As Hillary's odds at winning the nomination become increasingly slim and the volume of despairing diaries lashing out at so-called "Obama cultists" increases, one's mind drifts to what will happen in a few short weeks when her campaign (and indeed her career) is finally a slim section of a chapter in the history books. Around the country, of course, life will simply go on just as it always does when someone loses a presidential primary. But what about here?
No one her believes that some of the more imaginative attacks on Obama from his rivals and their surrogates, ranging from the rather convoluted arguments about his opposition to Iraq to his supposed alliances with bigoted elements of the religious community, will come back in the general election, but it is fair to say some of the more inane arguments will, this time from Republicans.
In particular, I expect to see quite a lot of the "cult of Obama" banality in the general election. So the question is: At what point does posting such commentary on dKos go from low-brow, rather childish politicking for inferior presidential candidates who are, at least, Democrats, to "spewing right wing talking points"?
In my opinion, of course, we've already past that line, as I think it's pretty clear by now that Hillary is toast and that no amount of unscrupulous blather will change the fact. The only purpose served by such talk at this stage is to keep it warm for the real opposition.
But that's just me. These sorts of issues are decided by consensus and one person's thoughts only count for so much. It seems to me, though, that at this point letting the more noxious anti-Obama talking points flourish is simply a courtesy to people whose candidates have already lost either literally (in the case of those still bitter about Edwards) or have essentially lost in the sense that there's no realistic path left to the nomination. In the long run, it hurts the cause and in the short run the only reason to tolerate it is that some feel squeamish about calling a spade a spade in the face of people who insist they're holding five clubs.
At some point, though, the line will be crossed and something will have to happen. Otherwise, the site becomes a platform for the opposition's message. We may be approaching a purge of proportions not seen since the I/P wars of yesteryear.