Cognosco

Today, I got an email that said this:

You couldn’t get a job at McDonalds and become district manager after 143 days of experience.   
    You couldn’t become chief of surgery after 143 days of  experience of being a surgeon.
    You couldn’t get a job as a teacher and be the superintendent after 143 days of experience.
    You couldn’t join the military and become a colonel after a 143 days of experience.
    You couldn’t get a job as a reporter and become the nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience.
   
    BUT…  

    From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That’s how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World…after 143 days.

    We all have to start somewhere. The senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that’s all it is - a  start.

    AND, strangely, a large sector of the American public is okay with this and campaigning for him. We wouldn’t accept this in our own line of work, yet some are okay with this for the President of the United States of America ? Come on folks, we are not voting for the next American Idol!

I replied (all) with this:

Hello all,

I think it is fair game to respond to emails I receive and speak my opinion, so here we go…

I believe I am one of the "large sector of the American public" that is campaigning for Obama. This email conveniently overlooked his seven years in the Illinois Senate, as well as other relevant experience, such as community organizing (I know many jokes have been made about this, but community organizing is hard work and an effective organizer MUST HAVE great leadership skills to be effective), being elected the first Black editor of the Harvard Law Review, and working as a constitutional law professor from 1992 to 2004. Furthermore, I don’t think that 20 years of experience automatically qualifies someone, and think it is a mistake to overlook a candidate just because he doesn’t have 20 years of experience in Washington DC. That’s what advisers are for.

He is clearly an intelligent man, a person who is experienced in organizing groups and mediating disagreements, a person with a wide range of political experience (from the grassroots up), and someone who is educated in constitutional law (lest we forget that the constitution is something that’s kind of important in this country).

I would much rather elect someone who is familiar with the needs and struggles of people like me, a person of the middle class, a student who is working her way through college even though it is difficult. I am impressed with the fact that a person who did not come from a wealthy or particularly educated family managed to be admitted to and be successful at Harvard. That is no small feat, and shows an ability to work hard as well as a good measure of intelligence. I, for one, would like to see someone intelligent in the White House.

I am very put off by McCain’s shapeshifting and flip-flopping over the last eight years. I am also disturbed by he and Palin’s abysmal records on women’s rights. They are both opposed to abortion, yet simultaneously opposed to programs that prevent unplanned pregnancy and STDs. We can all see how "abstinence-only education" worked out for her daughter, right? Palin also thinks that women who have been raped should have to PAY FOR THEIR OWN RAPE EXAMS. That’s like a cop charging you to investigate a burglery. She also thinks that women who have been raped or molested should be denied abortions. How compassionate. McCain has voted against legislation ensuring equal pay for women for equal work, as well as legislation designed to prevent violence against women and bolster victim’s rights. I cannot, in good conscience, vote for people who do not care about women’s rights, safety, and health. Just because a candidate is a woman doesn’t mean she speaks for me. I also find it creepy that in the debates, the only thing McCain could say about Palin was how "proud" he was of her…as if he were her father. I found that to be patronizing and demeaning and don’t think it’s an appropriate way to speak about one’s running mate. I am impressed with Obama’s record on women’s rights. In fact, I am impressed with his record on just about everything, and proud to be volunteering for his campaign.

Be well,
Heather

After which, I received this (from someone I do not know on the Reply All list):

 

DO NOT EVER EMAIL ME!!
 
I DID NOT EMAIL YOU!!.
 
I NEVER ASKED FOR YOUR PINKO COMMIE, LIBERAL VIEWS ON THAT SOCIALIST SWINE!!
 
YOU RESPONDED TO EVERYONE WHO WAS SENT THAT EMAIL YOU BLIND FOOL!
 
THIS EMAIL HAS BEEN SENT IN CAPS BECAUSE YOU PISSED ME OFF AND I AM YELLING!!

 

 

Yes folks. I was called a Pinko Commie Liberal. For real. In the year 2008. I once listed this as my political view on my Facebook page (Pinko Commie Liberal Whackjob, to be precise), because I thought it was funny. I was, needless to say, stunned, infuriated, frustrated, and…PROUD.