No patience for fools and "Democrats"

First, read this.

Dear Mr. Corbett,

You sir, are an egotistical, selfish, petty man. I thought I was angry when the Republicans in Tennessee went after Michelle, but I expected that. I thought I was angry when George W. Bush likened Democrats to Nazi-appeasers. But you sir, have taken my patience and tolerance for "Democrats" such as yourself to the extreme. Let's take it point by point shall we?

"Operation Turndown" has deep roots in my own personal radical politics.

If Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee for president, I will not vote for him.

I will turn him down.

So, you will turn down Obama, eh? And cast a vote for who instead? Nader? No vote? And in turn endorse another 4 years of Republican rule in the United States? Another 4 years of war? Another 4 years of millions going without health insurance? Another 4 years of inflation, lack of corporate oversight and plutocratic economic policy? Another 4 years of wire-tapping and torture? For shame, sir.

Judging from callers to "Corbett" yesterday, so will many other Democrats.

Democrats must follow their hearts and their heads.

Many of these Democrats will return to the fold in November. And you sir, as a voice of left-center politics in the wilderness of Pennsylvania have the power in your hands to influence hundreds, if not thousands of votes. Do you really wish to lead people away from Barack Obama and towards those outcomes I listed above? For shame, sir.

I’m part of an impromptu movement born of outrage and frustration to which Democratic Party leaders need to pay very close attention. I’m a radical Democrat and proud of it.

Radical politics is one reason why I majored in "Community Development" at Penn State in 1970, after showing up there in September of 1969 with an open mind and a head loaded with ideas – not all of them good.

By November I was on the street in DuPont Circle in Washington, D.C., getting tear-gassed by National Guard troops during an anti-war protest. The next day I watched the attack on the Justice Department. The next year I watched my state cop father show up on my campus in riot gear.

I spent the next 30-some years developing my perspective and my honor as a daily newspaper columnist and broadcast commentator on television and radio.

I’ve learned from it all. I’m still learning.

And all these years later I still value my community development education and my degree from the counterculture school of hard knocks. The lessons of Kent State, My Lai, and the mean streets of Chicago under the first Mayor Richard Daley remain a part of my pledge of allegiance to real change I can believe in.

And yet, from all this experience, you really have learned nothing if you plan to cast your ballot for someone other than Barack Obama. Have you learned nothing from the Bush presidency? Have you learned nothing from watching Republicans shit on everything that is great about this country from the last 5 years? Have you learned nothing from your disasterous 2000 vote? Please sir, open your eyes to what you're suggesting.

I’m not some bizarre social isolationist who’s stuck in the past, either. I value lasting friendships with a wide array of people who hold extremely different political beliefs.
I’m even friends with some conservative Republicans.

But in my heart I’m a radical Democrat.

Yet I’m a model citizen who advocates non-violence and negotiation.

Although I would have likely joined the Molly Maguires back when coal barons oppressed my Irish miner ancestors in Northeastern Pennsylvania and I publicly supported the IRA against British tyranny during my visits to Belfast during the war, I’ve evolved into a principled person who values the power of the ballot over the bullet.

That’s why I’ve decided not to vote for Barack Obama if he wins the Democratic nomination to run for president. I’m with Hillary Clinton until the end.

If she loses and Obama offers her a spot on the ticket as vice president, I’ll consider endorsing the ticket. Still, I offer no guarantees and encourage Hillary to decline the VP spot even if she’s offered the job.

Hillary is the strongest, best candidate. Hillary can beat John McCain. Hillary is my Democrat.

If you believe Hillary is the strongest, best candidate, that is your right. If Hillary is your Democrat, that is your right. To not vote for Barack Obama is also your right. But to insinuate that Barack Obama can not be a strong candidate, well... all I can say is that I hope you saw his response to McBush today. I hope you saw the strength and the fight he put on display. That should make you proud as an activist AND as a Democrat. How long has it been since you've seen a Democrat fight like that?

Even if party bosses tell me that we must get behind the nominee and that the nominee will be Obama, I have a choice. Even if family, friends and colleagues tell me I’m wrong, I have a choice. Even if you hate my decision, I have a choice.

And I will use it. To do otherwise would violate the principles I work hard to uphold. I’ve made a decision – a well-thought out, reasoned and rational decision.

Besides, I’ve been here before. I voted for Ralph Nader in 2000 and endured the scorn of others who blamed me for the Democratic loss. Don’t blame me, I said. Blame yourselves for not being able to convince enough people to vote for the Democrat.

The same argument holds true today.

Ahh, the Ralph Nader vote. Once can be excused. Hell, I even agree with you that Al Gore ran a terrible campaign in 2000 and that Nader earned many of his votes. I don't hold that against you. But to use that as defense of a vote in 2008 is sheer folly. This is not 2000. The issues are too important and the stakes too high to cast a vote for anyone other than Barack Obama in 2008, even if you must hold your nose to do it. Any other vote is a vote against progress and a vote against the millions of Americans without health care, a vote against bringing our troops home, a vote against reigning in the oil and pharmaceutical companies. For shame, sir.

Don’t blame me if Obama runs and loses because too many rogue Democrats, independents and Republicans do not have faith in his ability to lead during some very tough and trying times.

Ralph’s running again today.

So are many other candidates you’ve likely never heard of.

America is caught up in a two-party madness that offers voters too few options. The same well-heeled donors contribute cash to both parties and conspire for access that most Americans can’t even dream of having.

What we do have is a choice.

And I’ve made mine.

I’m turning down Obama.

You're damn right we have a choice this time around. For the sake of this country, your listeners, Americans and people around the world, I hope you have enough time to pull your head out of your ass and make the right decision in November.

And a final note. I would be damn proud to have Hillary Clinton at the head of this party running against John McCain.