The Case Against the Case Against (or, typing ability does not equal intelligence)

This is not going to be about issues, I swear. Then again, so far the Democratic candidate nomination process has hardly been about issues, has it? I have been in hell the past few weeks, my insides twisted with the wretchedness of what this race has already become, and it’s not even close to being over. My problem stems (correction: HAS stemmed) from reading opinion. See, opinion, it seems, is still just that. Always has been. I need to quit reading message boards, not only because they’re a terrible format by which to even attempt to have a lucid argument, but also because I can’t stomach the stupidity.

I am supporting Barack Obama for president. If you are not, it’s pretty likely that you have instantly given me a label. I am a cult member, a misogynist, a “-bot,” and a maniac, a sheep. Apparently I’m also supporting a terrorist and a cheater. If I’m not with the other side, I’m against them (thanks, Georgie, if you didn’t do anything else in 7 years, you managed to pound that into our collective brains.) Here are some of the arguments I have heard or read against Obama, and my arguments against them (expressed in various degrees of maturity.)

1.) He’s good at rhetoric in his speeches, bad on talking points.

I thought campaign speeches were supposed to be “vote for me” orations; debates are for examining issues. I have the ability to go to a website and find out how candidates voted on issues, read their platforms. Or I could even watch a debate, (although they’re pretty rare, right? Sheesh.)

2.) The youth of this country don’t know what’s good for them, and shouldn’t decide who’s the candidate.

Seriously. I read this. How about, you’re old enough to die for your country, you’re old enough to vote for who has the ability to put you into that situation. Didn’t we go through that issue once? Try again to formulate a real argument.

3.) The youth of this country want everything now, and aren’t patient enough to do things right.

Okay, okay, this issue is near and dear to me because of my darling place of employ. I have 18 year old students who expect me to be on standby night and day to help them. I don’t own a Blackberry, and I do expect them to quit texting when I’m trying to teach. However, I’m not stupid enough to think all of this technology is going to go away. What’s going to happen when the 18 year olds get to be 50? They're still going to want things quickly; it's the way they've been raised. Thinking "old" is not going to get us anywhere. We need to meet in the middle on this one.

4.) There is potential for a huge let-down because of his cult status.

Anyone who listens to his speeches should be hearing that, yes, hope is important…but they should also hear that work and accountability are necessary, also. Some “real” journalists liken Obama to Mandela, and the South African people looking for free washing machines from the government. Anyone who expects anything for free (and I don’t mean financially,) is not paying attention.

And while I’m on this one, let me address the “cult” thing. All of a sudden it seems that inspiration is a terrible, mind numbing state. Why? Inspiration can drive people to work together, can cause the best and brightest to come forward to act instead of hanging back in the shadows. Has anyone heard John McCain speak? He may be a nice guy, and a good public servant, but he would not get me up in the morning thinking how I might be a better American. FDR asked Americans to pull together and sacrifice self so that the troops might have more. We need someone who can do the same. That, to me is of utmost importance.

5.) Hussein?

There are several “democratic” posters out there that think it’s really cute to refer to Obama consistently as “Barack Obama Hussein.” Wow, that’s cool…wait??? His middle name’s Hussein? Oh my GOD, he must be Saddam’s son! A Muslim! A Terrorist! At least a half -Muslim (Whatever that is.) I mean, Obama, Osama, right? A big shout out to Karl Rove for this one. Can I get a Whoop-whoop, MC Rove? You’ve taught us well. Say it often enough, and it becomes true. To all idiots that keep writing this, and those bigots that believe it: please find a new hobby. The world's got bigger problems to deal with than your pathetic cries for attention.

There is no convenient close to this post, as the nomination has not been and won't be clinched for a long time. Stay calm out there, and please, try to play fair.

Loving to Hate

I've done what I promised myself I wasn't going to do...

...I've gotten caught up in politics.

As I watch my dad fret over the paper every day, the little biologist's voice in me reminds me that everything is genetics. Somehow that doesn't help. I want to stop. I need to stop, because my stomach won't be able to take it. (The little biologist, ever unhelpful, also reminds me how about the physiology of the stomach/duodenum, and the etiology of ulcers.)

What I need to do is to stop reading message boards. Specifically, political message boards, though, as my brother (again, everything is genetics) has pointed out, Patriots fans have been particularly grating this year. Why? Because we, as Americans, love to hate.

We like to mask that hate as "competitiveness." I have a tendency to agree with Peter Beinart who admits that sports fans are "essentially amoral." Let's be honest: when it comes to the dirty pool of classless competition, Americans win the prize.

Let's apply the sports fan analogy to politics. The Husband likes to consistently remind me that underhanded dealings have been "around since _______" (insert reference from whatever David McCullough or medieval history book he's digesting here.) Okay, fine, whatever. Can't we finally rise above that? We look down on countries that oppress free elections, yet cheerfully goad our politicians to create believable spin. Is this really how a democracy is supposed to work? No wonder so many young people fall into the coveted "disenfranchised, disaffected" category. An entire generation has been raised on seeing/hearing one thing from the political machine, and believing another (I can't be the only one screaming "Yes, idiot, you did say that, it's on You Tube!" at the TV.)

Yet we follow these politicians. We choose hate over logic. Need evidence? Some samples from CNN.com's political ticker :

"If I ever thought I could vote Dem again, your sickening behavior pushed me over the aisle." "Take that, Hillary haters."
"One word for Nader….LOSER!"
"HAHAHA. All you conservative robots can stop talking now and go home."

I could go on, but the "all caps, can't spell" crowd is making me depressed.

It's not going to stop. Half of the country is going to vote because they hate George W. Bush. Some of the country is going to vote because they hate Bill Clinton. And, I fear, nothing is going to get done over the next 4 years...again.

Unless...