Rep. Debbie Dingell to her online haters: 'Vicious comments bother me'

"Let me be very blunt," posts Rep. Debbie Dingell in an impassioned callout of over-the-line social media attacks.

The cri du coeur this week is at her personal Facebook page, where she strings out daily reflections on issues, events, health, weather and moods. Among nearly 28,800 followers, she notes, are some "who reflect the trend of nastiness, incivility, meanness and spite."

Rep. Dingell yesterday at Young Patriots Park in Riverview, where The Wall That Heals -- a Vietnam Wall replica -- is on view through Sunday. (Photo: Facebook)

The fourth-term Democratic congresswoman from Dearborn is fed up enough to push back: "I am a human being and like many others, vicious comments bother me."

I am a public official. I don't delete the comments. I try not to let them hurt me. ... I do my job to the best of my ability and keep going.

I will remind people this is not my official page and you can go there to read what I do on official business. Years ago this was my personal page, and like so many other things, when you run for office, it becomes a political or public page.

I started writing more during Covid because I was alone, it was hard and a lot of other people felt like I did. It was a way of reaching out and helping others and myself along the way.

You don't have to read my page. I sometimes wish some of you didn't want to. ... I keep writing because many people have told me they like this blog of sorts and the perspective I bring. And again, you don’t have to read it. ...

And let me be very clear, I am not John Dingell. I am not trying to be John Dingell, couldn't be John Dingell. He was the love of my life. I have a hole in my heart [from his 2019 death] that most of you cannot understand, and after a long, hard day I miss him more than you can ever understand. I learned alot from him, he learned a lot from me. We were a team.

And I am just Debbie now and I bring my life experience, perspectives, intensity and passion to this job every day. I love people and want to solve problems. I have a different style, different approach and by the way, since I am alone, probably work more hours everyday because doing this job is my life.

Last night, one of his friends was not kind when I ran into him. The words bothered me all night. Didn't sleep. They weren't fair. But I have to accept them and keep moving.

That is what too many of us have to do these days -- but don't anyone think people don't have feelings, aren't bothered. ... It is on all of us to stand up for kindness and civility.

In a follow-up, Dingell thanks well-wishers. "I wasn't looking for the support yesterday, was just being honest," she says Thursday. "The kindness in your comments meant more than you can know and did cheer my heart and soul."