I want to say some things to you and I mean to do it nicely and from my heart. We have had so much nastiness back and forth that it has become difficult to believe supporters of a candidate other than one's own have hearts, but we are all human, so of course we do.
I have been a supporter of John Edwards since 2003. His life story, message, and positions have long resonated with me and actually in all my 56 years, he is the first candidate I have ever made a financial donation to. I chuckle when I think of it now, the first amount was $25 accompanied by a note telling him I expected him to use it wisely or I would ask for it back. That now seems like a hundred years and thousands of miles ago.
John and Elizabeth reawakened a long sleeping sense of purpose, hope and energy in my husband Stan and me. We actually feel as though we are doing something for the good of our country, our citizens and ourselves with our support of John's campaign. We have donated, fundraised, phone banked, travelled and talked with so many folks about John and his plans, about the innate goodness of he and Elizabeth.
During this journey we have met so many wonderful people, some famous, most not, people who have enriched our lives in so many ways.
We have been enjoying a major civics lesson and feel as though we are living history: volunteering for a presidential campaign and being close to it is something few people experience. Knowing your candidate and his family is a gift few receive. We feel blessed.
At this point in our journey with John and Elizabeth and so many other supporters, we wish the media was not blacking him out, but realize why. We understand that there is a domino effect, in this case, many are not hearing his message or seeing John. We do what we can to help spread his message, whether here or other sites, letters to the editor, word of mouth, you name it we do it.
We do it because we believe in John and Elizabeth and want to help their message become reality. We do it in the face of adversity because we believe in something bigger and better than ourselves.
So, you see, Obama supporters, when you ask us to jump ship, when you tell us our votes won't count, when you belittle John and what he is doing, thus belittling us, we don't take it very kindly. In doing what so many of you have done, you have diminished your candidate, Barack Obama, in our eyes. It is simply human nature, psychology 101.
I ask you to let the process evolve without all of the diaries telling us why John doesn't count, why we don't count, creating even more hostility. We are John Edwards supporters and that isn't going to change for most of us, in good times or in bad.
At the end of the day, most of us will support the nominee, a few won't, but you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by showing enough respect to let us be who we are without further belittling us.
Support your candidate however it suits you and we will support ours.
Thank you.