I have noticed a widespread tendency to talk about "the Democrats." This is a problem--because when we lump all Democratic politicians and organizers together, we lose. Differentiation is the key.
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By using the phrase "the Democrats," we miss the opportunity to recognize those out there who are fighting the good fight, and who are doing so consistently.
We need to name those Democrats who we support--Feingold, Dean, Conyers, Kennedy, Lamont, you know who makes you cheer. We need to repeat the fact, over and over again, that there are people who are doing and articulating progressive politics. There are people we support, and we need to be vocal about it.
Our pessimism about some Democrats--centrists, sell outs, turncoats--is surely warranted. But it is not the whole story. When we bash "the Democrats" we are helping everyone from Limbaugh and O'Reilly, to the MSM. Let's not take up their stick and hit ourselves with it. There is energy, there is movement, and there are a whole lot of angry Americans out there who need to hear about the good things--even if they are too few for our wishes--that are happening.