I love primary season. It's exciting, its fun, and its indicative of one hell of an election year coming up. I get on Dkos most days...I don't have a computer at home, so I drive to my office. My master's thesis that I'm working on is a study on how the Religious Right rose to power within the Republican Party. When the time comes, I'll be asking several regular Kossack posters for guidance to sources and perhaps the occasional interview. I tell you all this to show my absolute love for politics and political season in the United States!!!
But in the last 3 months, I have seen a disturbing trend on Dailykos. It is the trend of the Candidate supporter arrogance. In the past week, it has reached unprecedented levels, but it has been around for a long time. This must stop.
The candidate with the most arrogant supporters on this website is Hillary Clinton, by far. From my very first comment criticizing the Senator, I was labeled a Republican shill, a Limbaugh lover and GOP talking points parrot. This despite the fact that a 5 second search on my profile would show that I've posted on this site since early 2004. I'm a regular and I'm proud of it. It didn't matter what the criticism was. I went after Hillary on the planting of a question. I was told that both Obama and Edwards did it too (no evidence other than that righteous declaration was ever given). Indeed I was once even told to shut up, that Hillary would win and I was a fool not to see it. His evidence? The bookies had Hillary as over a 50% chance. The bookies!!
These people are not the only ones, they are merely the most vocal! After the IA caucus night, several Kossack supporters of Senator Barack Obama apparently got their heads swelled. All of a sudden, we (and in particular the HRC supporters) were told that Clinton was dead as a candidate, that Obama was the only hope for America, that IA proved how much Hillary sucked as a candidate, that John Edwards was lying about being progressive and anyone who disagreed got chewed up. All b/c Obama won 1 state. That'd be like the Patriots demanding the season be over after they won their first game. It's utterly absurd. I was told, point blank, that I was disengaged from reality and was an idiot by an irate Obama supporter who couldn't believe that I was still supporting Edwards, even though Edwards finished ahead of the Clinton machine in IA.
Obama and Kucinich supporters have called me a war monger and a progressive traitor for supporting Edwards solely b/c Edwards voted for the war 5 years ago. My response that Kucinich was an opportunist and that Obama's opposition didn't take that much bravery considering that he was not in a position to vote on it launched several verbal insults and anger from both camps. In an even bigger example of arrogant assholishness, two diehard Clintonites even felt the right to go after me for my support of Edwards based on the war. When I pointed out that HRC had also voted for suppport, I got the classic bullshit answer: "Hillary is a Senator from NY, her state was hit on 9/11. So basically, Hillary was swayed by fear and anger...and that's a good excuse according to these two.
This arrogance is sickening. I've always seen it in the Republicans. I'm a campaign operative, that's how I make my living. I've dealt with GOP arrogance and overconfidence... it saddens me to see the Dailykos atmosphere poisoned by such self-righteous bullshit.
A few points that must be made. Obama won IA. Yes, he did and I was thrilled to see the Clintonites on dkos literally stunned silent. It was quite refreshing, considering that several had been telling Dailykos for months that we were all fools not to get on the Clinton bandwagon. I thoroughly enjoyed that. Hopefully now they'll learn to take a little candidate criticism, without the whining and blowhard insults that happened before IA. Is it all of Clintons dkos supporters? Of course not. Probably not even most. Y'all know the ones I'm taking about...same as the Edwards, Obama and Kucinich supporters. Most are fine...but the vocal few make it so pathetic.
Clinton won NH. Yes she did. She didn't do it b/c people decided that they don't like Obama. She didn't win b/c NH people didn't like Obama's change message, or honestly believed Hillary is an agent of change. She won b/c her NH team was better than her IA team (who were truly incompetent in every form) and SHE was better. No more protective bubble. No more mincing words. She got out, and for the first time, FOUGHT FOR A WIN...instead of expecting it to just fall into her lap. I'm proud of her, NH is the first sign that Senator Clinton showed that she actually cares about the primary and its voters. The Obama people have already come up with excuses, but none of them pass the smell test. They got beat, plain and simple. Fortunately, the arrogance of the Obama people after NH (such as those who approved the booing of Hillary and mocked her for her IA loss) will stem down now.
I've left out my own candidate. Yes, the arrogance is there with some of his supporters here as well. I've read diehard Edwards supporters call Clinton names and flatly state that Obama was a fake. Such nonsense is not necessary. The Edwards folks (and I'm a diehard) have nothing to be arrogant about. We lost, plain and simple. Will we keep fighting. Damn right, and we don't wish to be told how clueless or stupid we are...just like you didn't appreciate it after IA (clinton supporters) or NH (Obama supporters) We have no place to be arrogant and self-righteous, and any Edwards supporter who continues such nonsense hurts the cause and the efforts of dkos.
I've been called arrogant by a few Kucinich people b/c i've pointed out that he is a vanity candidate. Calll that arrogant if you will, but the evidence speaks for itself. My problem is not tough comments, it is the unmitigated arrogance of those who believe dailykos should be an online seminar for one candidate and one opinion and they assault anyone who dares disagree with said opinion.
The blogosphere is a hell of a weapon. The primary is now wide open. I will close with a few suggestions.
Obama and Hillary people, quit telling Edwards people to jump ship. If they do, they'll do so on their own merits. Your "political guidance" is as ridiculous as GOP concern trolling. If they believe in Edwards, they'll stick with him. Y'all haven't won it yet either, so knock it off! Promote your candidate, quit insulting the one who finished 3rd and his supporters. They are working for a goal as well, and y'all haven't won it yet. So quit.
Kucinich supporters: Quit taking offense to the obvious truth. Argue for your candidate, but stop the insults of those of us who don't support him. We're not Republican shills, we're not fake progressives, we simply don't believe Dennis Kucinich is the best candidate. If you don't want him called a vanity candidate, then give us info that proves that he's not. Quit complaining about how unfair life is that Kucinich is doing so poorly, quit calling us Republican shills and start promoting Kucinich and his efforts. You'll find that you'll do a lot better on this site.
Edwards supporters; stop with calling Obama fake and Hillary other names. I have been strongly critical of Hillary but everything I've said is based on her own words, actions or the impression she gives by those actions. I've never called her a bitch, a witch, a GOP tool, a sick woman, or any of the other nonsense I've seen on here that I expect only on GOP sites. Knock it off. Edwards is the best. Say so, be critical of Hillary and Obama when they merit, but drop the personal crap. Sorry the diary is so broad. Site rules (as well as common decency) prohibit me from calling out individual bloggers and highlighting their comments for the rest. I'm sure you've all got your opinions on this, but I wanted the diary out there to spark discussion.
Arrogance is a pathetic character trait. Hillary's folks found that out when she lost IA. Obama's folks found after he lost NH. Edwards folks found out when he finished a distant third in NH after beating Clinton in IA. Kucinich supporters found out when their candidate flopped as badly as we all said he would. So tone it down.
Be tough. Be angry if you must. That's politics. But stop the damned arrogance!