Dear Kucinich supporters: not everyone who supports someone else is stupid, hypocrtical or centrist

Political Heretic

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Jan-10-08 10:53 PM
Original message

Dear Kucinich supporters: not everyone who supports someone else is stupid, hypocrtical or centrist

Edited on Thu Jan-10-08 10:56 PM by Political Heretic

Just because I agree with Dennis on many points does not mean I feel he would be the best person to be in the role of President.

Jimmy Carter was a great man and an awful President. Or another example, my father holds all the ideas Dennis and I do too -- that doesn't mean I would vote for him to sever in the role of President of the United States, and that doesn't mean he would make a good president if elected. Instead I think that his gifts, personality and experience would serve our country best in certain other roles. Heck, I am not the right person for President of the United States, and I'm the most radical guy I know! :) I know that I can serve those ideals and the people better in other ways.

It's time that Dennis supporters start RESPECTING people who have consciously and thoughtfully supported someone else for President, and admit to the fact that not everyone who does not choose "their guy" is a hypocrite. I think Dennis has the right view points. I don't think he's the best or most qualified person to fill the role of president of the united states. I may be wrong in my opinion, and others may certainly disagree with me, but I am not stupid, uninformed, or hypocritical for my opinion and I'm most certainly entitled to it.

Other people have given thoughtful, intelligent explanations for supporting someone else if you ever bother to listen, rather than pretending that anyone who doesn't support Kucinich for President isn't a "true" liberal, democrat, progressive or whatever else.

For instance, Spike89 wrote:

A president can inspire and cajole, even try and intimidate, but essentially they have no legislative power other than to accept or deny what congress sends to them. Dennis is a maverick, or if you prefer, an ideologue. Although he says lots of things I agree with, he does so as a scold and without regard for practicality--two things guaranteed to ensure that his ideas as president would not get implemented.

For instance, I agree that we need single-payer government run health care. We also need to find a way to get there that isn't as disruptive and potentially counterproductive as a sudden switch would be. I hate the health insurance industry, but I do understand that millions of good people are working in and for that industry and unless you have a transition plan, you're risking an awful lot of people's security. I don't see DK agreeing that it must be implemented in steps or in compromised fashion.

I don't believe that an ideologue is the best person in the role of President, though I think they have many important - in fact critical - roles to fill. I believe in what I call practical idealism that blends ideological conviction with a frank, stark, grounded understanding of the current world, system and context in which we operate.

I don't support Kucinich for president because being president is about more than passing the right litmus test of ideas, because I believe he would better serve the goal of real change in this country in other ways, and because I believe that another candidate best reflects the practical idealism and leadership characteristics that I believe make him the bets fit for President (and possibly not as good of a fit as Dennis would be in other roles).

You don't have to agree with me! I might be wrong. And I certainly respect Kucinich supporters. But please stop acting like anyone who doesn't support your candidate is a moron.