You better be careful...

[liberalcommontater]

I recently posted a thread about supporting them democratic nominee. In 136 responses I only got about a half dozen to agree with me that whichever candidate gets the nominee, they would agree to vote for him or her.

I worry because alienated Clinton supporters need to come over once the primaries are over. I am one of them. If you don't think you need us then we will all lose in the fall when McCain is elected.

Read this and weap...http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/?p=913

And then get your act together. Be gracious winners. Encourage your candidate to become our candidate. If he can't or won't do this, then he does not deserve to be the nominee no matter how many delegates he has.

[bunnies]

1. Vote for McCain then.

To hell with womens rights. Yay for war. Good for you.

[liberalcommontater]

2. I don't want to vote for McCain...

I want to vote for the democratic nominee. Do you want to make that harder for me to do? Why would you do that?

[JuniperLea]

4. I think they do this because it's just another high school football game for them

Yay team. They are so shallow they can't understand their own folly.

History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man...

[walldude]

51. OMG a BOC reference...

:yourock:

[JuniperLea]

60. Dude... I'll slip a rock reference in wherever I possibly can!

You rock for noticing!

How's your wife, btw? Been thinking about her.

Check out Eric Bloom of BOC...

[walldude]

74. She's doing well... I think.

She tries not to burden me with heavy problems while I'm on the road, but I can usually tell if she's having a bad week. So far she sounds good. I've got shows tonight and tomorrow then I'm home for a week, thank god...

[JuniperLea]

76. I'm sure she can't help but do better with you there.

Rock on, Dude.

[reflection]

149. It's always a good time for a BOC reference!

I can't count the number of times I've seen them. Lately at casinos, though. I've still got a 'Tyranny and Mutation' shirt somewhere...

[IsItJustMe]

112. I think you got it dead on. To these dip shits, it's a damn game, whereas we have fucking American

troops dying ever day in Iraq and our economy is going to hell. Fuck these idiots.

[liberalcommontater]

118. It's all about winning in the fall

ending the Republican misrule and having the balls to pursue a truly Democrat agenda.

I think Edwards was the ticket. Hillary could do it too. I hope Obama can.

[Shae]

134. I find this a little ironic . . .

The OP is complaining that Obama supporters tend to alienate Clinton supporters and they are not gracious to them.
You agree and tell the OP that it's because Obama supporters are shallow.

:banghead:

[liberalcommontater]

137. Good morning...

My point was that the primaries are drawing to a close and without any major changes in the current course it looks like Obama will be the nominee. (darn) Given that, we as democrats cannot afford to alienate anyone. We will need every vote. I have several serious education policy disagreements with Obama. I am a teacher. Yet, I will vote for Obama if/when he is our candidate in November.

I hope every democrat votes for him and none stay home.

Dems who supported Edwards (like me) and then supported Clinton (like me) and want a democratic president probably will not vote for McCain under any circumstances. But, how many individuals will it take to feel that their vote does not matter (it's only one vote) and Obama and his supporters don't want my vote anyway...how many of these will it take to make the election close...an election that should be a landslide? If it is close it can be stolen.

We need everyone.

[dcindian]

10. How does some internet poster make it harder on you?

Egads thats pretty twisted logic.

[bunnies]

11. Give me a break.

You're either a Democrat or you're not. You want hand-holding? ass-kissing? You want us to BEG you to vote you're own interests?

Obama will bring in way more voters than those who are threatening to abandon the party. You dont want to vote for him? Dont. Its that simple. These threats are getting really old.

[liberalcommontater]

44. How do you take this as a threat?

No threat intended, just concern that the party may be splintered enough to lose.

[bunnies]

65. "you better be careful"

thats is a threat. As such, I take it as a threat.

[liberalcommontater]

69. Poor choice of words on my part...I guess

Obama is going to be in the drivers seat (looks like) so he will be driving the bus. If he or his supporters do things to alienate "old democrats" I don't see how he can win.

It was meant more in the vein of, "you are taking the car out on your own, be careful."

[bunnies]

91. Democrats will vote for the Democrat.

If they dont, they dont belong in the party. They're either going to have to grow up and act like adults OR they can take the blame for McCain. Its that simple.

[JuniperLea]

101. What if they say it's because supporters in another candidates camp drove them off?

I don't agree with any of these statements, but we are all responsible for our own actions... the candidates have no control over us... we, as adults, are fully responsible, by law, for our own actions. We cannot blame our actions on another without looking really foolish.

Foolish or not, there are going to be a lot of people staying home, thinking they are giving a great big FUCK YOU to the supporters of the other candidate, not realizing they are shooting themselves, and the rest of us, in the foot.

We need every single Dem vote we can gather in order to make the Dem victory so broad that the GOP can't steal another election.

We are all responsible for running them off if we don't knock the crap off now, and start fighting the real enemy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5907942&mesg_id=5907942

[dano81818]

99. no i think he's just asking obama supports not to be q

dicks about it...

that "go fuck yourselves hillary supporters" attitude is what causes the problem.

likely, no one here will vote for mccain in nov, but there are tons of voters in the middle that pay attention to this stuff.

what's the problem, you've already got it pretty much wrapped, so why are you still so bitter?

[Terran]

94. That is ridiculous

Why do so many of you HRC people insist that your possible/probable refusal to vote for Obama is the fault of a few dozen posters on an internet forum. Do you actually not see how illogical that is?

[PoliticalAmazon]

82. Sufferin' Jesus! That's something HILLARY would say!...

How did it feel to you when Hillary told us Obama supporters, "Fine, your votes aren't important, anyway" or "...your demographic isn't important anyway"... or "your STATE isn't important anyway"?

I felt insulted. It turned me even stronger against Hillary.

Do you think it is helping Obama's chances in November by further alienating Hillary supporters? Obama has quite a job in front of him, winning the Hillary supporters over. Don't make it harder for him by pulling a "Hillary" on the Hillary supporters.

[DJ13]

3. Its up to Hillary to support Obama & bring her supporters over

Really, its up to her to stop driving the wedge between us.

[liberalcommontater]

5. I hope she does...

I would encourage her to do so after the primaries are over and Michigan and Florida are settled. Unless she is the nominee, in which case I would encourage Obama to bring his over.

[JuniperLea]

8. Oh bull fucking shit

We all control ourselves... the adults among us do at any rate.

Take responsibility for your own damn actions!

[liberalcommontater]

15. What are you talking about?

[JuniperLea]

18. I'm responding to the post above yours... eom

[DJ13]

16. You have been a loyal supporter of Hillary since the start, right?

So if she enthusiastically said she wants her supporters to support Obama as our nominee you suddenly wont listen to her?

Some supporter YOU are.

[JuniperLea]

22. No, I have not. And I have a lot of people here who would

Confirm that.

And this has nothing to do with my post. We are all responsible for our own actions, regardless of our candidate of choice. To say that one candidate or the other is responsible for making their supporters do something or stop doing something is just asinine.

[liberalcommontater]

23. I originally supported Edwards

I will support Clinton until she quits the race. I won't come over to Obama on her say so, but mine.

I think some folks are misreading what I am saying. If Obama or his supporters alienate enough democrats to make the race competitive then McCain will win. Not because so many will vote for McCain (some will) but because a few, some, many will stay home. This would be a tragedy for Obama, his supporters and the country.

I want a dem to win in November. Edwards, Clinton, Obama, in that order.

[JuniperLea]

52. You are exactly right

We need to have enough votes to make stealing ANOTHER election impossible! The only way to insure that happens is for ALL Democrats to get out and vote. There may very well be many who feel so fucking beat up they don't have the will or the strength to get out and vote for someone who has caused them nothing but grief by virtue of having a bunch of lame ass supporters who will not grow up and treat other adults with respect.

GAWD! This is just going on for far too long. Not HRC's fault; if her staying in was against any rule, she would have been tossed out by now. We are all responsible for our own actions... snark and bashing of fellow DUers is our individual action, not that of a candidate.

[liberalcommontater]

55. Amen, you put it much better than I did, thanks.

[JuniperLea]

73. It's time to focus on the REAL enemy, and let the imagined go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5902706&mesg_id=5902706

[Egnever]

111. Not to offend cause for the most part I agree but

I think you are overstating a bit the effect of an internet message board. People in person are much more cordial.

Only the true nuts hang out here. The sheeple for the most part have no clue about any of this.

[JuniperLea]

121. I used to subscribe to that POV

But I've changed my mind... there is so much of this crap on blogs, in the media... every person here touches family and friends... bad vibes grow exponentially, to put it simply.

I work in a think tank, for example, and I've heard some real knock down drag outs that sounded a lot like DU.

When I was a kid, my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were all very politically active... and they fought like cats and dogs... ahhh... the Goldwater days... haha!

I think we get riled up here and it spills over. I've actually told my b/f, who also posts here, that I will NOT give him a link... we were having a "discussion" and I felt like I was being attacked on DU! LOL! It does spill over. No question.

[Egnever]

123. I agree it does spill over

I am not in any way trying to promote the rancor. I think the hyperbole on the effects of it are a little over blown in this thread is all.

[Arkansas Granny]

67. I originally supported Edwards and switched my support to Clinton after

he dropped out. When it came down to Clinton or Obama I studied their position on the issues, listened to what they had to say and decided that Hillary would be the candidate I supported. My support remains with her until she decides to stop her campaign or until Obama officially gets the nomination. I won't give up before she does.

The Democratic candidate will get my support and my vote in the GE. I won't stay home and I won't vote for McCain.

[JuniperLea]

75. You are a wise woman

I never joined in another camp after Edwards dropped out. I decided right then and there that I would vote for whomever got the Democratic nomination. I'm tired of the incessant fighting here... it's not doing the Dem cause any good at all.

I think it's time to start fighting the REAL enemy:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5902706&mesg_id=5902706

[liberalcommontater]

78. Yes, the real enemy....

Thanks, (I like women, but I am not one. :)

[JuniperLea]

100. I think you are reading DU wrong...

This is twice today you thought I was responding to you! I was responding to Arkansas Granny... you have to look at the posts in the threaded view, the area above the actual posts. I'm not sure how else to explain it.

[liberalcommontater]

113. Sorry, thanks. I get it now.

[JuniperLea]

116. No prob, Dude!

Welcome to DU! Bring your flack jacket?

Heh!

[Mags]

27. Oh, no, It is up to the uniter, BO to sell himself to the Hillary's supporters.

Let him bring on the old party players to help with the change he preaches, you know like, Kennedy, Sharpton, Jackson, Kerry, Jackson, losers everyone of them.

[PoliticalAmazon]

89. If Hillary wasn't who she is, she would willingly support Obama and encourage her supporters...

to do the same.

That's not Hillary. She is divisive. She's not going to change her stripes overnight.

So, I agree, unfortuantely for the party, our chances in November, AND our country, the job of winning over Hillary supporters falls solely and squarey on Obama's shoulders.

I feel confident he can persuade the Hillary supporters to at least consider voting for him, and hopefully to vote for him.

Time will tell. I think it's wrong to try to force Hillary supporters to endorse someone else, and I especially think it's wrong for posters to threten them with expulsion from DU if they do't immediately pull a 180 and support Obama.

Y'all have to make your own choices, and I have every confidence that y'all will vote for the person you believe will help us get out of this hole that 8 years of Bush/Rove have put us.

[rodeodance]

140. She has publicly said she would WORK to get O. elected -when and if

the time comes.


Stop with the lies you are posting about Hillary.

[PoliticalAmazon]

85. Hlllary isn't going to support Obama OR bring her voters over...

The job of bringing over to OBama the Hillary supporters falls solely and solidly on Obama's shoulders. I am confident he is capableof winning over the Hillary voters, but it sure doen't help if Obama supporters pull a "Hillary" and tell them they aren't needed, or if Obama supporters try to force them into endorsing Obama by telling them if they don't they have to leave DU.

GIve hem some time, let them vent and react and be disappointed, and it will be much easier for OBama to unite the party for November.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. I can't understand how any liberal would want McCain to win

even if their favorite did not win the primary battle.

After eight years of the miserable, wretched policies of the Bush administration it is more important than ever for Democrats to be in charge again.

I will vote for the Democratic nominee, no matter who ultimately wins the primaries.
.

[babylonsister]

7. If you feel compelled to vote for McCain, despite all we know about him,

I'd say you need to get a grip. You aren't that invested in the Dem party to begin with.
This is a discussion board; emotions are running high because of the length of these primaries, but sane people are trying to discuss and inform, and yes, to opine upon occasion;). Give it a try! And thicken up your skin; first rule of thumb at DU. If someone makes your blood boil, 'ignore' is your friend.

[last1standing]

9. I agree with you, but remember it is a two way street.

Most Clinton supporters are being very decent and most Obama supporters are being very gracious. It is the few who can't handle the fact that their candidate has lost (or won) who are creating the strife.

It's incumbent on all of us to remember that when suggesting that a few supporters on either side represent us all.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. PSA for those who need the reminder

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5894592

[tridim]

13. We all want you to vote for the Democratic nominee

But I'm not going to stop criticizing Hillary and her supporters while they continue to slash and burn the Democratic party. This isn't about the nomination any more (because it is over), it's about stopping Hillary before she does any more major damage to my party.

[newmajority]

14. Ah, yes... the insane rantings of yet another Hillbot hate site

:puke:

[liberalcommontater]

17. I came across this and it concerned me because

while I support Hillary, I support the democratic party more. I have read a lot of alienating things here and saw the Donna Brazille interview. The coming together needs to start somewhere. We need to win in November.

[newmajority]

50. There are Clinton supporters and there are Hillbots

Clinton supporters are the rational people who realize that its over for Hillary at this point. And many of them are sad about that, and that is completely understandable. But they'll come around to reality. Many of them already have.

The delusional Hillbots, like the fools on that blog, the Hillary hate sites, and the obvious suspects here, these people are beyond reasoning. Some of them are literally posting from mental hospitals, and the rest of them should be.

[MoonRiver]

The DU bots don't care.

Pointless to waste your fingers typing any appeals to reason.

[otohara]

58. What Is A DU bot?

seriously - I don't understand the bot part

[BlooInBloo]

19. It's not about what we owe you. It's about what you owe your kids, this country, etc.

[Mz Pip]

20. Please don't make any decisions

about who you chose to support in the fall based on the vitriol on a message board. If I spent any time at all over at hillaryclintonforum or Hillaryis44 I'd probably be really turned off. And I have alerted on a couple of nasty anti-Hillary posts because I thought they were way over the top.

THere's enough venom to go around but basing support for a particular candidate on anonymous message boards posts from people you don't know and will probably never meet isn't the best way to go about making a decision.

And IMHO opinion Obama has been talking about coming together and uniting the party. Hopefully, when we have a nominee that will happen. People will need a bit of time to cool off but I do believe that John McCain does not provide a viable alternate to either Hillary or Obama.

Not even close.

[liberalcommontater]

24. I agree and would never do that, but

it adds to the atmosphere that creates articles like the one I linked to. We need to see less of that, not more!

Thanks for responding thoughtfully.

[TexasObserver]

21. So, your vote is dependent not upon your sound assessment of candidates, but ass kissing?

Ass kissing by strangers on a public internet message board?

Sorry, dude, but I don't kiss anyone's ass trying to change their vote. If you're dumb enough to vote for John McCain, then that's who you are.

[liberalcommontater]

35. No, I am not talking about my vote...

Let's put it this way. If there are more articles like the one I linked to and not less, the party will be in trouble. If women shift towards McCain or vote in fewer numbers, the party will be in trouble. If Obama is effectively characterized as a misogynist and homophobe, then the party is in trouble.

Another view, let's say that people come to believe that Obama does not want their vote. That he wants their vote but is not interested in their issues. That Obama raised the race issue, that his inexperience is an issue that they come to care about, the party will be in trouble.

I don't want the party to be in trouble. I want the democratic nominee to be elected. Maybe it was too early to say "unity?"

If Hillary got the nomination, I would not kiss your ass either. I would talk to you like I respected your judgement that Obama was the candidate you thought best and invite you to join with me in supporting Hillary.

What's wrong with the reverse?

[Erin Elizabeth]

86. If you really want the party to not be in trouble,

you need to be talking to Clinton.

[LWolf]

103. A sound assessment of candidates rejects

Obama and Clinton both. And, of course, McCain.

Just saying.

[redqueen]

25. It's fucking hilarious that you're saying this while Bill is out there insulting Obama's supporters.

[JuniperLea]

102. Two wrongs don't make a right

Bill is just as guilty as the potty mouth fellow Dem bashers here, imho.

[sniffa]

26. If they don't come on board, that's their choice

If they vote for McCain, that's also their choice.

We're all adults here, and even though some don't act like it, you have to choose your own path. Whatever you choose, good luck with that. :hi:

[dana_b]

28. so sick of threats...

if you really feel that John "let's bomb Iran and take away a woman's right to choose" McCain is for you, then do it! If you feel the urge not to vote, we can't force you. Obama has been civil, gracious and complimentary towards Clinton. If you can't see it, then there's nothing we can do. bye.

[Henry Jennings]

32. But Hillary wants to bomb Iran, too.

Come on.

Happily, she's going to lose but is she gonna take Obama with her all in the name of 2012?

[dana_b]

37. I understand she said that.

it was silly and pandering and if she meant it, she doesn't deserve the nomination.

[helderheid]

29. Don't vote for McCain

:hug:

[liberalcommontater]

38. Don't worry, I plan

to vote for Clinton, Obama or not at all. That means I will vote for Obama.

[helderheid]

45. Good to hear. I'm no Hillary fan but she as sure as hell has my vote if she gets the nom.

:hi:

[CakeGrrl]

30. Tell it to Donna Brazile

Oh yeah...she's already received about 10 extortion e-mails on this very topic.

You may not feel Obama "deserves" to be the nominee, but he isn't going to make the Supreme Court more conservative, putting Roe v. Wade in peril.

Obama isn't going to keep us in Iraq indefinitely. Feel a draft coming on if we stay and try to wage war with Iran?

Obama isn't going to keep driving the economy in the shitter by allowing the already obscenely rich to reap ridiculous tax breaks.

But go ahead and teach that undeserving (uppity?) Obama a lesson. That'll learn him!

But wait...he already has healthcare and a decent income and isn't fighting in Iraq. He's just trying to make that happen for others.

Read that and...WEEP.

:eyes:

[liberalcommontater]

40. I agree and that is why I will vote for Obama when he is the nominee.

[NashVegas]

41. Hahaha! Roe v Wade! Roe v Wade! Row v Wade!

It's hysterically pathetic to imagine bringing up a reminder of Roe v Wade is going to scare Clinton supporters into kissing the pinky ring of a candidate who voted "Present" - how many times? - everytime he got the chance to affirm his support for abortion rights in Illinois.

[CakeGrrl]

105. Laugh it up, but know that McCain WILL replace the more liberal SC justices

With more Scalia/Alito/Roberts types.

[bluetrain]

120. Exactly!

[HCE SuiGeneris]

31. "Encourage your candidate to become our candidate."

How would you like me to entreaty him, and what shall I ask him to do? I eagerly await your answer so that we can rectify this situation.

[dana_b]

33. that line got me too. pretty silly. n/t

[kenny blankenship]

93. I think I know how we can do this!

It will take time & patience, it will be expensive, and it will often be painful BUT-
if we concentrate on the basics and work in a series of incremental alterations, we can make Obama acceptable to the Hillaryjugend.

First of all we have to commit to change and begin at once:

1

"Everything we know is wrong." They only tell us this because they want to help us win. And since they lost they must have vital insights into winning. Obama is too "out there", they tell us, for hardworking Dems to support. And, so consequently, Mr. Café Au Lait is going to have to swallow a bucket of bleach...

By the time of the last primary in early June, Obama must have completed his nose thinning surgeries and his irises will have had time to adapt, hopefully, to their cobalt blue dye injections...

2

Finally, no later than 2 weeks prior to the Convention in August Obama must have had all of his hair grafts implanted

3

I have modeled his hair implants on not-just-for-television actor, Topher Grace. He has quintessential White Guy Hair and has already agreed to donate his scalp for our cause.

If any one of these steps is incomplete by the time our nominee is makes his appearance in Denver, either because it was omitted or because Obama's body is rejecting a graft or reacting badly to a de-pigmentation therapy, we can count on a destructive floor fight from recalcitrant Hillarites. These people are not easily fooled! The illusion must be PERFECT or there will be televised chaos from the Convention arena, and the Republicans will triumph in November.

It's a course of action fraught with risk, but it's our our only hope - a great white hope to save us from ourselves.

[liberalcommontater]

98. Pretty snarky, eh?

Goodnevil said it well,

"DU is a microcosm. Ever hear of a micro-trend? Look it up. We are not only a mirror for culture here on this board but we project culture right back out onto Google and every place else on the world wide web.

The average schmo...or even an intelligent schmo, Googles "elitist Obama" or "racist democrats" and they're going to get a big ole' buttfull of propaganda from this board.

Someone quotes some intelligent sounding figures and says "democrats don't need working class white votes" or "Obama's base is eggheads and blacks" and that schmo, who might be a nuclear physicist who's voting for the first time, is going to freak out and vote Republican."

Edwards, Clinton, Obama. He's my third choice, but my choice when nominated. I hope he is the choice of all democrats. My point is...we will need all the democrats to win.

[PoliticalAmazon]

34. I hope you didn't expect constructive responses when you tited your post with a threat. n/t

[liberalcommontater]

47. Thanks for pointing that out

I was not thinking in threating terms, but see how it could be read that way...I was saying that I read the article linked to and it raised my concern level after reading about Donna Brazille's comments. Obama will drive the discussion after Clinton is out and he needs to unify the party, not sent any kind of message that Clinton supporters or any portion of them are not needed. We need all democrats to support the nominee.

[PoliticalAmazon]

79. Ironically, the "Fine, vote for McCain then" is the same insulting tactic Hillary has used...

againt Obama supporters, basically telling us that we are unimportant, our states are unimportant, and our demographic is unimportant.

It stinks, no matter who does it. I hope Obasma supporters realize that they DON'T want to be like Hillary, and they certainly DON'T want to make Obama's job of winning the Hillary supporters over any harder.

I think Obama is taking a constructive approach by simply not responding to Hillary. We all need time to calm down after the acrimonious primary.

[Goodnevil]

36. This person is correct

People are pretty simplistic in how they perceive things. Even the most sophisticated of us can easily get our feelings hurt and throw a tantrum. The people you diss today will go and tell 10 people, and those people tell 10 people...well, you get the idea.

Leave the Clintonites alone. This bashing is counterproductive and will result in people leaving the party. Maybe our "little" board doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the grand scheme of things, but word spreads and so do ideas.

I don't know how many people frequent these boards, but elections can be won or lost on very narrow margins these days.

Something to think about.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

43. As a new member of this site, chastising others here doesn't really go over too well.

Blackmail and threats are even more counterproductive.

[Goodnevil]

46. IF this is the type of site

that berates you for your post count, then I'll be taking my business elsewhere. Somehow I don't think that the good people of the DU can't stand a little criticism.

I'm not blackmailing anyone. I'm voting for Obama come the Ragnarok.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

49. My comments were mostly directed at the reactions the OP is receiving.

Since you agreed and had a similar post count, I opted to toss in my 2 cents here. I too will vote for whomever is the nominee.

I offer a belated, Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Goodnevil]

83. I'm always on the side of common sense

and I'm quite sure Obama is too. It's why I'm voting for him. He has a passionate but balanced mind.

Bush has passion, McCain has passion, Clinton has passion. I don't think they are very reasonable people, though.

Thanks for the welcome. I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue, I guess. I've been attacked several times today on this board for fairly innocuous comments. I guess it comes with the territory...we live in pretty crazy times and message boards are usually not the place for civility.

I'm not complaining, mind you, I've been having a blast here - especially on primary night.

[liberalcommontater]

48. Yes, yes, yes! My point exactly.

And with election fraud a real possibility we need a decisive victory.

Thank you for getting it.

[LaurenG]

63. Wait one darn minute...please

Are you saying that grownups on a discussion board are going to influence their friends not to vote for someone because of a stranger who could be anyone, supporting (or pretending to support anyone) a candidate they're not fond of. They would go out and use a discussion board to prove to their 10 friends that said candidate is an ass because of the "supporter"?

In real life, at least my real life I wouldn't dream of mentioning the posters here as a reason not to vote for someone.

That is about on the same level as saying the voices in my head were telling me mean things about my candidate or my imaginary friends said mean things and they support the "other" candidate. OMG

Please tell me that you don't know anyone like that.

This board has taught me many things but I have never counted on the opinion's of it's posters to like or dislike Obama or Clinton. It's the poster that causes me to like or dislike the posters, their candidate can't help that their supporters are who they are. :shrug:

[liberalcommontater]

68. Again, I agree with what you are saying, but

whether it is a message board, a blog, conversation with friends, etc., ideas get transmitted and take on a life of their own.

Look at the idea in 2000 that there was no real difference between Dems and Reps. We know different, but the republicans were energized to vote. Much of the campaign was intended to depress the democratic vote. Yea, they are pretty much the same, why vote?

This is a lazy voter, but if you already don't think your vote matters, these little nudges may be all it takes. Enough of them and the election is close and then stolen.

Our school bond issue passed by 4 votes. I called the parents of all 30 of my students and told them when and where to vote. One said he would vote against it, 1 was new to the area and said he did not know the issues well enough to vote, 28 thanked me and said they had been unsure where and when to vote.

Did I swing the election, no. All the teachers put on a full court press. We all did it. That is my point, no ass kissing to get my vote, no begging, if Obama is the nominee, he has my vote. Every one of us needs to do what we can to make sure the democratic nominee is elected in the fall.

[lumberjack_jeff]

81. Thanks for this.

The reality is that it already has. Unfortunately it's a self-reinforcing cycle. Departures give validation to the ones who drove 'em away; "See? What did I tell you? They were closet Republicans all along! It only took a few well-placed "white trashes" and "ignorant white fucks" and they flee with their tails between their legs! But our work isn't done, I know there are more rightwing freeptroll Republifucks hanging around, see all the Hillary avatars?"

DU is a barometer. It is a microcosm.

There are two kinds of voters
a) those who voted for Kerry
b) those who voted for Bush.

If we're going to win, we need all of those who voted for Kerry and some of those who voted for Bush. There are no unsuitable Democrats.

[Goodnevil]

96. Agree 1000%

DU is a microcosm. Ever hear of a micro-trend? Look it up. We are not only a mirror for culture here on this board but we project culture right back out onto Google and every place else on the world wide web.

The average schmo...or even an intelligent schmo, Googles "elitist Obama" or "racist democrats" and they're going to get a big ole' buttfull of propaganda from this board.

Someone quotes some intelligent sounding figures and says "democrats don't need working class white votes" or "Obama's base is eggheads and blacks" and that schmo, who might be a nuclear physicist who's voting for the first time, is going to freak out and vote Republican.

These aren't closed forums, they are searchable. We should all remember what kind of message we are trying to send to the world about our board and our party.

I would call on the mods and admins to start really clamping down on this negative junk. I'm sure that they are hesitating for fear of people exiting the boards...who knows, I don't really know much about the person who runs this site.

Ultimately, we should be saving him/her the trouble of moderating this nonsense in-fighting for the good of the party and censoring ourselves.

I'm not berating anyone, I just really want a Democrat in office. My family needs this election. My wife doesn't have health care and my son is on state health care. She has diabetes and he has a colon issue. This is personal for me, not some kind of abstract rant from a new troll.

[Crunchy Frog]

39. Encourage your candidate to acknowledge defeat

and to stop trying to hurt the nominee in the general election.

BTW, I don't recall throwing these sorts of tantrums, or issuing these kinds of threats after Wes Clark bowed out in '04. I don't understand why Hillary supporters think they're so special.

[stillcool]

42. I am an individual who hasn't won...

a damn thing. You vote for whatever person and party represents your values..and I will do the same. Threatening me with your vote will not silence my voice...sorry.

[liberalcommontater]

53. I wasn't talking about my vote, but the votes of many that

are needed to win. There was no threat intended, but concern that people alienated from the party would stay home and if so a close election could be lost to fraud. We need a decisive victory whoever is the nominee. I preferred Edwards. Now Clinton. I will vote for Obama if he is the nominee. Never planned on voting for anyone other than a democrat. Sorry if it came off as a threat. Not intended that way.

[stillcool]

66. There is more than enough reason..

to be alienated from the "Democratic Party" at this moment in time. I'm jut tired of using threats, fear, and extortion as a means to win an election, or shut people up.

[liberalcommontater]

70. Read a couple of my other posts addressing this..

no threats, or extortion were intended. Fear? I have some fear that we will lose if the margin is not big enough.

[stillcool]

77. Fear about a stolen election.....

in my state, is not enough for me to change my vote, or change how I respond to insults. My state uses Optical Scan Voting Systems. While I have written my Secretary of State to enact a standard recount after every election, no action has been taken yet. I doubt many people here are concerned about their votes counting. That fear doesn't seem to come into play until after or on the day of the election. Threats to vote Republican suggest that they thoroughly believe their vote will be counted.

VerifiedVoting.org, our partners, and voters across the country have successfully persuaded the majority of state governments to pass legislation or establish regulations to require VVPR. 28 states, with more than half the U.S. population, now have such a requirement. We need your help to make sure the voters in the remaining 22 states are protected, through Federal or state legislation.

But we need to do even more to ensure that the results of elections are verifiable. Voter-verified paper records are most effective when used as the basis for mandatory manual audits in randomly selected precincts. Step 2 of our strategy is to encourage states to adopt laws or regulations requiring such mandatory manual audits of the VVPRs. As the map below shows, 13 states have such a requirement now. We need your help to pass laws in the remaining 37 states to require such audits.
http://www.verifiedvoting.org/index.php

http://www.verifiedvoting.org/verifier/

[liberalcommontater]

87. THIS THREAD IS NOT A THREAT.....

I worry for the dem nominee if our party is split, if part of the party is considered unnecessary for victory, if the election is close enough to steal - again.

The link to the article was not an endorsement of the message, but evidence of disillusionment with the democratic party. I am concerned about this as I think all dems should be.

I intend to vote for the dem nominee. I hoped it would be Edwards. If Hillary can get it, I will vote for her. I expect Obama to get it, so I will vote for him.

I WILL NOT VOTE FOR MCCAIN AND HOPE THAT NO DEMOCRAT DOES.

[Erin Elizabeth]

88. Your title line....

"You better be careful...."

Then everything in the post. It really felt like "you better kiss our asses or we won't vote for Obama."

[liberalcommontater]

95. My mind was entirely somewhere else...

I did not consider it even a little threatening. I was alarmed by the linked article and some other things I have read.

Whoever the nominee is needs our support and needs to win for the good of the country. Whoever that person is better be careful to unify the party, not fracture it.

Read the original post again, if you would, and tell me what you see now. Still threatening?

[onenote]

54. THere are assholes here that support Obama. But the majority of the Obama supporters here

are simply Democrats that believe he is the best candidate for them and for the party and for the country. Most would have supported HRC if she had gotten the nomination. And most welcome and encourage HRC's supporters to help preserve her legacy by ensuring that a Democrat ends up in the WH in 2009.

[walldude]

56. Exactly...

While I don't feel she would be best for me I'd vote for her over McCain in a heartbeat.


I'll K&R this for party unity..

[liberalcommontater]

59. Thanks, one has to be careful with ones phraseology.

[walldude]

62. To an extent.. yeah. Yesterday I got pissed off and did a

similar thread, but I held back nothing, told people if they didn't vote for the Dem they could go fuck themselves.. Ended up with over 200 recs..

[GoneOffShore]

57. You're a union member - hence I would hope you're a yellow dog Dem

That's what I am - well, except during the mayoral election of John Street, but he was a crook -

So, welcome to the party, come on in, sit down, have a beer. But why should I have to persuade you of anything?

You're a Democrat with a capital D or you're a Republican.

And please, spare me the "I'm an Independent. I don't vote for the party," shit. It's getting way too old, especially in light of the last eight years.

[liberalcommontater]

64. Yes I am a YDD

I must have phrased it wrong...you better watch out... because I was referring to the need for the party, all of Hillary's supporters, Edwards, Obama's, Gore's, Kerry's, Bill Clinton's, etc. to come out and vote for the nominee. We do not need to alienate anyone in the party. A close election can be stolen and we will need everyones vote. I did not link to that site as a threat, but as a heads up to some of the feeling that is out there. Democrat for life.

[L0oniX]

61. So what is it about Obama that makes Hillary supporters think that McPain is a better choice ???????

It can't be that they are man haters and since the M$M keeps saying that the 2 candidates are mostly the same it would seem that it is a matter of race. :shrug:

[liberalcommontater]

71. He's not.

That is not what I intended.

[matcom]

72. if you base your decision to vote on an internet message board...

you are not qualified to VOTE

[Erin Elizabeth]

84. Thanks for helping me put my finger on the

strangeness of it all. People are really going to make this decision based on how a handful of people on an internet message board talk to them?

[matcom]

90. actually no, they aren't

they are bellicose losers living in their mother's basement, thinking somehow they have 'clout' by threatening posters on a blog. They are losers of the worst kind with Cheeto-Stained fingers (and crotches) who think they look important and relevant to people who they will never meet, speak with or matter to.

and I'm giving 99% of them WAY too much credit.

[Erin Elizabeth]

80. That question has been moot for me for a while.

The whole "would you still vote for the Dem even if your choice wasn't the nominee?"

My choice is the nominee. So it doesn't matter. And it's an exercise in futility to answer a what if question that isn't going to happen anyway.

Why are Clinton supporters making such threats?

I have my act together, thanks. I am a gracious winner. I've never been one to gloat, it's just not my style.

How should I encourage my close personal friend Barack Obama to become your candidate? What is he doing/not doing now to not be your candidate?

[liberalcommontater]

97. No threat intended...

More like a concession that Obama will be the nominee and that he will be responsible for unifying the party and leading it to victory in November. You better watch out...was meant to refer the the responsiblilty we all have, but Obama and his supporters in particular to do what they can to limit the kind of alienation present in the linked article.

I found the article very disturbing in its implications for the fall if others feel this way too. I wanted Edwards to win. I want Clinton to win. I will vote for Obama because I want a democrat to win, not because I prefer him.

I was also talking about the bigger picture, not just my vote.

[LWolf]

104. Since you asked:

I know you weren't speaking to me, but I'll answer your question.

You asked : "How should I encourage my close personal friend Barack Obama to become your candidate? What is he doing/not doing now to not be your candidate?"

Here is what he needs to do to be my candidate:

Drop the merit pay, charter schools, and other suggestions of further privatization of public education.

Drop his poor health plan and support HR 676.

Drop his support for the bogus "War on Terror," and commit to bringing troops home now. All of them.

Support impeachment of Bush and Cheney.

Support the repeal of NCLB and the Patriot Acts.

That's a good start.

There are many more issues I'd like to see him do better on, but those are key.

[liberalcommontater]

117. Yeeeeessssss!

Obama is right about the petty issues that dominate the campaigns. Who will care about Rev. Wright if Obama gets these things wrong - merit pay, charter schools, his health care plan, NCLB, Patriot Act and Impeachment?

[LWolf]

125. Those are the things I've cared about all along,

which is why I have never been a supporter of Barack Obama.

[Erin Elizabeth]

133. Well, he's not a short white guy named Dennis Kucinich

who was MY first choice, btw!

[LWolf]

135. Well, he doesn't have to BE Dennis, lol.

He could exhibit some of his integrity, some of his courage and passion and effort for TRUE, SUBSTANTIVE change, and use some of his far superior ideas on issues.

I never expected DK to win. His own party doesn't respect him enough. I put my avatar up AFTER everyone else dropped out, as a reminder of why I vote, what I want to accomplish, and what kind of positions and actions on issues I expect from anyone who wants my vote.

[GetTheRightVote]

92. I have given it more thought and yes I will vote for the Dem who is the nominee

as Obama indicated but I am beginning to hope they run together on a united platform.

The old and the new working together for the betterment of the Republic, which we are, the experienced with the audacity of newly found hope. Whatever decision they may come to in meeting in the middle could only cover all concerned Americans, represent us all in reaching for our common goals, right.

I would think logically that we would want both of them so that all of our options are covered and there would be no chance of losing this election to the Republicans and John McCain.

[bluetrain]

106. Most of the Obama supporters here, at this point, are not Democrats, never were

and likely will never be. They are sock puppets here to disrupt. They have no interest in having a Democrat as President as can be evidenced by their actions.

[mcctatas]

109. Holy twilight zone...

"most of obama supporters" and "most of clinton supporters" ARE true Democrats, it is only the few, noisy troublsome rabid "hillbots and obamabots" that start most of the trouble (plus a few silly freeper trolls),to say otherwise is beyond assinine! :wtf:

[Raine]

122. Look in the mirror

:silly:

[DemVet]

138. Agreed.

[mcctatas]

107. Ony 6 out of 136?

I wonder how I missed that thread:eyes:

[Blarch]

108. too late.

Hillary said he wasn't qualified for the WH.

Unless she denounces herself ...the deed is done.

[kenny blankenship]

110. ahem- Rejects AND denounces

[Blarch]

114. my bad.

LOL.

[Cha]

115. Won't be told what

to do by clinton supporter..guess what?, I won't threatened with extortion.

hilary's out there lying her head..why don't you tell her to shape up?

[Raine]

119. YOU have to think for yourself

and decide what matters most to YOU. It's not up to me to try and convince you against your will.

[Seabiscuit]

124. If Obama wins the nomination, I won't be expecting to see any courtesy or apologies from

the Obama campers on DU.

I'd rather just see them abandon DU forever.

Of course, I don't expect that either. Maybe they'll stop their crowing, at least, after Obama loses to McCain.

And if he loses the nomination, they'll poison this place with their vitriol for years to come.

I am at the point now that I will never donate to any local politician who supported Obama in this race.

And I may just stay home next November. I'll probably wait until the day of the election to decide.

[liberalcommontater]

127. Do you think that you could support him if

you thought that his priorities could be tweaked by the political process? I would hope that Congress would affect what he was able to get through. Not just give him a blank check like the reps gave Bush.

I really want Hillary, but in no way want McCain.

[Seabiscuit]

130. I really don't know at this point. I'm just too disgusted with it all.

But changing his position on universal healthcare to match the one promoted by John & Elizabeth Edwards would go a long way.

[mmonk]

126. I'm doing my part.

I'm trying to ignore the inflammatory posts now. I've decided to shift away from the primary so as not to be angered and post with emotion as I did yesterday after the remarks about working class whites. Hopefully, people will see some positive things out of Obama they currently refuse to due to anger. If I can help someone make the transition should he become the nominee, I'll be glad to help. One thing for sure, we can't have anybody support sinking our courts and future any further by voting for McCain.

[liberalcommontater]

128. Amen.

[lojasmo]

129. Thanks for the threat. EOM

[liberalcommontater]

131. It's not a threat...

I am worried about the party if feelings remain high, if Clinton supporters find it difficult to come over, if the election is close because it might be stolen.

When Obama gets the nomination he will be responsible for winning. "You better be careful" refers to the very real possibility that he will not be able to navigate to victory. If you think Obama can win without Clinton supporters, we are really in trouble. I do not want the attitude in the linked article to become more common. I want our nominee to win. My first choice was Edwards, second is Clinton and third is Obama. Because Obama appears to be the one who will drive the bus, he "better be careful" with that responsibility.

[lojasmo]

132. Obama is very careful to be inclusive.

Unlike CLinton and her team, who apparently don't care about alienating large swaths of reliably democratic voters.

[joeprogressive]

136. Get on board or go crawl in a hole somewhere.

answer the question

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5914189

Threats aren't going to work. We don't want our candidate acting like yours. Obama won because he was better. If you need a reason to vote for him and you need people to be nice to you, you are irrational and can't be reasoned with.

[liberalcommontater]

143. Hi Joe!

"answer the question" sounds very demanding. That is the problem with online communication. It is so easy to read in motives that are not even there.

I am happy to answer your question. I have no intention, no reason, no possibility that I will vote for McCain. I will vote for Obama. My point is that every other democrat should too. What do we do to make that more likely?

I would like to address two of your points since they relate to my post...
• Obama supporters here continue to infuriate you because they are so mean and anonymous internet posters continue to rule your life
• Nobody here gives a damn about extending an olive branch

Screw you loser, vote for me is not going to work as an election strategy.

I've been reading DU since 2005 because I enjoy various opinions on political topics. In 2005 I was especially interested in election fraud. I have been interested in politics for 40 years. I am anything but furious however. I am very concerned that enough democratic "losers" may stay home to swing the election to McCain. This could make the election close enough to steal. Then we all lose.

I was not writing about myself, I only have one vote, so it does not really matter what I do...but, then it does matter if a lot of people feel this way. If extending olive branches brings in more votes for the democratic nominee, what is the cost to you for doing that? At some point all Obama supporters should be interested in extending an olive branch. What is the cost if a lot of democrats with one vote apiece do not vote for Obama...do not vote for anyone? We all lose. That was my point.

[kevinbgoode]

139. And..if by some miracle....Hillary became the nominee

how do you propose she get the majority of Democrats on HER side? Or are the only Americans she needs are the poor, working, hard-working white voters and the rest of us are "elitists" to be insulted at will?

[liberalcommontater]

144. I would make the exact same argument that I have been making

for Hillary supporters to go over to Obama when the time comes. Continued republican rule is by far worse than either of our candidates even if we hate Clinton or hate Obama or disagree with either on specific issues of importance to us. For me it is education issues, but I will vote for him anyway and hope the process modifies his misguided education policies.

[ccharles000]

141. Hillary supporter here.

I will vote for our party's nominee no matter what.

[liberalcommontater]

145. Good morning....

Nice pic of our candidate. Hope she pulls it out.

[roseBudd]

142. "Encourage your candidate to become our candidate. If he can't or won't , then he does not deserve"

Right away! I will call Obama on the bat phone and urge him to become HRC!

[liberalcommontater]

147. Good morning...

how can I win you over to the idea that Obama's chances are best if all democrats unite behind him?

[roseBudd]

150. Not with threats, you do realize that keyboard warriors don't sway elections

Even if you personally could convince everyone who currently posts on DU to your way of thinking you can't sway an election.

Obama is winning because he has the right message for this country at this time. To subsume Hillary's message would be a mistake.

[liberalcommontater]

153. No threat was intended...

I won't withhold my vote or vote for McCain. I only hope others do not stay home.

Actually, I think Clinton has the right message etc., but it looks like Obama will be the nominee. We need him to win in November for the good of the country.

I know this is a message board and it has limits, but when I have posted I have tried to add thoughtfully to develop my own thinking and engage constructively with others. I have assumed that others find value here, not just a place to vent their spleen.

[tblue37]

146. Obama is NOT his most obnoxious big-mouthed supporters, and THEY

are not running for president. But I did just post a thread that might help Hillary's supporters understand why Obama supporters get angry about the way she has run her campaign:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5914553

[liberalcommontater]

148. Good morning...and good point.

Thanks for the post. My purpose was not to explain why I oppose Obama, but to emphasize the need to win in November.

[tblue37]

151. We DO need to win. We can't afford for any progressives to sit this one out or register

a "protest" vote. Two or three SC justices will be replaced this term, and the Republican subversion of the DOJ and the entire justice system in this country probably has just this one chance to be reversed or at least paused. We need to get back to being a country where a popular Democratic governor can't have the election blatantly stolen from him and then be imprisoned on trumped up charges and then moved around in secrecy to prevent him from having access to his legal team or to the media to try to get his story out. The abuse of law as a political weapon has gotten as blatant in some ways as in any dictatorship. They have the Halliburton-built concentration camps ready for us. They are planning to bomb Iran. They are trying to do away with Net Neutrality. If we let John McCain into the WH or fail to elect a huge Dem majority in both houses, we might as well kiss our collective asses goodbye.

But If Obama is elected--and he will be our nominee, barring very unlikely circumstances--then he can put in place people who can start investigations of the abuses of power that have gone on for the last 8 years.

This election isn't about Obama or about his most aggressive and obnoxious supporters. It is about US and about the kind of country we want to live in and pass down to our children. The country that would result from another 4 years of Republican rule is NOT the one we want!

I am upset about the way Hillary, whom I used to admire, has run her campaign. But if she were the nominee, I would not only vote for her, I would be out there working my ass off for her.

I was an Edwards supporter, and I was very upset that the MSM cut him out of the race so early, even after he defeated Hillary in Iowa. But once he dropped out and I moved to Obama, I began to study more about him, including reading his books, reading what others have said about him, watching him speak, etc. I am now a strong supporter of Obama and I think he will be a great candidate. I am also delighted at the millions of new voters who are registering specifically to vote for him. The Republicans will use voter suppression and electronic voting to try to steal this election or to keep it too close for a mandate. But if enough of a landslide occurs, their efforts will be swamped. They will have some effect, sure--I am quite certain that we won more races in 2006 than were actually allowed to go to the Dem candidates--but at least we can counterbalance that to some degree by creating a tsunami for our candidates, not just Obama, but the downticket candidates as well, because I think Obama is going to have pretty long coattails!

[liberalcommontater]

154. I could not have said it better...

I support Clinton, but everything you said is true and is exactly why I will support Obama when he is the nominee. Thanks for taking the time to say it so well.

[tblue37]

157. Thanks. I am truly appalled at some of the nasty comments that some Obama supporters sling

at Clinton supporters (see posts right below!), and that some Clinton supporters make, as well. We are on the same side, or at least should be. But the fact is, snarking at people to "Grow up" or "Shut up, stop whining, and get on board!" is NOT the way to win friends and influence people. How can people not understand this?

[Jennicut]

152. Stop complaining and get on board then. Are you waiting for someone to kiss your ass?

Time to realize that if you don't vote fot the Dem nominee you are shooting yourself in the foot. Get over it already. If Hillary was not the nominee I would vote for her in a second despite all things I dislike about her. This is just like in 2000 when people voted for Nader because they did not like Al Gore. Turned out to be a great decision, didn't it? Its over. Hillary has pretty much lost and time to get on board with Obama or risk a Rethug win. We are actually playing into their hands right now if we act like a bunch of babies. Grow up and vote in November to bring Democracy back on track. Obama and Hillary agree on far more things then they do with McCain or any other 3rd party candidate.

[tblue37]

155. And yet saying, "Grow up," or "Stop whining and get on board,"

is hardly the way to persudae Hillary's supporters to join us. I am amazed that so many people do not understand this! Fortunately, Obama himself does understand this, and he has made a real effort to conciliate rather than attack Hilalry and her supporters.

[liberalcommontater]

156. I have always intended to vote for the Democratic nominee...

and never meant to imply anything to the contrary. I am concerned, hence the link in the original post, that if Hillary's supporters stay away in any significant numbers we could all be in trouble. Your Nader example is right on the mark.

The only other comment I would make is that I still support Hillary. I think she can make an effective case for the super delegates to support her, unlikely, but she has enough support to make the case - especially with Michigan and Florida. Florida should be a gimme as far as counting. Michigan should have been a do over, but blocked by Obama. We need the candidate best suited to win in November. I only hope all democrats will support whichever it is.

You say its over. Well it probably soon will be, but until then I am content to let it play out and then support the nominee.

[Jennicut]

158. My fear is that the Hillary supporters won't remember the past of Nader and 2000

I would have voted for Hillary without having to have my feelings massaged if she was going to be the nominee because I remember what happened in 2000 to Al Gore. I want Obama as our nominee and it looks more like he is going to be the Dem nominee. I fully supported Clinton in the 90's (only voted for him once, I was only 16 in 1992), Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004 despite any misgivings about any of them I had previous to their nominations. To do otherwise would be to hand victory to Rethugs. I don't care what a Dem is like, its always better then a Rethug. They have done nothing but damage this country and George Bush has done more damage then any Rethug I can think of in modern times. Hillary supporters need to remember that this is a primary, not the GE. If they stay away in November or vote for McCain I don't want to hear a hint of complain, not a tiny bit of complaint for a Rethug-run country that we will find ourselves in. I am not Hillary's biggest fan but I know she has some ideals and ideas which McCain does not share and Hillary supporters should realize the same about Obama. It does not have to be spelled out, it should be known already. To think otherwise means one person is bigger than Democracy which is simply not true.