Some Apocalyptic Observations on the Democratic Nomination Fight from Here on Out

A young friend who lives in a small town in a rural state sent me the following observation today:

If the Clintons push for the win in Denver, they're going to split the goddamn party down the middle. I read your chapter on 1968 Chicago, obviously. I'm of the generation who supports Obama. I know what we're like. Shit, I know what I'm like.

Rick, if the Machine tries to give the Clintons the victory at the convention, I swear to God, Chicago's going to look like a Sadie Hawkins dance. People my age are going to be throwing stones. We all have transportation -- cell phones -- disposable income -- the Internet -- free time -- and Seattle as our example. Part of me is scared of a riot. Part of me isn't. The nomination belongs to Obama. Do you think we're going to let the Democratic Leadership Council take it? "God gave Noah the rainbow sign. No more water, fire next time."

He's referring to my forthcoming book Nixonland, about the American civil war that broke out between 1965 and 1972, specifically the chapter about the beatings by Chicago police against both anti-war protesters and anti-war delegates at the 1968 Democratic Convention. I thought it a bit too melodramatic, and didn't take it particularly seriously, though I did pass it on for discussion (with my friend's permission) at a couple of listservs I belong to.

One of them yielded up this response, from an Iraq War vet who works full time in Democratic politics (again, quoted with permission):

Not to mention that there's going to be a significant Iraq veteran contingent at the convention, ready to rock 'n' roll. We've already had planning meetings about it -- we're going about it the same way that we would plan any decent military operation.

Put it this way: if she goes for the gold in Denver, she'll have to claim the medal somewhere other than the Pepsi Center.

I began to take all this a little bit more seriously.

He then added this:

I can't emphasize enough how potentially scary things could get -- we've got folks working on the inside of the convention, and it's all done on a cell basis, so that folks only know what they need to know.

I'm trying to keep everyone calm, as I just mentioned, but it's getting harder and harder to do so. The mood's getting ugly, and if we go to Denver without a nominee, the pressure's going to be intense from without to nominate Obama. She can win the nomination, but it won't be a prize worth having.

I took it more seriously still.

I pass this all on without comment, for superdelegates and my friends in the Hillary Clinton campaign to read, and in categorical abhorrence of anyone who'd contemplate introducing violence as a variable in American civic life.

Comments

[randwolf]

It strikes me that these people have taken the media accounts of Chicago and Seattle for the real thing. In Chicago, the violence was largely started and perpetrated by the police, and the media reported that the demonstrators started it. The overwhelming majority of protesters in Seattle were non-violent; the reporting focused on the tiny aggressive minority of demonstrators (and a not-so-tiny group of violent police). I think the candidates will probably quell any violence from their supporters. But if there is serious violence among Obama supporters in Denver, it will discredit their candidate. If there is enough violence--or perhaps even only a little--the Bush administration will declare martial law, and it will be all over. Don't give these guys an excuse.

[Tranquility]

I hope you immediately contacted the FBI, Mr Perlstein!

[OxyCon]

Who knew that there are so many "Timothy McVeigh" types supporting Obama?
You certainly can't tell by all the "hopeful" and "uplifting" comments the Disciples of Hope leave all over the Internet.

[Johanna]

Thanks for getting rid of that hidiously awful "automatic refresh" -- that's the reason I quit visiting the first time. But now you have medium blue on a grey background for comments -- who thought that was a good idea? Old folks, people with astigmatism or poor vision can't read it very well.

Also, there is no way to enlarge the font. With a larger font the color scheme might be okay. Yes, my prescription is less then a year old.

Bye.

[Barbyrah]

All of this is assuming that being the Democratic nominee is the only way to go. But as someone noted, this is about a major shift, major change in how we operate in the world, how we "hold ourselves," how we move ahead and evolve.
So...I'd be absolutely delighted if, in the event the party takes the "low road" in Denver...those who desire to support this New Vision...encourage Barack and Michelle to go the way of a Third Party.
(Personally, I think the country is sooooo ready for it. And I truly believe...he cound win.)
Why do things "the old way" re: threats, intimidation, etc.? That's not what his candidacy is about, anyway. How about channeling this incredible wave of "connection" across ages, genders, orientations, geographic locales, vocations, incomes...into something glorious and grand?
Besides, "fighting against" something only creates more of the same. "Flowing with" something...creates a stream of greatness that cannot be stopped.

[catriley]

Oh I see. So we're being threatened with violence if the voters continute speak out for Hillary? Is that how it goes? We're supposed to be afraid of thugs now? Get off your high horses and stop deluding yourself into believeing that this is the freakin' American Revoltion. It's not. It's a bunch of people raised on video game and movie violence, who just registered to vote, and think they know what America needs.

Your candidate is a fraud. Plain and simple. You're all willing to go to jail or die for a guy that gets his words from a middle-aged white media consultant. Yeah, that's really revolutionary. These nutjob comments that are featured here are not the only ones out there.. they're multiplying all over the internet. I'm sorry, but I have a hard time thinking these people are so devoted to democracy as to threaten violence to get their weak candidate in office.

Movement? Yeah, right. It's be so impressive to hear these 'give me obama or give me death' types if he actually stood for something. Which he does not. I think that the Obama supporters that were caught on tape screaming at people during the caucuses, and the threats by these thugs, are only going to guarantee that NO ONE will vote for him even if you manage to strongarm the nomination. He can't win the General Election with a handful of his little army (or whatever the hell you call yourselves now.) You can kiss even the slightest bit moderate voter behind.

We will not be intimidated. You're underestimating the Super Delegates and the voters, and America. Obama needs to rein his supporters in, pronto.

[ErieCanaller]

So this is the "New Politics?" The result of the "Unity" campaign? Democrats threatening other Democrats when the most divisive force in this country has been George Bush? It sounds as if the majority of posters here need a refresher course in the US Constitution.

For the Iraq War vets, maybe you should take a look at the Samantha Powers video where she says Obama has no intention off standing by his comments regarding withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Given the past week's events, it seems entirely likely that the Obama campaign will have imploded by the time Denver rolls around. ..and does anyone believe that threats will benefit Obama? I would imagine most Americans will not be coerced by these tactics.

[grlpatriot]

I really hope the FBI is monitoring the threats of domestic terrorism on this site and that the whole lot of you get put in time out because you are acting like a bunch on tired toddlers in need of a spanking. Grow up, get a life, work for peace by being peaceful!

[Montanamotor]

The british troops also weren't negotiated or, mediated out during the War for the US-Independence. If something really gets nasty, one has to be prepared for it. If the Clinton-Campaign should REALLY try to secure the nomination for Hillary against the majority of the democratic electorate - represented by Obama's mayority of pledged delegates - the DNC will get what they deserve: The Denver-Tea-Party.

[zozosmom]

So if these spoiled brats don't get their way they're going to beat us? Latte liberals acting like skinheads. I always objected when centrists said that the far left is as bad as the far right. I stand corrected.

[acanthus]

What makes you assume this guy is a "far leftist"?

[CitizenRob]

What's not to understand? This is life and death for these young people, and for the Iraq war vets. They see a political shill (Clinton) that was willing to put them in Iraq in first place with her politically expedient war vote. Now they see that same woman trying destroying the candidate that is most likely to end their tours in Iraq.

This is life and death.

As for the first quote... I'm telling you, this current generation does NOT believe in non-violent civil disobedience. And they are ready to explode. And trust me, they know about the 60's peace movement. They know how little flower loving tree hugging hippies actually accomplished.

[CitizenRob]

Yeah the peace movement sure did a lot for America in the 1960s with their anti-violence focus.

The only way the left is EVER going to get ahead in this country is if the wealthy fear for their lives.

[mtuckey]

Oh please. If you must go to Denver, please study MLK and learn about civil disobedience. Be disciplined and non-violent. Not simply angry. I hope it doesn't come to this for several reasons: 1) it will resolve nothing. 2) democrats will lose in November. 3) democrats will have squandered all of this energy and enthusiasm for their party.

But in fact, I fear the machine is corrupt. The party elders are the only ones with the power right now to resolve all of this-- it's time for super delegates to commit their votes-- we already know Clinton can't catch Obama on voter delegates. At best she won 5-10 in her BIG victory Tuesday. The longer this drags on the more divisive and angry voters will become. And it's a shame folks. The anarchy is within the system, not outside with a bunch of yahoos.

[Dragon5616]

A cogent comment.

[spindr]

Not sure about the "riot in the streets" scenario, but rest assured the Democratic Party will implode and a significant percentage of the 13 million who have voted for Obama will abandon ship. The end result? A nomination for Hillary Clinton that will be as useless as the scorched earth she's leaving in her wake.

[RickO]

This is not called a "movement" for nothing. This is very real.

We all know that going to Washington with torches and pitchforks is fun to imagine but unrealistic. Not so with Denver. We're looking at the 40th anniversary of 68, we are at war, we are really pissed off already and we are not going to accept an outcome that appears to go against the will of the people.

This argument about Michigan and Florida is another example of an underhanded tactic (I am in FL myself). Rules are rules, everyone agreed, the vote that did occur was known by everyone, in advance, as futile, but now they want to change the rules that would unfailry skew the numbers. Bullshit! They can pillory the DNC for a lot of things, but Dean's right on this one. I want my vote to count but I want it counted fairly. The Florida primary was not fair.

[SamThornton]

It's interesting that the people most upset with the Democratic Party are Democrats. Given the inaction of the Democratic Congress on issues they ran on in the 2006 election, however, it shouldn't be surprising. The common theme between that wasted election and what is shaping up to be another, is the frustration of voters with the perfidy of officials within their own party, elected or not.

Just how many lies are voters expected to swallow? And make no mistake about it, discarding the will of voters is a lie, probably the most profound lie a politician can attempt.

Can the Democratic Party survive two wasted elections, two examples in a row of hijacking voter sentiment to serve the leadership's own private purposes? Time, as they say, will tell.

[mix2007]

I agree.

After 2000 when Gore's victory was STOLEN by the Supreme Court, true Democrats will not abide by another stolen election.

Superdelegates beware.

DNC beware.

You could lose the entire African American community and under 30 contigent.

I am sure Hillary would destroy the party for her own ego and greed. But why on earth woudl the DNC play along and let her destroy them?????

She practically endorsed McCain the other day!

She is committing fratricide against the likely nominee wih her fear and smear tactics.

I am increasingly angry with a DNC whih is enabling this.