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| The Perils of Progressivist Political Passion |
| 2008-04-01 |
| John Nichols of the Nation, who I regularly appear with on Philly's NPR affiliate and perhaps in the future POTUS08, says Democrats across the country are really dissatisfied with the performance of Howard Dean as DNC Chair during this primary. Raise your hand if you're shocked. I think one of the truly complicating factors for the Democrats is that their party is not just split, but that each half of the base has more or less fallen in love with its ideal candidate. They don't just think of their candidate as a good leader and potential good president, they see their preferred choice as a historical destiny, on course to radically improve America, opposed only by the shortsighted and the sinister. We've talked about the "O-ba-ma, O-ba-ma" chanting cultlike atmosphere of the Illinois Senator's rallies, but Hillary's supporters are pretty much as dedicated and uncompromising, and every bit as uncharitable to their Democratic competition. Each candidate's base is personally identifying with the candidate, often along the lines of race, age, or gender. Each side is taking criticism of the candidate from the other side personally. One of these two sides is destined to feel like a spurned lover when the opposing nominee takes the stage in Denver and says, "I accept your nomination." Each one may or may not stifle the urge to boo, jeer, walk out or turn off the television. By comparison, on the Republican side... there are a lot of conservatives who are quite reluctantly supporting McCain. Some are gradually warming to him. Some are recognizing there are some days he'll be great (Iraq, fighting wasteful spending) and some days he'll be lousy (campaign finance reform, cap and trade). He's earned their respect, but it's unlikely he'll ever win their devotion. And that's okay. Politics inevitably includes compromise, disappointment, a recognition that leaders stumble, fall, make the wrong decision. A party that nominates Bob Dole, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon and Dwight Eisenhower does not always look for an inspiring ideal to quicken the pulse and put stars in voters' eyes. One might think that with Mondale, Dukakis, Gore and Kerry, that Democrats were more accepting of imperfect vessels. But recall that all of those men were compared to Kennedy, the Democrats' ideal, and the party's voters flirted with Dean, loved Bill Clinton (until recently), put their faith in a peanut farmer who pledged to never lie, . . . nominated McGovern. They want to be swept off their feet; they don't want a candidate they can merely respect. In addition, there's a mentality on the Left that anyone who is not with you 100% is EVIL! (Yeah, Kos, I'm talkin' 'bout YOU.) Thus, the Hillary supporters cannot see Obama as a second choice, or vice versa, because anyone who didn't support Hillary!/Obama! is a HERITIC who must be BURNED AT THE STAKE. Makes it a tough task to unite the party around the And when one of their candidates falls short, about half the Democratic party will be be heartbroken. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #4 They've got bigger problems than that, if what the polling indicates is true they cannot win the general election. 12-18% say they will not vote for the Dem that they didn't support in the primary. If thats true say even 5% wont vote for Hillary if they supported Obama, then they may not be able to win. The popular vote in this country is 49 to 51%, I confess I don't know how the electoral college aspect will compensate for this, but the last couple of elections have been real horse races. I don't think they can lose 1 or 2% and have a real shot at winning. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-04-01 18:51 |
| #3 Don't be shocked, Woodrow - this column is from National Review Online. Written by Jim Geraghty, who is no "progressive". He's one of the good guys. |
| Posted by: Skunky Phaising6010 2008-04-01 17:52 |
| #2 Raise your hand if you're shocked. I'm shocked at the insight showed by a progressive where he actually can see his party clearly - if even for a brief moment. Usually "progressives" can't get their heads out of the cheering section to even see the game. |
| Posted by: Woodrow Slusorong7967 2008-04-01 12:57 |
| #1 And when one of their candidates falls short, about half the Democratic party will be be heartbroken. No, they'll be seething, making faces, and calling for Direct Action. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2008-04-01 10:00 |