I am a middle aged baseball mom. I have a small business that I run out of my home, which allows me to spend more time with my family. I volunteer substantial time and energies to my son's school and to my church. I pay my bills, I pay my taxes, I return my library books on time. I have dear friends across the political and religious spectrum. I hope -- and believe --that I am seen in my community as a person of integrity. If my mom were still living (she died in 1992 following a long battle with cancer -- I was one of her primary caregivers) she would be very proud of me.
I joined Move-on in the months before the Iraq war. I was full of anxiety and foreboding as I watched my government head blindly into the conflict. Few or none in the mainstream media or in the democratic party seemed willing to raise the obvious questions or the inconvenient facts. Move-on provided information and community and opportunities to raise my voice with others to speak what we all now know was the truth about that terrible misadventure.
I am still a member of Move-on, though I don't agree with all their pronouncements or even read all their emails.
But when an email came from Move-on about Robert Byrd several weeks back, I did read it and I responded with a contribution. Robert Byrd is a hero of many of us who opposed the war in Iraq from the start. His senate speech opposing the war in February 2002 was the most eloquent and painful thing to emanate from Washington in those dark days. It was passed around on college campuses and on the internet. I may not agree with all that Senator Byrd has done in his life but I believe he is a truth-teller who needs to be a part of the senate for as long as he is willing to continue to serve.
And now I find that Senator Byrd is being attacked by the Republican party for taking contributions from people like me. Fringe people, who are not "mainstream" and who "don't reflect the values of West Virginia." http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-moveon6apr06,1,3917382.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
And the msm is taking that charge seriously. http://dailykos.com/story/2005/4/7/182818/9238
You know what? I am done with this B.S.
The Republicans are the ones who pander to the fringe. Look at Rick Santorum hangingwith that right wing freak Randall Terry. I never came across anyone in Moveon who traded in dead fetuses, verbally abused woman and consorted with murderers.
I don't know anyone in Move-on who makes death threats, or storms health care facilities, or gets their kids arrested.
I don't think anyone in Move-on is suggesting that there may be some jusitification for killing judges and their families. (Oops -- that wasn't a member of a fringe group! That was a United States Senator!)
So you know what, Ken and Karl? You go ahead and keep throwing red meat to your "base". They'll be a great source of support (at least until the rapture comes). But don't you be calling me names. We all know where the "fringe" is. right in your back pocket.