Hat in hand

[fangirl_says]

I want to apologize to anyone I offended with my politics-fueled tantrum on Tuesday. It wasn't directed towards 99 percent of my flist, and I would've been much better off directing it just to the few I meant to snark at.

For the record, I will certainly vote for Barack Obama. The fact that I'm a lifelong Yellow Dog Democrat doesn't actually have much to do with it -- I do, by and large, agree with Obama's positions on most things, so I will not hesitate to vote for him. What set me off was not people celebrating that their preferred candidate effectively secured the nomination; it was people who felt the need to denigrate and belittle not just Clinton, but Clinton supporters as well, as a part of the celebrating. Some of the outright misogyny I saw (not just at Clinton, remember, but at me, as a Clinton supporter) was pretty horrifying. And last time I checked, we were all on the same side, here. To suddenly have the feeling that my side is not my side anymore is a deeply disturbing thing.

Also for the record, I'm not wild about how the campaigns have been conducted, and I thought Clinton should have dropped out awhile back. I still regret that my first choice, John Edwards, didn't do better than he did. After he dropped out, I struggled for quite some time to choose between voting for Clinton or Obama, because I like both of them pretty much equally.

At any rate, I apologize to any who were offended.

On a happier note, gramina is taking part in the Memory Walk to raise money for Alzheimer's disease research. If you'd like to donate, click here. :)

Comments

[onecheekyhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wanted Edwards... I was going to vote Dem for him. :)
K

[loopybunny.livejournal.com]

I can't believe the amount of hate I've seen tossed back and forth between democrats during this election. I really believe that damage has been done because many of those with opposing views just can't see voting for the other democrat. It's quite sad really.

What is even more sad is the people who voted for Obama just because he's black and the people who voted for Clinton just because she's a woman. I actually saw interviews with "intellectuals" that said this. One woman, a feminist, was going off on her daughter because she wouldn't vote for Clinton. The only reason the woman gave was because Clinton is a woman. And this wasn't just some crazy feminist woman they found on the street. I've seen her in documentaries and interviewed on other shows before this interview. It seems to be a really ignorant way to choose a candidate.

My first choice was Edwards too.

I wonder who Obama will choose as a running mate..... Edwards has already said there is no chance.

[eleanor-lavish.livejournal.com]

I stayed off my FList to avoid it. *hugs* Seriously, Hillary Clinton is a strong candidate (female or not), with the support of about 45% of the democrats in this country. I am glad to have supported her! and its not like I won't vote for Obama, because clearly I will! So why all the hate, Obama-people? *sigh*

Though I have to say I am glad a decision has (mostly) been made, and that the Dems can focus on shedding a little light on some of John McCain's not-so-straight-talk now.

[mlleelizabeth.livejournal.com]

I wasn't at all offended. I was concerned. I hadn't been posting anything political, but I have several Obama supporters on my flist and I know some of them were celebrating enthusiastically enough that they might say something that could be perceived as unsportsmanlike, plus I had seen some pretty ugly, gloaty comments on news stories and editorials and I was worried (and still am) that sort of behavior was going to spread. I thought your post was a good reminder that we all need to be respectful of each other.

[gramina.livejournal.com]

*nods at all the above*

I saw a couple of fairly nasty comments directed at Clinton and Clinton supporters; I pretty much stopped reading anything with a subject-line that sounded political. I figure in a couple of days even the folks with the more obnoxious posts will come back to themselves and cut it out, and I can start reading politically-oriented posts again.

(FWIW, I was just about reduced to flipping a coin at the point of our primaries here -- and by the time of the last of the primaries, I was about ready to slap everybody in both campaigns, and all the commentators, with a wet fish. People I really like and respect were supporting Clinton, and people I really like and respect were supporting Obama. We all need each other. Maybe now we can start acting like we remember that.)

And thank you so much for linking to my Alzheimer's Memory Walk post -- ! It means a whole lot to me.

[thirdsouthobbi.livejournal.com]

Honestly, all the vitriol and divisiveness is the one thing I really don't like about this election. I prefer Obama, but Clinton is a strong candidate, she just wasn't my first choice. I would've voted for her had she gotten the nomination, though.

[piratesorka.livejournal.com]

I sending powerful positive thoughts to Obama that he asks Edwards to be his Veep. Please! It would do the party good.

UNfortunately, my mind control abilities just suck little green monkey dicks.

[zillah975]

*hugs you lots* I've decided to start assuming that unless it's coming from the Obama campaign, any sexist anti-Hillary shit-stirring I run across is actually by McCain supporters trying to exploit this division. I think this will be helpful to me.

[cruel-illusion.livejournal.com]

I've resorted to the really mature method of closing my eyes, covering my ears, and going 'la la la la la' until the political wankery goes away. At this point though, I'm feeling pretty disillusioned, but I've managed to filter out a lot of it so far.

[stefestella.livejournal.com]

True... and though I think an Obama-Edwards is my preferred Democratic ticket for standing against McCain (who I really do NOT want to see win), I think an Obama-Clinton ticket is a better strategy now and has a strong chance to win in the important swing states.

[stefestella.livejournal.com]

What set me off was not people celebrating that their preferred candidate effectively secured the nomination; it was people who felt the need to denigrate and belittle not just Clinton, but Clinton supporters as well, as a part of the celebrating.

Yes, that's just completely uncalled-for behavior. :-(

I wonder if it is because the media has jabbed at Clinton for actually fighting for what she believes in (or at least making the power struggle look like that's why she's fighting). As a Libertarian, who is always going to be fighting from behind politically, I don't think anyone should feel forced to give up the fight or belittled for standing up for herself.