[Disclaimer: I voted for Hillary, sent her money, and made calls for Hillary that actually changed minds.]
I got this email from Markos. I’m sure you got it too.
It had phrases like:
We are the biggest liberal news site on the internet—and it's not enough….
and
If we're going to beat them, we need to build a left-wing media environment that rivals them. And that starts with you.
and
With your help, we can turn Daily Kos into the premier progressive media and activism platform on the left.
My response to Markos is:
IF ONLY THIS WAS TRUE.
Unfortunately, it’s not. There is a difference between being “on the left,” and being a tool for the Democratic Party.
Bernie Sanders, for example, is on the left. But Kos was far more interested in supporting the Democratic Party than creating an “activist platform on the left.” To be an “activist platform on the left” means to be able to criticize the Democratic Party from the left.
Markos, no. I like this site. I like being able to post here. But if you want me to support a “premier progressive media and activism platform on the left,” you gotta make it so. Until then, I give generously to Greg Palast. And Amy Goodman and Democracy Now! That, actually, is THE “premier progressive media and activism program on the left.” If you want to be THE premier progressive media and activism platform on the left, then DO IT.
There is a difference between being the media arm of the Democratic Party and being the media arm of the LEFT. they are not synonymous.
Yesterday, I had the audacity to be critical of Hillary Clinton EVEN THOUGH I VOTED AND GAVE HER MONEY AND CAMPAIGNED FOR HER. Yet, for merely being critical of the Democratic candidate for what she wrote in her book, months after the campaign, I got flagged. And, I got hate. Lots of hate. And, for defending Bernie Sanders, I and those who came to my defense in the comments were invited to leave the site. Is that the community you want? It certainly is not the community I will contribute my money towards.
[Oh yeah. The Onion made my point about Hillary’s book far better than I could. I should have waited a day….]
If we cannot criticize Democrats from the left, then this is not the “premier progressive media platform on the left.” Hell, it’s not even a “progressive media platform on the left,” premier or otherwise.
So, yes, I like being able to post here.
And, don’t come to me asking me for money for something that you are NOT. When you ARE that something, we will talk.