Many on the Right use flag pins, patriotism, as a proxy for race. I believe now we are seeing phenomenon on the Left only it's called the "FISA issue".
At first I thought the intensity of opposition is understandable, we are talking about the Constitution after all.
But then came the character assassination and now for reason the issue remains at the forefront on the minds of many.This leads me to believe that for a percentage of people, their is more than "patriotism" on their minds.
Follow me please.....
Now we have veered off into retracted support,and withholding support. In other words, people are saying they don't want him to win.When you mess with money and support, you increase McCain's chances and so it becomes an open question as to whether or not you want Obama to win.
I thought one thing Progressives had learned from all these years of defeat is that single-interest politics becomes cannon fodder use to caricature our candidates and smooth the path to victory for Republicans.
In fact, I know we've learned this lesson, I've read many a diary here that said so. I read the many comments agreeing with those diaries. So what is really animating this attack?
Like it or not, most Americans are not going to vote on FISA. We are going to vote on the economy, the war, health care, education policy, investment in infrastructure, etc...
In order to make this happen, with the hurt of 8 years of Bush still ongoing, we allow our candidate to have a very wide swath. We say let him do what he feels he needs to do to get elected. Especially on an issue that is symbolically at best.
We understand quite well that the Constitution is in jeopardy. We believe the best way to secure it is by having a Democratic Congress working with a Democratic President (who taught Constitutional Law).
We also understand that the courts have yet to weigh in on this law. In other words, we are a long way from the dire declarations that many here are two weeks into repeating daily.
It is clear then that, like flag pins, something else is going on besides looking at the big picture. Principle you say? Perhaps. But those who stand on principle do not then take actions that further imperil that principle!
No "my friends", there is something else going on here and it's time now to call it what it truly is. Leave it to Democrats to always wound their candidate.