in the Democratic Party.  Today in the New York Times, Gary Hart had this to say about disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters who have indicated they will vote for Senator John McCain:  "These people are not going to vote for John McCain -- I don't care what they say."  With these comments Mr. Hart points out a key difference between the Democratic voter strategy and the Republican voter strategy:  The Democrats arrogantly believe that no matter how much and how often they insult their base, it will always come home, wagging its tail behind it.  The Republicans think they must always be working to retain their base and to steal some of the other guy's.  Thus, have the Dems been out of power for the last eight years and if they're not careful, they will be for another four as well.  I say they, because I am one of those disgruntled Hillary supporters and while I won't be voting for John McCain, I may not vote for Senator Obama either.

In the course of this campaign I have heard from several inclusive, well mannered Obama supporters but they have been overwhelmingly outnumbered by mean spirited Obama-ites who make references to both my age and my gender and often call me racist.  Now I'm not above a little jibing, in fact, that's half the fun of politics, a little give and take.  I, for instance, refer to Obama supporters as Obama-ites and residents of Obama-ville and I would have no problem if his supporters referred to me in some similar way.  I have never, however, called Senator Obama, his wife or any of his supporters the kinds of demeaning and chauvinistic terms that many of his supporters have used against me and my candidate.  Indeed, many times I have included in my comments on other sites a denunciation of those who have tried to portray Senator Obama in some of the hateful ways which rear their heads amongst posters of a certain ilk. 

For most of my voting life I lived in east Tennessee and worked at a company where for a long time I was one of only two Democrats.  Trust me there was a lot of back and forth, none of which I ever recall as being as heated as that which has gone on between Obama and Hillary supporters.  After the theft of the 2000 election, until Senator Gore's gracious and for the good of the country concession, my office door was covered with political cartoons and articles that I would post which then provoked cartoons and articles from Bush supporters; again, all in reasonably good humor and taste.  I have never been treated as badly - to my face - by members of other political parties as I have been treated by residents of Obama-ville. 

Without a doubt, Senator Obama cannot be held accountable for the ways in which many of his supporters conduct themselves but I have trouble believing in the transformational abilities of a movement when so many of its members act in ways so diametrically opposed to their supposed philosophy.  And, while Senator Obama generally acts in ways which echo his professed intentions, I am troubled that so many of those in his inner circle do not behave in that manner.  That being said, I would not vote outside my party of 36 years solely based on bad manners and bruised feelings.

At the moment, though, I don't feel that the Democratic Party is my party.  I have been told repeatedly that I am too old, I have been told that merely because I choose to support a white woman over a black man that I am a racist, I have been told my candidate - despite years of hard work for the party, extensive credentials, vast capabilities - should have almost immediately stepped aside for a younger, less experienced and, at this point in his career in my estimation, less qualified man.  And the capper is, the party expects my unquestioning loyalty, it assumes that my vote is a given.  Well, it's not. 

I now consider myself an Independent.  I will vote for whom I want, when I want, if I want.  It may be that I will see more value in working at ground level, it may be that I will devote myself to non-political causes, it may be that I vote for Senator Obama.  The one thing that is certain is the Democrats need my vote even if they don't need me.  I am sure the Republicans know that, it might be wise if the Democrats knew it too.