Last night as I was writing my status on Facebook, I said I was embarrassed that I had ever considered myself a Republican. Several people asked me why. Here’s what I wrote:
I used to think the Republicans were moral and righteous and the Democrats were the godless liberals, endangering the faith and leading our country to the devil. Seriously. It came from a secret fear that God was only interested in a few arbitrary laws, and if we made him mad he’d wipe us all out -Judgement on the nation and all that. Therefore we had to support those who were determined to hang onto those certain things, no matter what happened to the rest of the country.
The last 8 years under a supposedly Christian president have been very revealing. Power, wealth, arrogant self-righteousness, callousness toward the poor, violence, sanctioned torture – all under the guise of patriotism, with the blessing of the Religious Right. This is wrong. Then there’s the convention: hypocrisy, pandering, outright lying, fear-mongering, and underhanded, low-down dirty mud-slinging. I’m sickened.
I am not under the illusion that the Democrats are somehow devoid of human failings, or that Barack Obama is the new messiah. Change is needed. Not just first order change, as in get a different party into power and see what they can do. But we need a fundamental change in the way in which we do things, the way in which we operate in the world, the way in which we govern ourselves.
I think Obama gets this, and has not only the vision, but also the substance to bring it about.
I am appalled by last night’s speech, not because I disagree with McCain’s opinion that things need to change. I’m appalled because he’s only saying it now because he’s afraid he’s going to lose. He realizes that we’re all demanding major change, and that politics as usual will not fly anymore. Obama told him that, and he’s finally getting it.
It’s as if he can steal that idea, dress it up in conservative, patriotic, tough-talking rhetoric, and pass it off as his own. I don’t buy it. He picked his running mate because he thinks we’ll be fooled, he thinks women will vote for another woman merely because she’s female. It’s a cheap trick to get elected.
I used to respect McCain for being a maverick. He sold his soul in this campaign to get the power boys behind him, (big oil and the Christian Right). Last night he tried to resurrect his old self, and he expects us to buy it, throwing in a “see, we want change, too” sleight of hand with his VP pick.
He thinks we’re stupid. He may be right. If so, he’ll win for sure.
The Republican campaign has been about fear feeding on ignorance – nothing else.
I’m afraid all right – afraid it’ll sell.
wow. i couldn’t disagree more, and this election season is the first time i haven’t been afraid to say it. mccain did not steal the idea of change from obama. he has always been about change (far longer than obama has been in office, i might add). he has always reached across party lines to get things done. I have been seriously appalled at the level of disrespect exhibited lately. during the dnc, i heard a lot more unnecessary bush-bashing than i did talk of unity and change. and yes, the rnc had its fair share of negativity, though i had hoped that they would take the high road.
i also find it incredibly offensive that i’m considered stupid, ignorant and fearful for lining up on the side that i do. where’s the respect/fairness/progressive-thinking in that?
I am with you Phyllis. I am scared for this country with another 4 years of Republican rule. Did we all forget we got involved in an illegal war, the economy, middle class getting poorer and healthcare…and the environment? Let alone our status in the world and the lack of foreign policy…I see this first hand.
I want to vote in a intelligent man…a black man from humble beginnings who worked his way through Harvard and is now running for president. That makes me proud to be an American…that man’s story is not possible in any other country. And it deserves some respect instead of mocking…
Phyliss,
Thank you for putting into words what many of us feel. I especially agree with the following:
“He picked his running mate because he thinks we’ll be fooled, he thinks women will vote for another woman merely because she’s female. It’s a cheap trick to get elected.”
Picking Palin is nothing more than a cheap trick. Did you know he only met her ONCE before deciding? He knew nothing of her nor did he spend time with her. He has some “great” folks running this thing that know how to play the game. Unfortunately, it seems to have worked–people are going crazy over her. So hard for me to stomach, makes me feel like folks are blinded…reminds me of how I felt four years ago…confused that people couldn’t see through it.
“I used to respect McCain for being a maverick. He sold his soul in this campaign to get the power boys behind him, (big oil and the Christian Right).”
So did Scott and I. We really liked him, especially for his ideas on campaign reform…which changed pretty quickly this go around. And you are right, his speech was an attempt to at a throw back to the way he used to be…but wasn’t very convincing if you ask me.
“So hard for me to stomach, makes me feel like folks are blinded…reminds me of how I felt four years ago…confused that people couldn’t see through it.”
this is exactly how i feel about obama.
and also that john mccain’s story “deserves some respect instead of mocking…” i didn’t hear anyone mocking his story, but questioning his experience, which i think is a completely valid question.
I’m with you Phyllis – I linked to this post.
Thanks Phyllis – had no idea you were still blogging – shame on me!
You have articulated so well how I have been feeling and how it confuses people in my past to hear that I am no longer “in their camp” – when did common sense become a game? When did it become more important for one “team” to win instead of truth to win?
I am stunned that people can hear the same thing I am hearing, but with such different ears. If America misses the boat on this they don’t deserve him. It sickens me to think of the horror four years of that secretive, warmongering, power-hungry duo could do to this country.