What's up with that, eh?

A dear friend of mine who lives out in California relayed a disturbing tale to me this week. Seems he was talking to an old friend of his about the Democratic candidates, and when he expressed his reservations about Sen. Obama, she became, in his word, "incensed," and refused to discuss it further.

He fears this may be a metaphor for the Democratic party.

This episode is unsettling on a number of fronts, but first and foremost is this: If you can't discuss your candidate with someone who is critical of him or her, you risk looking like someone who doesn't have much in the way of arguments as to why you support your guy or gal. Rather like the people who stick their fingers in their ears and say, "La-La-La I Can't Hear You!" when you're trying to tell them something they don't want to hear. It may spare their feelings, but it sure as heck is no way to defend a position.

If one wants to look like a thoughtful, reasonable adult, that is.

It also raises an issue I've been wondering about this week as well, about Obama's candidacy being a cult of personality and sexism. And as my friend in California's experience attests, cult members can be a twitchy lot, especially where their fearless leader is concerned.

As for sexism, I think it is far more deeply ingrained in the American psyche than even racism, especially among white liberals. But then, this also occured to me: What better way to attone for being an affluent white male than to vote for a black male candidate?

All this makes me worry as to what might happen if Clinton wins the nomination. My fear is that all the Obama fanatics will stay home on election day. Methinks anyone who could get swept up like that could just as easily become disillusioned, and say what the fook does it matter?

But then again, maybe my neighbors offer some hope. Right up to the election, they had an Obama sign in their front yard. The next day, it was gone.

Perhaps that's a better metaphor for our party? We shall see....