I Love Barack Obama and John Edwards (and your favorite candidate, too)!

I've been reading the comments on mcjoan's post about the Obama staffer who "stepped in it" and I have been noticing that people are getting downright vicious.

I can understand that if you really love your guy (or gal), it can be frustrating and even painful to see someone criticize them - especially if their critique is false or inane or just downright stupid.  You want to cyber-slap them and say "DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?? ___ is our best hope for taking the presidency and helping progressives win and getting this country back on the right track and saving the world from global warming..."

Believe me, I understand this passion and this urgency.  These times and this election call for passion and urgency.  No doubt.  But it makes me a little sad, because I would like to see us here at dkos use 99.99% of our energy to forward our progressive values, not fight amongst ourselves.

Of course, people will disagree and argue and debate.  That's all for the better!  But I just ask that we keep some perspective, because...

I Love Barack Obama and John Edwards (and your favorite candidate, too)!

Every time I see an interview of Obama I think "damn, this guy should be president - he just should."  He is very likeable, and more importantly, very thoughtful.  Not only that, but he is clearly committed to many of the things we all value here.  He spent several years working as a community organizer - talk about progressive values!  And that was after he graduated from Harvard Law School.  He was against the Iraq War from the start and continues to speak out against it.

If you asked for the ideal progressive candidate, it would be hard to top John Edwards.  He's got the charisma, the intelligence, the good-looks... and that authentic southern accent.  Lately, no one has been speaking about poverty and income inequality as eloquently or effectively as him.  And this is something he really believes in - remember, his 2004 campaign was built on the "Two Americas" speech.  Although he regrettably did not vote against the Iraq War initially, he has since realized that it was a collosal mistake (just like most Americans!).

I could write similar praise for any of our candidates, and mean it 100%.  Unlike the Republicans, we have so many great candidates to choose from.

So yes, disagree.  Debate.  Argue.  It will help us all sort out our opinions and preferences.  But keep that "unity" perspective in the back of your mind, and refrain from calling a fellow kossack a name just because they appear to be an idiot with no clue about electoral politics or the progressive movement or why we give recipes to trolls.

Questioning our candidates is good and healthy.  But if you have to throw something, throw pie, not stones!