I feel the need to say something. [View all]

[gcomeau]

I was here in 2008 during The Great Clinton Obama War. At the time I thought it would be fine if Clinton won, but much better if Obama did. As things progressed things got ugly. Accusations flew. Attacks came hard and fast and without reprieve.

"Your candidate is a light weight with no experience!"

"Your candidate can't be trusted!"

"Your candidate is playing dirty!"

"No your candidate is playing dirty!"

"Yours can't possibly win in the General election!"

" Are you fucking crazy.... YOUR candidate is the one who will get slaughtered!"

"Your candidates positions aren't progressive enough, not like MY candidate! Look at this vote they they cast!"



I'm sure this sounds somewhat familiar, and perhaps you may be expecting this to be a "don't worry people, we've been through this before and we'll get through it again" post.

It is not.

Here's the thing. In the early days leading into this election season I made it pretty clear on multiple occasions that I thought anyone who thought Clinton wasn't going to get the nomination was delusional. When people were backing Warren I looked at them like they were crazy. Sure she'd make a great President probably but get real... there's not a chance in hell that's actually happening this election! Then people were backing Bernie and I gave them the same look... the single most progressive member of the Senate? The independent who isn't even afraid of the word socialism? Yeah, he's basically a walking talking progressive issues wishlist of a candidate but come on... while we're making wishes I'd like eternal youth and my own space ship to explore the universe with. Snap out of it people! You're the same guys who thought Kucinich had a chance aren't you? It's going to be Hillary, and sure she's far from ideal on the issues but she's worlds better than the GOP alternatives so let's just get it done.

And then Bernie's numbers started climbing.

And I looked at it and said sure, but so what? There's a ceiling on that. As the liberal base of the party gets to know him of course they're going to love him but how far is he going to be able to expand his base beyond that? His policies may be of the most benefit to the general population but they've never had a historical tendency to show an understanding of that before... what will make them now? And Clinton just kept barreling along, mostly ignoring the guy way out on her left who clerly wasn't a threat to her nomination except to toss some compliments his way now and then.

And then his numbers climbed some more. And they went beyond the liberal base of the party. And they kept climbing. And the General election match-up polling started coming out... and wtf was going on here? The electorate of the UNITED STATES was open to the idea of someone with properly progressive social and economic proposals? He'd been called the Socialist umpteen thousand times across all the major networks and it wasn't tanking his support levels? Seriously? Had I slipped into a parallel universe where a significantly larger chunk of the US electorate made decisions based on their best interest all of a sudden? Well holy shit... there may actually be a semi-plausible chance that we could have not just a Democratic president, but an actual all out no two ways about it gold plated progressive one! Isn't that something.

And then it started. The inevitable escalation of the war. Now there was a clear threat to Clinton's nomination and of course she was going to fight. But this is also where we diverge from the expected "we've done this before it'll be ok" narrative. Because we're not just seeing attacks on the candidate like we did in 2008. It's not just "your guy isn't ready". It's not just "your guy can't win". It's not even just "your guy won't do what he's saying he'll do" or "your guy isn't as progressive on the issue as my candidate is!"

It's also been "your guy wants to establish universal healthcare? He wants to spend the nations tax receipts on college educations instead of foreign invasions? Pfft... he just wants to hand out 'free stuff' and spend all our money!" declared in condescending tones.

WTF?

Look, I would understand an attack on Sanders elect-ability, Wasn't long ago I was making that attack. I would understand an attack on his ability to actually deliver on promises to enact policies the progressive members of this site have been dreaming of for as long as I've been here... we do know how the GOP in Congress conduct themselves after all and obstruction is the only play in their playbook. FFS, I would even understand an attack on his civil rights credentials... I would call it laughable bullshit but at least it would be an argument for the right POSITION.


But to attack THOSE POLICIES THEMSELVES? The policies we have been calling for here for year after year after year after year? To frame them in identical terms to the Republicans? And have that candidates supporters then just shrug it off and keep barreling on cheering as if it's business as usual in a primary fight? Ummm, no. Emergency stop. Out of bounds. Flag on the play. That is absolutely not ok. If anything should set off wailing alarm sirens in the mind of every single person on this board it is the form of those attacks. And if it hasn't done it in yours you are maybe just a teeny bit too wrapped up in cheer leading your candidate and need to take a step back and do a little mirror gazing, then if you still want your choice to be the nominee put some damn pressure on her to shape the fuck up and knock that shit off... assuming you can still trust that those attacks aren't reflective of how she actually feels on the subject.

This is NOT the same thing as what went on in 2008. It isn't. We are not just seeing attacks directed at candidates, we are seeing one of the camps launch an attack at the basic fundamental principles we are all supposed to be championing just because the other candidates bonafides on fighting for those principles cannot be assailed and so those principles must be discredited. And there is no arguing that that is ok, or politics as usual.

It has to stop. People defending it have to stop. People overlooking it have to stop.

Otherwise, wtf are we here for?