The last two days, I have watched the whole "operation Hilarity" idea unfold. I have tossed in my own comments, on the assumption that either Kos was kidding, or he was going to rethink his position. In essence, I was hoping he would see that he had pulled a Komen, making a decision that he thought sounded good, only to see a backlash he didn't anticipate.
Today, Kos posts a response. He portrays me and others like me as too wimpy, as not willing to do whatever it takes to win. All of us who object are taking high roads on principal that are too lofty and foolish. "Idiotic" he says. Win win win win win.
Somewhere, Richard Nixon is smiling. Because remember -- he started with legal dirty tricks (google Dick Tuck.) And he justified them with win win.
Kos, I love you for all you have done to advance progressive ideals and to organize our community to fight for them. But now, you have lost your way. If you can't understand what is wrong with what you are doing, if this site is now going to be an advocate for the kind of sleazy, anti-democratic tactics put forward by the Rush Limbaughs of the world (and yes, this was originally his idea), then I believe it is time for me to leave. I love this site, but all I can do is vote with my feet. (And please, please don't post comments like "don't let the door hit you on the way out!" Engage this conversation, don't just be juvenile.
In other words, Kos, you have turned this into something I am ashamed to be part of. Before you continue your snide tsk tsk about how wimpy I am (a level of disrespect for your fellow progressives that shocked me), please know I am a fighting liberal -- I organize, I attend rallies, I knock on doors, I give money. In one instance on ActBlue, you were raising money for a cause I particularly believed in. I canceled my weekend vacation and contributed $1,000. So don't tell me I am not willing to fight.
I am not, however, willing to act in a way that demeans the votes of other Americans. The Republicans are wrestling through their nomination process, and it is quite hilarious to watch. But, at least their votes are based on who they WANT to be their nominee. If someone goes to the trouble to go to the polling place to vote for Romney because they support him, and I run in snickering to vote for Santorum because I oppose him, I have canceled out the other citizens vote. NOT because I support Santorum, but because I oppose Republicans.
And you don't think that's unethical?
You say, well, the primaries are open primaries, so therefore the states have allowed everyone to vote, so what is the problem? Because NO ONE ANTICIPATED THAT PEOPLE WOULD COME IN TO VOTE FOR WHO THEY OPPOSE!! Don't you see the difference? If a dem goes in and votes for the repub he/she most prefers of a bad lot, that's fine. But goes in to vote for who he/she most OPPOSES? That's unethical.
So what does Kos reach for? "Conservatives don't let delicate sensibilities get in the way of perfectly valid political tactics." My god. Of COURSE they don't. When it comes to elections, conservatives have shown themselves to be willing to do anything, take any tactic to win.
Redistricting in the middle of the night with lawyers helping craft a way, and forcing legislators to sign silence pledges so the citizens can't know what happened? Not illegal -- SO LET"S DO IT.
Imposing Voter ID rules to keep students, the elderly and many minorities from voting? Not illegal -- LET'S DO IT!!
Distributing leaflets in minority neighborhoods telling them that if they go to the polls, they also must be prepared to pay all of their outstanding bills? Not illegal -- LET"S DO It!!!
Lying to a group of people about when the election is being held, to impede them from voting? Not illegal -- LET'S DO IT!!!
Your "conservatives do it" is the same style of argument the Bush Administration used to justify abandoning the Geneva Conventions. The terrorist don't honor them, why should we?
Because we're better than them. And when you try to drag us down into the mud, you abandon who we are.
I may remain on the site. I don't know. I will take a long break, however. But one thing I know -- I will never contribute to ActBlue again. I will make my own choices about where my money will go. I can't contribute to a group that makes me ashamed.
UPDATE:
Some have made good points -- dailykos is not kos. Actblue is not dailykos (really?) I have to think about that. maybe i just ignore kos and celebrate the rest of the site. i'm not sure.
But for those of you who just give snide responses -- I am asking for a dialogue. I am someone who gives money (a lot of it), time, sweat and effort for the progressive cause. snap "too bad for you" responses to someone (and many more) who works this hard and who is struggling with the ethics of this site and wants to hear from others seems self-defeating.