Yeah, it's been a sucky week hasn't it?
Texas. North Carolina. Florida. No need to recap. Everybody here on this site is angry and everyone has a right to be. Those who aren't outraged aren't paying attention.
I admit, I saw the Trayvon Martin verdict coming after reading all the judicial experts who were pointing out flaws in the prosecution and explaining how self defense laws play out. I wasn't shocked. But I am angry.
And you know what I did? I watched Fox on Sunday morning.
Yes. Because I wanted to luxuriate in my anger. I wanted to stew. I wanted to wrap myself in my anger. And they did not disappoint me one bit.
They did their this and their that and pounded into our heads "This trial should never have happened in the first place."
They brought in the Blonde Harpy who blamed Obama, Sharpton and Jesse Jackson for causing such a big stink about this. (Wrong. Trayvon's parents reached out and started the ball rolling here.)
And just when I though this thing had hit bottom, they brought out "Fox News Religious Consultant Father Jonathan Morris" (I know, sounds like something from the Daily Show, but I am NOT making that up.) and he helpfully explained how Trayvon's mother needs to begin the process of forgiving George Zimmerman. I am not making that up either.
And apparently Tucker Carlson is a co-host on Sundays (and yes, he's still wearing that fucking stupid bowtie.) and he did his best concern trolling. ("I ....I thought that....after the election and re-election of Barack Obama, that we were past this sort of thing.") I half expected him to pull out a hanky.
Of course, the orgy of self-fellatio that they engaged in on Saturday night and Sunday was simply the culmination of months of cheerleading for Zimmerman.
For months they've trumpeted that THIS ISN'T ABOUT RACE. STOP TRYING TO MAKE THIS RACIAL!
This from the people who repeatedly call Barack Obama "unamerican", "a Kenyan Socialist" and "lazy".
For months they've repeatedly broadcast unflattering pictures of Trayvon and his suspension record never once mentioning that Zimmerman has assaults against a girlfriend and a cop on his record.
For months, they lambasted MSNBC, Obama, and especially Al Sharpton, denouncing them all as "playing racial politics" and trying to "divide this nation. "
This even as they're excoriating immigrants, DOMA, and practically adopting Paula Deen.
And was there EVER a hint of remorse from Zimmerman? Nope. This was "God's Plan" he said on Hannity. His family also expressed the same indifference to the Martin family.
And for months we've watched as states like Texas, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin laid down one onerous abortion ruling after another. Why?
Because We're The Party Of Pro-Life.
So yeah, I'm mad and I have been indulged that anger.
BUT.
I, you, we, all of us, would do well to remember Barack Obama on the campaign
Remember when he would state a particularly offensive fact about the records of Paul Ryan or Mitt Romney? And the audience would start to boo? Remember what he would then say?
"Don't Boo! Vote!"
In other words, he was saying I didn't say that just now to get you riled up, or to throw red meat at you like you're a bunch of pitbulls. I'm just giving you facts. I said it to let you know what I'm up against. I need your support. I need you to take your anger, and transmit it to the ballot box.
I want to reiterate that now.
VOTE. CONTRIBUTE. STAY ACTIVE.
That is hands down the best thing we can do as a community right now.
Basically, we have to recognize that we and our elected Democrats are in a constant, never-ending assault on our rights and liberties. The Right To Choose. The Voting Rights Act.
ELECTIONS MATTER. You think DOMA would have been overturned if John McCain had been able to pick the last two justices?
You think McCain would have created the CPB? Would Elizabeth Warren be a senator at this time?
You think you'd have what remaining moderates there are scrambling to work out an immigration bill if Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan hadn't gotten their asses kicked last year?
You think there would be even a chance of a federal prosecution of George Zimmerman if Mitt Romney's DOJ were in charge. (not saying that that will happen, but Romney wouldn't even have it under review/investigation.)
ELECTIONS MATTER. I'm especially cognizant of this because I'm in Virginia where two certifiable nutjobs are on the ballot for Governor and Lt. Governor.
Even when it's not a year divisible by four, we have to remain vigilant. We have to keep doing what we did in 2008 and 2012. Because 99.9 percent of the time, we're in the right.
So yes, be angry. But also, channel that anger constructively.
I thank you all for your time.