Cult of Personality
Back in the 80's, the band Living Colour had a song out named "Cult of Personality" It looked at political figures through the years and pointed out some of the problems associated when politics is centered on a leader and not ideas.
This presidential election is my first one since 1984 where I have been active in Democratic politics. I left the party in 1986 after the Democratic Party of the county I was going to college in supported my Republican opponent instead of supporting a student (me) who was running for county commish. I rejoined in 2005. During these 19 years I worked for a series of third party and no party candidates and saw first hand how personalities overtook platform in these campaigns. We see this happening again inside the Green Party. The Nader cult is splitting the party once again, much like they did in 2004. And before someone says you don't know what you are talking about--- I was a national co-chair of the Green Party during the 2004 election and saw first hand what this inner party bickering can do to a party. The Greens never recovered from 2004, there are still people that will not talk to each other due to the 2004 election and the rancor between the sides is still in the background whenever policy is discussed. We had state parties that split and some that ceased functioning.
I implore voters to get past what I see as the Obama and Clinton cults that have formed and work toward the big picture - A Democratic Win in November. I understand that this primary has brought out some very impassioned reactions and that is great, people should be passionate about what is important to them but don't let that passion cloud your vision of what eight more years of Republican rule in the White House will bring. If that passion does not allow you to work for a candidate, find another race where you feel comfortable.
I came back to the Democratic Party because I saw where things were changing within the party, changing for the good but some of things I have heard people say and I am guilty of this also, during this primary has disturbed me.
We need to get back to the politics of ideas and get away from the politics of personalities.
Thoughts?
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This is what Obama said last night
He generously asserted that this isn't about him or about Clinton ... that it's about ideas ... and that he is eager to debate John McCain on the merits of their policy differences.
I resolved during his speech to keep it clean this year in my unrelenting attacks on Liddy Dole, Pat McHenry, Pat McCrory, Virginia Foxx. I won't question their motives or patriotism, but I will question their stunningly bad judgment. They are all friends of Bush, which means they are allies of McCain, which means they approve of the direction this country is going because they want more of the same.
You didn't do that because of me or Senator Clinton...
And that is why I will vote for him.
and work for him to get elected. Because it's not about him. It's about all of us. And he helps us remember that.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
Meck, Meck, Meck
All good points, but politics has ALWAYS been about personality and the cults, if you will, that develop around them.
Wait, I take it back. Maybe not always. But certainly since the advent of television.
There's no going back.
But I certainly join you in urging fellow Democrats to cut out the contesting and come together for our candidate.