I was the most idealistic Dem I knew.
After 9/11, my dad would watch Fox News, and I would have weird dreams of those WOOSHING! sound effects of the station. My mom and I were totally anti-war. My dad was for it. He grew up in Flint. He grew up with a race-conscious mindset. We all chided him for it with his conceptualization of those "Ay-rabs" but he was "the man." He was the figurehead of the household, regardless of the fact my mother made the larger paycheck.
I ripped into my dad so hard. I was an ideolistic 17-year-old. A crazy bigot. Incompetent.
But what did I know?
When the war started, I protested. I was on the front lines of Michigan's capitol, and our Governor waved to us as she walked by to work. I was in the local media. Fancy that.
I donated to Netroots supporters for years. I blogged. I helped deliver my Guv to a second term through my blogging (at least, I'd like to think so). I have done nothing but vote straight Democratic.
But now, things have changed.
I loved Hillary before she ran for President. Call it a gay man/woman thing if you want. All I knew is I wanted a woman in my house. Call it Granholm diffusion, but I loved the idea.
I went to school in Chicago, and I worked for Obama and loved Obama as a Senator for Illinois. I studied and got a double major in Political Science and Public Policy within 3 years.
And I still support Hillary.
But I loved Obama.
No more.
I decided to enter the fray. Make no mistakes, the Michigan Blogsophere was NOT happy about what occured with our Primary. We were outraged. But I voted.
Clinton won.
Net positive for me, but Obama supporters across the picket fence screamed that we were worthless.
I called into Air America Radio. They, too, thought I was worthless.
So I've tried to build upon that and become objective. I've always been a vociferous Democrat -- who can I support? Who can win?
I was happy. Clinton, Edwards, Obama. In that order. That's how I saw it. Then the onslaught happened.
"Billary."
"Corporate Interests."
"The Status Quo."
And that's taking the attacks LIGHTLY. I lurked dKos, but I could. not. take it.
We may have our differences, but we should support one another.
Then the attacks against my home state came, when Hillary was close.
"They knew the rules!"
"It was a farce!"
"It was only for the DLC Hillary lovers!"
Hundreds of thousands of Democrats voted in the election. It's all a farce? Our voices don't matter?
Now, even in MENTIONING identity politics -- more appropriately race -- have resulted in attacks of "racist!" "making this about blacks!" "Black votes don't count?!" When all I wanted to do was highlight the statistical difference.
If THIS is the Obama Nation -- if THIS is unity -- then count me out. I've worked my tail off for Democrats. I've destroyed Republican relatives and friends -- urging them to vote Democratic in Congressional and State elections based on policy.
I don't need to be called a shill or Troll Rated to oblivion because I'm not in lock-step with Obamania. This aggression gets no one anywhere.
We're all Democrats.
Stop flaming people who are not Obama supporters.
You need us, should he win.