I used to be, and by all common stereotypes I fit the bill to the Tee. These are the demographic traits I possess that, if viewed on their own, would suggest to political observers that "this guy has got to be in the GOP."
I:
Am Male (yes, I have a penis)
Am White, and was raised in a very homogenously white area.
Live in a "Red" state (though not for too much longer)
Have a household income of 100K+
Have a large majority of conservative family including in-laws
Fell under the Rush Limbaugh hypnosis at age 14
Once subscribed to National Review
Have been closely observing a Democratic party that can’t nor have ever been able to really coalesce into a unified front
Did not have any major parental or familial influence in liberal philosophy growing up
Thoroughly enjoy a good single malt scotch
Follow me below the fold to see where I’m going with this.
So Why? Why, with all these things working against me have I chosen Progressivism and Barack Obama as my candidate (from the beginning)?
There are a lot of reasons. The most important one is that I pride myself in is the maintenance of an open mind and dedication to rational analysis of any subject on a case by base basis. This mindset has allowed me to observe the abuses and incompetence of the GOP in the last decade that all of us at this site are aware of. It has also kept me open to the idea of leaving the Republican blinders of self interest in my wake in light of my observances of the massive damage they can cause to our nation. If you want a little more elaboration on this I suggest looking up my first diary, because I am going to move on and attempt to connect all this to the current primary climate.
Part of the reason I mention this demographic info is to disclose up front that I am by no means experienced with the business end of either racism or sexism. That being said, I want to try to make some observations that may have the benefit of the outsiders perspective. Hopefully I will not have disqualified myself before I have even begun, but that judgment is up to the reader, and I will not pretend to be either an expert or totally unbiased about the topics I will, without further ado, speak to.
First of all, there is no equating racism and sexism. The only thing they can be said to have in common is the systematic oppression of a group of people. "But wait!" you say, "isn’t that like THE biggest thing two things can have in common?" You may have a point, but to me, saying they are the same is like saying all religions are the same. To someone without any knowledge of religion, they would seem the same. But I defy you to find anyone on this planet that does not have pre-existing experience with religion, sexism, or racism. My point is that there are no unbiased people out there, and to see these two bigotries as the same does not factor in the personal history of those experiencing them. Some people are routinely called ‘sweetie’ by people that deeply love and care about them. Some people get paid less then their male counterparts for the same job. Some people have experienced being called a racial slur. The list goes on and on. Some people won’t vote for a woman, some won’t vote for a black man, some won’t vote for either, some will vote for nothing but.
Anyone who thinks there are no racists or sexists in the Democratic Party is an idiot. But the thing that makes Democrats so great, yet so fatally incapable of sustaining power is the fact that it is such big a tent. Republicans all have the same agenda, and they stick to it, vote it, live it, and breathe it. There are some variations, but they are far less diverse and fractured in their interests. This primary season has seen two of the largest of these interests pitted head to head. The nation IS ready for a woman president, and the nation IS ready for a Black President. The problem has been that one of these two is going to win out, and, by extension, one is going to be put off for at least four more years.
The Democratic Party is made up of groups that are used to FIGHTING HARD against strong opposition and getting very little support outside their subgroup. There are women’s rights, racial minority, reproductive rights, GLBT, immigrant, anti and non-religious, environmental, workers rights, anti-poverty, healthcare reform, and many other groups and combinations of groups within the party platform. Yes, the Democratic party is the place for them, but it is also consumed by so many issues that each subset has got to fend for itself first, then spend any extra time working for the common good and the special interests of others. Now there are two subsets working very hard against each other, leaving the others in the party not directly involved to either choose sides or try to referee. We have seen the referees get turned on or ignored by both sides. We have seen each side try to bend the rules to their own advantage. We have seen racism, sexism, and plenty of wolf crying from both sides. We are all members of the best party on the planet, but what makes us great also makes us vulnerable. Both sides feel that they have gotten so close that they are unwilling to give up their cause, to see the first president like them. They don’t seem to see the victory of the first non-white male president they way we would have, say, two years ago. Now the sent of victory is in their nostrils and anything but their candidate would spell bitter defeat, despite the inevitable barrier that would still be broken. We have seen how powerful these desires can be, and what logic those taken by them can forsake.
This isn’t about who has won by the rules anymore. This is about how the rules must be unfair if the other candidate is winning, and how they must by obeyed if your candidate is winning. I am a firm believer in the rules. When it comes to sports and board games I don’t cheat. I don’t think it’s fun to win unless you win by the rules. But this is politics, and the rules aren’t always so black and white. If that were the case, it wouldn’t matter who was on the Supreme Court, so long as they were literate.
So even if racism and sexism aren’t directly comparable, they should still cancel each other out. We’re Democrats, and we all strive to eradicate these things, even if we still subconsciously fall victim to them occasionally. I’m not one to talk, I admit, but I say no more. No matter how valid your points seem to be, let them go. Take a step outside the fray and look back. What do you see? Do you see someone that wants something so badly that you will believe anything? Ignore pieces until the puzzle looks the way you desire it to look? This nomination will be awarded soon, and then maybe you can help by trying to step into the shoes of a Hillary supporter, or an Obama supporter, and understand the disappointment they feel. It’s far more disappointing to get so close to some lifelong goal and have to give it up, if only temporarily, than it is to have never thought it had much chance to begin with.
I know I’m going to get the "Hillary lost my vote because of A, B, and C" comments, and I’m going to get the "But they were being racist, and I wasn’t ever being sexist" comments, but I’m interested in the "lets bury the hatchet and point our guns in the same direction" comments. It’s not because I think any current members of this site won’t work tirelessly to get the nominee elected, but because I think that unless we offer more than an olive branch to our fellow dems, they won’t help us pull the rope. The climate is right for a major victory in the fall, but it’s going to require all hands on deck, and Clinton bashing isn’t going to bring them up from below.
I know I went on a long winding journey with this diary, but I just want to offer my advice on how to heal the party. Everyone swallow your pride and compliment the shit out of a Clinton supporter near you. Don’t tell them how shitty her campaign was run, how she played the race card, how she wants to change the rules, etc. That won’t do us any good. Tell them how great a candidate she is and how it’s a shame they can’t both be president together. Tell them that what matters most is a dem in the Whitehouse and all of our interests will be better served if McCain never presses his butt flesh in the big oval office chair. Tell them that if the situation were reversed you would be sore too, and that we all hope Senator Clinton will still play a major leadership role in the party. Tell them that one day soon we will have a first female president, and the success of a Barack Obama administration could only help increase the likelihood of such an event. The Democratic brand name must be strong to keep producing such great candidates and give them a chance to win the highest office. Fear not the kissing of the butt, because you can’t change someone’s mind by insulting them. Not very often, at least.
That’s got to be more than two cents worth. Thanks for your time.