(image by Billie Jo)

I just read what I think is an extremely insightful point in an email. The writer, a very smart guy with a LONG memory says,

“ We need to identify ourselves as from the Clinton wing of the party, and continually point out that we represent the base. As writer Michael Lind points out, the Northern “liberal” wing [of the Democratic Party] has Ivy League leadership mills. But populist economic Democrats are nearly WITHOUT LEADERS, except for the random exceptions like and Bill and Hillary. Except for the fluke of skin color, we’d have close to 2/3 of the party on our side this time — even though most of the party leadership defines itself in opposition to us.”

(emphasis mine)

Here’s the thing — the Obama Movement started a civil war in our party. Led by elitists from the “Ivy League leadership mills” (love that phrase), they systematically identified those blocs resistant to their message (that’d be us) and excised them one by one. The idea was that they’d secure the nomination with the SLIMMEST of majorities and then worry about the consequences after. Rural whites? Out! Women over 35? Out! Florida and Michigan? Out! Basically it boils down to Donna Brazile’s famous line: “Message to the base: Stay home.” 

The upside to a scorched earth primary strategy was that the Obama message would be unequivocally left-wing and progressive. Hard core opposed to the war; staunch opposition to FISA; resolute opposition to “politics as usual.” Yes, yes, WE know that it was all hooey and that Obama himself contradicted and betrayed his base as soon as Hillary was effectively knee-capped and had to hobble off the field. But, by then it was too late. Obama’s followers were in for the long haul. There is no looking back for the Blogger Boiz, the Ivy Leaguers, and the rest of Whole Foods Nation. Those he persuaded with his message were REALLY, REALLY persuaded. They became his most loyal and permanent followers (think Markos and Josh and Olbermann).

The downside, the danger Obama courted by using a Divide and Conquer strategy, was that he might seriously alienate millions of Democrats whose votes he’d need in November to win. But that was a gamble they made. Their belief was that we’d come around. Women would be sufficiently subdued with the Roe bat to pull the lever for Obama on Election Day. Rural and lower working class whites would be sufficiently afraid of the economic threats of recession, foreclosure, and layoffs to vote against the Republicans and their dismal record. In other words, we’d have nowhere else to go. Of course we’d come around.

But here’s the thing, and it’s why I always say we are the ones no one was expecting: the Obama Movement was both right about us AND wrong. At the same time. They’re right, WE HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO! We will NOT vote for Barack Obama, BUT we know the Republican Party is not our home — it’s not even a nice vacation cottage. That’s the main reason we Pumas are so out of sorts and discouraged lately. We really AREN’T closet Republicans (Message to the Republicans: Stay on your side of the yard! Just kidding. Sort of.) For some of us, voting against the DONC and Obama by voting in protest for McCain is as easy as pie. These are the moderate-to-conservative Democrats for whom the tenets of Whole Foods Nation are anathema. But for another huge part of our Puma base, voting for McCain is an excruciatingly difficult thing to do — so hard that many of us just won’t be able to do it. These are the moderate-to-liberal Democrats for whom the tenets of Whole Foods Nation are pretty much a-okay! But they’re still not voting for McCain — Pumas in this camp will vote third party or write-in or stay home.

It is more important than ever that we stay united as Pumas. Remember what my email friend said: “Populist economic Democrats are nearly WITHOUT LEADERS”! We know who we are. We know it in our bones that Obama is wrong for our country and even more wrong for our Party. But we DON’T know who’s in charge. Hillary’s back in the Senate, sidelined from national leadership. Bill’s direct influence is limited on all official sides by the DONC, which wants above all else to KEEP BILL CLINTON CONTAINED! So, if we feel rudderless, it’s because we are. This is what the Obama Movement was wrong about. We know we have nowhere else to go, but we also know just as sure as can be that we are NOT going back to the DONC.

So, look in the mirror and face the facts. There are no leaders here. There is no politician or public figure who can sit for us at the table of national power and speak for us or represent our interests. Hillary’s on Capitol Hill mulling her next moves and brooding over what happened. Bill is being Bill (which is a very good thing, but his days of being President are over). We have only ourselves to rely on. This is THE most difficult phase of our movement, while we watch the national election play out without our enthusiastic or whole-hearted participation. Some of us have found, and will continue to find it too tempting not to just jump on the McCain bandwagon. That’s VERY understandable. You can still be a Puma if you’re also a Democrat working for McCain. It’s okay.

The rest of us are discouraged, lonely, and feeling useless. Working for local congressional candidates is a very good thing to do, but it just doesn’t have the Zing and the Rush of a Presidential campaign. But, if we allow our sense of loss and isolation to fuel attacks on each other WE ARE SUNK. Let’s remind ourselves that, as Democrats, we are BY DEFINITION a motley rag-tag group. We are working class, diverse, and far-flung. We found out this year that the DNC doesn’t care about us and would MUCH rawther carry on without our participation or even our votes.

So Puma PAC, if we want to have a leader we’ll have to create one from within. We will have to stay united with each other, with the clear-eyed acceptance that we represent a VAST range of different lifestyles and backgrounds, from really quite conservative all the way to fringe hippie peace-nik free-lovers. Our common and precious shared goal is a love for democracy, fair play, and a level playing field for all citizens — rich or poor, black or white or yellow or brown, woman or man.

When we decided to revolt against the DONC and Obama and every Democrat who shrieks “STUPID RACIST UGLY OLD FAT IGNORANT HYSTERICAL RACIST BITCH” at us; when we committed ourselves to NOT COMING AROUND, we set ourselves on a long and lonely road of rebellion. This will take TIME. But, most importantly, it will take UNITY. That is the secret to Obama’s success. He divided us. Let’s NOT continue his work for him. Let’s recommit ourselves to unity with each other.

No to Obama. Yes to Puma.