Posted on 09/03/2005 9:41:29 AM PDT by sachem longrifle
My mother still votes democrat. She opposes abortion, gun control(all Indians do), she is very patriotic, not real keen on the war but believes we should kick ass since we are there, believes in God, hates Dean, opposes gay marriage, but both parents still believe it's Humphrey and Truman democrat party. How can i be a better influence. Not to make them republicans but get them off the reflexive D vote. They know the party supports things they dont agree with but they think that's just a few fringe members. Any advice?
Show them the voting records of all the Democrat Senators. If that doesn't work, nothing will.
Yes, the more you push, the harder they will push back. Think of the teenage girl who dates the dirtball boyfriend. If you tell her what a dirtball he is, she defends him and gets closer to him.
Expose your parents to a healthy dose of Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, and NARAL. Then the conclusion will be all theirs.
It seems that it would be quite easy to prove to them that Democrats say one thing to get votes, but then do and vote by the party line which is in direct opposition to the values of most thinking Americans.
I would probably accept them voting for Democrats to local, county or even state office (nothing higher than Secretary of State preferably), but discourage them from voting for any Dems to federal office. The GOP is closer to JFK and Truman than the Dems, especially on foreign policy.
Ahh, the reflexive D vote. Sounds like the otherwise conservative voters in MN.
Talk to them about Reagan. If he can't appeal to the old-school Dems then I don't know who would.
My personal theory is that most Democrats suffer from the "man keeping me down" syndrome. We need to dispel the myth that there is some "man" or political group who is keeping folks from accomplishing their dreams. Anything is possible. We live in the greatest country in the world. When you take the barriers away (suffocating taxes, suffocating legislation), they can accomplish ANYTHING.
All it takes is hard work.
I don't think my father ever voted for anyone besides a democrat in his life and he'll be 90 in March if he lasts that long. After the 2000 election, we didn't speak for about 6 months until I finally gave it up and called. I just try to avoid politics whenever possible - it's just not worth it. Oddly enough, his wife (whom he married about 3 or 4 years after my mother passed away) leans pretty strongly Republican so I don't know how they managed to get along for what's going on twenty years.
I grew up with my grand parents. My grandfather was a Hoover Republican, my grandmother converted to the GOP out of love.
My Grandmother's sisters and brothers were born and raised near Vicksburg Mississippi before the turn of the century (1900) and called all Republicans "Lincolnites", even though they were as fiscally and socially conservative as could be.
Short answer, you won't get her to switch, so just love her.
exactly! its actually northeast minnesota. the rest on minn is red. but even in Northeast minn they are very conservative on social issues
That is hilarious because when I read your post Minnesota was the first thing I thought of. I used to live in south MN and am still baffled about how/why they vote soooo democratic. Its changing though and quickly. I suppose my best advice is to talk to them about the issues that appeal to them the most. For example, my family was traditionally democrat but they just couldn't compromise on the abortion issue any longer.
it is changing in Northeast minn also but slowly. its the northeast that has given minnesota to the dems since carter. The DFL no longer controls Minnesota though
There's a bunch of old Democrats just like that in Montana. They realize the illogic of their position but just can't shake that old time "union" coinnection. Eugene Debs actually lived in Kalispell, Montana and participated in the railroad strikes there!
The Indian reservations, where the federal government has overwhelming control of economic affairs, are about the only places with a high enough percentage of Dim votes to paint the county blue. They think they're voting for their interests, long past the time that might have been true. Bobby Kennedy will never be coming over the hill to save them.
I've heard from allot people that they vote Democrat because they want to "help the poor".
So now, whenever someone asks me why I vote Republican, I tell them it's because I'm for the poor. They usually look at me puzzled, but then I explain myself. That's what we need to do. Whenever we're asked why we vote Republican, we need to answer, "for the poor."
Republicans in office have done more to uplift the poor than any Democrats. The Welfare Reform act is one of the things that drastically brought the poverty rate down.
Keep hanging around FR.
Give them direct quotes from The Swimmer (Kennedy), the Dingdong (Boxer) and the Tool (the soon to be forgotten Sheehan).
Show them how Katrina is being used BY THE DEMOCRATS (starting with the Mayor of NO and Gov of LA) as a political tool. Ask them to show a single conservative using Katrina for their own political or other gain. If that doesn't do it then it is over. I am sure you love them but you won't have a basis for discussion of anything.
EIB rehab center, three hours daily, Monday through Friday.
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