Let me start off by saying that I am dedicated to electing Democratic candidates for office from my local school board all the way up to the President of these United States. I will vote for the presidential nominee from our party in November, whether it is Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.
I have never understood the folks who threaten to take their toys and votes and go home when they don't get their way...
But I have to tell you...
I REALLY miss John Edwards!
The Democratic Primary has become silly... and suddenly NOT about issues anymore. While I would love for my President to be someone with a winning personality, I'm not sure that should be the most important consideration. I'd rather like discussing issues and the direction I would like to see this country move. A mere month ago I did a lot of that- in support of John Edwards.
I really feel that John dropped out too soon... nothing to be done about that. But think about it-- whether you liked him as a candidate or not-- he kept the debates steered better toward issues. His policy statements became the standard that other campaigns used as their starting points. I personally liked the "I represent the grown-up wing of the Democratic Party" comment, and we could surely use that wing right now.
What I want (a girl can have dreams, right?):
- For supporters of BOTH candidates to respond to criticisms of policy stands or votes with answers about said policies--NOT to respond with "But YOUR candidate did this MUCH worse thing." Answer questions and make your case. NO candidate is perfect and neither will the Democratic President we elect be. We will have to be willing to critique our new president and let him/her know when they make mistakes. We have seen what happens when a president is above correction-- we cannot continue this.
- If your candidate does not have an answer to the question, know that this is an important thing to correct. Help him or her out-- don't ignore a flaw. Write to them and let them know a concern has been raised. Maybe they have a response, but it wasn't easy for you to find. Campaigns need to know that too.
- A moratorium on name-calling of other posters just because they support a particular candidate. Hillbot? Obamalune? Neither are very helpful, and do nothing to forward political discussion.
The primary season will be over soon enough (whew!)and I will be most glad about that. Much as I like pie, all the fighting with it is starting to get old. Fight about (discuss) issues, not about the way a candidate laughs, or who has the best signs handed out at rallies or the best chants.
Please... and thank you to the many like-minded souls out there...