Obama people - truce time - you really need to start reaching out - it's waaay past that time....

[kerry-is-my-prez]

The Dems need to WIN this fall...

I'm really TRYING to stomach him.

If you REALLY want him to win and to get more people to vote for him in the fall and to support him why don't you be the bigger persons and post the "rub-it-in-your face" posts on the Obama forum?

I beg you to do that....

I get it - our candidate is losing - your candidate is winning and is the odds-on favorite to be the nominee - everyone is jumping to go over there - but you need to start reaching out. It's waaay past that time. The odds are way in his favor. If you really, truly feel he's going to win - then why do you have the need to be bullies?

It just doesn't help when you keep posting nasty cartoons, saying "it's over Hillary, drop out" Obama conversion stories, Obama has all these people coming over to him, the rats are fleeing the ship, etc.

Hillary supporters are hurt, pissed, we feel like the "cool kid" came along and blew our "good old grey mare" out of the water. As a 52 year old woman - I identify a lot with Hillary and feel like this is almost an assault on ME. I think a lot of the other Hillary supporters feel the same.

Every one of those "rub-it-in-your-face" posts is like a knife going in deeper. Each one of those posts makes it more likely that we will NOT vote for or support your candidate.

Maybe both camps should call a truce and post a lot more in our respective forums.

Let's fill up the Clinton and Obama forums with the crap and keep this one for the factual and positive stuff, anti-McCain stuff, support the Dems posts, "why you should support my candidate" without all the sniper-firing back, (the biting, personal comments).

And by the way - it's so much more pleasant to be in those candidate forums. I wish a lot more people would spend time there instead of in this cesspool.

OR NOT....

We can all keep on being assholes and really screw up the Dems chances in the fall. And yes, I am frequently one of those assholes and will probably continue being an asshole if everyone else continues being an asshole. It IS sort of fun - but it can also REALLY rip your heart out...

[leftofcool]

1. Are you serious?

You do realize that DU makes up about 000000.1% of Democrats in this country don't you?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

6. Yes - but this board could be an example and start it out - we are a cog in the wheel.

n/t

[MADem]

54. This board is unnoticed in the big scheme of things. Really.

It's a small piece of sand in the cog in the wheel. You might hear a little grind for a second, but that's all.

This board is also not representative of the party.

It's a fascinating place, but it is what it is.

[Raejeanowl]

86. And Thank God For That , MADem n/t

[SwampG8r]

134. im with you

i support obama and if you are ready to come and help us all help america i welcome you
if you are furthering the flame wars then i say shame on you
its time now to focus on the common enemy
making the qualifying round is not
i repeat
NOT
winning the race
the finish line is november
a fractured party is not going to make a difference no matter WHO the nominee is

[SwampG8r]

135. selfdelete

[Shae]

126. self delete

sorry

[niceypoo]

128. It will never happen...

The DU is a microcosm of the party, what is happening on the DU is happening everywhere. A good percent of Obamas supporters are too far gone, hatred makes people irrational.

God help the democratic party.

[AllentownJake]

2. They are financing

This...while they continue to fund her...I will continue to bash them.

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Why would ANYTHING that happens on DU influence your vote? n/t

[kerry-is-my-prez]

21. It's a microcosm of the party..... It reinforces how one feels.

n/t

[Blue-Jay]

47. Emphasis on "micro".

DU hardly represents the average Democrat. Don't get me wrong - I like DU and most of the actual liberals who post here.

BUT!

Anyone who bases their opinion about a candidate on the posts of a few DU weirdos/spammers/trolls is probably not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

"I'm not gonna vote for _____________ because kerry-is-my-prez was being a doody-head to me!!" People who say shit like that are either uninformed idiots or trolls.

[cherokeeprogressive]

80. I could not have said it better myself. n/t

[niceypoo]

129. Basically, you are saying, "Fuck off, I will continue being an asshole no matter what..."

Psssssst!!! The name calling gave you away!

[ampad]

4. Why don't you hide those threads

Or put those people on ignore. I would hope you wouldn't allow DU to shape your perception of either of our Dem candidates.

[DJ13]

5. "it's over Hillary, drop out"

If the MSM wasnt so enamored of the Clinton name in politics, that would have been plastered on every news channel for the last 3 weeks.

If rational people get frustrated that a name seems more important than reality here, can you blame them?

[JVS]

7. Your candidate needs to quit and you need to stop supporting her, consider yourself reached out to.

Until that happens, nya nya nya nya nyaaaaah nyaaah

[Name removed]

22. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Alexander]

8. We'll *reach* out when she *drops* out.

Until then, she's only giving McCain ammunition.

[gateley]

20. Well said, Alexander!

:headbang:

[PetraPooh]

51. Bingo! DING DING DING DING

[Pringles]

121. That will be too late. It's too late for many here.

If you think this is only an Internet phenomenon, you're wrong.

But good luck with singing Hail To The Chief, President McCain.

[stahbrett]

9. Serious question for you - why come here if it feels like a knife going in you? (nt)

[kerry-is-my-prez]

30. I don't come here A LOT - maybe an hour at a time. It's a bad habit that can't be broken....

Maybe I'm trying to punish myself....

[stahbrett]

Understood... I understand actually

I feel similar to you when I see the Hillary trolls post their crap here - probably because I support Obama, but it seems like the Hillary folks are attempting to tear down Obama even though she has little chance, whereas the Obama folks just want Hillary to get out of the way so that Obama can start 100% to campaign against McCain. Possibly a subtle difference, but it's an important one.

In other words, contrary to what some think, the nomination contest is not razor close, almost a tie, etc. Instead, Obama has a huge delegate lead that is just getting bigger each week. It's sort of like a football game that has one team ahead by 4 touchdowns with 5 minutes to go in the game - sure, the other team can score a touchdown or two, but is it going to be able to score more than 28 points? Not likely whatsoever. (And my analogy is not great, because football teams do not normally quit before the game is over, but they DO often put in substitute players, and don't go out full-bore and try to score at the risk of crazy injuries, etc.)

[calimary]

98. Well, for both of you - I hope you saw this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5286735

One of the most gracious I've seen. As though it were written on olive leaves.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

100. It was loving it until I got to "they have lost." That really hurt....

I was really liking it until that.

I wished he would've said "they will probably lose." Maybe it sounds nitpicky but it's a sensitive subject.

When I saw that sentence I thought "Oh another post telling us we've lost.

Unfair of me, perhaps.

[calimary]

101. Well, THAT wasn't the thrust of it - at least not what I was suggesting you see.

I understand the hurt feelings and the sensitivity.

You know where I feel it? I feel it for Hillary risking some serious longterm damage to her own reputation. And Bill's, too.

This campaign is leaving everybody messed up.

I want to say here and now (uh - well, again. I know I've posted on this before) - that I will NEVER forget the feeling that came over me on that election night in 1992 when it was called for Clinton. It suddenly dawned on me that for the FIRST time in my entire life, I had a First Lady to whom I could personally relate. I had a First Lady with whom I had a few things in common. She was like me in some respects - the bigger ones: college, met husband there, started career from there, working mom, professional and taking great personal satisfaction and value and pride from a great career - I could relate to that. She was in my age-range. Her daughter still lived at home at the time (my kids were way younger). She'd operated under her maiden name. I did, too. I will NEVER forget that. It made such a profound impression on me and it won my heart and my mind there and then. It was such a pleasant, welcome change from the dowdy controlling grandma and the Beverly Hills face-lift doyenne control-freak before her - neither of whom resonated with me for an instant. That had a permanent impact on me and will always affect how I feel about Hillary Rodham Clinton. And it will always be a positive thing for me.

So it breaks my heart to see what's happening to her, and how she is enabling it. I want much better for her. MUCH better for her. I think she deserves better because she HAS put in years of public service, she HAS put years and years of her energy, her remarkable and formidable brain-power (probably the best of the bunch in the Senate now, or among the top five), she HAS put her time and her commitment, and sublimated her own priorities and agendas to help her husband - waiting for her own turn later. She HAS earned a level of respect and a senior-level place among the party elders and biggest of big guns. And that's another point: SHE has earned that. She worked for it. And everybody who thought she'd coast, or do a bad job, or expect it to be handed to her soon came to see things differently. And even opponents on the other side in New York State say, begrudgingly, that she's done a great job as a Senator. And what she's accomplished and how she's coped against some of the most withering criticism and hyena honking that ANYONE in politics has ever endured, and the slaps on the face and multiple betrayals she's sustained from nearly every direction (including her own husband - AND all in public, on the front pages and the lead stories on every newscast everywhere) - it's really impressive. I would hope even the flat-out Hillary haters could at least acknowledge this. NOBODY'S taken a beating like Hillary.

I just hate to see this whole thing deflate - leaving her in a position of near-pariah with some in our party. Yeah, maybe some people (especially here) think it's self-inflicted and have no pity. Maybe much of it IS self-inflicted. But I still feel bad about what I see for her. DAMN I wish it were different.

She AND Bill have both been tarnished by all this. Maybe severely. And this Obama supporter doesn't mind saying that it hurts me - badly.

[annabanana]

111. This is very much my feeling too, calimary.

She deserved much better than the crappy advisors she's been tethered to.

[Rageneau]

10. AFAIAC, it's too late.

I'm trying to decide, now, between Gravel and Nader.

[JVS]

11. Your voting decision sucks. Improve your attitude

[niceypoo]

130. This from someone with a Kool-Aid avatar?

The Original Kool-Aid:



Shameful, isnt it?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

12. Okay - I get it - everyone wants to continue being assholes.... to the detriment of the party.

n/t

[JVS]

16. Well you shouldn't have needed a thread to figure out how you wanted to behave, we already knew.

[still_one]

13. we all have to. DU is a reflection of other Democrats and we will lose

unless we start to focus on mccain

[Skarbrowe]

14. I will vote for the Democratic candidate. I disliked Kerry in 2004,

but I liked Edwards. I hated Bush. So my vote was a no brainer. I won't have Obama signs all over my yard or stickers here and there, but I will vote Democratic. I might have felt differently if I had stayed away from the DU.

It's good to see that people are trying to make nice now. Some I trust, some I don't. Actually, it doesn't matter.

[democrattotheend]

15. I'm an Obama supporter and I agree with you

If we think Obama has this wrapped up (and I personally don't...I take nothing for granted), then we need to start reaching out to Clinton supporters and uniting this party, rather than constantly attacking them and their candidate and rubbing it in their face that Obama has more pledged delegates.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

84. Thanks democrattotheend....

n/t

[Lisa0825]

17. That's pretty much exactly how I felt

when Hillary was "inevitable." And it actually got worse, not better when Obama started leading. I know it sucks to feel that way. I do hope that the rhetoric will tone down and we'll all start playing nicer in this DU sandbox. But it's also human nature to take more offense at things aimed at your or your candidate and barely notice the mud slung from one's own side. I try to notice it as much as I can from the Obama side, and I alert on topics I feel are out of line. Remember, there are a lot of "good guys" on both teams. Don't let the harsher ones taint all of us. I try to keep that advice in mind myself.

:pals:

FWIW, there have been quite a few nice posts and more attempts at understanding and reconciliation lately. Unfortunately, it's the bad ones that tend to stick in one's memory.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

88. Thanks Lisa....

n/t

[stevenleser]

18. Why do you think it is the winner's responsibility to reach out while the loser is trying to kneecap

him?

[msallied]

29. Bingo! This is so ridiculous.

[The Wielding Truth]

31. Haven't you ever played sports. We all have a common goal.

She is not as bad as who is in there now. She is a fighter and she is a bit reckless and throwing out jabs to weaken her opponent. Although the jabs have been deflected by Obama. So now she should join her mighty forces behind the common cause and we will all win.

I'm on American's side and you and I are Americans.:toast:

[msallied]

33. It's up to her to stop running.

And she's just about as bad as who's in there now. Oh, she has a better grasp of the English language, but that's pretty much it.

[stevenleser]

79. Interesting. Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding were both Americans trying to win the Gold...

... I am not sure Nancy was pulling for Tonya though. Can't understand why...

[Gidney N Cloyd]

34. You don't have to kiss Hillary or Mark Penn's ass and >>>

>>> Obama should fight back against any assaults
BUT
it does no good in the long run to beat up on the Hillary camp. Take the high road and maybe that 22% or so of HRC supports who 'say' they won't vote for Obama can be minimized.

[JVS]

37. That 22% is heartily invited to go fuck themselves.

There are better ways to find votes for Obama that trying to appeal to die-hard crybabies. There are plenty of people who usually don't vote and could be convinced much more easily than some kind of "Obama killed my dream and I hate him" turd.

[polichick]

19. I appreciate your post - don't worry, in the end we Dems will unite...

For now, message boards seem to be partly used to blow off steam ~ I guess that's better than strangling each other on the street!

[wileedog]

23. Cookie?

[beachmom]

24. Thank you for giving your perspective. Honestly, it is hard for me

to relate to your feelings (I am in my thirties) toward Hillary Clinton. I just don't identify with her at all. I have leaned Obama all last year, and then decided to support him officially in December. He talks in a language I can understand, "I'm not against all wars. I'm only against DUMB wars" (no baby boomer would talk that way. It was a wise thing to say, but in a new way that is indeed generational). I actually heard John Kerry roughly try to quote Obama and he just COULDN'T say it the way Obama did, even though he 100% agreed with Obama about the Iraq War in retrospect. So I think we can get through the generational stuff by being candid and trying to understand the other person's point of view.

I want to introduce you to Obama as a professor. I think this may help you to get to know him away from the riff raff of the campaign. Please consider reading this diary written by a former student of Obama's at the U. of Chicago Law School:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/20/12119/122

Also, did you see what happened on DailyKos the other night?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/27/174853/859

932 people on DailyKos (which is extremely pro-Obama now) rec'd that diary, and it garnered well over 1,000 comments. Obama supporters are ready for this to be over, not just to "win", but frankly, we're tired fighting with our friends, and want to be united again.

[againes654]

25. Soooooo

because your candidate is loosing, you want us to post our posts about Obama elsewhere??? Oh please, grow up, support the Dem candidate. It is that simple. If you don't want to give up on Hillary just yet, that is fine, you are well within your rights. I am not asking you to post elsewhere just because I don't like your candidate. I get to choose what I read, and if I don't like it, I don't read it. You have the same option!

[Bake]

41. Here's an option for you: the word is "LOSING."

Not "loosing," dammit. That is so fucking annoying that once I see that word, I stop reading the rest of the post.

Bake

[againes654]

62. LOL oh I am so sorry

but if one o makes you stop reading the post, you have more problems than I thought.

[Bake]

67. Words are the vehicles of ideas.

If you can't use them properly, your ideas are more likely to be without merit.

And especially the misuse of "lose/loose." How many rants have there been on DU (not just by me, but by many others) on that one recurring misuse? I question also the ideas of people who have themselves evidently stopped learning.

Bake

[musicblind]

132. While I have never had a problem with, or understood the mix up between loosing and lose...

not reading someone's post because they make a mistake in spelling is ignorant on your part. :(

Although there really is no correlation between education and accidentally typing loose instead of lose on a messageboards (most college students make that mistake as well. Homonyms have always been a tricky part of essay writing for many. I remember one of my professors pointing this out once upon a moon.)... your post DOES make the implication that if someone is uneducated or unable to find/receive education than what they have to say is not important. A horrible bias to put imply (even if that is not what you mean).


On an unrelated note:
I noticed your guitar... do you play?

[Bake]

141. It's not ignorant, it's the real world, deal with it.

If I make stupid blunders in a brief to the court, the judge takes my argument less seriously. Instead of griping about it, people should learn to use the correct words. Words are the vehicles of ideas.

And yes, I do play. :-)

Bake

[kerry-is-my-prez]

90. If you would have read the whole thread - that's exactly what I said....

n/t

[BeyondGeography]

26. If you haven't noticed, the Clintons have been pumping up McCain the past two weeks at the expense

of Obama, and the Democratic Party, for that matter.

And yet, it's the Obama supporters who need to assuage the hurt feelings of you and every other Hillary supporter who continues to enable this kind of behavior by either not even acknowledging it or chalking it up to...err, what exactly.

Don't hold your breath.

[ginnyinWI]

27. I agree with you

Although I think the nasty people are becoming fewer and fewer. Most of us Obama supporters are through arguing. As another 50-something woman, I'm sure you will find something to like about the nominee, once we get that far. :hi:

[kerry-is-my-prez]

93. Thanks Ginny - I'm getting tired of arguing too...

n/t

[apocalypsehow]

28. I'd get that beam out of my own eye before I started complaining about other folk's specks, to

paraphrase an old saying.

Just sayin'.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

36. I've admitted I can be an a-hole- If you call ME bad - then the Hillary supporters are TOO nice...

you'd better toughen up if you think I'm a meanie....

[apocalypsehow]

46. I've never had any interaction with you that I recall. My skin is pretty thick. No, it's not you

I'm specifically referring to, but the HRC boosters who continue to post dreary bilge they know has been debunked repeatedly out of bitterness. Or like the one who was caught red-handed peddling falsehoods about another DUer, was give links FIVE different times substantiating this, and blithely dragged her and her idiotic graphic into other threads making the same claims. Or the one who seems congenitally unable to post a single thread about ANY issue without including the words "Rev. Wright" in it. These, among many, are the kind of HRC supporters I'm disinterested in "reaching out" to unless they're prepared to reciprocate - and from what I've seen, they're not.

Besides which, you posted this OP calling for US to reach out - why should have to have "thick skins" if the HRC boosters reciprocate when we "reach out"?

:shrug:

[DUyellow]

32. serious question

Do any Obama supporters outside of DU "rub-it-in-your-face?"

You have a good point, and i agree with you. I just do not see this outside of DU.

[bunnies]

35. Obama supporters. Please commence kissing the asses of Clintonists.

Regardless of the fact that many of them have been insulting you for over a year. Now that we've lost... we demand that you lick our feet or else we'll vote for McCain. We're the REAL Democrats.

Alrighty then.

[JVS]

39. They can eat shit.

[bunnies]

75. which is much less yummy than cake. nt

[ronnykmarshall]

106. I'll remember that when the DLC calls for $$$.

[ronnykmarshall]

107. Charming.

Thanks so much for that Bunnie.

[thoughtcrime1984]

38. I'm trying to not be too much of an a-hole

I pretty much get sucked in to silly arguments on occasion, but I would like to be a part of a united Democratic Party. I've used the ignore feature more than I ever thought I would, just to avoid even more petty arguing. I would really rather not argue, especially about non-issue related things. I look forward to the day when I feel that emptying my ignore list will not cause my bp to increase much, and that we can, for the most part, get back to a civil and mostly unified DU. Can that happen? I'm not sure, as I've only been here since Jan. 2007, and haven't seen a Primary cycle here until now. I truly do hope so!

[goletian]

40. leave your feelings out of your decision, and then maybe people wont come off as such bullies... nt

[knixphan]

42. I've been the love-boat guy...

And I'm still here, making martinis for any and all Hillsters who wanna come for the ride.

You ARE still allowed to love Hillary while supporting Obama.

I LOVE DENNIS K!

And I support Obama.

See? Simple.

Have a martini.

Let's come together and make it happen.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

52. Did I hear glass clinking?

:9

[kerry-is-my-prez]

66. Thanks - appreciate it. I'm really trying right now....

It's people like you who truly help their candidate.

The assholes are usually in it for their egos....

[kerry-is-my-prez]

43. Oh well - I guess it was at least a "try"

people would rather fight and "be right" than to win....

[Firespirit]

61. Sorry about the immaturity on this thread

I guess there are a lot of people who never saw a politician to whom they felt personally connected lose.

[beachmom]

69. Well, you know, I answered your post sincerely and you didn't respond.

Yet you responded to people who were rude. There actually were several good responses on this thread, yet you fed the bad ones. So, you know, you need to evaluate what you wanted here. If you were looking for some Obama supporters who were trying to reach out to you, well, then FEED US instead of people not ready or willing to do that. Isn't that what you wanted with this thread?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

73. sorry - I was responding to the earlier threads - which were all nasty - then got a phone call.

The earlier ones weren't too nice and then the nicer threads came along later. Thanks for your post - I didn't mean to ignore you.

You might have a point - it's easier to respond to the nastiness - that's what gets the attention.

[tishaLA]

44. as long as we speak in your terms...

"my candidate" and "your candidate," we fail to come together; we don't have "camps," we have preferences. To my mind, the problem is not with the candidates--they are, as Democrats, BOTH our candidates--but with the rhetoric of, alternately, war, gangs, teams, etc., that infect our discourse.

[Life Long Dem]

45. You can reach out to McCain. woo hoo

[VeraAgnes]

48. It maybe too late for DU

as many have either been chased away or banned by the administration of DU. The love should come from the administration as they have records to email the lost souls. This would be a healthy gesture and an excellent example or lead to have us follow.

That's my compassion speaking.

[Firespirit]

49. I've tried to see this from a Clinton supporter's viewpoint

You said,

Hillary supporters are hurt, pissed, we feel like the "cool kid" came along and blew our "good old grey mare" out of the water. As a 52 year old woman - I identify a lot with Hillary and feel like this is almost an assault on ME. I think a lot of the other Hillary supporters feel the same.

This, I think, is the basis of much of her support. It is personal for you. I will make no bones about it -- I don't like your candidate. But I do understand it being personal. I felt that way in 2004 with Kerry, never have before, and probably won't again, because to be blunt, I have had three years of pure unmitigated hell since then that's not yet over, and it's basically destroyed my idealism about anything. But I understand your feeling.

With that in mind, I have a question for you. Do you need a "mourning period," so to speak? A consolation prize? I agree it's time to mend fences, but I don't know what it is that you want, and what would go the farthest in mending the fence.

[sniffa]

50. I think I'll start by reaching out to the racist HRC supporters

My bad, I mean the ones willing to act like racists because they think it helps.

[ampad]

56. Exactly why I say most of them can eat shit

There are some of them who have made some pretty racist statements and those people can go kick rocks. I really don't give a damn about their "feelings"

[Life Long Dem]

60. I will care about their feelings if they

think they are going to be sticking around to bash Obama when Clinton drops out. Then we will be looking directly at the racist.

[ampad]

65. Very true

I wish those who truly feel that way would get out of the party already. I think the dark side would be a better fit for them.

[stevenleser]

87. It is true but a non issue. Skinner has made it clear what would happen to anyone...

bashing the nominee.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

53. Oh whatever... I hate 50% of the Obama supporters on this board, and I'm STILL GONNA VOTE FOR HIM!

I agree with your words, we need to be kinder to each other.

BUT DON'T YOU BELIEVE WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE WE ARE GONNA VOTE DEM?


I do.


I am furious too at how nasty and sexist some of the Obama supporters can be.

But I sure as hell am not gonna vote for a freaking Republican EVER!

All the people on this board can throw crap on my face, and I'm still gonna vote Dem.


It's just the way it is.

[mudesi]

55. Your candidate isn't losing

Your candidate has lost.

So get behind the nominee.

[peace13]

57. Pardon me but.....

'We can all keep on being assholes and really screw up the Dems chances in the fall. And yes, I am frequently one of those assholes and will probably continue being an asshole if everyone else continues being an asshole. It IS sort of fun - but it can also REALLY rip your heart out...'

Some here have not been *ssholes and have been weathering this storm. Many of us have lost our number one candidates in an elimination that was less than even handed. Really, there comes a time when we have to set our own sadnesses aside and do what is right for the country. I don't understand why Hill folk need a special hand when the rest of us have had to slide over without even a so much of a notice. I do hope that after Obama has the nomination that these people will be able to settle down and get to the business of winning the GE. Peace, Kim

[kerry-is-my-prez]

70. If you're winning - you try to get more people to "come-on over"

the more the merrier...

[cui bono]

58. How's this?...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5286735


I have to say, for myself, and I'm not an Obama supporter although I much prefer him over Clinton, after all that Clinton has done in this campaign, the viciousness, the stating that the Republican candidate is more qualified to be president than Obama, I really feel it is HER and HER supporters that need to do the reaching out. She is the one who turned this into a free for all, she is the one who has crossed too many lines, some she may not be able to cross back over, so it is her side that needs to reach out WITH AN APOLOGY. Really, one does not often reach out to the one who is setting your whole neighborhood on fire.

And as to the mean supporters, I have to say I've only seen about 1-2 Obama supporters being nasty, while most of the Clinton supporters' posts I have seen have been pretty vile. Of course that perception may be tainted by the fact that anyone who supports Clinton must support the Rovian tactics that Clinton is using and I can not respect that.

[Symarip]

59. I Guess...

I guess you Hillary fans are likable enough.

Sorry. I couldn't help myself.

I completely agree with your premise. Everyday is a day closer to having to coalesce around a single candidate so we better learn to play nice now. I'll pull the lever for Hillary just as hard as a I will for Obama. I just like him better. It's nothing personal and it's no slight towards Clinton fans. We're going to have to work hard to November and right now, it looks like our candidate is going to be Obama.

For Hillary fans, I admire you guys for sticking with her. I like her and her other half quite a bit. I just don't see how she's going to pull this one out. But regardless, I look forward to ALL of us getting our verbal sniperfire on when we go after McCain.

We strike at dawn!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

76. Thanks Symarip....

n/t

[Johnny__Motown]

63. Hillary turn into Tanya Harding and Obama is the one who needs to reach out? Maybe he should just be

VP too


Sorry but the one wielding the ax needs to put it down first

[BlooInBloo]

64. Fuck the race-baiting sleazy campaigning McCain-preferring "democrats"...

... We'll win with or without them, but we will most assuredly win.

[karynnj]

68. The reactions here are stunning - and to me as Obama supporter really sickening

I think that there have to be posts here reflecting what the candidates themselves are doing - so it is not possible to move to general election mode. That time will come. But, I agree with you that the attacks on supporters are counter productive.

I have some idea how you feel. I first came to DU in the wake of the Nov 2004 election. The Kerry blog was gone and I remembered hearing of DU. I came, heartbroken because a nominee that I had come to see as a unique voice of truth for my generation, a person who could have been the first great President of my voting life (I considered both Carter and Clinton flawed in different ways.) had seemed to be winning Tuesday afternoon, but by the next day the sad truth was known. One thing that hit me was that just because he ran for President against Bush, the RW had attacked everything about him - from his service, to his career to his personality to his family. I worried that, in spite of running a clean race and having led an honorable life, he still was being attacked.

When I came to DU, the hardest thing was that people here, in their disappointment were repeating things that were said by the RW - figuring somehow that because he lost - they were right. It didn't help that Democratic party people with vested interests in 2008 all scrambled to attack Senator Kerry for losing - when he had no platform to respond from. I then found the John Kerry group - a group like me still wounded by Nov 2004. I think that rather than changing GD-P, you may want to thing of the how the HRC group could be used. We did not ignore GD or GD-P, we attempted to defend Kerry when unfair charges were made - and continue doing so.

The situation is not parallel - HRC is still fighting and many think that she and BIll Clinton are hurting our chances with some of the attacks. Assuming Obama wins the nomination, the main topic will be the general election race. Other Democrats will come into play in terms of how they act as surrogates or through things they do in their "day" jobs. At that point, I would guess that you might be involved in trying to get HRC's good works out there - to try to get her good name back.

[beachmom]

72. DailyKos, far more pro-Obama than DU, shows itself to be classier:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/27/174853/859

This diary got 932 recs and over 1,000 comments. Sadly, GDP is nasty.

[Firespirit]

74. I don't know why I even check this forum

I guess because it IS the best place I know of to get breaking campaign-related news.

The place is soul-destroying, though. It's very, very easy, when you're surrounded by mostly jerks, to become a hate-spewing jerk yourself... I saw myself going that way a couple of months ago and took time off GDP to reflect, and I hope to God/dess that the majority of posters here drop the "douche and proud of it" persona soon. Lord of the Flies, totally. :(

[karynnj]

77. Thanks for the link that is an incredible diary

For those who might not go there - here is one highlighted comment that shows where this person is coming from:
"If you take anything from my diary I hope its this. Clinton supporters are deeply hurt. No matter what you think about Clinton, her supporters are good people. They're on our side, and they're hurt."

This is right and all of us for Obama need to think about that - and remember how it felt to be the Clark or Dean person in Spring 2004, or the Kerry person in Nov 2004, or the Edwards, Biden, Dodd, Richardson, or Kuchinich person this year. Remember the sense of losing a dream that was precious. Rubbing salt into wounds doesn't help. We need the Clinton supporters.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

78. Thanks karynnj....

Yes - the hurt has been happening the last 8 years to all of us here.....

[Cali_Democrat]

71. Anyone who lets posters on DU influence their vote shouldn't be voting

no offense.

[BlooInBloo]

81. Wah! I'm not voting for [insert hated name here] because his/her supporters were MEAN to me!

Trust DUers to come up with the most jackass reason possible to not vote for someone.

Fucking whiners.

(And yes, I said the same thing back when Clinton was inevitable/inscrutable/ineluctable/impenetrable/invulnerable/invisible/whatthefuckever, and ppl were "threatening" to not vote for her.)

[loyalsister]

82. Maybe it's the language?

In "Unbought an Unbossed" Shirley Chisholm did not talk about "dropping out" or "losing," or put her perspective on her position in a negative light.
She said she was pressured to "release her delegates" and ask them to vote for McGovern.

Over the past few years as politics as evolved into a spectator sport with winners and losers and violent metaphors to make it worse. Notice how they are "bruised and bloody" from the primary.

It is the negativity.
If there were more dignified language, I think it would be easier to move on.

"Releasing delegates" gives her some control over her loss.

Remember Lakeoff and frames?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

94. "Lakeoff and frames" yes. The Dems need to start learning about this.

n/t

[redqueen]

83. Give it a few months.

Only the most overly-sensitive of the overly-sensitive won't have sorted their emotions out by Nov.

[TomBall Democrat]

85. Then check out the Obama forum

what you'll find are people discussing ideas. In the Clinton forum is the pissing and moaning, vote for a woman, profanity spewing crowd. Please kick this lame old article I found from 1998 crowd.

And if you're basing your vote on anything I say or do - thanks for making this 51 year old woman so powerful over YOUR life.

It's about the candidate. Research the candidate. Decide on that basis.

I'm not supporting Hillary Clinton because I researched Barack Obama, and found a better choice. I'm not about to do that work for you - and I am not about to accept your work for my brain.

About the civility - you are dead on - it's enough. But I have seen the anger and hostility stronger on the Clinton side - and I am frankly ashamed as someone in the same age group as yourself that we still can't get over the gender thing.

It's not because she's female. It's not because he's black.

It's because I believe he is better qualified by temperament, skill, and experience to lead my country. That's a decision each of us must come to on our own.

I agree with the earlier poster. If you're voting because of my behavior, you'll need to ask my name so you can write it in.

[knixphan]

103. bravo.

[Warren Stupidity]

89. I tried to let the crap sink. It floated instead and stinks.

Other than pointing out that Clinton's campaign has terminated even if she doesn't know it, I am not posting attacks against her. I will continue to respond to the crap from the usual suspects and the shiny new faces.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

99. I can relate to your frustration....

n/t

[thevoiceofreason]

91. Kerry-is-my-prez -- I love you man! And I mean that

I truly can't wait to work with you folks for a change - no matter who the nominee is. Ya'll always seem to have very well-thought-out analyses.

Peace

[kerry-is-my-prez]

95. Thanks so much voice. I just came to my senses and am scared shitless of losing.

WE CANNOT LOSE....

and right back at ya

:hug:

[thevoiceofreason]

97. Whoever the candidate, we're gonna kick some republican ass.

I'm pumped up to an extreme degree. Seeing thing missing in Texas since the early 1980's.

[The River]

92. The Worst Ones

are on ignore and will stay there. There is no excuse for their name
calling. I don't care how much you support a candidate,
over the top is over the top.

[ronnykmarshall]

108. Add me would ya?

[mattclearing]

96. We're not the ones with the Rezkowatches and the Wright brigades.

I happily invite all Hillary supporters to get behind Senator Obama.

The idea that somehow Obama supporters have to do something to win Hill supporters good graces is ridiculous, though.

Obama hasn't attempted to destroy his opponent in a scorched earth strategy that risks victory in November.

Hill supporters need to acknowledge what their candidate is doing to the race and the country.

It's not about America anymore, it's not about Democrats winning the White House, it's about MEMEMEMEMEME.

I want a president who is inclusive, who pledges to open up government, who will not attempt to kneecap his competitors to get his way.

If you want that too, there's a candidate in this race you can feel good about getting behind. His name is Obama.

[ecdab]

102. Come on over, I'd love to have anybody that wants to be on

the Democrats side join with Obama. Does that qualify as reaching out?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

105. Thanks for the invite - I will come over if I truely believe that he has the best chance....

If I really thought he could beat McCain hands down - I would be on the Obama team. I'm not entirely sure of that. My first priority is to see the Dems win.

We'll have to see how Pennsylvania goes.

[ecdab]

115. Fair enough, but remember - most Obama supporters would love to

have you or any other Hillary supporter join the team when ever you feel the time is right. I'm sure the reverse is true as well.

[readmoreoften]

117. Do you really think that? I don't think most Obama supporters want Clinton's supporters.

Maybe to shove the 'converts' back into the faces of Clinton supporters, but other than that I don't see it. Clinton has become synonymous with the antichrist around here and her supporters are viewed as the enemy for the most part. I think the campaign comes across as oddly elitist in an almost religious way. Everyone is welcome but you have to have 'heard the call.'

I'm an Edwards voter--really a Kucinich/Gravel voter (although oddly enough I also have respected Dodd, Gephardt, and Wes Clark in the past few elections.) Obama's supporters have made me feel so unwelcome in the party it made me realize that I've probably been wasting my time campaigning for the Democrats for the past 24 years (I started phonebanking at 13) and hoping to move the party to the left--or keep it from moving far right. Oh well. I might change my mind before November. But with Gravel and McKinney headlining 3rd parties, I'm quite tempted to move on.

[ecdab]

118. Yes I do really think that. There will always be people that forget

that real, live, people with feelings and experiences and perspectives that may differ from their own are reading what they post on the internet. I'm sure there are some delusional Obama supporters that have let this race get the best of them - but be assured that they are the exception, not the rule. If you were to walk into your local Obama HQ, you would quickly find out that they would love to have you, or anybody else, on board with them and fighting in the trenches with them - no hearing the call needed. The people on the ground doing the hard work know that helping hands can never be turned away - there is so much work to do if we are going to undo the damage from the last 8 years.

[knixphan]

104. and I'll still be makin' martinis.

[Mags]

109. that is a joke they don't think they need any one but the BHO

voters, anyway it is too late for us typical white women, I can't vote for the BHO, he lost me early on, but his voters nailed the coffin shut.

[RBInMaine]

110. I only have this to say to you: "scorched earth," "kitchen sink," "3am," ... you can't be serious!

[Hoof Hearted]

112. Don't you give up on Hillary. It's NOT over, and the Obama desperation proves it.

Keep the faith.

[Lucky 13]

114. Yeah he looked awful desperate sunning himself in VI

:rofl:

[knixphan]

113. (looking past cheering crowds, trying to spot 'Obama desperation'...)

[readmoreoften]

116. The nastiness of Obama supporters on DU *literally* changed my primary vote.

Clinton and Obama are both tied as my least favorite candidates in the race--and that includes Lee Mercer Jr. and fringe candidates. I was going to vote for Edwards even though he had long dropped out of the race, but I voted for Clinton just because Obama's supporters have repeatedly told me how much people like me don't matter, how much they'd rather align themselves with Republicans than "leftists". For a group of people who rally around words like Unity and Peace, his campaign seems to produce some vicious followers.

I hardly think the campaign would be as divisive if it was, say, Biden vs Clinton or Edwards vs Clinton. I'm not sure if it's too late for the Obama supporters to stop. I'm strongly considering leaving the party and voting for Mike Gravel. I'm sick of being told I'm expendable, irrelevant, and a holdover from the 60s (even though I was born in the 70s...)

[AX10]

119. The nutroots crowd is as bad as the right wingers like Hannity.

[AmericanUnity]

120. THE BEST WAY TO 'REACH OUT' IS TO ENCOURAGE HILLARY TO DROP OUT BEFORE SHE RUINS THE DEMS

[stop the bleeding]

122. I think both sides need to start reaching out to one another, cause

we can not take 4 more years

[kerry-is-my-prez]

125. I'm really starting to worry that we could lose this one - and we can't afford that.

I can understand how the Obama supporters and the Clinton supporters have their pride, are hurt, etc. but we need to start being nicer to each other - respect our differences, if we want to be able to work together....

[lumberjack_jeff]

123. "As a 52 year old woman - I identify a lot with Hillary ... this is almost an assault on ME"

This is exactly the trap we've fallen into.

We are taking this so personally, because we have chosen to personalize it.

[AmericanUnity]

124. My wife's 54 and she disagrees with you. I don't want Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton. I do want truth

[Shae]

127. Thanks for the post.

We're all acting like a bunch of Freepers here. Okay, not everyone. But you know who you are.

The true believers on both sides have a big emotional investment in their candidate. One person gets pushed by the other side and shoves back.
It turns into a brawl. We're battered and bruised and pissed off, and in the end we say, "I'm not voting for your stinking candidate if it means I have to stay home and let McCain win."
One Hillary supporter posted recently that she would rather have her fingers cut off than vote for Obama because of the way she's been treated here. My first thought on reading that was, "Wow, what melodrama. Get a grip" My second thought was "here is a person who's bleeding and wounded by people who should have been her friends."

There have been a few calls to make peace recently. Some people are listening are listening and some aren't. Some never will.
But we need to begin healing. You, yourself, can extend the olive branch as the OP did. And if someone extends an olive branch to you, you can accept graciously. Or not. But everyone will benefit if you do.

Give the other person the respect that you would like to be given, and who knows what good may come of it. But some good WILL come of it.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

136. Thanks! I think when people are on the fence it doesn't help them to come over to either side.

It also just verifies the bad feelings that a person may have for that candidate. It truly does NOT help your candidate.

Also as a psych major I do believe that subliminal messages are very powerful. When you see some harsh statement from a person who has a Hillary or and Obama picture on it or even a graphic it just adds to the dislike. The unconscious thoughts have a lot to do with ones choices.

[Eurobabe]

131. I am trying my best to just stay away from the

threads that are causing division. Hide thread and ignore is my best friend.

I remember how it felt when Clark dropped out, it hurt like hell. Will try to be more sensitive. :hi: :hug:

[kerry-is-my-prez]

133. Thanks 48....

It seems like it's been a bit nicer this afternoon. We had several threads pleading for civility from supporters of both candidates and that's helped a little.

[Eurobabe]

137. I agree, there is no point to pouring salt in the wounds

it will just take time to sort itself out. :grouphug:

[Beacool]

138. Country first, party second!!

The time to reach out is past and for some of us wild horses couldn't force us to vote for the guy.

[ecdab]

139. Because his policies are so close Hillary's? Or because having a

President McCain is something that you feel would help advance the causes you believe in? Just wondering.

[TZ]

140. AHEM!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5304883

Not all of us are insensitive jerkwads.