by Ripley
They say all politics is local. It is. While the nation (and the world, I suppose) watched probably the most dramatic political news in American history, last night, I was on pins and needles waiting for local election results to come in. I was a campaign coordinator for a State Rep. candidate, here in Smalltown, USA. We didn't win but I like to think we changed the way people campaign here. Actually, I know we did, because the new Democratic nominee called me this morning and told me so. That means a lot to me, since I've never worked on any political campaign before this year.
This experience has also brought out a great deal of empathy, on my part, for many Clinton supporters. (Aside from the rabid idiots who are ready to tear down the party "in the name of.") It's hard to work for something, believe in someone, give your time and money and effort and stake your reputation... and lose. I know this. But, my candidate and I are already gunning for the Republican opponent in the general election and thinking about what we can do to support our Democratic candidate. This is what we must do, and we all know what the stakes are.
I have a great deal of respect for Thers and Molly as free thinkers, writers (we should be so talented!) and good, progressive people - and I love them in that internetty, "I've never met you but you're super keen!" kind of way. Also, they're not afraid to cuss once in a fucking while. Bonus! When Molly says she supports Hillary Clinton, I understand that this is not some starry eyed babbling or Marsh-esque appeal for celebrity. I know she's disappointed, as are thousands - probably millions - of other Clinton supporters. (As an aside - I like Hillary. I'm honestly disappointed that I didn't get to meet her when she was in Smalltown, USA. I think the last half of her campaign was pretty dismal, but I believe a lot of that was not Hillary speaking to us, it was Hillary speaking someone else's words. You may disagree. Fuck off - I live in the Heartland, so you have to listen to me.)
A short decade ago, no one would have entertained the notion of a woman and a black man duking it out through the entire Presidential Primary calendar. Hollywood couldn't have dreamed up a script to match what we've seen in the last six months. God bless America, I say. And I couldn't wait for June 3rd, because there was so much blood, sweat and money spent, and so much on the line. And now... I look forward. This is what we must do. We have a nominee. More importantly, we have a cause.
I wrote, the other day, about my friend's father passing away. My friend is a 42 yr. old gay man who'd never told his father he was gay. His partner of nine years had never met my friend's father. Can you imagine what he's feeling right now? I can't. And I want nothing more than to live in a society were my friend and his partner are given the respect they deserve, and angry bigots are mocked and jeered as the Unclean; cast out with the people who look down on us because we don't make enough money, don't pray loudly enough, don't have genetics or genealogy on our side.
This struggle for a better America is what lies before us. This horrifically wrong headed, aggressively inhumane decade of kicking the "not cool kids" in the balls must end. And we, who call ourselves "progressive", need to focus on making that change. Today.
John McCain. Our anger, our outrage, our desperate hope for something better must be focused on defeating John McCain in November. No matter what he says, he is the enemy. He's willing to stand before America as a Republican politician and tell us the stench of shit must be coming from our own shoes, because Republican policies are so very sound. He's willing to wear the mantle of Bush Failure and Wealthy Exclusivity and tell us we're just not quite good enough, just yet. But please, come back next year, my friends, and fill out an application - we're always looking for good caddies and waitresses.
Hillary is not the problem with the Democrats. Obama is not Kid Charlemagne meets Bruce Lee. America is in a very, very precarious position right now, and you and I cannot afford to be distracted by the tantrums of Mary Hartman and Bill O'Reilly's love child on America's Most Fucked Up Videos - we are smarter and better than that. We need to stand shoulder to shoulder and work. We need to stand tall and fight for the common man. We need to be clear eyed and have our heads on straight.
We need to send a message to John McCain and the filthy fucks he wants to represent: Your time has passed. America deserves better, and if you try to stand in our way...
Rip -
