This diary is mostly in response to buhdydharma's earlier diary, but I've been thinking a long time about how we can come together. It's tough because I'm really torn between desiring reconciliation, standing up for my views, and rejecting tactics that are destructive to the Party. I think the tenor of this campaign has made it tough to achieve all three.
I think it's just too soon to expect people to kiss and make up. I went to MyDD for the first time in many months this weekend, and I was sad; and I was angry. I'm sure Clinton supporters feel the same way when they come here. I'm actually glad we've mostly segregated for the time being. It was much worse when we were fighting all the time. There's a lot of mean-spirited hyperbole and sarcasm on both sides. There's a lot of childish gloating over vague, transitory "wins" on both sides. I don't think that begins to change until the primary is over. Until then, we're going to continue to find things to argue about, things to feel insulted about.
I don't think we're mostly being infiltrated by Repub Operatives. There may be some, that's not what's causing the division. The division is being caused because there are real differences between the campaigns. I have three main issues that concern me most.
The Clinton campaign has been much more negative. Her supporters think this is okay -- that it shows she is a fighter. Or, they think she has to go negative because she's a woman and needs to show strength, or because they believe the media was against her. Whatever the reasons -- Hillary has waged a much more negative campaign. She has given, and continues to give, ammunition to the Repubs against Obama. And I don't like it. I don't want to support it. I think it has been destructive to the Party and to our chances in November. It's going to take a long while for me to forgive and forget. I really want to; but I'm just not there yet; and I'm resistant to being forced there prematurely.
I find the direct and indirect race-baiting not just disturbing, but morally inexcusable. I'm asking honestly, how am I supposed to reconcile that? What do I tell myself that makes that okay? It goes against everything I believe the Democratic party represents. How do I link arms with people that promoted racism, and took pleasure in its success?
Finally, the Clinton campaign has shown itself to be contemptuous of the netroots, of the grassroots ideal of people-power, and of the 50-state strategy. In fact, it has continuously and vocally mocked those ideas -- ideas I believe are fundamental to the success of the future of the Democratic party. I really don't know how to reach out to the Clinton netizens when they seem to have fundamentally misunderstood, or just turned their backs on, the idea of "crashing the gates."
But I believe in conflict resolution. And I want to understand how to reconcile these issues, because I do want to see a strong, unified Democratic Party. I want to embrace my fellow Hillary supporting, blogging Dems. But honestly, I feel a bit too bloodied, and distrustful. They probably feel the same way. And I'm really not sure how to bridge that gap.
I don't think reconciliation will happen because we wish it so. There are genuine hurt feelings and mistrust on both sides. I'm not sure it's up to us to heal this rift. I doubt we can. Heartfelt pleas for Unity won't mitigate the damage that's been done. We need this primary to end. We need the candidates to come together. The sooner the better.
Calls for Unity without a discussion of our differences seems like sweeping significant differences under the rug. It seems like embracing the same recipe of unity and "going along" that has ended up ruining the Republican party. I'd rather actually debate and resolve our differences. We need to really try to understand each other. It's going to take honesty, and some forgiveness -- some love, some humility, and some time. It's really going to take some time. And some leadership.
Honestly, though, I'm still too pissed at this point. Unfortunately, everyday there's a new ad, a new attack, or a new insult that just pisses me off more, entrenches me more, and makes it less likely that I'll ever even want to kiss and make up. I hope this primary ends tomorrow.