This diary isn't an attempt to persuade anyone to change their minds about Barbara Boxer campaigning for Joe Lieberman. I know we've all got pretty strong feelings about it. However, I do want to talk about the knee-jerk reaction by some fellow community members who want to completely disown Senator Boxer because they disagree with her on this issue.
First, I'd just ask people to put themselves in her shoes just for a moment. If any of us had a colleague who we'd been working with for more than 14 years, who asked us for our help, I think we'd be hard-pressed to say no -- especially if we'd worked together on a few issues that we were both very passionate about. Even if we had a serious disagreement about something, I think many of us would decide to make the same hard decision that Senator Boxer did and support our friend and colleague -- despite the political backlash.
More on the flip.
Now does this mean we should be happy about the decision? No. I think it's perfectly acceptable for all of us to be frustrated about her decision. But does that mean we should instantly forget about everything that she's done for liberal causes during her time in Congress, and throw away the relationship we've been building with her in the blogosphere? I say -- emphatically -- NO.
In fact, during this very week when Senator Boxer went to campaign with Joe Lieberman in Connecticut, she's been leading the charge on two issues that the progressive community cares about deeply.
On Wednesday, she took to the Senate floor to lead the opposition to the interstate abortion bill. It's a terrible bill that puts young women at risk of physical harm from abusive families -- especially from fathers or other family members who have committed incest.
Senator Boxer was one of the few Democrats who took to the floor to fight against the passage of the bill. And even when it became clear that the bill would pass, she won passage of an amendment that watered down some of the most egregious provisions that would have protected incestuous fathers.
Today, in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Boxer is once again leading the charge -- this time against the revival of efforts to officially confirm John Bolton as UN Ambassador. Senator Boxer's aggressive opposition was one of the key reasons that Bolton didn't receive Senate confirmation last year -- forcing President Bush to bypass Congress and use a recess appointment to place him until this current Congressional term ends.
So I'd just ask some Kossacks who have basically disowned Senator Boxer to think twice. We're never going to agree with every elected official all of the time. And frankly, I think we agree with Senator Boxer far more than most.
We should express our frustration and our disappointment, certainly, but we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good here.