One Unites, The Other Divides

8 Thoughts on the Current Campaigns #1

There is one candidate trying to bring our country together. His rhetoric is crafted to appeal to Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. His is a message of hope. At its heart, it says that if we are willing to work together and we are willing to sacrifice together, we can accomplish anything. Together, we can bring about a new prosperity that is inclusive of all Americans.

There is one candidate trying to tear the country apart. His rhetoric is crafted to divide us. He seeks to scare us. He seeks to exploit wounds that are centuries old in a naked grab for power. His appeals speak to our worst instincts. His message is that by helping those who need it the least, prosperity will trickle down to the least among us. His message is wealthy Americans first, the rest, eh.

One candidate's campaign is less about himself than about the movement it has come to represent. It is about people taking control of their own destiny. It is not about waiting for change, it is a campaign that has empowered people bring about change themselves. It is reflected in the manner in which the campaign has been funded with over 3.1 million people contributing an average of near $80 each. It is a campaign that inspires thousands upon thousands of individuals to register to vote. It is a campaign that promises the best of democracy. It is a campaign for a people powered, and peaceful, revolution. This campaign IS hope.

One candidate's campaign is about his opponent. This campaign has given up on its own ideas. In fact, they've even admitted that if they have to run on the issues, their candidate will lose. Instead, they seek to tear down their opponent. They stretch the truth when convenient. They exaggerate when necessary. They lie simply because they can. They are working to delegitimize the democratic process. They are working to cast doubt on what seems like their inevitable loss. Any electoral result that doesn't put their candidate in the White House will be rejected at any cost. They reject the other candidates fundraising as unnatural. The divisions exploited by the candidate have left many of his supporters seething with a near violent rage. How long will they contain it?

My greatest fear is that the hopeful candidate that seeks to unite us will win the election, and that the negative candidate, the candidate of division, will win the war. To prevent this, we must be vigilant. We can never forget that this is still a democracy. We the people can stop them.

Yes we can.

[Cross posted in my diary at The Daily Kos]