Taking the Pledge (I hope)

[Eloriel]

Inspired (yet again) by Dean's resplendent speech yesterday in SC:
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002565.html#more and the DU thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=844281#846961

Prompted by Dems Will Win's excellent post today:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=852387

Moved by Code_Name_D's eloquent vision:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=845858

Bouyed by the Gore endorsement, schooled in the art and practice by w13rd and several others, and mindful of the fact that Dean himself favors and promotes unity over divisiveness, I am going to try to swear off candidate bashing.

However, it does depend on how one defines "bashing." For most here at DU it seems to include ANY criticism. I remember when come of one candidates own words were posted (and not out of context), without muich if any editorial commentary, and his supporters went ballistic and definitely considered it somehow "unfair." It wasn't.

Too, I will continue to point out mischaracterizations and outright lies about my candidate (or any candidate -- I find NO place for that at DU or in our political life at all) -- but hopefully with less anger and bitterness of my own.

So. That's that. Let's kick it up a notch and take some steps toward community.

Eloriel

[rbnyc]

1. Good plan.

Also I was thinking today how much it says about your own candidate when you say something good about someone else's. I admire tons of things about Dean, and many things about CMB, Clark, Kerry...almost all of them. I picked my candidate out of a field of great people.

[Eloriel]

2. And another one

From my goodmfriend Cap'n Shunshine:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=854661

Eloriel

[Eloriel]

3. No comments? Hmmmm. n/t

:kick:

[Kool Kitty]

4. Take the pledge? Yes.

I have not bashed any of the candidates and I don't intend to start now. It's foolish and counterproductive and makes the basher look small.

[burning bush]

5. I'm All Over It Eloriel!

I pledge:

1)To support my candidate (Dean) on his strengths, not the perceived weaknesses of his opponents!

2) To paraphrase the Republican Bible of Politics: "I will speak no ill of other Dems."

and-

3)I shall bash only the Bush!
(Yeah, I even chose my nick with that ideal in mind!)


I've tried to hold close to this concept since I first began to post, some 130 odd posts ago, and hope to hang on to it throughout the season, regardless of the outcome of Dean's candidacy.

Here's to all the Democrats, Greens, progressives and liberals.

Let's kick some Republican ASS, eh?

[UTUSN]

6. Glad to Hear It n/t

[Eloriel]

7. It's true

I'm definitely not going to be able to refrain from all criticisms and my personal opinions at times, buy I definitely have already started pulling way back -- and I will do what I can as the oppties arise to be positive.

Eloriel

[poskonig]

8. Good for you!

Good for Dean, too! If we do win the nomination, a lot of healing will have to take place, and the less bad blood we make, the better.

[truthspeaker]

9. there's a difference between criticism and bashing

Criticism is "I do not want x to get the nomination because of his position on issue."

Bashing is "I want y to get the nomination because of issue, and anyone who supports x is a fool who wants to give the election to the Republicans because x can never win!"