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to pick the one I wanted to support, I noticed a distinct trend. First it was Kucinich supporters stomping on threads with things like Kucinich is the only true Democrat. Then it was Clinton and Obama supporters throwing lobs at each other. Then it was Kucinich supporters coming into Edwards threads and zeroing on all his faults, real or imagined. Then it was Clinton and Obama supporters coming into Edwards threads telling Edwards supporters the same thing over and over what was wrong with Edwards. Then a few Biden supporters jumped into the Edwards threads kicking stuff up.
I had been undecided for months. And even with the Kyl/Lieberman vote, I was still willing to give Clinton a chance, she is my Senator after all. I watched/listened to all the debates, watched/listened to the videos posted, and I found that I had no idea where Clinton or Obama stood on anything. When I would ask supporters of either candidate, I found them to be condescending, at best, and rude at worst. I would be sent a link or a huge chunk of text from their web site would be posted. I stopped asking. What I wanted was someone to tell me what their candidate stood for in what one poster here called "an elevator speech". I didn't want to be talked down to, or made to read a book to find out what the candidate wanted to do as President. Neither candidates supporters could or would do that. And where I started off as an unbiased voter, I soon became really turned off to Clinton and Obama.
I never thought Kucinich had a chance, which I stated early on. He ran in 2004, and was polling lower than Biden and Dodd, I think, so unless a miracle happened, he didn't have a shot. But his supporters kept posting threads about Kucinich as if he walked on water. While that shows true belief in their candidate, it is also a turn off, and to non-Kucinich supporters, it became almost like the St. Dennis cult. But, Kucinich turned me off when I saw him in a debate early on. I couldn't tell you which debate it was, but Kucinich was asked a question, and as he answered it he looked at the moderator, when he came to the punch line, he turned his head toward the audience, said the line, and smiled. Of course, he got a huge applause. That was when I got turned off by Kucinich. To me, it seemed his ego had taken center stage, and that this was all a game.
Biden and Dodd's polling numbers were low, but I would have had no problem in getting behind them if they started to move up. Since my primaries are in Feb, and they hung in there and Edwards was out, I would have proudly pulled the lever for either of them.
When it came to Edwards, he spoke to me and for me. I have not had a voice in this country for most of my life and I will be 60 this year. I am just one of the millions who have never been able to make over minimum wage, who have been the struggling poor. It's not that I didn't try to get ahead, but life just kept interrupting my well thought out plans. I'm a survivor, but the pain (physical) and near poverty (I make a little too much for medicaid), has worn me down. Edwards has come along and has given me hope. He is the only one who has even mentioned the poor, much less wants to be their champion. After reading his bio in the Times and other publications, I can relate to him. His life was much like mine, lower middle class. Just enough money to buy your clothes at K-Mart, but not enough money to buy your clothes at JC Penney. I now buy clothes when I need them, at thrift stores. Yes, he is now rich, but his working class values have stayed with him. As for his house, that is his refuge, his sanctuary for him and his family, if this country goes awry. He earned his money, and now he and Elizabeth have their dream home, good for him, his hard work paid off. This seems to be the ONLY luxury that they have purchased. They drive sensible cars, the kids dress like real kids, and they dress like they buy their clothes from JC Penney, not Saks Fifth Avenue. Is he perfect, can he deliver on all his promises? I don't know, but what I do know is that he will try. I don't know, maybe I'm to low class to appreciate what or how Clinton or Obama is going to change things. But with Edwards, I know, he's told me. I want to do A,B and C, this is how I want it to be, and this how we are going to do it. Simple. No flowery words, no guessing at what he means, I understand. I can give "an elevator speech" about Edwards, and have. And if the media is going to be in the future like it has in the past day, there are going to have to be a lot of "elevator speeches" given to get the word out.
And still, Obama and Clinton supporters mock Edwards supporters. It doesn't matter whether their candidate has won either the money race or the Iowa caucus, they have to come and rub our noses in their win.
And, those of you who are Edwards supporters who seem to have to stir the pot with questionable threads about other candidates.........STOP. You do Edwards no service to demean any other candidate. Yes, please continue to speak up, but try to understand that this is a fight for our country, and appearances matter. If we appear to play dirty, then that will reflect on our candidate. If we appear to be strong and resolute, that too will reflect on our candidate. We must work harder and smarter, as we don't have the media or money on our side. But know too, that what ever we do, we are a reflection of our candidate.
zalinda
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