The Highest Common Denominator

[EffieBlack]

Remember learning to simplify fractions in school by looking for the common denominator in equations? Doing so made it infinitely easier to find the solution since taking out the common denominator enabled one to deal with the rest of the numbers without distraction

Why haven't folks here translated that concept to this political race?

People on DU (and elsewhere) seem intent on wasting time, breath and energy arguing, fighting, attacking, and smearing about all manner of issues, including those on which the respective candidates have common values and approaches. It is so troubling to see this. Not only do I expect better from the people who are supposed to be "the good guys," it is counterproductive and, ultimately, dangerous and self-defeating.

I really wish that, even for just a day, we would all be able to recognize that ALL of the Democratic candidates share the Highest Common Denominators - the core values that we as Democrats hold dear. If we were to do that, we could stop slamming each other over ultimately irrelevant arguments and focus on real issues and figure out how to win this November.

I like, respect and admire every one of the Democratic candidates. I will enthusiastically vote for any one of them in November. And I will be enormously proud to see any one of them sworn in as my president in next January.

I feel this way about them because I know that each of them - although they come from different backgrounds, bring different talents, experiences and perspectives to the race - is dedicated to this country and to its people, have devoted their lives to public service when they could be doing something much less taxing and much more lucrative with their time, and truly want to make a difference. And I know that they all believe in and are trying to live up to the core values that I hold dear.

So I'm not worried about which one is better on race or which one is more likeable or which one cares more about the poor and middle class or which one will be a better diplomat or any other such contests between them.

They are ALL excellent on race.

They are ALL likeable.

They ALL care about the poor and middle class.

They ALL will be outstanding diplomats.

In short, they ALL share the HIGHEST COMMON DENOMINATORS.

So, I hope people will, even for a short time (try it, you might like it), stop attacking our candidates and each other over which one is better and which ones are worse at this or that or some other thing and remember that, when it comes down to it, they are all good and decent people, and every one of them will be an excellent president and that our candidates' Highest Common Denominators should make us proud to be Democrats and proud to live in a country that would produce people of their caliber.