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Haveadream
Haveadream's Journal
Haveadream's Journal
July 13, 2016
DEMOCRATIC PARTY:
Hillary Clinton
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (New York)
REPUBLICAN PARTY:
Donald Trump
Businessman Donald J. Trump (New York)
CONSTITUTION PARTY OF THE U.S.:
Darrell Castle (Tennessee)
Presidential Nominee
Scott Bradley (Utah)
Vice Presidential Nominee
GREEN PARTY:
Jill Stein
Dr. Jill Stein (Massachusetts)
LIBERTARIAN PARTY:
Former Governor Gary Johnson (New Mexico)
Presidential Nominee
Former Governor Bill Weld (Massachusetts)
AMERICA'S PARTY / AMERICAN INDEPENDENT PARTY:
Tom Hoefling (Iowa)
Presidential Nominee
Steve Schulin (South Carolina)
Vice Presidential Nominee
AMERICAN FREEDOM PARTY:
Bob Whitaker (South Carolina)
Presidential Nominee
Tom Bowie (Maryland)
Vice Presidential Nominee
CONSTITUTION PARTY OF IDAHO:
Scott Copeland (Texas)
Presidential Nominee
J.R. Myers (Alaska)
Vice Presidential Nominee
PARTY OF SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION (PSL):
Gloria LaRiva (California)
Presidential Nominee
Eugene Puryear (District of Columbia)
Vice Presidential Nominee
PEACE & FREEDOM PARTY:
Lynn Kahn (Independent-Maryland)
Gloria LaRiva (PSL-California)
Monica Moorehead (Workers World-New York)
PROHIBITION PARTY:
Former Township Tax Assessor Jim Hedges (Pennsylvania)
Presidential Nominee
Bill Bayes (Mississippi)
Vice Presidential Nominee
REFORM PARTY USA:
Ed Chlapowski (Texas)
Ken Cross (Arkansas)
Lynn Kahn (Independent-Maryland)
SOCIALIST PARTY USA:
Emidio "Mimi" Soltysik (California)
Presidential Nominee
Angela Walker (Wisconsin)
Vice Presidential Nominee
SOCIALIST EQUALITY PARTY:
Jerry White (Michigan)
Presidential Nominee
Niles Niemuth (Wisconsin)
Vice Presidential Nominee
SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY (SWP):
Alyson Kennedy (Illinois)
Presidential Nominee
Osborne Hart (Pennsylvania)
Vice Presidential Nominee
VETERANS PARTY OF AMERICA:
Chris Keniston (Texas)
Presidential Nominee
Deacon Taylor (Nevada)
Vice Presidential Nominee
WORKERS WORLD PARTY:
Monica Moorehead (New York)
Presidential Nominee
Lamont Lilly (North Carolina)
Vice Presidential Nominee
http://www.politics1.com/p2016.htm
Candidates for President 2016
For those interested, here is a quick list of the current candidates for President from all the major and 3rd Parties:
DEMOCRATIC PARTY:
Hillary Clinton
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (New York)
REPUBLICAN PARTY:
Donald Trump
Businessman Donald J. Trump (New York)
CONSTITUTION PARTY OF THE U.S.:
Darrell Castle (Tennessee)
Presidential Nominee
Scott Bradley (Utah)
Vice Presidential Nominee
GREEN PARTY:
Jill Stein
Dr. Jill Stein (Massachusetts)
LIBERTARIAN PARTY:
Former Governor Gary Johnson (New Mexico)
Presidential Nominee
Former Governor Bill Weld (Massachusetts)
AMERICA'S PARTY / AMERICAN INDEPENDENT PARTY:
Tom Hoefling (Iowa)
Presidential Nominee
Steve Schulin (South Carolina)
Vice Presidential Nominee
AMERICAN FREEDOM PARTY:
Bob Whitaker (South Carolina)
Presidential Nominee
Tom Bowie (Maryland)
Vice Presidential Nominee
CONSTITUTION PARTY OF IDAHO:
Scott Copeland (Texas)
Presidential Nominee
J.R. Myers (Alaska)
Vice Presidential Nominee
PARTY OF SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION (PSL):
Gloria LaRiva (California)
Presidential Nominee
Eugene Puryear (District of Columbia)
Vice Presidential Nominee
PEACE & FREEDOM PARTY:
Lynn Kahn (Independent-Maryland)
Gloria LaRiva (PSL-California)
Monica Moorehead (Workers World-New York)
PROHIBITION PARTY:
Former Township Tax Assessor Jim Hedges (Pennsylvania)
Presidential Nominee
Bill Bayes (Mississippi)
Vice Presidential Nominee
REFORM PARTY USA:
Ed Chlapowski (Texas)
Ken Cross (Arkansas)
Lynn Kahn (Independent-Maryland)
SOCIALIST PARTY USA:
Emidio "Mimi" Soltysik (California)
Presidential Nominee
Angela Walker (Wisconsin)
Vice Presidential Nominee
SOCIALIST EQUALITY PARTY:
Jerry White (Michigan)
Presidential Nominee
Niles Niemuth (Wisconsin)
Vice Presidential Nominee
SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY (SWP):
Alyson Kennedy (Illinois)
Presidential Nominee
Osborne Hart (Pennsylvania)
Vice Presidential Nominee
VETERANS PARTY OF AMERICA:
Chris Keniston (Texas)
Presidential Nominee
Deacon Taylor (Nevada)
Vice Presidential Nominee
WORKERS WORLD PARTY:
Monica Moorehead (New York)
Presidential Nominee
Lamont Lilly (North Carolina)
Vice Presidential Nominee
http://www.politics1.com/p2016.htm
July 4, 2016
Moving the Democratic platform to the left is a laudable goal, but it isn’t one that he alone has led. There have been many movements, including the movement to end the Hyde Amendment, the “Fight for 15,” and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, that have pushed the Democratic party to the left. But Bernie Sanders is presenting it as if he himself is the leader of this progressive revolution, as if he and his candidacy have been doing all of the work. This is privileged ignorance at best, and sinister appropriation at worst. Sanders has constructed himself as the progressive revolutionary savior that we have all been waiting for, a privileged and entitled point of view if there ever was one. He is unwilling to stop mansplaining to the country that he’s right because either he believes so deeply that he is right and we are wrong or does he sense that this is the one time that he will ever be this relevant to American politics and his male ego is unwilling to let this go?
The potential of a fascist America is more real than ever. That’s not hyperbole—it’s a fact. A candidate for president from one of the two major American political parties has called for: the closing of the border between Mexico and the United States and the mass deportation of immigrants; a closing of the border to Muslim immigrants; assassinating the family members of suspected terrorists (a blatant war crime, by the way); the criminalization of women who have abortions; and the list goes on. The “Bernie or Bust” argument seems innocuous if you aren’t one of the millions of marginalized people whose health, rights, and lives depend on the November election results. To stay in a race that you mathematically cannot win against the first woman presidential candidate of either major party is privileged enough. To do it when the country is facing a very possible descent into fascism? That’s just dangerous.
While Bernie Sanders claims that it is important to defeat Donald Trump, many of his supporters are not convinced. These people, many of whom are young white men who proudly label themselves the “real progressives,” are watching as the United States stares down the barrel of a fully loaded gun of racism, misogyny, and xenophobia and are shrugging. To even hint at voting for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, or claim that they are the same, is privilege personified.
These are the “Bernie Bros": white men who support Bernie Sanders but seemingly ignore the issues that affect marginalized people, who bellow and bully women and people of color for supporting Hillary Clinton, who claim ideological purity without having their rights and lives on the line.
http://www.damemagazine.com/2016/06/29/privilege-never-having-say-youll-concede
The Privilege of Never Having to Say You'll Concede
This needs to be said. This is not a parlor game or intellectual debate. "If Bernie Sanders is such a progressive revolutionary, why does he insist on undermining an eminently qualified presidential candidate who can beat a fascistic demagogue?" A demagogue who in no uncertain terms has made clear unmitigated ill will towards millions of people?
This is a question none has answered satisfactorily without ignoring the real risk of Donald Trump, his policies and his minions. The lives of minorities, women, immigrants, children and the disabled are constantly being threatened by an egomaniacal leader and his millions of hate filled, armed and dangerous followers. Those who continue to prevaricate are not courageous or progressive when those who have the most to lose are in danger.
Moving the Democratic platform to the left is a laudable goal, but it isn’t one that he alone has led. There have been many movements, including the movement to end the Hyde Amendment, the “Fight for 15,” and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, that have pushed the Democratic party to the left. But Bernie Sanders is presenting it as if he himself is the leader of this progressive revolution, as if he and his candidacy have been doing all of the work. This is privileged ignorance at best, and sinister appropriation at worst. Sanders has constructed himself as the progressive revolutionary savior that we have all been waiting for, a privileged and entitled point of view if there ever was one. He is unwilling to stop mansplaining to the country that he’s right because either he believes so deeply that he is right and we are wrong or does he sense that this is the one time that he will ever be this relevant to American politics and his male ego is unwilling to let this go?
The potential of a fascist America is more real than ever. That’s not hyperbole—it’s a fact. A candidate for president from one of the two major American political parties has called for: the closing of the border between Mexico and the United States and the mass deportation of immigrants; a closing of the border to Muslim immigrants; assassinating the family members of suspected terrorists (a blatant war crime, by the way); the criminalization of women who have abortions; and the list goes on. The “Bernie or Bust” argument seems innocuous if you aren’t one of the millions of marginalized people whose health, rights, and lives depend on the November election results. To stay in a race that you mathematically cannot win against the first woman presidential candidate of either major party is privileged enough. To do it when the country is facing a very possible descent into fascism? That’s just dangerous.
While Bernie Sanders claims that it is important to defeat Donald Trump, many of his supporters are not convinced. These people, many of whom are young white men who proudly label themselves the “real progressives,” are watching as the United States stares down the barrel of a fully loaded gun of racism, misogyny, and xenophobia and are shrugging. To even hint at voting for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, or claim that they are the same, is privilege personified.
These are the “Bernie Bros": white men who support Bernie Sanders but seemingly ignore the issues that affect marginalized people, who bellow and bully women and people of color for supporting Hillary Clinton, who claim ideological purity without having their rights and lives on the line.
http://www.damemagazine.com/2016/06/29/privilege-never-having-say-youll-concede
July 4, 2016
Moving the Democratic platform to the left is a laudable goal, but it isn’t one that he alone has led. There have been many movements, including the movement to end the Hyde Amendment, the “Fight for 15,” and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, that have pushed the Democratic party to the left. But Bernie Sanders is presenting it as if he himself is the leader of this progressive revolution, as if he and his candidacy have been doing all of the work. This is privileged ignorance at best, and sinister appropriation at worst. Sanders has constructed himself as the progressive revolutionary savior that we have all been waiting for, a privileged and entitled point of view if there ever was one. He is unwilling to stop mansplaining to the country that he’s right because either he believes so deeply that he is right and we are wrong or does he sense that this is the one time that he will ever be this relevant to American politics and his male ego is unwilling to let this go?
The potential of a fascist America is more real than ever. That’s not hyperbole—it’s a fact. A candidate for president from one of the two major American political parties has called for: the closing of the border between Mexico and the United States and the mass deportation of immigrants; a closing of the border to Muslim immigrants; assassinating the family members of suspected terrorists (a blatant war crime, by the way); the criminalization of women who have abortions; and the list goes on. The “Bernie or Bust” argument seems innocuous if you aren’t one of the millions of marginalized people whose health, rights, and lives depend on the November election results. To stay in a race that you mathematically cannot win against the first woman presidential candidate of either major party is privileged enough. To do it when the country is facing a very possible descent into fascism? That’s just dangerous.
While Bernie Sanders claims that it is important to defeat Donald Trump, many of his supporters are not convinced. These people, many of whom are young white men who proudly label themselves the “real progressives,” are watching as the United States stares down the barrel of a fully loaded gun of racism, misogyny, and xenophobia and are shrugging. To even hint at voting for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, or claim that they are the same, is privilege personified.
These are the “Bernie Bros": white men who support Bernie Sanders but seemingly ignore the issues that affect marginalized people, who bellow and bully women and people of color for supporting Hillary Clinton, who claim ideological purity without having their rights and lives on the line.
http://www.damemagazine.com/2016/06/29/privilege-never-having-say-youll-concede
The Privilege of Never Having to Say You'll Concede
This needs to be said. This is not a parlor game or intellectual debate. "If Bernie Sanders is such a progressive revolutionary, why does he insist on undermining an eminently qualified presidential candidate who can beat a fascistic demagogue?" A demagogue who in no uncertain terms has made clear unmitigated ill will towards millions of people?
This is a question none has answered satisfactorily without ignoring the real risk of Donald Trump, his policies and his minions. The lives of minorities, women, immigrants, children and the disabled are constantly being threatened by an egomaniacal leader and his millions of hate filled, armed and dangerous followers. Those who continue to prevaricate are not courageous or progressive when those who have the most to lose are in danger.
Moving the Democratic platform to the left is a laudable goal, but it isn’t one that he alone has led. There have been many movements, including the movement to end the Hyde Amendment, the “Fight for 15,” and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, that have pushed the Democratic party to the left. But Bernie Sanders is presenting it as if he himself is the leader of this progressive revolution, as if he and his candidacy have been doing all of the work. This is privileged ignorance at best, and sinister appropriation at worst. Sanders has constructed himself as the progressive revolutionary savior that we have all been waiting for, a privileged and entitled point of view if there ever was one. He is unwilling to stop mansplaining to the country that he’s right because either he believes so deeply that he is right and we are wrong or does he sense that this is the one time that he will ever be this relevant to American politics and his male ego is unwilling to let this go?
The potential of a fascist America is more real than ever. That’s not hyperbole—it’s a fact. A candidate for president from one of the two major American political parties has called for: the closing of the border between Mexico and the United States and the mass deportation of immigrants; a closing of the border to Muslim immigrants; assassinating the family members of suspected terrorists (a blatant war crime, by the way); the criminalization of women who have abortions; and the list goes on. The “Bernie or Bust” argument seems innocuous if you aren’t one of the millions of marginalized people whose health, rights, and lives depend on the November election results. To stay in a race that you mathematically cannot win against the first woman presidential candidate of either major party is privileged enough. To do it when the country is facing a very possible descent into fascism? That’s just dangerous.
While Bernie Sanders claims that it is important to defeat Donald Trump, many of his supporters are not convinced. These people, many of whom are young white men who proudly label themselves the “real progressives,” are watching as the United States stares down the barrel of a fully loaded gun of racism, misogyny, and xenophobia and are shrugging. To even hint at voting for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, or claim that they are the same, is privilege personified.
These are the “Bernie Bros": white men who support Bernie Sanders but seemingly ignore the issues that affect marginalized people, who bellow and bully women and people of color for supporting Hillary Clinton, who claim ideological purity without having their rights and lives on the line.
http://www.damemagazine.com/2016/06/29/privilege-never-having-say-youll-concede
June 12, 2016
In the Wake of the Orlando Massacre, More Sure of Hillary Than Ever
My first thoughts after despair for the victims and their families was a wave of relief that Hillary has a good chance of being our President. These are the kinds of events our President has to face. The thought of Trump handling this kind of crisis is terrifying. This tragedy is all too serious and poses a real threat to Americans.
Several people I ran into today acknowledged, "Hillary is the best person for the job." She has the right attitude about gun control, extensive foreign policy experience, she understands the nuances of discrimination and minority hate crimes, the composure to make the best decisions and the compassion for those affected. Like Obama, she is absolutely the ideal person for a job that requires all those skills.
The events we are facing today are devastating. Heartfelt prayers for all the victims, their families and everyone mourning in the wake of this massacre. Our hearts are broken.
June 7, 2016
18 Million Cracks- 8 Years Ago Today
Hillary's prophetic speech. The synchronicity is extraordinary.
June 6, 2016
Visions that can change the world trapped inside an ordinary girl
She looks just like me too afraid to dream out loud
And though it's simple your idea, it won't make sense to everybody
You need courage now If you're gonna persevere
To fulfill divine purpose, you gotta answer when you're called
So don't be afraid to face the world against all odds
Keep the dream alive don't let it die
If something deep inside keeps inspiring you to try, don't stop
And never give up, don't ever give up on you
Don't give up
Every victory comes in time, work today to change tomorrow
It gets easier, who's to say that you can't fly
Every step you take you get, closer to your destination
You can feel it now, don't you know you're almost there?
To fulfill divine purpose, you gotta answer when you're called
So don't be afraid to face the world against all odds
Keep the dream alive don't let it die
If something deep inside keeps inspiring you to try, don't stop
And never give up, don't ever give up on you
Who holds the pieces to complete the puzzle?
The answer that can solve a mystery
The key that can unlock your understanding
It's all inside of you, you have everything you need yeahhhh
Sooooo, keep the dream alive don't let it die
If something deep inside, keeps inspiring you to try don't stop
And never give up, don't ever give up on you
Sometimes life can place a stumbling block in your way
But you're gotta keep the faith, bring what's deep inside your heart yeah your
Heart to the light
And never give up Don't ever give up on you
Nooo don't give up,
No, no, no, no don't give up
Oh, no, no, no, no don't...give...up
For Hillary and The Hillary Group!!
So much love and pride for Hillary and all of you!
Never giving up!
Visions that can change the world trapped inside an ordinary girl
She looks just like me too afraid to dream out loud
And though it's simple your idea, it won't make sense to everybody
You need courage now If you're gonna persevere
To fulfill divine purpose, you gotta answer when you're called
So don't be afraid to face the world against all odds
Keep the dream alive don't let it die
If something deep inside keeps inspiring you to try, don't stop
And never give up, don't ever give up on you
Don't give up
Every victory comes in time, work today to change tomorrow
It gets easier, who's to say that you can't fly
Every step you take you get, closer to your destination
You can feel it now, don't you know you're almost there?
To fulfill divine purpose, you gotta answer when you're called
So don't be afraid to face the world against all odds
Keep the dream alive don't let it die
If something deep inside keeps inspiring you to try, don't stop
And never give up, don't ever give up on you
Who holds the pieces to complete the puzzle?
The answer that can solve a mystery
The key that can unlock your understanding
It's all inside of you, you have everything you need yeahhhh
Sooooo, keep the dream alive don't let it die
If something deep inside, keeps inspiring you to try don't stop
And never give up, don't ever give up on you
Sometimes life can place a stumbling block in your way
But you're gotta keep the faith, bring what's deep inside your heart yeah your
Heart to the light
And never give up Don't ever give up on you
Nooo don't give up,
No, no, no, no don't give up
Oh, no, no, no, no don't...give...up
June 6, 2016
With the reality of the first woman in history to win the nomination for President of the United States upon us, I find myself thinking about dreams. I remember being overwhelmed with emotion on election night in 2008, overcome with joy that we had elected our first black president. Obama had achieved what we never could have imagined be possible. I gazed at all the tear streaked faces and knew we were sharing an event that would be cherished as a high point in all of our lives. We were sharing a dream come true. For women and minorities, we are writing the script of history again.
Although many detractors are trying to quench the phenomenal nature of what Hillary is achieving, she, like Obama, is on the precipice of an accomplishment that will change the world. Make no mistake: women across the globe are watching this election and billions look to Hillary as a role model and leader. Because the United States is the world's leader and has never allowed a woman to be President, this milestone matters. Through her achievement, women can believe they have a destiny that is being made manifest. It is so momentous many scarcely allow themselves to actually believe it might happen and to take in all that means for the possibilities for women worldwide. What has always been absolutely impossible might just be possible.
There was a story about a little girl who heard the news that Hillary might make it a reality that a girl can grow up to be President. She beamed and responded with hope and joy. Her unadulterated elation is one that resides in so many supporters, quiet and watchful beneath an interrupted history of discrimination, chastisement and ridicule for even daring to hope. What some perceive as a lack is in reality a caution wrought by years of impossibility, of knowing that something that is so dreamed of could never come true.
That is the reason Hillary's supporters proceed carefully but with steady drive, just as she has. And, far from a lack of excitement, it is a focused, intensity of purpose that those who have not been prevented from sharing dreams can never imagine. While others may be loud and reckless with the invincible confidence of those who believe victory is at hand, they have far less at risk and have a history of losing far less. Many of the disenfranchised instinctively know that such abandon is a privilege compared to the tempered strength with which Hillary, minorities and women have had to pursue their dreams. They have not been able to celebrate victories before they are truly theirs because they are so hard fought and so rarely, if ever, won.
Hillary and her supporters do not take their dreams for granted. Each step toward them is measured with equal parts of courage, immense gratitude, resilience and joy. That is what heroes look like. That is what a history making triumph looks like. And that is how the dreams of so many before us and those ahead are going to finally come true.
Making Dreams Come True
With the reality of the first woman in history to win the nomination for President of the United States upon us, I find myself thinking about dreams. I remember being overwhelmed with emotion on election night in 2008, overcome with joy that we had elected our first black president. Obama had achieved what we never could have imagined be possible. I gazed at all the tear streaked faces and knew we were sharing an event that would be cherished as a high point in all of our lives. We were sharing a dream come true. For women and minorities, we are writing the script of history again.
Although many detractors are trying to quench the phenomenal nature of what Hillary is achieving, she, like Obama, is on the precipice of an accomplishment that will change the world. Make no mistake: women across the globe are watching this election and billions look to Hillary as a role model and leader. Because the United States is the world's leader and has never allowed a woman to be President, this milestone matters. Through her achievement, women can believe they have a destiny that is being made manifest. It is so momentous many scarcely allow themselves to actually believe it might happen and to take in all that means for the possibilities for women worldwide. What has always been absolutely impossible might just be possible.
There was a story about a little girl who heard the news that Hillary might make it a reality that a girl can grow up to be President. She beamed and responded with hope and joy. Her unadulterated elation is one that resides in so many supporters, quiet and watchful beneath an interrupted history of discrimination, chastisement and ridicule for even daring to hope. What some perceive as a lack is in reality a caution wrought by years of impossibility, of knowing that something that is so dreamed of could never come true.
That is the reason Hillary's supporters proceed carefully but with steady drive, just as she has. And, far from a lack of excitement, it is a focused, intensity of purpose that those who have not been prevented from sharing dreams can never imagine. While others may be loud and reckless with the invincible confidence of those who believe victory is at hand, they have far less at risk and have a history of losing far less. Many of the disenfranchised instinctively know that such abandon is a privilege compared to the tempered strength with which Hillary, minorities and women have had to pursue their dreams. They have not been able to celebrate victories before they are truly theirs because they are so hard fought and so rarely, if ever, won.
Hillary and her supporters do not take their dreams for granted. Each step toward them is measured with equal parts of courage, immense gratitude, resilience and joy. That is what heroes look like. That is what a history making triumph looks like. And that is how the dreams of so many before us and those ahead are going to finally come true.
June 5, 2016
1776! Going into Tonight's Election
1776!!
That is Hillary's number of pledged delegates going into tonight's election.
1776 is also the date of the Declaration of Independence.
Coincidence? I think not!
May 25, 2016
Alexander McCoy served six years in the Marine Corps, separating in 2013 at the rank of Sergeant. As a Marine, he deployed to Saudi Arabia, Honduras, and Germany in support of the U.S. Department of State. His writing on foreign policy, defense and veterans issues has also appeared in Reuters, Foreign Policy, the Jerusalem Post, the Daily Mail, and the Journal of Political Risk. He is the Marine Corps co-chair for Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tom Ricks' Council of the Former Enlisted, and currently studies political science at Columbia University in New York City. He serves on the board of the Ivy League Veterans Council, which advocates on behalf of veterans in higher education, and High Ground Veterans Advocacy, which trains veterans to become grassroots activists.
Trump Protester Alexander McCoy is a Hero
Alexander McCoy served six years in the Marine Corps, separating in 2013 at the rank of Sergeant. As a Marine, he deployed to Saudi Arabia, Honduras, and Germany in support of the U.S. Department of State. His writing on foreign policy, defense and veterans issues has also appeared in Reuters, Foreign Policy, the Jerusalem Post, the Daily Mail, and the Journal of Political Risk. He is the Marine Corps co-chair for Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tom Ricks' Council of the Former Enlisted, and currently studies political science at Columbia University in New York City. He serves on the board of the Ivy League Veterans Council, which advocates on behalf of veterans in higher education, and High Ground Veterans Advocacy, which trains veterans to become grassroots activists.
A bogus Daily Beast article attempted to impugn the characters of a small group of Vets who were protesting Trump on Monday. Despite what the author and some Bernie supporters have gone on to conclude, this was not a Clinton campaign event nor was it astroturfing. Many in the Sanders camp are now actually attacking the Vets for their protest of Trump! The depths to which some Sander's supporters have sunk has reached an all time low.
It was a protest put together by Marine veteran Alexander McCoy. Could it have been a larger, more well organized event? Yes. But, that is what happens when your every day Joe and a few other people want to have their voices heard and have the courage to actually get out there in public and do it.
Alexander reached out to the Clinton campaign for press contacts. The campaign offered that and some nominal logistical assistance (a conference call for attendees) for his cause. And the Clinton campaign has made it clear they are happy to help any other groups as well. Nothing is stopping other groups from doing so.
Amidst all the nasty put downs and smug judgements of naysayers, do the critics actually give a damn about McCoy and his group of fellow vets who actually got out there and pushed back against the Trump machine? Do they care about his message? Or, are they so caught up in finding ways to attack Clinton that his very legit cause is being drowned out in BS. If they actually care, they can easily do something about it. What were all the folks who are insulting McCoy's efforts doing Monday while he stood out there on the sidewalk in NY getting jeered at by Trump supporters? Right. Thought so.
Contrary to the accusation that he is lying, McCoy's statements are consistent. The fact that he did not want his message to be hijacked by a different cause means he didn't want his message hijacked by a different cause. He wanted it to be about Trump. This is not difficult to understand. Alexander is actually a hero and a remarkable and accomplished human being. Petty, small minded smears based on partisan and fact free conjecture will never change that. I am incredibly proud someone of his caliber supports Hillary.
And, unlike his detractors, I don't blame Alexander a bit for wanting to have his message ABOUT TRUMP rather than Hillary or war in general. It is his and the other Vet's protest. The fact that the author and some Sander's supporters would have liked it to be a different protest made is ON them. They can organize their own rather than demeaning this small group of Vets who actually showed up to challenge Trump. McCoy and his fellow Vets are appalled by Trump, his lies and his use of them while doing NOTHING for them. And you know what they got for their effort? Trump supporters and Sander's supporters putting them down. Window washers dumping water on them. News agencies and Sanders supporters making it about Hillary instead of the Vets, their message and Trump. This is not about Hillary no matter how much some would like to spin the message to make it more "newsworthy." For me, what Alexander and his fellow Vets have to say is incredibly important and enough.
If Alexander or any of the Vets who showed up to the protest are reading this, know you are awesome.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for standing up and thank you for calling out Trump despite all the BS.
I hear you. Other people hear you.
You are heroes.
Mad props to you all. Thank you!
The offensive article is here, at the bottom, where it belongs:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/23/hillary-clinton-s-camp-staged-veterans-against-trump-protest.html
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