It's a phenomenon I will never understand. What the Catholics down the street do is fundamentally irrelevant to me. Yet one hears contrast after contrast from Protestant pulpits, pamphlets, and preachers. Is the raison d'etre for Protestantism that they aren't Catholics?
You already know the answer to this question.
That's a good question, because I do not know any Catholics who take a similar view towards their brother Protestants. While I cannot answer for the typical Protestant, I would venture to say that some groups tend to vilify the Catholic Church so as to justify their current theological stance - hence, the hatred of some towards the Church. The very term "Protestant" is a contrast to what they are protesting against.
Regards