February 10, 2010 11:23 PM UTC

Political Opinions Are My Constitutional Right

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• 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.