Can't We All Just Get Along?

Posted by Marc Faletti, Punkassblog at 4:42 AM on April 23, 2008.

Punkassblog is about many things, but rarely would I count moderation among them. Today’s a different story, though.

Here’s my prediction for Pennsylvania Tuesday: regardless of who wins or by how much, regardless of what it means for the nomination overall, the Democratic infighting between Clinton supporters and Obama supporters will reach a fever pitch. Jill’s highlighted some of the latest lameness, and we can expect some ugly winners and sore losers by tonight. Obnoxious glee and bitter (yes, bitter) defeat are potent fuels for inflammatory rhetoric, and we’ll see it everywhere from the dinner table to the cable news round-table. We’ll certainly see plenty of it in the blogosphere.

Perhaps the most troubling data I’ve seen during this election season is the poll indicating 19% of Obama supporters and 28% of Clinton supporters would back John McCain if their preferred Dem loses the nomination. Truly, this shocked me. Clinton and Obama have damn near identical policy positions — not even the candidates dispute this! In many ways, the only reason to prefer one over the other is because you think there’s a tangible reason they’ll defeat John McCain. If you’re currently backing a candidate who’s campaigning on universal health care, a strong NARAL rating, a quicker end to the war in Iraq, and a halt to Bush cronyism — regardless of WHICH candidate — how on *earth* could you turn around and endorse McCain if your #1 loses in the primary? I realize not everyone votes on the issues, but what would these people be voting on? Wardrobe?

If I were forced to hazard a guess, I’d say a significant percentage of those polled were basing their answer on spite. The thought of their candidate being passed over is so maddening that, if it occurs, they think the would vote as far in the other direction from the person that beat them as possible. At least, they believe that right now, in the thick of things. And that’s really a microcosm of the entire problem.

Roughly half of all Democrats are going to be upset by the end of the day, and the mass media will be circling like vultures as tempers flare. And why not? We’ve already engaged in enough sexism and racism during this race to send our party back into the 19th century. Good Democrats in the progressive press/blogosphere and everywhere else will say things they’ll probably regret in 3 months, especially when the right wingers latch onto them and flog our sorry asses with them all summer and fall.

This isn’t to say we should avoid criticism of candidates’ positions or words. If Clinton attacks the MoveOn platform, criticize! If Obama talks tough on Iran, criticize! But if we’re doing it right, this never has to stray into the petty or personal or insulting rhetoric of late, whether you’re criticizing a candidate or defending one.

Everybody, including me, is expecting the worst today. But fuck them. Fuck *me*. Fuck all of us who think so little of our collective behavior lately. Prove us all wrong. On this day, let’s rise above the fray and remember that regardless of who wins the nomination, that person will stand for policies we believe in and against the very real threat of more Republican rule. Will that person believe everything you believe? Probably not. But they’ll be a hell of a lot better than the alternative.

In a few short weeks, this leg of the race will be over. If we want to win the next one, we’ll need to be able to look each other in the eye, extend a hand, and get to work. Together.

Tagged as: election, democrats

Marc Faletti blogs at « The AlterNet Blogs    « PEEK   « Marc Faletti

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heres the problem [Report this comment] Posted by: Drclaw on Apr 23, 2008 5:55 AM    Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ..when a candidate runs their campaign using slimy tactics, outright lies and strategies taken from the sorched earth view of the Rethugs...then what are we when we support this type of candidate? Not only to we get an individual that is unlikely to even meet the bae minimum for a progressive, we will be supporting the political philosophy of a party that gives us such poor choices. SMall short term gain, big long term loss. I will have to thnk very carefully about whether this is worth it. I won't vote for McCain, but I have a growing idea that, depending on who gets the nomination, and *how*, the most moral chice is to stay home [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: heres the problem Posted by: topsnoop This is premature [Report this comment] Posted by: hotdog on Apr 23, 2008 6:06 AM    Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] These polls are taken in the heat of the primary. In the fall, things will look very different. Democrats will rally around the nominee. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Because . . . [Report this comment] Posted by: Scientz on Apr 23, 2008 6:33 AM    Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] . . . the masses are idiots? I'm only saying . . . [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] oldfreedondude [Report this comment] Posted by: oldfreedomdude on Apr 23, 2008 7:32 AM    Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] No, it is very simple. More Clinton supporters would vote for McCain if she loses the nomination, because Clinton is a warmonger just like McCain. It is ridiculous to say there is no difference between Obama and Clinton on policy. She voted for and cheerlead the war on Iraq. She, through Bill, campaigned for Lieberman, another warmonger. She has supported the demonization of and threats against Iran, when they have really done nothing. Her new "umbrella" plan to "protect" other countries from Iran is no different than Bush's push to put missile bases all over the world, starting a new cold war, and further destabilizing the world. She supported Israel's cluster bombing of Lebanon. The list of very important differences between Obama and Clinton goes on and on. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: oldfreedondude Posted by: hilaryuk Obama Hate Machine [Report this comment] Posted by: mboerner on Apr 23, 2008 1:16 PM    Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I was going to vote for Obama in the Pennsylvania primary until I started reading the blogs of his supporters. Obama himself may believe "we can do better" but his supporters are so full of sexism and venom that I couldn't support him. "Bitch" is the least of what they call her whereas no one would dare call him a "bastard." I say HRC holds up better than he does. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Obama Hate Machine Posted by: no1kstate » RE: Obama Hate Machine Posted by: no1kstate No we can't all just get along. [Report this comment] Posted by: Joel99 on Apr 23, 2008 1:41 PM    Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I agree with those stating that there are major differences between Hillary and Barack. I would not vote for Hillary because it is a stretch for me to vote for Barack as it is. I am not impressed with the Democrats who mostly look like the other wing of the same bird I am not willing to fly with. Barack is a roll of the dice and may be actually different. Lets hope so. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] NEWSFLASH [Report this comment] Posted by: mindtrvlr on Apr 23, 2008 10:18 PM    Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] If all the Democrats candidate bashing doesn't stop, everyone will be looking at John Mcains face in the Whitehouse for Four more Years of a Bush style presidency. Is that what you all want????? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] "28% of Clinton supporters [Report this comment] Posted by: hurricane hugo on Apr 24, 2008 10:28 AM    Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] would back John McCain...". Got news for ya, G - 100% of them already are. jdfu! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: "28% of Clinton supporters Posted by: Walt K