DailyKos has lost its way, thanks to Bernie
I have been on this site, almost from the beginning. Honestly, it has been a refuge for me- when political news from the corporate media was too much to take. I never attempted to write a diary, or was even interested. I just came here, to hear sane, reasonable, rational liberal voices. And I was never disappointed. Until recently.
When this primary season started, I was 100% in both Hillary and Bernie’s camps. I’ve given money to both, and up until a week or so ago, would have happily voted for either. In my heart, I wanted Hillary to win. I have followed her career since the first time I saw Bill run in his first primary. As a California girl, I was all about Jerry Brown that year. But I saw Bill on a talk show, and I was hooked. From a 2016 lenses, I realize that Bill was not the democrat I would want today. But he was the democrat of that time, and it’s disingenuous to rate people based on an era that is long past. I am a student and teacher of history. I tell my students all the time that they cannot view history with today’s values. People evolve.
With that said, I would like to address both Bernie and his rapid supporters. There is no political figure in the history of US politics that has been more villainized that Hillary. From the time she stood next to her husband in that first primary- and judged too intelligent, too feminist, too- I don’t know, a women with a brain- she has been villainized by the conservative right. She was everything they hated. An accomplished first lady, with her own successes, her own mind, and her own ambition. God forbid women want anything more than to be subjugated to their ‘men’.
And for decades, she has been defined by these lies. So much so, that the media completely buys into a caricature of her that is completely bought and paid for by Fox news and its predecessors.
No matter that she was a great first lady. No matter that she was a hard working senator for New York. No matter that she was one of the most consequential Secretary of States of our time. All that matters is that the myth of Hillary lives on. A liar. Untrustworthy. A political hack. Ignore her actual record since college graduation. Just keep the right wing myth alive.
Which brings me to my current point. Bernie supporters have bought the Fox myth, and now embrace it like the worst of the Republican Party. Who are you people? I have been a proud liberal democrat my whole life- and I don’t know who Bernie supporters are. I thought I did. Up until the point that Bernie said she was ‘unqualified’ to be President. Really? Change the word to judgement- and it’s the same. This uppity women, thinking she gets a say in her government- unqualified, because she doesn’t have a penis?
Bernie supporters want to judge based on a vote taken about the Iraq war. As a real liberal democrat and a pacifist, I was against this war from beginning. Hillary should not have voted yes.
But as a pacifist, you know what else I am against? Giving immunity to the only manufacturer in US history has been given immunity- gun manufacturers. Bernie did that.
According to Nicholas Kristof, since 1968- 1.5 million Americans have lost their lives to gun violence. More Americans that the totality of Americans killed in every war since the frickin Revolution. Bernie supporters- own it. You want to talk about judgement? Nothing boils my blood more than Americans dying on American streets while gun manufacturers take record profits from their deaths.
Yes, let’s talk judgement. If Bernie wins the nomination- I will hold my frickin nose and vote for him- because I love my country more than I love my party. But Bernie is a shit. To echo the right wing chamber and call her unqualified. - Bernie is shit. He is not the Jesus you guys are looking for. Calling her unqualified showed his true colors- he is not a man of integrity. He only cares about getting elected. The same thing you accuse her of. Look in the damn mirror.