I Do Not Hate Obama

[QueenOfCalifornia]

I do not like being called an Obama hater. It is absolutely not true. The bullies who try to assassinate my character around here by calling names and screaming "You purists hate Obama" need to understand - I know that Obama is a thousand times better than anyone the GOP can come up with. I have had my Obama sign in our window for 4 months and have talked several of my neighbors into voting for him. I am not a "troll" - I have been here long enough for you guys to know this. There are several very mean spirited people here who have used terrible language and insults when I and other like minded people have raised questions about our candidate. This is not an indication that I will not vote for him. It means I believe in an active discussion about things which I find to be a big concern.

I am a 51 year old white woman who was forced to become politically active when Ronald RayGun was elected. I knew we were fucked. I have never voted for any Republican, never will. So the name calling and innuendo of me being some kind of GOP mole or Freeper Troll needs to come to an end.

One last thing... I have every right to exercise what is left of the 1st amendment in the Bill of Rights:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

:rant:

[blondeatlast]

1. Remember what Skinner said about "bona fides?" You got 'em IMHO.

Therefore I'm more than willing to consider your thoughts as well as those of others who've constructively criticized Obama but have shown they have the goal in mind. Heck, I was all over Obama for missing the K/L vote--it pissed me off something fierce.

There's a whole lot of people calling me a "lockstepper" or "centrist" who think I should consider their opinion as valuable as yours though--and I can't do that.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. There's no such thing as the First Amendment on a private website.

Posts that are deemed objectionable are removed. The mods or owners can ban you from posting here, if they so choose.

That said, I'm reminded of Bornagainhooligan in a post he wrote yesterday:

Why? Because I'm a patriotic american, and attacking our leaders is our civic duty. In fact, Obama would be proud of me saying he's like Hitler. He wants us to criticize him.

Just don't criticize me.

Because that's stifling my first amendment rights. It's mean and uncalled for. It's unamerican, you facist.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6474238&mesg_id=6484624

[QueenOfCalifornia]

11. I saw this thread

I am certainly allowed to voice an opinion while staying within the rules of this board. I try to follow the rules and respect the perimeters given to operate on this DISCUSSION board. I have never even thought about voting for McCain.

As for Bornagainhooligan? He is one of the meanest offenders and bandies the "purist" bullshit around like it's some new word in his lexicon.

I am assuming the quotes he used with no links are taken totally out of context - the Hitler remark looks like it came from a thread in the lounge.

If anyone is seriously comparing Obama to Hitler it is an idiotic statement made by a fool.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. "an idiotic statement made by a fool."

You big bully! Why are you attacking that person's 1st amendment rights!

[JoFerret]

23. It's not working matey.

.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. Oh, I think it is.

[JoFerret]

32. You must have a magic metric then

Cheers.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

36. You need a hobby

really. Try gardening or something. You placed some out of context "quotes" on an OP and expect me to think that is how most of the DU population thinks?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

40. It's not out of context.

The context was, Obama's plans to give his acceptance speech at a stadium in Denver, and a "DUer" in GD felt it reminded him of Hitler's Nuremburg rallies.

That was actually a fairly common "criticism" during the primaries, but that particular quote was from within the last week.

"expect me to think that is how most of the DU population thinks?"

Where are earth are you getting the idea that's how most of the DU population thinks? It's not the most of the DU population, merely a handful of loudmouth concern trolls.

[JoFerret]

43. You appear to have become one of those

latter named items.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. How so?

I'm not concerned about concern trolls, I'm just making fun of them.

[JoFerret]

45. Your concern

about the concern is a concern.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

46. Why are you concerned?

[JoFerret]

47. Don't be concerned

I am fighting off the infection.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

48. I'm not.

I hope the antibiotics work.

[JoFerret]

49. It's not at that level

Antibiotics are way over-prescribed for minor issues.
But thanks for your concern.

[LanternWaste]

18. Laugh it off, shrug it off and don't give it another thought.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, whoever you see-- there's always going to be a very loud vocal minority attempting to illustrate that theirs is bigger (on DU it gets kinda funny watching the vocal minority-- one is tempted to ask them just to whip 'em out, slap 'em on a table, get a ruler and get it over with).

Laugh it off, shrug it off and don't give it another thought.

[Runcible Spoon]

19. amen to this post.

:nuke: and :hug: to you gilligan.

[jefferson_dem]

3. Sorry to hear that, Gilligan.

I've always appreciated your perspective and hope you continue to offer it with gusto! :thumbsup:

[DevonRex]

4. Who called you an Obama hater? You certainly are NOT.

We all know that there are some haters here. You're not one of them and that is very, very obvious to anyone who pays attention.

And most people DO pay attention. Don't think that because most of us got sick of all the anti-Obama threads that we don't know the difference between a really great dem who cares about the issues and a person who is really good at trying to demoralize us.

And I thank you for your rant. I had one myself yesterday. :)

[QueenOfCalifornia]

6. Thank you.

I appreciate this.

:pals:

[DevonRex]

17. You're quite welcome. It is obvious for anyone to see, so I'm

hard pressed to understand how anyone could think otherwise.

:hug:

[blondeatlast]

9. Exactly. If I valued everyone's opinion, I wouldn't value anyone's.

I agree, Gilligan is one of my favorites here and I definitely value hers. she's damn effin' funny, too!

[Straight Shooter]

5. Where did this derogatory term "purist" come from?

I have never heard it in a political context until recently, and only on this board. I don't think I've seen the term on crooks & liars or on talking points memo, but it sure gets bandied about on GDP a lot.

[Bluerthanblue]

7. there are way too many personal attacks on DU and everywhere

lately. It seems to be like a plague- like the waves of lady-bugs in the autumn, or tent caterpillars. I've noticed this getting worse and worse each year under Bush.

I'm probably on the other other side of the issue than you Gilligan, but the name calling and character assassination seems pretty evenly spread out among all of us.

I'm going to try and be more aware of how I personally respond to others, especially when angry or frustrated. We all have more than enough reason to feel both those emotions, but if I don't like people doing it to me, I need to be sure not do it to others.

I hope we can all come to a place where discussion doesn't have to be disgusting. (one of my kids mis-speaks)


peace~

[QueenOfCalifornia]

13. Thanks

Me too. :)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Great.

So I assume you'll be complaining about McCain a "thousand times" more than you do Obama.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ooglymoogly]

27. replying to wrong poster sorry self delete

[JoFerret]

25. I guess the same would apply

re complaints about other DUers versus complaints about MCcain.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

37. You must have a reading

problem. That must suck.

I am sorry you can not grasp the simple, non-complex sentence structure in my OP.

I can't imagine how horrible it must be for you.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

50. Wherein do you find the problem?

My post takes your post at face value.

[JoFerret]

51. Don't let it trouble you

one iota.
Actually I can see that it doesn't.
Cheers.

[Thrill]

10. Who cares? Either vote for Obama or enjoy your life with President McCain

I'm tired of this petty garbage

[Runcible Spoon]

20. OP is voting for Obama, along with 99% of DU population.

have any other utterly irrelevant points to shit all over this thread?

[Ian David]

15. Perspective: Al Gore was in favor of The Clipper Chip

Let's keep perspective:

Al Gore supported "The Clipper Chip."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6427460&mesg_id=6427460

[scheming daemons]

21. People who criticize you are NOT violating your 1st amendment rights...

A. Nobody is stopping or restricting your speech

B. The 1st amendment does NOT give you the right to speak without being criticized. People can tell you to "shut up" 1000 times and they are not FORCING you to do so.

C. The 1st amendment only guarantees that the government will not restrict your right to speak. Private enterprises can censor you. DU is not a government entity. You have the right to speak, you do not have the inherent right to speak here. Otherwise, it would be illegal to tombstone someone.

D. You do NOT have the right to not be offended. OUR free speech rights give us the right to tell you to go fuck yourself, or call you a troll, or be mean-spirited toward you. It doesn't make us right to do so, in fact... those who do so are pricks of the first order. But they have the right to do it.

[Breeze54]

30. Did you forget your *sarcasm* emote?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

Do not hurl insults at other individual members of this message board. Do not tell someone, "shut up," "screw you," "fuck off," "in your face," or some other insult.

Do not call another member of this message board a liar, and do not call another member's post a lie. You are, of course, permitted to point out when a post is untrue or factually incorrect.

Do not publicly accuse another member of this message board of being a disruptor, conservative, Republican, FReeper, or troll, or do not otherwise imply they are not welcome on Democratic Underground. If you think someone is a disruptor, click the "Alert" link below their post to let the moderators know.

[scheming daemons]

35. They still have the right to do so..... ONCE, at least......

If they get tombstoned afterward, so be it.

[TheKentuckian]

33. Great post scheming daemons.

People should get a sense of joy from being offended. I hope to be be offended, it let's me know free speech is alive. It needs to be that way, no one is a hundred percent right, a hundred percent of the time. We all need to understand an echo chamber creates weak thinking. Even the very best ideas need to be challenged and refined. The deepest truths pay the biggest benefits by exploring them.

It also needs to be perfectly clear that freedom to say what you please without being drug to the gulag doesn't me you get a stand ovation every time you open your mouth or write something. Other people have a right to voice their disagreement, tell you you are nuts, or call you an idiot.

It's hard to have freedom or equality when you build in inherent privileged perspectives. One cannot argue for their freedom of speech by inhibiting another's.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

34. To have COMPLETELY free speech is only applicable when you're posting in a void

Here on Democratic Underground we have civility rules. If you're offended by something said to you, hit the alert button. Stop the cycle there, don't just keep adding offensive posts... Those don't help anyone, really, and just slow down the mods from dealing with their work.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

39. offensive posts?

Okay...

I will be less offensive when I rant about being called a troll and a freeper.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

42. I see...

I misread your post - I thought it was directed at me.

I apologize! :pals:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

55. It's all good!

Definitely not directed at you!

Cheers!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

38. No shit

I have been told to STFU and leave the DU if I can not accept whatever the nominee does. I am supposed to suppress an opinion and a concern because it is party before anything else. When a Senator takes an oath, he/she swears to uphold the Constitution above all else. If I feel concern over something that goes against this, I will say what I think.

That is what I am talking about

You should read through the thread - I know who enforces the laws of the USA. I know that their are rules for a privately owned discussion board and I agreed to them when I signed up. I am saying that telling me to STFU and calling me a troll who is obviously going to vote for McCain is downright moronic.

Of course you can call me a troll. You can tell me to shut up. It is getting pretty old though. The only times I have told anyone to shut up was when they were being abusive and mean. Not for expressing an opinion.

You may notice that my OP was a rant. I am frustrated and wanted to vent a bit.

[JohnnyLib2]

22. You are now nominated as my online representative--

with much appreciation for this OP. K & R

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :hi:

[emilyg]

24. Rec. #5

[ooglymoogly]

26. I am in total agreement with this post

It iterates my feelings to a T...KR

[JuniperLea]

29. Hi Gilligan!

We share the same age, the same sex, the same state, and the same sentiments!

What we are seeing here is nothing short of what would happen in Freeperville should some of Bush's Morans suddenly became immune to the BushCo Kool-Aid and started seeing what Bush is really doing and started asking questions. The same "hater" tactics would be in full use over there... the same character assassination... the same bizarro worlds colliding.

It is particularly sad to see so many staunch and long time Obama supporters being treated this way. Some people don't understand that loyalty goes both ways.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

41. Thanks

I appreciate the kind words.

I really need to clean my kitchen and bathroom though!!!!!

:pals:

[Breeze54]

31. Recommend # 6

Don't let them get to you. :hug:

[HughMoran]

52. ok

[thewiseguy]

53. DRAMA

[QueenOfCalifornia]

54. Is this word association?

CLOWN.

Your turn