GaYellowDawg
GaYellowDawg's JournalKamala Harris supporter here, brief comments on Klobuchar and Warren.
I liked Klobuchar and Warren. Liked what they said, and how they said it. If Klobuchar or Warren wins, I'll support her unreservedly. Harris is still my #1, but it's great that we have multiple candidates who would make strong nominees.
You know why?
Any Democratic nominee >> Trump. Any Democratic nominee is better than Trump. You could empty my Democratic colon and the pile would be better than Trump. I like Harris, but whomever wins is going to have me firmly on her or his side. I hope that all Democrats really, really internalize the idea that any vote other than for the Democratic nominee, or not voting, is as good as a vote for Donald Trump. If your candidate beats out Harris, she or he will have my unqualified support. So go Klobuchar, go Warren, go Booker. I want everyone looking as good as possible, and for our nominee to clearly be the best of a group of strong competitors.
Reframing wealth: I don't know WHY Democrats don't say this
Republican term: "Class warfare"
Democratic response: It's been going on for almost 40 years: the rich warring on the middle class and poor. It is time someone fought back for the middle class and the poor!
Republican term: "Wealth redistribution"
Democratic response: It's been going on for almost 40 years, from the middle class to the rich. We are not for wealth redistribution. We are for wealth restoration, from the rich back to the middle class.
Republican term: "Death tax"
Democratic response: That's ridiculous. No one gets taxed for dying. Heirs get taxed for unearned income. If lottery winners have to pay high taxes, why shouldn't people who inherit millions?
And I don't know who said this - I think maybe Molly Ivins - but someone said something to the effect of "Trickle down economics has been going on for 40 years and I haven't even gotten damp."
I can't support Northam.
I’m sure there are far worse racists in the Republican Party. That is not a rationale, in my opinion, for supporting Northam. Yes, GOP politicians get away with worse. That’s them. Not us. We have to hold to standards that they don’t. There’s nothing fair about having to hold to a higher standard, but I think it’s the right thing to do.
I’ve had to admit to racism. It’s not pleasant, but it’s honest. I have used racial slurs and told racist jokes earlier in my life. The weird thing is that I would have denied I was racist. I don’t know how the hell I managed that disconnect, but I did. When I was in my mid-20’s, my perspective changed in a big way because, instead of being in an environment that was 95-100% white, I lived in an area with a much higher population of African-Americans than ever before. I had a lot of conversations, made some good friends, and listened. And what I learned is that I had a terribly narrow perspective, and that I’d been racist in a big way.
Later, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend graduate school. My best friends there were international students, not a single one of whom was white. They gave me added perspective, and it was there that I learned from them and a couple of very patient professors that I needed more work. The main thing being that I should not only do my best to not be racist, but to call out and be very clear that I would not tolerate racism when around a group that is all white. To not be afraid whether I would be disliked for it. Anything short of that would be a betrayal of people I professed to be friends with.
I have evolved. I fully admit to racist attitudes and words in my past. I really wish I could change that. But I have not been that person for some time, and I make every effort to not be that person now. I would want the chance to demonstrate who I am now. And to be open to any further education I might need to be aware of shortcomings I can’t see in myself.
That’s me. I wish that Northam had said something like that the instant he ran for public office. I could support that, but I can’t support what I saw today.
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