Even now, after having cast my primary vote, I am truly agnostic about who will become the Democratic nominee. I really like and respect both candidates, and am thrilled with the possibility of either becoming President. But this race has been making me increasingly anxious. It seems like someone flipped a switch recently that made all the magnanimity and politesse drain out of both sides of the thing. Whereas a month ago, even the partisans of my acquaintance seemed respectful of the other side, now all I see is snideness, backbiting, and – well – partisanship. From where I stand it seems equally bad from both sides, so spare me the “Well, they started it!” routine.
This morning, my 76-year-old Hillary-loving mother said this to me, “You know I have never really gotten invested in politics much. But this time it’s different. I really feel something deeply emotional.”
Four years ago, after my primary candidate lost I remember feeling very sad and let down, but not bitter at the nominee (well, no bitterness until said Democratic nominee lost in November).
So, I can’t help but wonder (imagine me saying that in my best Carrie Bradshaw voice): Is it just my mom, or have the rest of you also gotten so emotionally invested that you can no longer see the forest for the trees? I hate watching as two incredibly strong candidates get sucked into a vortex of ugliness, and I am especially terrified the the ill-feelings of the supporters will last past the convention to the detriment of the ultimate nominee in the general.
Someone please tell me I’m wrong about this so I can go back to being anxious about things that matter, like who will win Project Runway.
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