There have been many posts for people to vent, and for both sides of the Democratic debate to take umbrage with why they don't like the other candidate. This has been a campaign based on personality, largely because the candidates were so closely positioned on the issues that there was nothing else to discuss. And, I believe, magnified by the MSM the obvious differences were the topics du jour - even when they offended us. Racism, sexism, me-ism, you-ism, us-ism, them-ism, right-ism, new-ism (Dr. Suess-ism is helpful at moments like this). It may be a chicken and egg question. Democrats, are we pissed because we are arguing, or are we arguing because we are pissed? And if you believe in eggs - aren't we really pissed at George W. Bush?
What I find sad about the divisions that currently need healing in the Democratic party is not that they are permanent, or unbreachable, or that they are indicative of sociological differences that we are not willing to face, but that they are predictable. Predictable due to the truly personal way in which we all engaged in these campaigns. Predictable in the way we have been reacting to the gross mis-use of the Presidency by a Republican idiot many of us still feel was never elected. We are no longer arguing facts, we are arguing feelings. Feelings we take very personally. Feelings whose origins are the outrage of the Bush Administration's manipulations, and not fellow Democrats.
I propose the same convergance of events that forged die-hard Obama supporters, is the same convergance of events that formed die-hard Clinton supporters, and our similarities are far more emmeshed than the policies in which we generally find commonality. Our similarities are emmeshed in the knowledge that we cannot go on, as a country, in this way. We are in agreement on the things that are actually going to affect us - the way we approach the world. We are actually, already, united.
It is in the way that our perspective candidates ran their campaigns, that we have been apart. It has more to due with the level of identification assigned to each candidate. That personal identification is what we are trying to wrap our heads around in terms of peaceful dis-engagement. It isn't about Clinton or Obama - it is about recognizing an immovable position so that you don't stay ensconced in a way that disables your effectiveness. And who is it that ensconced us in the first place? This administration.
How did we get to this point? Obama supporters are quick to point out that our need for the rules is paramount, especially after the last eight years. Clinton supporters are quick to point out that what is important is the outcome, especially after the last eight years. The common denominator, here, is a reaction to the last eight years! Both are directed, in a different way, at attacking what has cuckolded us all - a government that must be changed. We are arguing the same point.
The media has been complicit in a way of looking at everything that promotes division. It drives their ratings. Their topic of the moment is always the one that is most incendiary. And, the Democratic primary has been the biggest game in town. In their wildest dreams the Republicans cannot be this interesting! Unfortunately, they are only reporting the dissention within this passionate, and dynamic party. They are not focusing on the things that got us to this dissention - this administration.
After the last eight years we are not fluent in nuanced conversations. They have been, shall we say, absent from the public square. As Clinton supporters dig in to perceived and actual hurts, those of us who support Obama do not understand why they want to blame the only person left who gives a rip what happens to them. All of this is about how the prevarications of this administration have left us festering in a culture that is more likely to fight itself that recognize who it is fighting. They have, through frustration and stonewalling, divided and conquered. It is time to stop the maddness.
Clinton supporters if you need and olive branch - you got it - BIG TIME. No matter how resentful and opinionated an Obama person is, it is not directed at you, personally. It is directed at the frustrating times in which we live, and the ease with which we are divided. For those with a short fuse it is all so large and overwhelming that it is patently obvious and needs no explanation.
Obama supporters if you need to offer an olive branch - do it - BIG TIME! No matter how resentful and opinionated a Clinton person is, it is not directed at you. It is directed at the frustrating times in which we live, and the ease with which we are all divided. For those with a short fuse it is all so large and overwhelming that it is patently obvious and needs no explanation.
See, we are closer than we think. Now, in one last attempt to recognize where the unity lies, let us revisit the actual facts. If we do not grow up and take our combined efforts seriously, John McCain will be elected and the world as we know it may not survive sufficiently for us to have the time, space or ability to argue.
UPDATE: edited to reflect room for well-intentioned Republicans who are equally frustrated with this administration. Thank you Sanity Check.