"I told them they can't see their grandkids anymore if they vote for him"

[Demovictory9]

To get votes, families are cutting deals

-------------------

"I told my mom, 'Feel free in four years, vote for a Republican, anyone who is reasonable,' " Dave McDonnell, 44, said about a conversation with his mother, who is one of this election's pivotal voters in the swing state of Pennsylvania.

" 'But just this year, this year's different. I just ask that you don't vote for Trump,' I told her. I think she's under a lot of pressure from my siblings, too," said McDonnell, an engineer in Baltimore.

Amid all the get-out-and-vote cheerleading, postcard-writing and phone-banking, folks are trying to see whether they can make a difference among the people they know best. And they're being ruthless.

"I told them they can't see their grandkids anymore if they vote for him," Sheerie, a 36-year-old mother of four in Roswell, Ga., told me, about her desperation to break through with her Trump-loving parents. "I just don't think they can hold those views and be with the kids."

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/To-get-votes-families-are-cutting-deals-15659568.php

This is the brother-against-brother part of the battle. Families and friends who could once put politics aside over turkey and birthday cake are now firmly cleaved. It's crunch time. And some are using everything they have to change minds.

"Desperate times, absurdist measures," tweeted author and television writer David Simon, in the bargain he is offering to his fans.

--------------------------------

"If you voted Trump, or 3rd party, or sat out 2016 and are now willing to end vile misrule by voting for Biden," he wrote, "send a photo of you in voting line or your mail-in ballot and I'll send a written apology for killing any TV character. #HonorSystem."

[qazplm135]

1. I've stopped two possible dating opportunities in their tracks

with rather attractive women because they were Trump supporters.

I just can't do it. There's no moral parity there with someone who supports Trump at this point.

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. I did sort of the same thing.

I know a guy that is a huge Trumper. He single and desperately wants to hook up with a woman. I have seen him out with two different women in the last year and both times I asked the women if they knew he was a Trump supporter. Both recoiled in horror. I wonder how the rest of these dates went.

[Maru Kitteh]

11. Nothing like the scent of desperation and misogyny

to send any woman of quality sprinting in the other direction.

[TeamPooka]

29. Jan. 2008- I'm out on a first date in Los Angeles with a woman I'd met thru an online dating site

After the meal the conversation rolls around to politics and the she just throws it out there that she "could totally vote for Huckabee"
She was dead serious.
I chuckle and signal the waiter "Check please!"
She thought I was joking but the waiter brought the check, I paid it, and said something about how this wasn't a great fit and I left.
She was still shocked as I walked out the door.

[Pantagruel]

2. Uh, it's a secret ballot

and parents always lie to their kids , especially when they think they know better.
Just saying.....

[PatSeg]

15. Yeah, but it is really hard for Trump supporters

to deny their leader.

[Doremus]

16. If you can't believe your parent about who they voted for, you've got bigger problems. nt

[forthemiddle]

22. I grew up in an extremely loving, middle class family

Dad was a Union President, Mom a hard working suburban white woman.
To this day I have no idea who they voted for every year, and I have no problem with that.

They both died six years ago, and Dad was never a gong ho Union guy, he just became the President of his shop because he couldn’t stand the thought of not being in charge (LOL).
If it wasn’t for the Union affiliation, I would assume they voted Republican, but who knows.
Mom did one time tell me that Dad never asked her who she voted for, and she never told him.

I was brought up to believe that our most sacred right was our right to vote, and in the end, if we voted that was all that mattered.

One thing I know is that no matter who they voted for I would NEVER withhold my children from them. Family is so much more important than political leanings.

[BannonsLiver]

25. Depends

If I were her and we’re serious I’d make mom and dad fill out absentee ballots in front of me to make sure they didn’t vote for Dump. The proverbial voting booth isn’t the only game in town anymore.

[not_the_one]

57. Yes, it IS a secret ballot.

WHY secrecy is required, I no longer get... secrecy is how democracy is perverted and all the shit gets done. If there was no secrecy, every vote could be traced to the voter, the ultimate fact check. We would not be where we are now. Secrecy is a "bug" in the program of democracy...

But this is a trump voter.

At the first opportunity they are going to throw it back in your face. Probably with a neener, neener, neener. At which point they are going to OWN this libtard (meaning YOU).

At which point YOU can make good your threat. You should NOT allow your children to be around lying, racist, bigots who would rather see the end of times before a democrat elected to the presidency...

MY GOD! FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHILDREN!!! (ok, that was a bit melodramatic, but you get the point.)

[madaboutharry]

3. How would you know?

They could just say they didn't vote for Trump.

[BannonsLiver]

26. Make them fill out absentee ballots in front of you

If someone wanted to be a ball buster about it it’s really not that complicated.

[wryter2000]

4. My brother and his wife live in AZ

I didn't much care that she talked him into voting for Ralph Nader in 2000 because they lived in CA. This year is different. During the primaries, he volunteered that both of them were going to vote for Kelly for Senate, but he wouldn't promise to vote for the Dem nominee. I was beside myself trying to figure out how to threaten/bribe him to vote for Biden. Trump's performance in the first debate took care of that. They're Biden all the way.

They would never have voted for Trump, but she might have talked him into voting third party. Not going to happen this year.

[Klaralven]

5. Mixed marriages in swing states are under a lot of stress, particularly with mailin ballots

[Happy Hoosier]

51. I don't understand how anyone could marry someone with such divergent political views...

It strikes me that basic values would be compromised.

[agingdem]

6. I told my grandchildren

I don't care who they sleep with, date, live with, marry...I don't care if they're gay, straight and I don't care about ethnicity as long as they are Democrats...I'm Jewish and the child of Holocaust survivors...I think I'm giving them a lot a of leeway...

[Beakybird]

9. You're a wise grandparent.

[BComplex]

10. Sounds very reasonable to me!

Instilling good values in the kids. Good job, gram!

[Beakybird]

8. My uber wealthy cousin is a strong Trump supporter.

His much younger Chinese wife is very submissive and never discusses politics, but for "some reason" their seven and nine year old abhore Trump and want him to die. The girl, who has very Asian features, said, "When Trump says the word China, he says it like we're made of poison."

[PatSeg]

17. That's true, he does

Trump makes "China" sound like a swear word. Even when he spoke favorably about China, the way he said the word sounded derogatory.

[lagomorph777]

12. "I just don't think they can hold those views and be with the kids."

If you approve of the guy who throws little kids in jail for trying to flee death, then you are not a person who should be anywhere near children.

[Withywindle]

27. Yes! And culturally it's deep

I don't think people who are supportive of a violently racist, misogynist, homophobic, xenophobic president should be around children. It's very hard work to raise children without those toxic influences as is, even with a decent leader in charge. If I had kids, I would not want them exposed to that any more than was absolutely necessary.

[Celerity]

13. the grandparents will simply lie, just like their nazi god emperor

Last edited Wed Oct 21, 2020, 04:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Zero chance I would EVER let any children I had around white nationalists. It is child abuse to subject them to that hate.

[PatSeg]

18. Most Trump supporters are very loud and proud

of their candidate.

[Celerity]

20. yes, but they will lie if they think they will have the grandchildren pulled

One of my co-workers here just had a bonkers situation with his POS sister and her grifter sambo (domestic partner here in Sweden)

he (my co-worker) has no children, she has 2

his family is extremely wealthy in terms of property

their father died, and tens of millions of kronor in property was all up in the air

the sister wanted my co-workers father's flat, which was promised to my co-worker

it's complicated but their mother had the legal power to switch things around

but she did not want to do it

so the sister blackmailed her with the grandkids

my co-worker refused to sign off

so the sister convinced the mother to invite him over

and he went into her flat (huge place)

and then he noticed (too late)

that there was a giant new security gate, and a huge bodyguard type came out of nowhere and locked him in

his mum said sign the papers for your sister or you are not leaving

the security guard took his phone

hours passed, and then a delivery person came and my co-worker yelled for him to call the coppers

which they did

they were going to charge the mother with forcible restraint, etc

but my co-worker and his advokat (barrister) used the potential charges to stop the mum and the sister from taking his flat

grandchildren are powerful motivation

[PatSeg]

21. Holy crap!!!

That's some family. Sound like the Gettys or I suppose, even the Trumps.

[Celerity]

24. My co-worker is great, his father died before I met him, his mother

is a divvy oldster housewife type (super super rare here now in Stockholm, and even not common in the more rural areas, many of which are actually more prog, voting wise, than Stockholm, especially up in Norrbotten), and I destest his sister and her gold digger sambo. The bloke is cringey AF, and made a extremely sexual joke (us calling him if we ever wanted to have a threesome) as soon as my co-workers sister left to go use the loo when we all were out together last summer.

My wife almost left the resto, but my co-worker raged at him and so wifey calmed down. As a femme lesbi couple we get that shite a lot (pretty bad in London, Sweden is better, but the US is just off the chain shitty and also often was verbal attacks from RW vermin or ignorant AF PoC) but 99% of the time is from randos, not people we are out in a social evening with, and especially ones with their partner metres away.

[PatSeg]

35. Interesting how some people make rash assumptions

about people they don't even know. Unbelievable how common it is. Can't imagine that guy had many friends.

[Celerity]

37. I know next to nothing of his social life, but he and my co-worker's sister are wannabe poshies

They spend far beyond their means, and always have to have the mother bail them out. They also are so not clever (cleverclogs yes, actually clever, hell no). Several years ago they bought a townhouse, and then proceeded to spend over 150K USD (over one and a half million kronor) on a brand new massive kitchen expansion/gut renovation. One problem.... the new insanely expensive stove/oven and kitchen centre was all based off gas power. The fools ignored the multiple notices, sent out for close to a year, that the whole area was being converted from gas lines (all were removed) to 100% electric only! They had to rip out and replace a shedload of all the renovations, which added well over 75,000 usd more to the final bill, lololol.

[PatSeg]

39. "Cleverclogs"!

I learned a new word, love it.

[Celerity]

40. old school British slang (I am London raised)

[PatSeg]

41. Yeah, I had to Google it

I love British slang!

[Celerity]

47. Try chalk and cheese instead of apples and oranges

Or

I fell down the apples.

Apples and pears

Stairs

Or

Trump is a right proper berk.

Berkeley Hunt (a famous foxhound pack)

(You get the point what rhymes with hunt)

Lolol

Cheers

[PatSeg]

48. Ha, ha, ha!!!

That sounds like traditional cockney, quite unlike anything else in the world.

[Celerity]

50. yes, the last 2 are rhyming slang, originating ofttimes from one born 'within the sound of the Bow

Bells', ie. Cockney.

The term comes from the St. Mary-le-Bow Church in the East End (of London), near the old epicentre of the Cockney culture (it has changed a lot demographically now).

[PatSeg]

52. Yes

I read that some are afraid that it might be dying and could be lost forever. It truly is an often unappreciated art.

[Celerity]

55. its still alive and well in football culture (not for the faint of heart, and terribly un PC)

[PatSeg]

56. That's good to know

It is really challenging trying to understand it. It is so unique, it would be a shame if it was lost, especially considering so much of it is just word-of-mouth.

[BannonsLiver]

28. Depends on how far the lady wanted to take it

She could say okay you can see your grandkids if and only if you fill out your absentee ballot in front of me. I’m not saying that’s right, but if someone wanted to play hard ball, it’s definitely possible And not particularly complicated.

[Celerity]

30. That is what I would do, good idea. nt

[Upthevibe]

14. Demovictory9

Great post...Thank you.

[LisaL]

19. It's not enforceable.

Grandparents could simply lie and claim they didn't vote for Trump.

[Mariana]

23. They could, but to many Trumpers that's right up there with denying Jesus.

Lots of them simply will not do it.

[Celerity]

32. See post 28.

[treestar]

42. It is

Most states say only parents decide who their kids see. Grandparents can file a petition in some, but the result favors the parents.

[PTWB]

45. Make them vote in front of you 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Meowmee]

31. I feel very fortunate

That none of my immediate family would ever vote for a fascist or anyone like that monster... I would not get involved in any personal way with anyone who would.

[GusBob]

33. This is kinda sad in a way

Calling out your family members publically like this. I get the sentiment but I dont know about broadcasting it

I have seen the flip side of this. In some small town newspaper a grandfather wrote an editorial bragging about how he cut off his grand daughters college funds because she worked on the Obama campaign . Had her picture in it and all kinds of details about how mean he was being no holidays and etc.. The guy was so proud of his behavior

It was the saddest thing I ever read honestly

And my mom had sent a copy of it to all her children and grandchildren which made me sadder and very angry
It was like a message. She hated BO

[RobinA]

49. It Is Sad

It just goes along with the current mindset that it's OK to tell other people what to do and punish them for not following some party line. We've become very intolerant. And I hate Trump with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns. I wonder about people who think he's OK, but I'm not going to cause rifts in relationships that are far older than how long Trump is ever likely to be in the White House over it.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

53. Yeah, I feel the same way n/t

[blueniteflower]

34. Not an ultimatum but

We are pregnant with a girl and had originally planned on naming her after my husband’s grandmother. After learning the last few weeks that she believes people of color and women cannot be leaders (she thinks Biden will die in office and does not think Kamala Harris can lead) and is voting for Trump, we have nixed that name. We haven’t told anyone our plans for names, so thankfully it won’t get back to her, but it just makes me sad that she thinks that way despite being a good person herself and always helping neighbors regardless of their skin color.

[Bettie]

36. I've ceased communication with both of my brothers over their

adoration of the Orange Anus.

[Paladin]

38. I have a son-in-law who's dead to me, on account of his rabid trump support.

Extreme times call for extreme measures.

[Johnny2X2X]

43. My Trumpster nextdoor neighbor moved and put his house up for sale

Decent guy, just a Right Winger. Well the house just went on the market this week, I made sure to move my Biden sign closer to his property so anyone looking at the house will know they'd have a Dem neighbor. Down the block is all Biden signs, so I hope together we'd scare off any Trump nuts.

[treestar]

44. that may not be best for the kids

Cutting them off from their grandparents is pretty extreme. I don't think I could do that. Tell them not to talk politics to the kids. When the kids get older, explain that you don't agree with the grandparents and that people are equal regardless of color, etc.

[Demonaut]

46. I understand the sentiment but it's a bad idea

[cbdo2007]

54. Tried that with my parents....they went with Trump over me and my kids :(