With respect, I'm not sure all of this is necessarily unprecedented "hyperpartisanship."

In the 19th century, there was a phrase "raising the bloody rag," referring to attacks on a candidate's patriotism. In many ways (The classic example is currently eluding me), this is not anything new. When you consider that a losing candidate is willing to do anything in the immediate run-up to an election, the demonization of regional experts like Khalidi doesn't appear particularly unique in American history.

Is the American political climate more poisonously partisan than in recent memory? Quite possibly. Are the election partisan politics currently seen a new feature of politics? Probably not.

Regards,

Matt