Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking. --H. Jackson Browne
We all get to act when nobody is looking. We vote when nobody is looking. Super Delegates make their decisions when nobody is looking.
I found it disconcerting that some voters yesterday cited false information from hoaxes as reasons not to support Obama—‘he’s a Muslim’, ‘he swore on the Koran’, ‘he hates America’. It doesn’t really seem to matter if he disavows a firebrand pastor (or for that matter that has a Christian pastor!), damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. It’s equally dismaying that Obama frequently out polls results because some people are simply unable to publicly admit their inability to vote for a black man—and so in the voting booth avoid what they would otherwise consider the right choice. Similarly, those who claim simply to ‘hate Hillary’ for no good reason or because of her husband and those who have the sexist version of the Obama racism problem and won’t elect a woman I find repugnant. What people do in the dark.
Super delegates serve an important purpose—they’re a firewall. They are there to ensure that the Democratic party doesn’t drive off a cliff in their enthusiasm by nominating an unelectable candidate and in that regard firewalls are prudent things and there’s little harm in testing the viability of each candidate securely. There is, however, harm in the surefire undertones of racism and fear mongering to come and the not so subtle appeal to people to act… differently… and give vent to their spleen when nobody is looking.
Don’t. It’s clear that neither candidate will win on delegates alone and that one group of supporters will have their will thwarted by party leadership with the other crying the candidate is nominated is unelectable or used influence to wrest the crown away.
I give the disgruntled supporters—of either candidate—two weeks to get over yourselves. The super delegates are going to decide this and they’re going to decide it with an eye towards November. If supporters of either candidate allow themselves to idly support the opposition of what they believe or give vent to spite—to act with malice when nobody is watching—when you know that the actual policies and positions are not the difference than you lack integrity. You become that person acting differently and influenced by hoax and innuendo—when nobody is looking.
My personal belief is that the ticket ought to be fused. The super delegates will decide this and someone is going to lose. Obama has consistently lost older white, Catholics (for the first time in decades beginning to vote as a viable block) and working class voters to Hillary. Hillary consistently loses the black and more fervent left wing vote to Obama. If they can get over their differences and support what’s right for the greater good, so can you—and if they do they may well carry the voters they’ve lost in the primaries to the other. Even if it isn’t—do what you know is right and contain the spleen.
There’s a lot at stake here. Our misadventures and poor aim in identifying real threats has gutted the economy. Our debts and foolish spending weaken the dollar, create inflation and send oil soaring undermine everything from home values to credit and weaken employment and the financial sector. Our military is stretched to the breaking point. We are exposed to real danger while we pursue chimera. Our health care system is a mess and there are real environmental issues that is astoundingly irresponsible not to address along with a serious energy policy that engages all options.
This is too important for this nation to act churlish about. While I’m thankful for McCain’s service to his nation I don’t believe he has the solutions to these problems—and they are real and serious. No one of good conscience can act in concert with fear or more selfish desires or pique… simply because no one is looking.
Don’t vote against something—decide what you’re for.
To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves. --Will Durant
