Okay, let's do this quickly and get it over with.
You guys don't get it. SOME of you do, but so many don't.
So, let me tell me tell you what you need to do, and then you can tell me to go to hell if you want.
If you believe in Barack, and REALLY believe that he is who he says he is, then this community needs to begin to heal.
Let me explain:
I came here because of Barack. In spite of my terrible habit of watching Fox News and listening to Bill O'Reilly (who told me you were Nazis), I came here anyway. I came, not because you invited me...
but because Barack did.
I listened to him and heard a message of hope.
I heard a message that was bigger than me and you, black or white, Republican or Democrat. He told me that we were coming together. He told me that our dreams were the same... our goals were similar. That the divide between red and blue was not as large as anyone thinks. He reminded me that the desire to see everyone work and own a home was not unique to any one party. The idea that we could agree that our environment needed to be cleaner without demonizing and blaming corporations for Global Warming resonated with me.
I came here because of HIM. I would have never come here because of Hillary.
Because clinched fists do not invite understanding or inclusion. Clinched fists do not bring about change. Clinched fists do not communicate a desire to respect and understand a different point of view.
How many clinched fists are in this community?
How many clinched fists are in our society?
I am so angry right now at the Conservative Talking Heads, and media outlets and writers who are still talking about Reverand Wright.
They don't get it.
You see, what they are saying is essentially this: "Okay, he has denounced the Reverend's words...BUT...Why was he there? Why did take his kids there? Why did he expose his family to "hate-mongering?"
The essential question is the same one for you, right here at DKos.
That is "why would you embrace and befriend someone you do not agree with? Why would you spend time and energy and invest your resources towards someone that believes differently than you? Someone whose views you may even despise?"
I get Barack. He is big enough to embrace someone who he believes is essentially good but doesn't always agree with, vs. someone who is essentially bad but believes the same things. (Hillary anyone?)
That is the hurdle all of you will have to leap over in your journey with Barack. I don't see it being a gentle journey.
What do you do with guys like Joe Lieberman? Villify and demonize him, or simply disagree while embracing him.
What do I do with Lincoln Chafee?
What about Bill Richardson? Well, I guess he's now a "bad" man in the Hillary camp (and to Carville) when all he did is try to make a decision about what is best for the country. (See how quick they write people off?)
What about George Bush? Does he go home and plot to hurt people, or do you simply disagree? Why the hate?
What about all of us Republicans who are watching and listening even now, and aren't sure if we are voting for the Democratic Party that Barack represents, or the "let's fight, move-over-or-go-to-hell, take-back-the White House" constituency that Hillary represents?
What if I want the big changes you do as well? Isn't that good?
I didn't agree with the way Barack handled the situation with his Pastor because I support Barack and want him to win, and just want to put it "under the rug."
I agreed with him because he did the right and bigger thing. He loved his Pastor, and respected him, while disagreeing with him. He refused to let go...because community IS more important than direction sometimes. You simply can't move forward unless you can BRING people with you. You can't bring people with you until they know that you LOVE them.
So, what about me?
I'm a Republican. What will you do with me?