We are rapidly moving from the season where we talk about how this or that candidate runs strongly with this or that demographic in this or that state, into the season where we talk about fighting for every last voter and every last vote.
It's a Presidential election year. It's 2008.
The White House itself is an "open seat." The U.S. Senate is at stake, as is the House, as are the State legislatures of states across this land. As are the Governorships, Mayorships and various and sundry elected poobahs of all shapes, sorts and sizes.
We've been here before. We in the netroots understand the stakes. So does every last Democrat across the land.
2008 is a big deal.
I respect Senators Clinton and Edwards. As I do Senators Dodd and Biden and Governor Richardson and Congressman Kucinich. If Barack Obama wins the nomination of the Democratic Party, he will need every last one of the supporters of these candidates. Not just their votes, but their honest support.
I've been scratching my head today over Senator Clinton's continued negative attacks on Senator Obama. It seems she's almost daring Senator Obama to respond in kind. I am very sure he won't do that. But something else occurs to me. Senator Clinton is smart, and she woke up today, after that attack in Cincinnati Ohio yesterday, and continued to attack Barack Obama and, by implication, all of his supporters, today in Rhode Island.
That got me thinking.
I have one thing to say to the netroots today. (Something that might even seem to run counter to my diary from last night.)
Do not respond in kind.
Do not go negative on Senator Clinton at her level. Do not attack her in kind. Do not highlight her attacks and, above all, do not countenance any sort of mocking or belittling attacks on Hillary Clinton as a Senator, a First Lady and especially as a woman.
We need every last voter. We need every last vote. And folks, when Senator Clinton goes before an audience today and mocks hope and belittles unity, that's telling us NOT to attack her in kind...by all means no...we need to keep speaking authentically and sincerely about why we support Barack Obama for President of the United States. Yes, some of us will respond with facts, that's appropriate, but not mud.
Trust me on this one, there's more dirt and muck to come from so many quarters. We can't go there with Clinton. We can't get lured in to the Roveian vortex of the zero sum game. We can't afford to go into the mud. There's a debate this week. After that debate there are seven straight days of GOTV in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island leading up to March 4th.
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{Ed note update for clarity: I want to be clear that I understand that during a Presidential campaign it's important to respond to attacks clearly and factually and swiftly. That's different from what I see as "taking the bait." I know that folks will write considered and factual diaries and comments disagreeing with Senator Clinton on policy or tactics...I'm definitely not opposing that, that would be like saying "don't blog!" What I am saying is that there's a reason for the continued mudslinging and mocking; I think they are looking for a backlash. We should not give them one.}
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In terms of the presidency...the general election is now. If you can't GO, you can CALL, if you can't call you can GIVE, and if you can't give you can WRITE and RECOMMEND and PARTICIPATE.
There is so much we can do, even from home, at our computers.
But the point is this. The Democratic nomination hangs in the balance. One side is talking in ways that inspire and offer hope and unity, the other side is belittling hope and unity in hopes of spurring a backlash. We aren't all policy wonks, but we are citizens, and we offer our voices and our support. We can say no to the negative.
Don't go there. There's no time for mud. It's not worth the effort, and, hell, if you've lived in America the last seven years, you've already been in that dark depressing place before.
There's so much to do together and the people we are doing it with are so inspiring.
Yep. Think about that. Join that. Don't go negative. Stay focused...like these folks (h/t Anna):
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Does 2008 feel empty to you? It's not. Not even close. Does the work you did in 2006...along with so many of us...feel finished?
It isn't.
And we are so much better than that. We are proud Americans. And we know, just like Barack Obama does, that we need every last vote.
We've worked hard and we are going to work harder.
With respect to all. It's 2008...our moment is now.
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VOLUNTEER. TAKE ACTION. DONATE.