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February 10, 2010 11:23 PM UTC

Political Opinions Are My Constitutional Right

  • 30 Comments
  • by: peacemonger

When I was a kid, my parents were close friends with another couple, and as both families grew, the kids grew up together like cousins. When I was in college, their oldest son Ricky was a union organizer in Chicago, working to elect Jesse Jackson as President. I will never forget the day we got the telephone call telling us his car brakes had mysteriously failed, and his car barrelled into a cement viaduct, killing him instantly.  

His parents were devestated, as you can imagine, but they were also very proud their son died doing what he loved to do — working for change.  The day of his funeral, Jesse Jackson called them and expressed his heart-felt condolences, and that phone call made the difference between utter despair, and knowing their son’s life was not in vain. Although Jackson did not go on to win the presidency, as we know, each vote was one step closer to the day when a progressive, or an African-American candidate, or anyone who worked for the “little guy”, could win the Presidency.

To no one’s surprise, the Chicago police ruled it an accident.

Many years later, Ricky’s youngest son grew up, and was one of the first young men to volunteer to fight in the Iraq war. Sam believed what George W. Bush told the world about the reasons for war, and was eager to serve his country.  Within weeks, and before ever making it to Iraq, Sam died in a freak accident — they said his rifle went off while he was climbing stairs, and it killed him instantly. Again, my family mourned the loss of another young man they knew who died for his beliefs.

No one questioned the US military when Sam died –as his Mother told me, “What’s the point? Nothing will bring him back.” I remain suspicious to this day.

A month ago, someone broke into the Service Employees International Union in Denver, spilling water, liquid mercury, and chlordane (a chemical that had been outlawed 25 years ago for industrial use), on the floor of the lower level. These materials are extremely toxic. In my mind, whoever spilled them clearly intended to kill someone — this was a sign of intimidation — a clear hate crime.  A hazardous materials team was called in and employees were not allowed back in until the entire building was made safe again.

A Denver Post article quoted a police officer saying “A large thermometer may have broken”. Riiiight. I have no idea where the investigation is now. (If others do, please chime in.)

Having numerous friends at SEIU, I was afraid for them. When I was invited to go to the building for a phone bank for health reform not long after, I was afraid. Memories of Ricky and Sam filled my mind. “How strong are my convictions, really, I asked myself?” I did go to that phone bank along with dozens of other joyous people from all walks of life- working Moms, Dads, children and grandparents. Some were mobile, others in wheelchairs — all embracing life and the joy that it is to be alive in this country and have our freedom of speech.  Although I did not mention it to my SEIU friends that night, I was teary-eyed. Their complete lack of self-concern, and complete focus on the needs of others was in my mind — the very definition of feeling alive.

Since that day, I have become more involved as a volunteer for the Bennet campaign. I lost a number of my progressive friends because I did not side with Andrew Romanoff, and I am deeply saddened by that. Bullies on the blogs taunt me, harrass me, leave nasty messages on my facebook page, and otherwise try to make my life a living Hell because, they say, I cannot possibly be a progressive who supports someone who was appointed to office, rather than elected. A drunken woman spit on me at Drinking Liberally Denver when I said something positive about Senator Bennet.

I have said many times Andrew Romanoff served our state well and I am grateful, and I personally thanked him for it a couple of times. I do not blame him for having some crazy people on his side, but I do ask him here, publicly, to help reign in some of his “more passionate” supporters.

I also do not owe him anything more for his service — we all make our choices and sacrifices every day of our lives for the things we care about. I am free to make up my own mind on who I support in this primary. If the appointment Governor Ritter made turned out to be a smart move, great… I can forgive him for not listening to us originally. He also had the right to do it.

Last year, a blogger on another site cyber-stalked me, ridiculed people I am associated with on-line, and tried to intimidate me off the blogosphere, when I first started posting pro-Bennet diaries. He almost succeeded in chasing me away, but I bounced back.  Sadly, the owners of the blog (not this one) refused to get involved, although they did delete most of the evidence.

Yesterday, a POLS blogger tried to “out” me as a blogger, in his anger that I still support Senator Michael Bennet and I will not back down.  I saved screen shots of the ranting and the abuse, and I intend to follow up with the police.

Extreme fanatic progressive bullies are not taking away my freedom of speech. They will not force me to be quiet. They will not intimidate me. No one will tell me who I can and cannot support in this primary or in any other election.

I support Senator Bennet, because like me, he continues to fight hard for his convictions (despite a less-than-appreciated first year in office). He fights for what he believes in because he feels it is the right thing to do — not to win points by adoring fans within a singular progressive community, or any other community.

Senator Michael Bennet is a good and decent man with real compassion for my family and for the working  people I care about. He cares about the same socially progressive agenda I do — protecting the rights of all Americans – women, children, gays and lesbians, immigrants, the elderly, the poor — everyone. Anyone who says otherwise speaks from a position of ignorance in my opinion — they have not had the decency to get to know him, as they did his primary opponent, Andrew Romanoff. And yes, Senator Bennet is a fiscal conservative in some ways, while still being tough on Wall Street and the banks. I happen to believe that is what the voters of Colorado want in their next Senator. I also firmly believe if Andrew Romanoff wins the primary, Dems will lose in the general. We can’t afford to lose another seat.

Michael Bennet has traveled all over the state talking to people in urban, rural and suburban areas. He talks to people outside the progressive echo chamber as well as those within it, and he listens — he really listens, thinks, and asks questions. Perhaps that is why he has gained a huge following outside of Denver from people who are paying attention, watching his votes, seeing his work, and hoping he will be able to continue his work in the Senate.

I will continue to support Senator Bennet because I respect him, and there isn’t a single extremist progressive bully who can take that away from me.

Ricky and Sam died for me to have that right.

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30 thoughts on “Political Opinions Are My Constitutional Right”

  1. but if this happened on Facebook or another social page, you should notify them immediately for the stalking. They will decide if this qualifies as such. And you might want to loop the owners of Colorado Pols in on what’s going on here, too. Their email address is:  webmaster@coloradopols.com

    Blogs get weird sometimes, particularly when some folks can’t leave it at the blog but take their beef into real life. And that’s when things get scary.  

  3. Anyone can create an account at Colorado Pols, and anyone can use anonymous handles or screen names. We don’t ever try to figure out the “real identities” of our posters, nor is there any real way for us to do so.

    We have said this time and time again: ANYONE who tries to “out” another person on Colorado Pols will be banned from the site. Period.

    This is a place for political discussion on both sides of the aisle. Those discussions can turn heated, certainly, but when they become personal attacks they cross the line. If someone chooses to comment anonymously, then that is their right to do so. Nobody has the right to tell someone otherwise.

  5. … and it brings up a broader Romanoff issue.  I’m with a number of folks in probably supporting Bennet, but also liking a lot about Romanoff, and inclining against Romanoff mainly on the admittedly thin, purely pragnatic rationale, “it ain’t gonna happen, so he should just get out of the way” grounds.

    But my inclination against Romanoff has been increased by the oddly strident and less-than-logical arguments a number of Romanoff supporters have made on this site.  I suppose that logically, I shouldn’t hold certain anonymous bloggers against a political figure they support — but some of their posts, and antics like the ones you report, really do leave a bad asts in my mouth about the Romanoff cause.

    1. A discussion for another post, but

      I think whether we want to or not, we evaluate a candidate based on his or her supporters.

      It’s not always reasonable or rational, but sometimes it is.

      Example, endorsements. We tend to think of endorsements in terms of big names, but I think we generally care more about what our neighbors and friends are thinking.  Not always, but generally.

      Now, here on CoPols.com, as far as I know I don’t know very many people well enough to characterize them as friends or neighbors. But, correctly or not, I think of as peers, at least here on CoPols.com.  Maybe in the “real” world, someone would be more of a big name or celebrity or political leader or sports star or progressive genius or whatever.  But, here, right here – I defer to no one*. And because of that perceived peerage, I do care what and how posters think.

      And welcome to CoPols.com

      * Except, of course, MOTR whom I serve.

  8. Did anyone actually read the fact-checking that MTIU posted last night? The point of the post wasn’t to “force [anyone] to be quiet” or to “take away [your] freedom of speech.” The point of the post was to encourage the exchange of FACTS.  Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but they should also expect to be held accountable when they mislead or lie.  

    1. was to out another user.

      It’s unfortunate that you and MTIU haven’t been banned from the site for what you did.

      And I would say exactly the same thing if a Bennet supporter had tried to out JO, or MTIU, or you. It was classless, it was against the explicit rules, and it was completely unjustifiable.

  9. Sorry to CoPols I “outed” a particular person last night but I didn’t think I was relieving any national secrets.  Sorry to anyone else who might have agreed with what I said and is getting caught up in this.

    Peacemonger – I do not apologize to you.  You posted misinformation and lies on another site, you know it and I called you out.  The only reason the factchecking was not posted there is that there is word limit.  Also, reading your post I AM NOT the person you refer to above.  I am sorry all of that stuff happened to you in the past but I can assure you it was not me.  

    With that said clearly I was right (for those of you who know what all of this is about look at the original statement I factchecked – it has changed).  That was my original intention.  There is so much misinformation FROM ALL SIDES being posted here and elsewhere.  Since no one else seems to have the spine to point out this information without spewing venom at someone who might disagree with them I am going to do.  I will not even attempt to try to “out” anyone.  I am sticking to the facts without getting personal.  If I am wrong call me out – I am an adult – I can handle it.  

    1. first “popular” isn’t the word I’d use.

      But more importantly, you are wrong on two scores.

      You don’t get to decide when it’s ok to out a userame on ColoradoPols. Because it’s not ok.

      Second, You were not right and we can’t look at the original statement – that post has been deleted.  Instead

      Sorry!

      We were unable to locate that page.

  10. This is what I just read in these comments.

    To paraphrase, “I throw a tantrum, don’t get what I want, so I must tattle about it.”

    SWELL.

    I do not understand why someone would try and “out” someone on this website, it seems tacky and low class. But why are we to only take your side of the story? All I have seen is someone fact checking an article from another user. That is NOT a terrorist action. Writing a long article on how someone is a victim does not seem to be the adult way of handling things.

    If someone  cannot handle their pieces being fact checked, (And fact checking is just that, FACT CHECKING. NOT attacking others) then perhaps this is too stressful of a forum for them and they should find another place to go. Not bother the police force with silly online fighting. I’ve heard they have some other things to deal with right now. Like Becky and Susie fighting over Bobby, now THERE is an argument that needs some police intervention. (In case you cannot sense my sarcasm, let me point it out.)

    I find it odd to find so much drama stemming from an article written by someone strangely named for “Peace.”

    Frankly, it is these kind of personal vendettas against people that keep me off this website. This call for a banning or, (I couldn’t even believe my eyes, a “shunning”) shocked me to no end. Next you will be calling to add Scarlett A’s next to MTIU and CU87 usernames.

    Well, perhaps not an A for adulterer, but a B for “Butthead” would be appropriate? I would love everyones notes on that.

    Bennet supporter or Romanoff supporter,  just BEHAVE yourselves and act like grown ups, “Or I will turn this car around!”  

  11. I don’t have a problem with fact checking. Be rational, bring up a point, back it up with evidence, and let’s talk about it as civil people. Character assassinations, breaking blogger rules, long rants on the blogs, rants on facebook, and everything else do not help your points.

    I took the facts from the other blog right from Senate websites. I lend them more credibility than a person who hates a particular political candidate and screams and rants about it anywhere they can.  

    The other blogsite allows you to politely question facts, and they allows plenty of words for that purpose.  They do moderate their commments however, so perhaps your fact checking didn’t look up to their standards (?).

    1. People have a tendency when they “insult” or find fault with others to go after the very character traits that they themselves possess even when it is complete poppycock. (For instance, I tend to go after laziness and jealousy in others, because I can be lazy when I don’t watch myself and get jealous far too easily.)

      So the question I pose to you is, how many other usernames are YOU using? Last night was my first posting on this website PERIOD. It seems the paranoia has already begun.

      Perhaps I should repost part of my earlier statements, “Bennet supporter or Romanoff supporter, just BEHAVE yourselves…”

      Seeing someone who disagrees with you and shows other people you are wrong about a “fact” you have posted, as irrational, is really a little bonkers. I don’t think my liberal friends are crazy when they say that Bill O’Reilly needs to be fact checked. Same difference.  

      1. I could not have said it better myself.  For the record I have no idea who OZ or CU87 are.  

        For those who want to have a civil discussion about issues without attacking anyone I have started a factchecking diary you are all welcome to view and comment.  But in the words of OZ “just behave”.

        I may have crossed the line earlier.  I let my emotions get the best of me.  I assure all of you that line will not be crossed by me on my diary.  

        If you want to intelligently discuss the issues or accomplishments of you candidate and can back them up go here: http://www.coloradopols.com/di…  

        2. No, YOU DID. Now you are telling us how to blog intelligently?  Fascinating…

          Oz, if you say this is the first time you’ve been here, “Welcome”. Please understand that when 3 new people show up on the same diary, on the same day, on the same side of a discussion, and then one of them goes way out of line, the rest of us get suspicious.  Since MTIU promises to play by our rules, we should all get along just fine, no matter how much we disagree about an issue.

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