Yes, I support Hillary Clinton. Her misfortune is not why I'm sad about this election. I am sad because when we began, I felt this election was going to be different. Political minorities were finally getting a voice in the process like never before.
A black man, a white woman, and a Hispanic man were all standing on the stage. And they were all presenting ideas that I could support.
What happened?
I have come to see the real face of this election.
It's not the great ideas that define the current candidates. It's not the new policies they would bring us, the economic problems they would attempt to solve, or the future they would all bring us.
No. To most, the election became about misinterpreting polls, pushing candidates at any cost, and ignoring the very issues we should be discussing.
Diary after diary is rescued as they discuss deep problems with policies like No Child Left Behind, Bush tax cuts, and civil rights for all Americans. Yet, you need only close your eyes and click a Recommended diary and you'll find nothing but tripe. You'll find posts on plagiarism, the latest favorable poll, or the latest Hillary Clinton quote meant for outrage.
Is this what our election will be about -- the next, latest, greatest gotcha moment? Is this truly what our electorate cares about most? Are there so few people actually engaged in this process enough to discuss deeper than the first layer of the Demoratic nominees?
I was proud while listening to debates and knowing that both candidates had their strengths. I was proud of the candidates the Democrats had on the stage to represent them.
I thought this election was to be different. It wasn't going to be driven to attacks of intellectual theft, or even political theft of delegates. Yet, here we are at the bottom of the barrel. We're attacking Michelle Obama or Chelsea Clinton instead of discussing that which plagues our country.
We are divided by attacks, instead of united by progression that awaits Democrats.
I was once hopeful for this election to be different -- it was to be based around the issues, around stances, and around support.
Today, however, we are based around sound bytes, accusations, and opposition.
I am not here to pander for attention. That is not the point of my post. The point of my post is to air the frustration I feel as I watch this great race become just another political tit-for-tat due to overzealous people on both sides of the ticket.
The hopeful race of the future has become the hateful race of yesterday. I wish I could be as excited as I was then.
I miss thinking this election would actually be different. I miss thinking we wouldn't be drawn into bickering over insignificant quotes. I miss thinking we would actually letting votes happen before we declare winners. I miss thinking we would consider the nominees, not their surrogates.
I miss being proud of the Democratic ticket.