I was at work today when this whole assassination thing started to boil over. I watched helplessly as the firestorm increased to epic proportions; unable to respond from work, and dealing with a fussy baby upon my arrival home. But I've got just one thing to say, to all of you-
Lock. It. Up.
This is a term that my leatherneck friends might be familiar with; it's a Navy term for getting yourself in gear and back on track. And I think it goes for all of us tonight.
I can understand how you feel, I'm right there with you. I remember very vividly how it was gleefully regaled to me by some of the heavyweight Clinton diehards around here that they were calling voters in PA and telling them all about what a horrible and out of touch elitist Obama was for thinking everyone was bitter, with no acknowledgment of the context.
And I had stood up to people mischaracterizing things about Senator Clinton prior to this, which made it hurt all the more. Just the weekend before, I was down in Greensboro, North Carolina, canvassing for Senator Obama, when I ran across a gentleman who indicated one of the reasons he didn't approve of Senator Clinton was her pledge to throw everyone in jail who didn't get health insurance.
This, of course, was patently false, and I corrected him. He was a little put off by it, I think- why would I be giving Senator Clinton a leg up, so to speak? But it was the truth, I knew what Senator Clinton intended, and so I did the right thing.
Then, I encountered that... and I was furious. Livid. And I swore I would never correct a mischaracterization about Senator Clinton again, and perhaps would even encourage them! Turnabout is fair play, right?
But I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself down to that level, and so I never did; and ended up correcting the same myth on at least one more occasion.
So I know how you feel right now. To the Clinton diehards, the expression "As ye sew, so shall ye reap" has never been more accurate. But there's lots of regular Clinton supporters out there, the vast majority of them who support her without delving into Hillaryis44-esqueness, and they knew it was stupid. But I watched some of them defend Clinton, the diehards defending her, and the statement because of the response they were getting.
So, as I said- lock it up. We're better than that- we don't need to delve into the "eye for an eye" ritual. Senator Clinton is a politician, she's been one for some time; the Clintons are known masters of invective and political language and maneuvering, and so I understand why some of you think it was a purposeful or tactical statement, or that she may actually privately wish for such an event to occur. But this ain't the case, here- it was an idiotic statement, she should've known better, yes, because she is a politician, and she's played the "gotcha" games more than once to her benefit. But that's all it is.
Again, I'm not advocating unilateral disarmament for when they spread falsities, or try to push another gaffe as The Reason Obama Is Unelectable, or spread more trollbait- I expect you to be defending our candidate with honor, courage, respect, logic, and reason. And I'll be right there beside you, don't ever doubt it. But this ain't the fight we need to be fighting.
Lock it up. We need to focus our energy elsewhere. Alright?
Peace.
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