My goodness, some people sure got offended. In case the point didn't get driven home, here we go with round 2.
First off, as several people contended, I WAS NOT condemning all Deaniacs. There was not one statement there that grouped all Deaniacs together.
Several people that I have met who volunteered for Dean are now with Nader. They have fed me the standard Nader line. "There is no difference between Bush and Kerry." My diary points out several differences b/w Bush and Kerry, all of them in line with progressive values. The response overwhelmingly on dailykos was that of defense and even anger.
Several of the Deaniacs I know in person used to blast John Kerry in the primaries, calling him a liar, backstabber, jerk, and idiot among others. Now SOME of these people are whining that Nader should not be attacked, should not be criticized or hated by Democrats. My question is, why the hell not? Hating didn't bother these people when they were doing it. Why can't Democrats go after a man who is NOT A DEMOCRAT, and without his candidacy, a Democrat would be in the WH? Tell me why I shouldn't have brought this up? Because it might offend someone? Too bad.
I learned something from this post. Clearly, Nader's supporters or sympathizers do not want the points that I, and that several others, have made, to be done publicly. They don't want the discussion to turn to abortion, the FMA amendment, NCLB, taxes, job creation, environmental issues...etc.. If these issues are part of the public debate, Nader goes from militant progressive, to outright joke.
I did not insult all Deaniacs in that article. I was very critical, and still am, of Dean supporters who switched to Nader, as I am of any Nader supporter, of whom I know several. People can say the group is so small that it won't matter. Explain to me then why Nader in some polls is at 6-8%.
Pretending that problems don't exist does nothing. This problem may turn out to be nothing. But it was one deserving of discussion. I accused no one on this site of being in that group, yet I got hit with whiny responses that accused me of trying to start fights within the progressive circle. My criticism goes to any hardcore supporter of another candidate who is now for Nader. I've just noticed it more amongst disgruntled Deaniacs where I am. I never once said it was anywhere close to all Deaniacs, or even close to a majority. But considering the 6-8% that Nader has in some polls, it must be looked at.
It's time that Nader progressives quit denying that they are a serious problem to electing a progressive candidate in this country. Criticize my criticism all you want. But why the anger towards me? why the bitching? Some people clearly saw no reason to hold back the insults towards me. Explain to me why I should hold back against Nader supporters.
Remember this also. In America we DON'T have the right NOT TO BE OFFENDED. It is not my intention to offend anyone, everything I said seems as clear as day to me and to most others. Just look at the problem and realize it exists is all I ask. Forgive me if that's too much.