While there are dozens of epithets being thrown at those of us who still support the Democratic Party and President Obama – i.e. Kool-aide drinkers, blind loyalists, lock-stepping-marchers, etc. – the one that baffles me is the term “Obama apologists”.

The term implies that (a) we perceive Obama to have acted in a way that requires an apology – which we don’t – and (b) that the President himself owes some kind of apology to those who disagree with his conduct, his policies, his behaviour – which he doesn’t.

The man is doing what he was “hired” to do by the citizenry, i.e. to deal with the tasks at-hand based on his best judgment of how they can best be dealt with, given the opposition from the other side of the aisle, the obstacles strewn in his path by those who desire his tenure in office to be perceived as a failure, the “warring factions” who, on every side of any number of issues, believe their way is the only way.

Barack Obama wasn’t elected to do the bidding of each individual who voted for him; he was elected to do what he feels is in the best interest of the nation as a whole.

Don’t agree with him? Fine. Pissed off at him? You’re more than free to say so. But if you think you are owed an apology every time this president does something contrary to what you want – well, don’t hold your breath. Because you’re not. And those who support his presidency don’t owe you an apology either.

I believe strongly in the goals and tenets of the Democratic party, and I apologize to no one for holding that belief – nor do I apologize for this president, nor anyone else who I perceive to be doing the best job they can in moving the nation forward towards certain ideals becoming a reality.

Of course, there are those who don’t believe that the President IS moving the nation forward, and they are perfectly within their rights to say so. However, they should be aware that not everyone agrees with them – and those who don’t agree with them don’t owe them an apology for holding a different view, any more than they owe anyone an apology for their views.

I respect those who say: “I will fight for positive change, encouraged by my faith in this president.” That is, IMHO, a valid position.

I also respect those who say: “I will fight for positive change, despite my lack of faith in this president,” which is an equally valid stance.

What I have NO respect for is those who say: “My only interest is in nay-saying, being disruptive, instigating in-fighting, inciting divisiveness among people whose goals are the same (despite their differences as to the best way to achieve them), diminishing the power of the Democratic Party by encouraging the view that the Party is comprised of liars, corporatist sell-outs and ne’er do wells who are working in concert to undermine everything the vast majority of Democratic voters are working to achieve, encouraging a split in the Party – thereby increasing the chances of the GOP in future elections, so that I can whine-and-complain, as I’ve a wont to do.”

It is, in my humble opinion, the latter group – and only that group – who owe an apology to all concerned.

If you are currently a Norquist apologist, a splitting-the-Democrats-because-a-third-party-is-the-only-solution-even-though-it-strengthens-the-opposition apologist, a RW talking-points-when-they-serve-my-purpose apologist, an I campaigned for this guy and he OWES ME apologist, or – the most heinous of all – an I’m taking my marbles and going home apologist, please feel free to apologize.

But don’t expect those of us who still believe in a Democratic president and the Democratic Party to apologize for your discontent – nor your inability to see that if your only “solution” is to side with the enemy and take down the only viable party that stands in opposition to that enemy, you are part of the problem.

I stand behind this Party and this President. That may lead some of you to call me naive, ignorant, unaware of the facts, dumb-as-a-doorknob, easily-led, a sheeple, a kool-aide kid, a lock-stepper, a dreamer, a pie-in-the-sky optimist, an idealist - what the fuck ever.

And you are well within your rights to call me all of the above - valid or not - and then some.

But don't call me an apologist - because I apologize to NO ONE when it comes to my right to support a President I trust, or a Party whose aims I believe in.

Not now, not ever.