Reply #177: bernie, I have to share something with you

[RainDog]

while you may want to quash dissent on DU and think you're doing a good thing - it seems to me the reality is something else entirely.

people who voted for Obama are disappointed - and not just here on DU. They voted for Obama expecting him to do things he declared he would as part of his campaign - and people have every right to be disappointed. They're disappointed b/c of the attitude taken about HCR from the start. FISA. Because of the tactics of Summer and Geithner that reaffirm Paulson. For the lack of accountability for the abuses of power by the wealthy, by groups like Blackwater, by BP.

to try to censor one of the most popular cartoonists on the left is self-defeating - for you and your cause - which, it seems to me, is to enforce party discipline - no one can say anything critical because it is "disloyal" to the party.

If you want DU to become an echo chamber for people who think just like you do, you'll find you will alienate those who vote for democrats simply because there is no better choice. These people aren't "greens" or whatever other label you want to put on them. You will drive away people who contribute to DU with their hard-earned money that they budget to deal with the current economic outlook. You will drive away people from DU and also from EVER wanting to be a part of any political campaign.

these people are lifelong democrats who would like to one day be able to vote for a candidate that didn't kowtow to the right wingers in this nation. That's not asking Obama to be Bush - that's asking for some righteous and deserved anger and action against right wing abuses in this nation.

If you want to be the DU enforcer - you will drive more voters away than you will ever attract. You will certainly drive away people who would work for candidates, even if those candidates aren't their choice.

So, maybe you should think about whether it was "politic" to jump into this thread and start attacking people and questioning their right to post on this forum. Since you tell others to be pragmatic, maybe you should take the long view and recognize that these attempts to shut down any criticism only feed anger and resentment.

I doubt you'll care about anything I have to say here. But I still thought it was useful to say it.