I think it's one of the key reasons, Ebbie. I'm not saying it's the only one. There are a number of them.

She's partly to blame herself for those negative reactions, because of her own very combative attitude to others, her frequently hurled accusations of "sexism", and so on. She's also a "guest", however, and people are far ruder in general to guests than they are to other members...when they choose to be rude, that is. She's also a very notable nonconformist on certain political/social issues, and that draws quite hostile reactions from some members no matter who it is who is nonconforming to the general tune around here.

She doesn't like Barack Obama one bit...that's guaranteed to draw a lot of ire here from people who have gotten emotionally involved in backing his campaign.

Furthermore, there are people here who evidently have long standing personal grudges of their own toward her...and she toward them...and that's another factor. They consider her a "black sheep" here. She considers them to be a bunch of sheep, period.

Add it all up, stir with a dash of nutmeg, cook at low heat for 5 years or so, and you've got a pretty nasty concoction brewing when it's finally ready to put on the table. ;-)