Woah woah woah, this is getting out of hand.

[The Traveler]

48. It's all getting out of hand

I'm a Sanders supporter. I cannot endorse or defend the "brick" comment you reference in your post. While I understand that these are times which stir passions, and frustrations, I would encourage us all to keep our tongues in check and think before we post. (And I say that to remind myself of that need ... I'm pretty damn frustrated by the whole 2016 process myself.)

On the other hand, the OP you link to in this post does indeed characterize opposition to Ms. Clinton as constituting hatred of women. And that is obvious bullshit.

But we've all run into it. Whether it be here, on Facebook, or in other venues, when I dare broach a difference with Ms. Clinton on a matter of policy, I am invariably accused of being sexist, misogynist, racist, etc. by a Clinton supporter. And they almost never want to debate the merits of the policy. I have been told many, many times (and this is a close paraphrase of a command that varies but little in form and content) "Shut up. You're voting for Hillary."

And that stuns me. Evidently, I am supposed to stop thinking for myself because a woman is running for the Presidency. Evidently, I am supposed to forego all my other values to support the objective of breaking that ultimate glass ceiling. (But I think we all can agree that barrier really does need to be shattered at some point.)

Evidently, I am supposed to act like a Republican low information voter, and fall in line. The Clinton machine has been much more abusive than they were in 2008, and that was no picnic. I think they feel politically safer smearing an old white guy than the young, charismatic black gentleman who opposed them in 2008. (I'm beginning to wonder how much of the vitriol and contempt aimed at Sanders and his supporters is fueled by antisemitism? I don't want to believe that is the case but, damn! They're even stooping to red baiting now, and I didn't think that would happen, either. I've never heard Sanders or one of his supporters hurl that charge at a Clinton supporter, but maybe we should just to give them the same kind of experience they are so eager to dish out?)

I don't think Ms. Clinton, her attack dog Brock, or the vast majority of her supporters understand that kind of approach tends to just harden resistance. Or the problem that creates for members of the more progressive wing of the party. Because IF Ms. Clinton wins the nomination through these methods, and IF the membership of the Party is really OK with her on fracking, regime change, and several other important subjects, and IF the membership of the Party really demands that we behave like low information voters and shut up and fall in line .... well, how the hell can I stay in the Party? Are any of the alternatives really tenable? These are the questions all of this forces me to ask myself.

2016 is shaping up to be a very scary year, politically. The Democratic Party is the only vehicle by which the darkness of the Republican Party can be successfully opposed. If the Republicans gain the White House and increase their majorities in the Senate and/or House, women's rights and gay rights are exposed to direct jeopardy. We can expect no action on the climate crisis. We can expect even more war than Ms. Clinton would wage. For fucks sake, clearly, we cannot allow a Trump or Cruz access to the missile codes!

But my sense, and my fear is that the Democratic Party is in danger of fracturing in a way that cannot be easily repaired. Regardless of the clear differences between Sanders and Clinton camps, we cannot allow the Republicans to win the White House or strengthen their grip on Congress.

Trav