You absolutely can get significantly more hostile than that. They said Clinton was a liar, a philanderer, a bad husband, etc. To my knowledge they did not push the storyline that Clinton was a plant who was assisting terrorists and desired the destruction of America.
Compromising with a liar (Clinton) is one thing. Compromising with the enemy? A whole nother thing.
Once Republicans set up this narrative their hands were tied. Can't compromise with the enemy can you?