Thursday, October 23, 2008

I, Democrat

I have been a Democrat since before I could vote. I attribute this to my Dad and his pro-union - anti Reagan politics. Growing up in Mississippi, I knew that my Dad was one of the only Democrats in either side of my family. What I didn't know was that he was a minority all over the state.

In Mississippi it is assumed by many that if you are an African American you are a Democrat and if you are white you are a Republican. I am not sure why that is, but that is pretty much the gist of it.

In this election season it has become more apparent than ever that most people assume that I am a Republican (This is despite the Bright blue dot in a really red state sticker on the back of my Accord...go figure.) and that being a Democrat is almost as wicked as being an abortion Doctor. People will say the craziest things to me. More specifically they will say ugly uninformed things about Barrack Obama. I am not a great lover of all things Obama. I started out as a Hillary supporter. But I do think that he is a smart man and that he will be a good President. I don't want to hear about him being a closet Muslim. I don't really care what his religion is. I know, I am crazy like that.

Let me get this straight, I don't mind talking about the issues with anyone. 96% of the people I love disagree with me on most issues. Please please, just don't be ugly. It is okay that my beliefs are different than yours; be polite and be informed. If you are going to spout something as the truth, make sure that it is the truth.

Anyway, I am just amazed by the stigma that is suddenly attached to being a white Democrat in Mississippi. It is confusing. Because believe me, I am just as southern as that guy over there eating grits in his John Deere hat. I say ya'll. I love sweet tea.

5 comments:

John A Hill said...

I know how you feel!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Fortunately I don't have to enter the fray, being British.

Bilbo said...

I'm still officially supporting Nobody, but if someone were to hold a gun to my head today, I'd grudgingly lean toward Senator Obama, if only because I'm horrified by Governor Palin. This year, it seems like we've brought back the Know-Nothing Party...

Anonymous said...

I think you're hanging around the wrong kind of people. My boss is of the democrat persuasion and he's white and it doesn't seem that strange. Of course this county down here is the one blue county in the state of Mississippi generally. I don't agree with the man. I suppose I'm a red dot in a red state so maybe I blend.

The thing about politics - people have their opinions. They think what they think. You're not gonna change their mind and they're not gonna change yours.

Just ignore people if they give you a hard time. I love you no matter what color dot you are.

Suzie said...

Yes just ignore the people. Daddy, Rusty,and I are the democrats and we are backing Barrack Obama. I think Uncle Tommy is too.So you are not the only democrat on this side if the family.Tammy is voting republican and you can't change her mind. So I say go Obama 2008