Let Us Stop Insulting and Blaming Each Other

I saw a friend of mine on Facebook post to Bernie Supporters that if you like Bernie you may as well vote Trump in 2020.

I am so sick and tired, as well as saddened, by this stereotype and nonsense.

I was a passionate Bernie supporter in the primaries. I still hold Bernie is high esteem. But, during the general election I supported Hillary. I never hated Hillary or thought her evil. And I cried alot on election night. I actually still feel a pain in my heart over her loss.

I have been a lifelong Democrat. I am now a Grandmother and ever since I could vote, even before I could vote, I was a Democrat. I never felt a liking for the Republican party.

I remember living in a New Deal America as a child in the 60s. And in my 20s discovered and developed a lifelong admiration for FDR. I read alot of books on the Great Depression and FDR. I felt he was the best president we had. No, he was not perfect. But, name a person who was or is. But, to me, FDR did so much for the country, for average people and to put restrictions on the abuses by the rich and powerful who exploited the average person. The policies of the New Deal paved the way for the middle class, for fairness and create a society that cared about its people.

I voted and supported Bill Clinton in the 90s. But, he did upset with his move to the right and doubling down on Neoliberalism. His goal was to co-opt the republicans to weaken them. I understood that. I also understood that in the Reagan era, the country was enthralled with conservatism at the time. The harsh crime bills at the time was as much part of the demand of the people as it was the prison industry. Same with Welfare Reform. DADT.

I desperately hoped Hillary would run in 2004. But, I did not support her in 2008. I was all about my own senator, Barack Obama. But, again, my lack of support did not have to do with 'hating Hillary'.

And my support for Bernie Sanders did not have to do with 'hating Hillary'.

While I disagree with many of Hillary's New Democrat thinking and ideas, I always admired her as a person. I always felt she was so brave. She put herself in the line of fire as an independent, thinking, strong woman who would not be a yes woman with the adoring gaze at her husband while shutting up. She was her own person and she got the hate and vitriol from the right, from the press and from average people because she was so brave and took the stand that a woman had a right to her opinions and to be more then a arm ornament.

She went out and braved a run for senator and proved herself to be a hell of a senator. She earned the respect of even the republican senators while serving.

And while she lost her dream as first woman President, I do believe she will be considered one of the most important people, not just important woman but, people, of American History.

All this being said, I just cannot understand why some democrats think if you did not support Hillary in the primaries you hate the party and hate Hillary. Why can't you support someone who you agree with their ideas and thinking and support your party? Why can't you be a democrat and long for it to make needed changes? Or to be critical of certain policies and thinking in your party without being thought Not a Democrat?

I was brought up to be able to voice your opinion. To see things you think need to change or are wrongheaded, discuss it and not be considered anti or against something. I see things that need to be discussed in an adult manner, debated civilly about things that need to change in the party. I don't think that makes me Not a Democrat.

To close your eyes and just go along, not voicing some things that you feel are wrong or in need of change, to be a good solider, is to me being so republican. Democrats have always fought, disagreed, yelled and screamed. In the 1930s, Will Rodgers, a famous comic in the movies and folksy guy, said he was not a member of an organized party. He was a democrat.

So, why now a days do people think in order to be a good democrats you have to be go along and not critique anything? Traditionally be a good democrat is to argue. ha!

What I want is for the Hillary supporters to stop seeing Bernie supporters as traitors and evil and not good democrats. I want Bernie supporters to stop seeing Hillary supporters as Wall Street loving Elites who want the party to be moderate republican lite. Both sides are good democrats. both sides have a right to want what they feel is best for the party and to break the conservative hold on the country.

Its okay for Bernie supporters to like Hillary and vice versa. It's okay for people to support a candidate they like who may not be the candidate you like. That is what the Primaries are all about afterall.

We have serious threats to our democracy and country from outside our party.