Can we call this "electability" nonsense the code word that it is? [View All]

[Chovexani]

"Electability" = "a n****r can't win and neither can a b***h"

This shit is beyond tired. I don't support Obama or HRC because I don't agree with their positions on the issues, lest someone accuse me of shilling for a candidate. This is about something bigger than a particular candidate, and I wish the people who keep posting this bullshit in the name of bashing a candidate in favor of theirs would understand this. This is about shameful bigotry hiding behind a code word, and I'm more than little tired of hearing that someone who looks like me will never be in charge. Yes, America is racist and sexist. Anyone with a functioning pair of eyes or ears (or the ability to read braille!) and who has been here longer than five minutes understands this. The proof is in the constant barrage of articles asserting a black or a woman won't ever be elected. This analysis is not particularly new or enlightening. It brings absolutely nothing of substance to the table. All it does is reinforce how fucked up this country is, and I question the motives of the people writing these articles and the people who continually post them. It's this attitude that ensures that things will never change. If we shrug our shoulders in apathy nothing will ever change.

And before some racist asshole screams "are you calling for affirmative action for president", I'm not (putting aside the fact that rich white men have enjoyed affirmative action in politics from the nation's inception). Like I said, I can't stand Obama OR HRC and I wish we had better standard bearers for the first black and first woman candidates who really have a shot at winning. But to deny them the chance to go for the gold because people are racist is in and of itself racist, not to mention engaging in the politics of low expectations. Have y'all seen the Repuke field? You won't find a more cynical person than me, and I generally believe the American people to be the most prejudiced, simple minded, hateful and fear-driven collection of humans on this planet. But I don't think even they would go for another 4 years of Bush Republicanism. I truly believe that, BBV aside, we could run a ham sandwich against any one of the Grand Oil Party candidates and win handily.

How we discuss things is extremely important. Hell, I happen to think the process is ultimately more important than the result, because elections only happen every 2 and 4 years. This, incidentally, is why so many GLBT DUers are unwilling to "let go" of the McChickenhead issue. The way it was cynically exploited by some of the rabid Hillary koolaid drinkers, the way the Obama fanboys/fangirls were dismissing any criticism of their beloved candidate--you were treating it like it was on par with any of the myriad bullshit "issues" in this campaign, like Edwards haircut or some crap.

People, please think about what you're typing in the name of your candidate. For many of you, racism, sexism and homophobia are abstract issues that you don't really have to confront on a daily basis, but for some of us they represent daily realities. Please don't be part of the problem in the name of pumping up someone for President.