Can you support someone without completely agreeing with them?

[LittleClarkie]

Thinking specifically about Cindy Sheehan. At least she is the catalyst for the question.

Can you support someone without thinking everything that comes out of their mouths, and every position they take, is golden.

I've been disturbed by the attitude here and there that somehow folks are turncoats if they disagreed with Cindy re: her shoutout to Hillary Clinton. Does disagreeing with Cindy on her focus mean that you are "turning" on her?

I would say no. I also feel that no one is above reproach or ammune to criticism.

I guess what sent me over the edge was Mike Malloy's rant about Clinton and Kerry and the Sept. 24th rally. If politicians don't show up, that should mean we need to throw the bums out, and disagreeing makes you a DLCer?

And if I disagree with the President, then that means I'm unAmerican as well? Because I see them as very similar trains of thought.

I guess I don't believe in icons.

And no, before folks say it, I don't always agree with John Kerry. And if you have your facts straight, I don't mind if you criticize the man. I might rebutt, mind you.

Kinda know what I mean?

[Maru Kitteh]

1. Yes, I could and have. N/T

[mestup]

2. We've all been weaned on black/white, good/evil thinking...

..and it's not easy for anyone to leave the cursed phenomenon behind as they become more aware.

I have what most would consider "socialist" leanings, and although I disagree with many things the current Democratic politicians say, I still support them. They're as close as I can get to what I think is right.

[txindy]

3. Yes, I do know what you mean. I don't believe in icons, either.

If I wanted someone exactly like me, I'd look in the mirror. However, that's not what I want to do because I know that I don't have all the answers. I don't think anybody does. If all I wanted was someone who thought exactly as I did, I'd have to believe I knew everything and was above reproach. And that's just nonsense.

So, yes, I can support someone without completely agreeing with them. I don't even know where I'll come down on some issues, myself, so I can hardly expect to know everything about someone's else's thoughts and opinions. My hope is that the person I support will willingly process new information and not take an immutable stand just to have one. I'd like to believe that I'll do the same, myself, given the opportunity to learn and the willingness to admit that things do change.

[The Traveler]

4. I know EXACTLY what you mean

Cindy has said some things that make me sigh. But she is honest, she is implacable, and she has more backbone than just about anyone we can think of right now. And, on many, many things she and I are in agreement.

So, yeah, I support her ... if nothing else she deserves an answer to her question ... and more than this, I admire her. But that does not mean I agree with her all the time.

Democrats tend to be free thinkers. Let's not suppress that impulse with some strange new packaging of political correctness.

[ForrestGump]

5. I support the premise of your question and completely agree with it. But

I also agree that it's not only okay but imperative to not swallow everything that comes out of the mouths of those we generally support. To do otherwise would be to be at least as bad as the clueless sycophants of the Right -- significantly worse, actually, if we're equipped with critical thinking skills in working order.

Someone like Cindy Sheehan could (perhaps already has, to some) quickly be elevated to a guru status that is not only unwarranted but likely unwanted by the very object of adulation. I've already seen, in my cursory perusals of DU lately, a tendency toward sanctifying her. That's both unrealistic and counterproductive. Cindy Sheehan, to continue with her as an example, is doing great things as a result of her personal loss, but she is not inherently perfect or omnisciently wise. Take her words as they come -- like most of us, some of them are worth more than others.

[LittleClarkie]

7. Ding ding!

You get a kewpi doll.

Thanks for saying it infinitely better, and in fewer words too!

[ForrestGump]

14. Stop calling me that.

I can't support that. :P

[DURHAM D]

13. The trick is to "not swallow everything..." but to to lead.

Too often on DU I see followers, not participants - people looking for someone to perfectly express their views.

Get out and lead the pack (idea) or shut the fuck up.

[Rowdyboy]

6. I've never known any politician I've agreed with 100%

Never. And I've followed politics closely since 1968. Many have come close but no one has ever been perfect.

[dhinojosa]

10. Wait til I run for office.....

I am like butter!

[Rowdyboy]

21. I can't wait! I LOOOOOVE butter.....

Seriously, my all-time political hero is from the southwest. Arizona congressman Mo Udall was my main man when I was in college (1972-1976)and for years thereafter, until he retired (Parkinsons?). He was funny, intelligent, principled, and spoke the language of the average man or woman. When he ran for president in 1976 he was beaten by Jimmy carter's drawl which pissed me off to no end.

Mo Udall is one of the greatest presidents we never had.

Here's hoping you ARE butter. You certainly have my vote!

Here's a site about Udall. http://dizzy.library.arizona.edu/branches/spc/udall/homepage.html

[charlie]

8. Also

agreeing with Malloy means you're agreeing with a Rove plant. There's a touch of knee-jerkism amongst those who didn't like what he said, too.

[LittleClarkie]

11. I didn't read the comment fully

but I wonder if what was meant was that certain attitudes are not constructive, and perhaps helpful to the other side, without insinuating that the person WITH that particular attitude is a "Rove plant".

It is probably possible to act in such a way that makes Rove smile even if it's the last thing you wanted to do.

Lemme go back and see what you're talking about though.

[LittleClarkie]

19. Okay, I think the person was being flip

but no, Malloy is not a shill. Nevertheless, as I am a card-carrying Democrat, he isn't always helpful or constructive, either.

[charlie]

22. I can appreciate the exasperation

Malloy causes in the more ardent Democratic supporters. But I don't think post #13 was being flip, it's a mirror of the same narrow-eyed suspicion coming from the other side.

[DURHAM D]

9. My favorite color is gray - it works for everything.

Unless you are OCD, judgmental, conditional, progressive, can't do
committee work, or an oldest child.

[alarcojon]

12. I know what you mean

especially with regards to Democratic politicians. I can't think of a single one who has never pissed me off. And certainly many (most) of them capitulate waaaay too often to the right wing. But it does not follow from that that, when one of them does something I don't agree with, that it makes them Rovian plants, DLC'ers, or worse. You have to take the sum total of the individual.

[dhinojosa]

15. I Totally Unbelieveably agree with you!!!!!!!

Even about Cindy.. I wasn't cool about the crosses she set up, just because there were probably some that died and weren't christian, but hell, it did something for our cause when that redneck went right through all that. Some other things irk me about her, but hell, she lost a son in an unjust war, so she can do whatever she wants.

[Maple]

16. No one would ever stay married

if they couldn't do that. :7

[jobycom]

25. LOL

[nonconformist]

17. Absolutely. There isn't a person on Earth I agree with 100% of the time nt

[LSK]

18. support the ideas, not the people

I read that somewhere recently and its probably what you are saying. Not everyone is going to be perfect, but its easier for us to latch on to people who we agree with most of the time.

Having said that, I dont recall ever disagreeing with anything Howard Dean has said. ;) On edit: I dont agree with Dean when he hints that we should stay in Iraq.

[LittleClarkie]

20. Gee, that mighta been me

I keep saying "support positive action, even if it's coming out of someone you would never, ever vote for president." For me that would be Biden and Clinton, both of whom are voting AGAINST Roberts, btw.

And for that, I have to give them a cookie, even if I'd never vote for either for prez.

[LSK]

24. actually, I think it was in a book im reading right now

"The Zero Game" - great thriller involving fictional DC congressional staffers.

But im sure you have said it as well. :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

23. Yes, of course. I'm what you call "mature" and "developed"

There is no one with whom I agree 100%.

Only freepers and liberal cry babies play the "You're with me or you're against me" bullshit card.

[Pushed To The Left]

26. Yes!

I can't think of one human being on the face of the planet that I agree with 100% of the time!

What do centrist "DLC" Democratic candidates have in common with very liberal Democratic candidates?

Answer: I would proudly vote for either of them to defeat the right wing!

[Mairead]

27. Sure. You can support someone without agreeing with them at all, too

And you can refuse to support someone whether or not you agree with them in whole or in part or not at all.

It depends on what your goals are.

If you give your support to someone who fails to do the things you claim you want, then I'd say you must lack insight or be hypocritical or get some kind of perverse enjoyment out of being played for a fool. Why else would anyone do it? ('I desperately need socialised healthcare.' 'Sorry, I'm opposed to socialised healthcare.' 'Okay, no problem, I'll still support you rather than someone who wants to provide socialised healthcare.')