Here on DailyKos and throughout the country we have had an ongoing heated battle between supporters of Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama. I have participated on the side of Obama, though I have tried to keep it civil, only occasionally giving in to the temptation to recommend diaries and comments that slam Clinton. I do object to the level of rancor displayed by supporters of both sides and would like to call for a greater level of civility among Democrats as we decide who will represent us in the general election.
Let me start out by acknowledging my own bias. I do believe that Clinton and her team have made many inappropriate comparisons and references about Obama, culminating in comparing him unfavorably to Sen. McCain this week. The Canada NAFTA-gate story does not reflect well on her campaign, and continually hammering on Rezko when there is nothing there is an undeserved character attack. When I hear Howard Wolfson or Mark Penn blathering away about the supposed malfeasance of Obama and his campaign, I just want to scream about their utter hypocrisy.
OK, I know, not a very good opening paragraph for someone wanting to make peace. But I want to make a point that there is a line dividing legitimate, constructive disagreement and ridiculous diatribes against either candidate or the coverage of the campaigns in the media. As people active in supporting Democrats and policies we believe Democrats should support, we are ever vigilant to spot improper behavior by our elected officials or those seeking election. This is our job, because if we don't do it they will get away with all sorts of things we don't want to happen. Some organized interest will get to them to act against the public interest unless we shine a bright light on them and hold their feet to the fire. So we do this during the campaign as well. As such, I feel obligated to point out what I feel are unfair and inaccurate attacks by the Clinton campaign against Obama. Conversely, the Clinton campaign is well within its rights to call out Samantha Power on her "monster" comment, or to question Obama's experience, or to challenge him on mandates.
Where I think we get silly is to get all worked up about comedy skits on Saturday Night Live, start to call her Shrillery or Billary, or that other B word, and state that we would never ever vote for such an evil woman. She may have made some very calculating and unwise statements about the merits of McCain vis a vis Obama. But when we look at her voting record and at his voting record, do we really believe that John McCain would make a better, more honorable President than Hillary Clinton? Do we really believe John McCain would appoint better justices than Hillary Clinton? Do we really believe John McCain is more representative of Democratic values than Hillary Clinton? Our petty squabbles within the Democratic Party during this nominating process pale in comparison to the epic battle we face when confronting the assault on reason, decency, and American values that we have seen during the Bush presidency.
I support Barack Obama because I believe he does bring a game-changing approach to political discourse that will be revolutionary. I would be devastated if he does not become the nominee of the Democratic Party because it would be a tremendous opportunity lost. I believe Hillary Clinton is a tried and true representative of politics as usual. But she is a Democrat, and her voting record indicates that she is not a Lieberman Democrat, but a true believer. She would make a solid Democratic President, probably no worse than her husband. If she somehow becomes the nominee I will support her.
My plea to supporters of either candidate - step back from the ledge. We have two fine candidates for President still running. We must defeat McCain in the fall, and we can only do it if we can find it in our hearts to support and work for the nominee of the Democratic Party at our convention in August. Continue to call out the campaigns of the opposing candidates when you see them crossing the line. But don't stoop to the politics of personal destruction against either candidate or their supporters. Remember the enemy is the crowd who has been controlling Washington these last eight years. The people who just today vetoed a bill because it made waterboarding illegal. Those MF-ers.