In the past, I've considered writing about what a lifeline KOS is for me because I often feel isolated in a rural area for a Red state, Texas. It is good to come here and read writings by like-minded people, to know that I'm not alone.
But, lately I've been concerned about the great disconnect I see between my online world and my "real" world. It was particularly brought to mind by comments to a recent diary. The commenters, almost universally, viewed the diarist's neighbor who had made a comment about hoping that Obama was killed if he was elected as just a fringe wingnut. There was no recognition that as many in the "real" world may agree with the neighbor. The commenters urged the diarist to make her Obama support even more public - with no recognition that in some areas, such as mine, such public support - while necessary - carries real risks not just of alienation, but of vandalism of your house, your vehicle, etc.
Sometimes, I think we are so comfortable among our like-minded associates that we forget about the "real" world on the other side of the looking glass.
When I was a young journalism student, my professor urged us to read both liberal and conservative papers and magazines. He lectured us that we could not have any grasp of reality - as opposed to our personal, biased view - if we did not know what other people thought. At this moment, with Sen. Obama ready to become the first presidential nominee of a major political party who is not a Caucasian male, I am in a position to view the emotions which his candidacy evokes from both sides. I am the sole liberal Democrat in a large, extended - and emotionally close - family. And our family does love to discuss politics! I try to find support for my views through online sites, such as KOS, and involvement in our local Democratic party. But the tremendous lack of understanding between the Obama supporters and opponents amazes me.
I see diaries here at KOS - including some on the rec list - which point out McCain "gaffes", and I view the video or quote and know that most McCain supporters would not recognize what I am seeing as a gaffe. It is not that the McCain supporters are all stupid, or ignorant, or racist - or in any other way flawed. It is just that their habits, knowledge and perspective are very different. For what it is worth, here' a few observations I know to be true of many on the other side of the perspective from KOS.
-- "We don't care if he speaks in complete, beautiful sentences!" Remember how we thought George W. Bush was so laughable with his ridiculous lack of command of the English language? No one could possible take him seriously when he was such a doofus. Doonesbury has had great fun just quoting W. And W mangled the English language all the way to the White House. Most people in the nation don't express themselves as well as the regulars at KOS - and tend to distrust those who do. "What?? Does he think he's better than us??" The fact that Sen. Obama is much more articulate than Sen. McCain may not be an asset.
-- "I'm not very good with computers." or "I don't use the computer for anything but email." Sorry, folks. Most of the nation, still gets its news from traditional media - if it bothers to look at the political news at all. Those of us who are active online are in the minority - a growing minority, but still a minority. And, like sounding too educated, being too comfortable online is often viewed as an elitist trait. Look at the sarcastic, insulting coverage which Netroots Nation received in the Austin newspaper recently. And Austin is a major university city, dependent on many computer-related companies for its economy, and the most liberal city in Texas. Sen. Obama's marvelous use of the internet for fund-raising, debunking smears, etc. is only going to reach a certain select portion of the population and it may not be enough. A large portion of the nation doesn't care if Sen. McCain is not computer literate - neither are they so they can identify better with him.
-- "Isn't he a Muslim?" I could use a lot of different quotes here. It is an illustration of the fact that a lot of the nation is not well-informed. (How anyone can believe that Sen. Obama is Muslim after all the flap about Rev. Wright is sometimes difficult to understand, but surveys consistently show that between 20 and 30 per cent of the population still think that he may be.) Part of it is the reliance on mainstream media. My 80-year-old father is an anomaly for his age and education level in that he is a bit of a political junkie, but he has no idea how to use a computer and Fox News is one of his main sources of information. So how much misinformation do you think he gets?? Another part of it is that a large portion of the nation - probably the majority - is not made up of political junkies like my father and those of us on KOS. Look at the small percentage who actually vote in a normal election. And very few of those who vote actually know what they are voting for. I am not saying that they are stupid or inferior. It's just that they have other things in their life that are more important to them than tracking down the details on McCain's health care plan vs. Obama's, researching whether McCain named Pittsburgh Steeler or Green Bay Packer players when questioned by the North Vietnamese, etc. Whether that more important activity is working two jobs to feed their family - or playing golf - the result is the same. If they see McCain saying he will reform health care, they will probably believe it. They sure aren't going to spend time that they need or want for something else to research it, even if they have access to any means to research it. The point is that they are not interested in politics and policy positions and the facts about the candidates as the folks at KOS are. Even if the information spread about Sen. Obama is false, and the claims made by Sen. McCain are false, a lot of people will never know it.
-- "I want to vote for someone who shares my values." Boy, so do I, and for me that is Sen. Obama! But, like it or not, the wedge issues of gay rights, abortion, religion, and guns are still seen as "value" issues which favor the Republicans. When I have confronted my family members with my values which I believe are better supported by a Democratic candidate, they have seen my point, even though I have not convinced them. Those wedge issues are real and powerful and will hurt Sen. Obama.
-- "Well, I just couldn't vote for him." The unspoken part of this one I believe is most likely "I won't vote for a Black man." I wish this wasn't so, but it is. I don't have to be a minority to know that racism is alive and well. I hear it in the racist jokes which are still told. I see it in the reaction my minority friends receive in our local town when they visit me. This one, I'm afraid, is the silent secret in the polling. Living here in Texas I have seen minority candidates poll well before an election - and it is clear from the results that in the privacy of the voting booth, when no one could see, racism made the final decision in the vote. I personally question how reliable the polls showing that U.S. voters are not influenced by race are. I question how solid Sen. Obama's support really is among white voters. I hope that I'm wrong. I know that racism is not the deciding factor for many opponents of Sen. Obama, but I know that the racism is still a reality in our nation. I believe that racism, as well as a strong streak of anti-elitism, fuels the strongest opposition to to Sen. Obama - such as the comments hoping that he will be killed. I believe that Sen. Obama knows the hatred to be real. What was his first request in the prayer which should have been private between him and his Lord? Please protect my family and me.
I've been a supporter of Sen. Obama since the Democratic field was crowded with candidates. But, I know that he may lose. I can't just read about Sen. McCain's mistakes and feel comfortable that Sen. Obama will win. I'm confronted every day with the other reality. That's what keeps me working for Sen. Obama.