Today was the tipping point.

[Chovexani]

My sister's friend, a black journalist, called my sister and I "Aunt Condi" because we questioned Obama. She and my sister are both in their early 40s, they went to college together. A 20 year friendship destroyed because my sister dared to question Obamamania.

I cannot take these people anymore. I cannot take what they are doing to my party and to my people.

I will admit, I have issues with Hillary's positions on things. I have waffled back and forth on her, a lot. But I have never been made to feel like less of a Democrat, less than a citizen deserving of fair and equal rights by Hillary Clinton. I remember when I stood in 90+ degree heat on 51st st in Manhattan some years ago, the day of the Pride Parade, in a leather costume surrounded by a dozen lesbians dressed like Xena, and Hillary smiled at us and said we were "awesome".

My 70 year old aunt, a lifelong member of what I like to call the curmudgeon wing of the party, canvassed and caucused for Hillary in Nevada. She was born in Jim Crow South Carolina and after the family moved north to New York, went back to march with my grandmother and the other strong black women in my family. Strong black women. My mother, a strong feminist, a veteran army nurse with thirty years of dedicated service to this nation and its veterans. She is an "Aunt Condi" because she supports Hillary.

Fuck that. No, seriously, fuck that. I will not be made to be anything less than what I am over a damned candidate. Not by anyone. I will not stand by and let generations of strong, courageous black men and women be vilified in the name of a candidate. Never, never, EVER. I will not stand for it. They can take their pie in the sky hypocrisy and shove it. If this makes me hateful well then dammit call me hateful because I brook no nonsense from people who are waging a scorched earth campaign in the name of "hope". I will not let them destroy this woman who has stood for me and for people like me time and time again, even if I do not agree with everything she's done and have reservations about some things. This just ain't right.

I'm on board and I stand with you and with Hillary Clinton.

[elleng]

1. I am so sorry,

and horrified that you and yours are being put through such.

I don't think that We the People can withstand such, after the horrors we've been through these last years. Since the Supremes did what they did, since the 2004 occurences in Ohio and elsewhere, followed by NO Democratic challenges and, thereafter, constant Republican lying and cheating, well, I am afraid.

I will send your post to my daughter, just out of college, and ask her to inform her friends of your experience.

Peace

[anamandujano]

2. This kind of stuff is happening only because Obama and his campaign

let it happen, made it happen.

He could have been an inspirational leader, he could have called for unity, talked about reverse racism. He didn't. He is profiting from all of this.

[libbygurl]

3. I don't know, the fascist/my way or the highway tactics of the O campaign supporters...

...remind me too much of W and Cheney.

I am disgusted with the whole lot. Cannot believe so many have bought so willingly into his deception.

[rodeodance]

4. my gawd. I do not know what to say. dammmmm

[maddiejoan]

5. OMG!

I was there!

I was marching with the trans group right in front of the Xenas!!!

Hill was awesome! She even called me 'fierce'!

[Chovexani]

7. !!!

Wow, we probably met then. I remember chatting with a few of the transfolk in the group in front of us. I was the black chick dressed like Callisto! :o

It really is a small world.

[jillan]

6. Thank you for your excellent post.

The biggest hypocrisy I see coming from the Obama campaign, and his followers,
is the way they are so eager to embrace the right wing - to work across the aisle.
Is that what we really want? Is Obama going to compromise Democratic principles??

And his supporters on this board truly shock me.
Many are people that used to support Kucinich and Edwards - two men that spoke out very loudy for the Democratic message - but now it's okay. Talk about doing a 180*! And they wonder why we use
the words 'cult like' or Kool-aid drinkers.

People, pundits talk about how the democratic party is so energized.
I don't see it. What I see is a democratic party that has never been so divided.
I don't see hope, I see hate.

And I am worried about November.

[saracat]

9. Me too pirhana, me too. I am so very sad. I am sad to see posters I once respected turn

inexplicably nasty. I just say one of my favorite posters , who was a wonderful Edwards supporter and really supportive of all the candidates star posting trash. It is unbelievable.

[Chovexani]

12. I have seen a few do that

It's really sad. I can tell you that in the 7 years I've been on DU I've never seen anything like this.

[theHandpuppet]

8. My neighbor is going through similar crap from family and friends

It's really disgusting.

[BlackVelvet04]

10. I'm so very sorry this is happening....

how dare anyone say that to you and your sister. I hope you know that here you are among friends.

This whole primary has become vile and I blame not only the Obama campaign but Kerry and Kennedy. I doubt I will ever forgive them and if Hillary isn't the nominee I will write her name in.

[zabet]

11. Damn.

:hug:

That sucks on so many levels I
cannot even begin to imagine how
it makes you feel.

One of the reasons I support Hillary
so strongly is she makes no apologies
for who she is and what she does. She
has been 'in the trenches' since women
were treated publicly as a lesser entity
in the professional world and sadly, she
is still waging the war against sexism,
racism and bigotry. All the while, suffering
blatant attacks herself. She is one strong
lady.
One does not have to be African-American to
promote their causes, as Hillary has proved
time and time again. One does not have to
be LGBT to support their causes, as Hillary
has proved.

Again, I am sorry that you have to face this
from people that are close to you.
:hug:

[JohnnyLib2]

13. Sorry to hear this. I don't think Jesus above could live up to the

expectations being placed on Obama, however capable he might be. My experience in life says that reality is going to come crashing in on the, shall we politely say, "overly hopeful."

Stand by, stand strong. I think you, the women in your family, and many of us will need to be around to pick up some badly shattered dreams in 2009.