I found that I was so disturbed about the Wikileaks hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee – just before the Convention – that I did not sleep well last night. Practically unheard of in my life. Sometime just before dawn, I began to untangle it in my mind.
First off, these are Democrats. As a flaming liberal myself, I hold Democrats to a much higher standard. My experience of Republicans is that they are so inflamed about money – not wanting to spend a penny of their own – that they can look past any amount of human misery and only see dollar signs.
Mainly, though, these emails criticizing Bernie Sanders go against the rules of fair play. The long primary campaign required that the DNC support equally and neutrally both candidates in their races. Lists of voters, lots of data, perhaps graphic design and TV buy help, all should be supplied equally to both. DNC folk are not working for a particular campaign, but are supporting the national effort, the national party.
Young Democrats by the hundreds of thousands were becoming involved in the party. A cause for celebration. Were DNC staffers so afraid of Hillary being beaten that they had to assist in undermining Bernie? I am a Hillary supporter, and will donate, work for and vote for her. And she is going to win. But this basic unfairness, and even downright negativity and nastiness, casts her in a bad light, even though it seems she was not involved.
Full disclosure: I was a strong Barack Obama supporter in 2008 – which amazed all my friends, who assumed as a feminist, Hillary would be my pick. I knew Barack was going to win, and that he was what we needed in that year. Even though I knew it was going to be a very hard 8 years.
Another factor I untangled is that I also hold Jewish people to a higher standard. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, head of the DNC until the end of this week (she has decided to resign after the convention) is Jewish, as is Bernie Sanders. I have not read all the stories, but clearly the leadership did not set the highest standard and tone for the organization this primary season. And was likely actively working to sabotage the Sanders campaign. Amazingly awful.
More full disclosure: I am not amazed when my fellow Irish-Americans become wild-eyed conservatives and even bigots. Plenty of those in the Republican party these days.
Additionally, it is clear that Bernie’s campaign has been very helpful in pushing the agenda to the left, and that we will get single-payer health care, free community college tuition, and better financial regulations much more quickly – years, rather than decades – because of Bernie’s efforts.
All will turn out well, but I hate this particular bump in the road to the White House.