as well. In general, the press loves to hate Sarah Palin because the press loves to hate the far right. While I'm not personally a fan of Sarah or the far right, I am glad we live in a country that allows everyone freedom of expression. Sarah is scapegoated mostly by political liberals, but conservatives have their hate objects as well.

Hilary Clinton: Hilary Clinton is one of the women in America who is easiest to hate. She has been ridiculed, attacked, and treated with contempt even by the liberal press. Apparently sexism is still okay if it is directed at Hilary Clinton, or at least that appears to be the case. The former first lady is a high achiever, and managed to run for president of the United States, but continues to be the object of cruel jokes on an everyday basis. Even her daughter has been the object of cruel jokes. What must fame feel like to them?

George W Bush: I don't even have to comment on this one, because we all know it to be true. America does not show the same respect for its presidents as was once the case, even when they did many things wrong. George W Bush is almost the image of Satan himself, other than by the occasional extreme right winged individual, who believes Barack Obama is the Anti Christ, instead. Today's politicians are treated with the same contempt as our celebrities, and appear on the covers of the same movie magazines.

Some actors and actresses are popular, then suddenly fall to the level of ridicule. It seems that Brad Pitt and Angelena Jolle can get by with almost anything; however, the same is not true of Tom Cruise, who was once considered a sex symbol. He gets much bad press these days, and much ridicule, though it has simmered down somewhat. Still, at this point he is far from being considered sexy.

The most interesting people we hate are those whom it is difficult to understand why we even know who they are at all. Reality TV has made many people famous who really have done nothing to earn as much attention as they are getting. In many cases they appear to have no talent or substance, yet are earning large sums of money and living like high rollers for doing nothing substantial. Jon and Kate plus 8 comes to mind when I think of this sort, as Kate appears to be one of America's most hated, while it is difficult to understand why she is even being discussed. Another is the so called "Opti-Mom," another woman who became famous for having a litter, rather than a baby or twins. Everybody seems to hate these women, yet they continue to get publicity, and the money keeps coming from God knows where.

Tiger Woods fell from grace for doing what many men have done before him, but happened to be a famous golfer, so his personal life was up for grabs. The only shock in the Sandra Bullock-Jesse James scandal is that Sandra married James in the first place expecting him to become a one woman man, if she did in fact expect that to happen. With so many similar scandals, a time arrives when we actually should no longer consider these news items scandals at all, nor all that shocking; however, I guess the magazines still need to earn money on their publications. Perhaps the people we love to hate so very much, reveal more about us than they do about themselves.  Maybe we just don't like to see anyone be 100% successful, happy, moral, or good.