This race and the blogosphere

One of the most interesting aspects of the Democratic primary, at least to me, has been the effect the protracted battle has had on the progressive blogosphere. For the most part, I've found that the overwhelmingly pro-Obama and pro-Clinton sites have only hardened in their ways. That said, a similar divergence and hardening of opinion seems to be occurring  within the pro-Clinton blogosphere. As the finality and certainty of this primary - Obama is going to be the nominee - dawns on everyone, two things are happening.

One, some Clinton supporters are softening to the presumptive Democratic nominee and are taking the first steps toward getting to work in taking down John McCain. But two, some Clinton supporters have gone in the complete opposite direction and, honestly, have departed the reality-based community. Squint your eyes on visits to MyDD and Taylor Marsh these days and you'd think George W. Bush changed his name to Barack Obama. Browse the comment threads at either site and gaze, as I do, in amazement at some of the assertions being made in the face of overwhelming, cold fact.

Just as, on the right, every piece of news seems to be good for the Republicans and bad for the Democrats, every update from the Democratic primary - on these sites - is good for Clinton and bad for Obama. Her losses can be explained away. His wins, too. His supporters, as a group, are low-information, elitist, cultish, sexist newbies, while hers are principled, true Democrats. He's a two-faced opportunist willing to sell the party down the river for a vote, while she's a crusader interested in protecting the vote*. And on and on. You get the idea.

Again, this race is over. It just is. And with all of the chatter about the importance of how Clinton finishes the race - gracefully or guns blazing - should come the realization that many progressives are going to have long memories when it comes to this race. Some bloggers, therefore, should really take a look at the manner at which they approach the final stages of the primary. This is hardly a threat - the days of my illusions of influence are long gone, if they ever arrived. No, I just mean that the party - and our progressive ideals - are far more important than any one candidate. And at what cost are some willing to advocate for a candidate by trying to destroy the presumptive nominee? This election is too important. The threat of a third Bush term is too real.

I'm sure what I've said brands me as a sexist, anti-democratic elitist. But it is what it is.

* Never mind the fact that the Clinton campaign knew the rules and agreed to them beforehand.