So, it is about hate

News out of Nevada — according to The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza — Nevada Tea Party Senate nominee
Sharron Angle raised a whopping $14 million over the third fundraising quarter
(July 1-Sept. 30). Surely, this is an exceptional fundraising feat — and is
likely to stand as the most money raised for a Senate campaign in a quarter for
the entire election cycle.

Usually, campaigns rejoice over high fundraising totals. Usually, raising a few
million dollars stokes momentum and elicits elation. Usually, campaigns would
rally around that accomplishment and drive a positive message about the change
they are hoping to bring about. Or they might demonstrate the overwhelming
humility that candidates usually feel when showered with such support.


But this isn’t a usual election, and Sharron Angle isn’t your usual candidate.
The Tea Party and its candidates, like Angle, like to say they aren’t motivated
by “hate” but by wanting to “retake America.” What did they have to say about
this remarkable development? Here are the carefully chosen words of her spokesman,
no doubt approved by the candidate:

“This is a testament to the hatred of Harry Reid, the nation’s disapproval
of President Obama and the unprecedented grassroots support for Sharron
Angle.”

They lead with hatred. I think that’s all you really need to know about the
Angle campaign and what they stand for. It’s not about thanking supporters.
It’s not about changing America for the better. For Angle, according to her own
campaign, it is about espousing hate, using hate and promoting hate.

Angle’s operatives are so into their mantra of hate that they can’t even see
the benefits of their accomplishments. Or, even worse, they can see them and
decide to play the hate card anyway.

Sharron Angle had a great opportunity to rise above it — to elevate herself and
her campaign by touting the true meaning behind the fundraising (here’s a
question — how much of that came from outside Nevada, and how much is from
“grassroots” donors?). The statement of hatred they issued is a missed
opportunity and is disappointingly shallow, maybe even shallower than the
gutter she runs her campaign from.