Will Hillaronians and Obamatrinitrons Ever Unite?

[SaveAmerica]

Do you think passions are running high only at Democratic Underground?

I say no. I've seen this same kind of high emotion and knee jerk reactions in my real life. These people might have accounts here on Democratic Underground, but for the most part I don't think so. The common denominator between DU and those I've met is a shared passion for this country and the raging desire to hire someone who will fix all that George Bush has ruined. Both sets of people are actively involved in making a difference in the country and know more about what's going on in politics than the average guy. I believe the biggest difference is a computer monitor that some of us online use as a permission slip to say the first thing that flies off of our fingertips.

The Hillary supporters in my life fit the demographic we've all heard; older white women. Do you think that some of the things Hillary's DUers say are not really how they feel, that they're some kind of operative sent here to stir up stuff? I've heard almost all of it said by those of my real life Hillary supporters (RLHS). Their passions and reasoning about her are strong. I believe there's also a real fear of an Obama presidency that I'm trying to understand. I am related to one of them and she said some pretty horrible stuff to me (perhaps being related is similar to posting behind your monitor?). I was devastated, not only on a personal level, but also to see someone so smart and usually thoughtful fly off the handle in a very frightening way. I believe the base of her comments was a result of that fear.

The Obama supporters in my life fit the demographic we've all heard; younger people and African Americans. There's another subset, in the people I know, made of middle-aged progressives (both men and women). The young Obama supporters are, for the most part, smart alecs. They make wiseacre remarks about what they see happening in Hillary's campaign, some of it just like things that sound like a plant would say here at DU. They are very passionate about getting Obama to Washington.

Here's where the difference between DU and real life happen; these two Real Life groups don't air their differences when they're together. I've been concerned about us uniting when this primary is over but watching my real life Democrats get together gives me much hope. The comments that have been made to me by RLHS were private. But when these women get together with the entire group I've witnessed a true attempt to work for the good of the Democratic Party, I've even seen one of the anger-filled women reach out to an Obama supporter and tell her that in the end we are all Democrats and we will stand up for each other. The Obama supporter was speaking of her concerns for superdelegates turning the candidacy over to Hillary. The smart alecky Obama guys? They never made any of their comments in front of the Hillary Supporters. These guys have also buckled down to work within our local party to make a difference, alongside the Hillary Supporters.

Remember my relative? She came back to me about an hour after she made her comments and extended an olive branch and a promise to be more open-minded in our discussions in the future.

I think that it will serve us well, here at Democratic Underground, if we would remember that on the other side of that post is another Democrat. They might have views that, for this moment, are different from us. In the end we will all still be Democratic Americans with the goal of replacing George W. Bush with someone who is able to right as many of his wrongs as possible. I do have hope that we will be united again when this primary is over.

[sellitman]

1. The hate for Everything Kerry from the Deaniacs was the same.

I know.

I was one.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. And we voted for Kerry in near unanimity.

:shrug:

[sellitman]

10. Dems will hold their nose again if they have to.

We have seen what the other side can do.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. Damn straight.

[UALRBSofL]

2. Hell no were gonna fight until a nominee is decided

Don't expect us to come together until after august, then, and only then will we come together. For me, I'll vote for him but don't expect me to donate or work for him like I'm doing for Hillary. It will be bad enough I'd have to vote for the lesser of two evils between Obama and McCain.

[Uben]

3. It's the "activist wannabes".....

..that cause most of the trouble here on DU. They think by posting all day on an internet site they are somehow helping the cause of their candidate. It's laughable, but true. I truly believe I have never swayed a vote here, and I have been on DU since they started in 2001. Those of us who came here in 2001 did not do it to sway votes, we came here to co-miserate. We came to have a place where like minds could share ideas, feelings, and just cuss the republican bastards who stole the election.

I believe those folks will vote democratic no matter who is nominated. I know I will. Some folks here are true activists in that they get out there and organize, distribute, and recruit. They attend rallies, protests, and write congress.

I'm not an activist, I'm just a democrat. I vote for democrats, I support democrats, I cuss republicans. I wish some of you would save your vigor and vitriol for the GE. You are preachin to the choir here.

[SaveAmerica]

4. 'never swayed a vote here'

I finally realized that one day and started working for my candidate more. It has done wonders for my ulcer!

[melody]

5. Yeah, in the words of Jon Stewart -- those activists, they're just the ones that care the most!

I mean, what do we care about them?

We owe every freedom we have to ACTIVISTS. Whether it's done online, on the phone or by foot, there's not a single right we have that wasn't fought for by ACTIVISTS.

[Captain Hilts]

6. The vast majority of Dems are content to vote for either. DU is not representative. nt

[Tim4319]

7. Almost like the Bloods and the Crips!

[Tesha]

8. No. Many, many of these folks can not be united. (NT)