If I cared about the Democratic Party, I would be thrilled with the current crop of Democratic candidates. I would say things like "vote for whomever you want," because in the end, any of the Democratic candidates will make excellent leaders of the Democratic Party. Any of the candidates are likely November victors, and the Democratic Party desperately needs a victory.
If I cared about the Democratic Party, I would talk about how tiring the bickering between candidate loyalists has become. I would encourage everyone to take a look across the aisle at our Republican opponents so as to feel self-satisfied about our field of candidates - undoubtedly stronger in every way.
Most importantly, if I cared about the Democratic Party, I would resist the temptation to use whatever influence I had to shill for one candidate over the other. I would not risk diminishing my power within the Democratic Party by endorsing a candidate that might not get nominated.
Of course, I have no power within the Democratic Party, in large part because I don't care about the Democratic Party.
I care about America, and I care about our influence on the world.
The Democratic Party is the only option that Americans who want to improve our country and our world have, and so keeping the Party strong is important. I recognize this fact, and it is why I would never support a Gravel or a Kucinich or a Nader or a Paul.
But I care about my country, not my party, and so I cannot pretend to be satisfied with just any candidate who is for universal healthcare, withdrawal from Iraq, and the rolling back of Bush's handouts to the wealthy. These positions are common sense. I need a candidate who understands the challenges that face our country, and who - as importantly - can communicate those challenges to my fellow citizens.
Partisan bickering is not one of those challenges, nor is having an executive who is "ready to lead on day one," whatever the hell that is.
John Edwards understands the real challenges that face our country, and as importantly, he can (and does) communicate them. He understands that his job is not only to undo the damage done by the Bush Administration, but also to undo the damage done by the Clinton Administration, H.W. Bush, and Reagan. He has cast his lot with the weakest among us, and we need him badly.
We are lucky that our top three candidates are committed to muting Bush's impact on history, but that luck should not prevent us from declaring loudly that only one candidate - John Edwards - is the right person for right now.
The Democratic Party is strong and getting stronger, thanks in part to this site and others like it. But America is weakened and getting weaker.
I support the Democratic Party, but I care about America, so I need John Edwards for President.