I have grown so tired of watching the bitter, often nasty debate on DKos about the democratic nominations. Not from those who strongly support their candidate, but from the childish, bitter and angry tone of the debate. There are some who give the reasons for supporting their candidates, yes, but most of the time is spent spewing ridiculous vitriol against the other side, creating a fantasy candidate to tear down with portrayals that are more akin to the conservative’s years of deceptions about who and what Obama is.
It’s time for another way.
Support democracy. I don’t mean that to be flippant. Different people have different perspectives of our three excellent candidates. They have rationales for who they support and why. Democracy doesn’t mean looking in the face of someone in your own party and accusing them of being sellouts or fools. Are you trying to persuade people to support your candidate, to give your candidate a vote? Or are you simply satisfying your own sense of self-righteousness? In other words, are you working for your candidate or just working yourself into a lather?
I know who I’m planning to vote for, and why. I make my case to my fellow democrats — particularly those who disagree — without vitriol or name-calling or creating fantasy candidates. Clinton supporters are not fools who are solely interested in winning and can’t see their candidate is going to sell out to corporate America; that is the fantasy candidate. Sanders supporters are not fools who have no understanding of the challenges of dealing with a GOP congress or the electoral process. And O’Malley supporters are not throwing away their votes.
Absolutely, push for your candidate. Try and change my vote to your side. (I’m purposely not saying who I support.) Act for the benefit of your candidate, not the benefit of your emotions. Winning votes is the democratic process, not fist shaking and raging.
And then, whoever the winner of the nomination process is, work like hell to get that candidate elected. Don’t take your marbles and go home pouting. If your candidate loses, it’s because your candidate did not receive enough support. That’s it.
We are all on the same side. None of our candidates are evil or stupid. Let’s get to work for whoever we support, and stop the self-indulgent name-calling.