We just moved to an area outside of Tucson and, without XM radio, we are limited in our reception. So I have two choices, "The Jolt" radio (with a line-up that includes Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz and Dr. Laura (don't get me started!!!), or something called "The Truth", which, the truth be told, I would never be able to bring myself to listen to (it's the furthest thing from the truth with Laura Ingraham and Bill O'Reilly, to name just two of its illustrious line-up.)
The other day, as I was on my way to do chores (anything that takes me away from my new house and wonderful, peaceful, idyllic view is a chore these days), I was subjected to Democratic talk radio....Stephanie Miller.
I listened intently so that I could really understand what she (an Obama supporter) and her callers were saying. It was mostly negative about Hillary - and after a while, I just turned it off.
And drove. And thought. (Yes, Obamaphiles, I really can do two things at the same time!)
What struck me is something we all know and something I have seen diaried before - the ridicule that, with the exception of her core supporters, supporters of her Democratic opponent and (supposed) Repug converts are heaping on Hillary Clinton. And, as others have noted, it struck me as absolutely the worst possible thing that we Democrats should be doing.
Now before you Obamamanics jump all over me, please....hear me out.
I know that you cannot see yourselves EVER voting for Hillary Clinton. I know that you declare that she will be the WORST possible choice for POTUS (coming after GW, I can't think of very many people who would fit that bill - oh, except for Dick Cheney.) And I know that the train has probably left the station with regard to muting what is going on.
But, please, stop and think for just a moment.
Contrary to what you may feel, Hillary Clinton is not a bad person. She is not a monster. She does not eat little children for lunch. She is not mean and cruel.
She is simply a woman of the 60's who had to, and has, worked very hard all of her life to gain the knowledge and understanding that makes her a candidate for the most important elected office in the world (after the past 8 years, now more than ever!). IMHO, if she were anyone but Hillary Clinton, the majority of Democrats would be thanking their lucky stars to have a candidate as well prepared as she.
But do you realize that all of the ridicule that you are heaping on her is simply SPIN that was spun by the Repugs during the years that Bill Clinton was in office?
Let me repeat that....
All of the ridicule that you are heaping on Hillary Clinton is simply spin that was previously spun by the Repugs from 1992 to 2000.
You know what that means?
THEY'RE WINNING GUYS. The people who originally spit out the vicious (and it is) hatred for both of the Clintons are rolling in the aisles laughing their asses off because they no longer have to say a thing....YOU'RE DOING IT FOR THEM.
Back in the `90's we didn't have a cute catch phrase for what those Repugs did. But now we do....it's called SWIFTBOATING. You know, take fact X and rephrase it based on some twisted logic or a lie, and repeat it loud and long. And pretty soon you have created a statement that no one - NO ONE - can refute because it would take 2 hours to untangle the spin.
Unfortunately some of you are too young to remember hearing this hatred from the mouths of the Repugs in the `90's. That's too bad.
Because you would know that all you're doing now is picking it up from where they left off and moving it forward on your own. You're doing the heavy lifting for them. Democrats are swiftboating a fellow Democrat!
Today, Stephanie Miller was at the top of her game. With canned cackles and hoots and applause to punctuate everything she said that she found hilarious. The sad part is the hilarity was all cruel and followed up with her disclaimer that she really doesn't dislike Hillary, she's just supporting Obama. Hey, Stephanie, with friends like you, who needs enemies???
If that's the case, Stephanie, support Obama. And stop tearing down a fellow Democrat who could (that's right, she could) be the Democratic Candidate for POTUS in 2008.
Because if Hillary Clinton turns out to be the Democratic candidate and you suddenly realize that your vote is more important than repeating something that makes people around you laugh with glee, then those hateful words and deeds that you have so joyfully been spreading around during this primary season are gonna come back to haunt you and this country.
We're no longer at recess in a school yard where you might have gotten away with taunting and lies and cruel jokes. This is the real world here. And the reality of your enthusiasm for your candidate is that you're demeaning, and perhaps destroying, the only other viable candidate. So you could end up with John McCain as your fearless leader for the next four years.
And know this: if Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate those swiftboat cannons are going to turn in his direction (yup, you can be sure of it!). And when you turn in the direction of Hillary supporters for a little assistance to fight back, you will find yourselves very much alone.
Hey, we will vote - and not hesitantly - for the Democratic candidate, whomever that may be. But without passion. And without support. Because like a kid who was the butt of cruelty and lies and not-funny jokes in the schoolyard at recess, we will remember.
What goes around does, indeed, come around.
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