General Discussion

GreenEyedLefty

(2,115 posts)

65. My parents are die hard Democrats

Sat Dec 23, 2017, 08:25 PM

Dec 2017

They went to all the events and conventions. My dad was a union guy and hated Ronald Reagan with the fury of a thousand burning suns, and after PATCO, forget it. I remember questioning him on why he thought the way he did and it always boiled down to fairness.

I voted for the first time in a school election in 1994, at age 23. I didn't vote again until 1998 (governor), and it's been every election ever since.

My first Democratic club meeting was in 2006. By then I was furious as to why our state Democratic party didn't have a cohesive message. Jennifer Granholm was our governor but was hung out to dry by the Legislature.

2008 was a huge watershed. Right after the Iowa caucus, I stood up at our club and said we need to throw our support behind Barack Obama... it took some persuasion but our club endorsed his candidacy.

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DUers, At What Age Did You Become Politically Minded and Why? [View all] ProudLib72 Dec 2017 OP

Very very early malaise Dec 2017 #1

So now we know where that anti-royal sentiment came from ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #9

Yes indeed malaise Dec 2017 #36

Same here, around 6-8. My dad was an advocate for anyone downtrodden or wronged by the system. TheBlackAdder Dec 2017 #80

What I find amazing is that my aunt had no influence on most of my siblings malaise Dec 2017 #86

Fuunt, my bro and I grew up together, he is RW and I am Left. Alice11111 Dec 2017 #155

Yep siblings canbe very different - none of mine are RWs but malaise Dec 2017 #164

Not much dif. It probably isn't worth nuanced distinctions. Alice11111 Dec 2017 #191

Your aunt is a wonderful person TEB Dec 2017 #134

She was malaise Dec 2017 #139

Happy holidays TEB Dec 2017 #140

I was interested in politics as a kid crazycatlady Dec 2017 #2

I remember in the fourth or fifth grade I had to do a report on a president ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #42

mid 20s, in grad school, when Reagan was elected. why? Because he was so obviously NRaleighLiberal Dec 2017 #3

Me too. sagesnow Dec 2017 #151

Age 16, Viet Nam War. vsrazdem Dec 2017 #4

Ditto. Around 1964 sinkingfeeling Dec 2017 #106

I definitely remember seeing Nixon resign when I was 10 unblock Dec 2017 #5

14 Vietnam and Watergate Lochloosa Dec 2017 #6

Age 20, 1967, Viet Nam War, senator Eugene McCarthy, California Hekate Dec 2017 #7

Another 50 years, and I'll be saying "tRump/Russiagate", wasn't that a time! ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #16

Before first grade. DURHAM D Dec 2017 #8

I was from an early age but JFK was the main initiator Motley13 Dec 2017 #10

Really young. Codeine Dec 2017 #11

17 HS senior year. Kent State IADEMO2004 Dec 2017 #12

Remeber clearly duforsure Dec 2017 #13

Welcome to the forum! True Dough Dec 2017 #30

Truman duforsure Dec 2017 #135

Truman was a truly "independent" man after leaving the White House. Sophia4 Dec 2017 #187

Fascinating! True Dough Dec 2017 #196

KC, huh? Ligyron Dec 2017 #40

Independence duforsure Dec 2017 #138

That is the coolest thing I've read today! Rhiannon12866 Dec 2017 #116

Thank You duforsure Dec 2017 #137

Wow! What a wonderful experience! Rhiannon12866 Dec 2017 #189

welcome to du gopiscrap Dec 2017 #197

9 years old. neeksgeek Dec 2017 #14

When I was in elementary school greymattermom Dec 2017 #15

I was right along with yall. I watched the same convention in 1956. I was 8 years old at the time.. JimBeard Dec 2017 #81

I must have been 16 or so when I took a personal interest cbreezen Dec 2017 #17

9 years old dlwickham Dec 2017 #18

Anita Bryant made me take a stand Skittles Dec 2017 #19

I don't remember what age I was, but I recall asking my mother why the Orange Juice lady hates the Pachamama Dec 2017 #35

she was so over-the-top horrible Skittles Dec 2017 #63

41. no_hypocrisy Dec 2017 #20

1963. We had social studies in high school. Our text was titled wasupaloopa Dec 2017 #21

My family preferred Adlai Stevenson over Ike. They went ga-ga over oasis Dec 2017 #98

My mom preferred Stevenson as well apcalc Dec 2017 #181

1968. I was 13 and lived on the Mississippi Coast. nolabear Dec 2017 #22

Born that way. Demtexan Dec 2017 #23

i was 5 and remember wanting JFK to win barbtries Dec 2017 #91

Me to. Demtexan Dec 2017 #93

Mid-20s during Reagan's second term tenderfoot Dec 2017 #24

Yeah. Iran/Contra flipped me over to a liberal. roamer65 Dec 2017 #37

I was 14, watching the '68 Chicago Convention police riot teach1st Dec 2017 #25

Age 9 ** 1968 Assassination of MLK and MaryMagdaline Dec 2017 #26

I was 15 in 1968. That was the year I became very politcally active louis c Dec 2017 #27

Age 16 the summer of 68 riverwalker Dec 2017 #28

19, Vietnam GeorgeGist Dec 2017 #29

I guess around 1962 Squaredeal Dec 2017 #31

Mid twenties, with JFK northoftheborder Dec 2017 #32

I was about 8 yrs old. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #33

12? Vietnam was going on. elehhhhna Dec 2017 #34

I am GenX, and I remember the duck and cover drills ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #52

Seeing a speech in 1984 by Walter Mondale where young college republicans were screaming at him and Pachamama Dec 2017 #38

1956 at age 6. The conventions on our new black and white TV hooked me. Patterson Dec 2017 #39

When I was 20 Madam Mossfern Dec 2017 #41

When Reagan was elected. I was 24. LeftInTX Dec 2017 #43

About 20. Reagan. utopian Dec 2017 #44

The event was the launch of Air America Radio dhol82 Dec 2017 #45

My family were very interested in politics since I can remember. I was 13 in 1990 when Operation dewsgirl Dec 2017 #46

Happy Birthday! ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #58

Thank you. dewsgirl Dec 2017 #131

My mother worked in campaigns and elections liberal N proud Dec 2017 #47

I was 14 and stuffed envelopes for Goldwater in 1964. That experience made me a hard-core liberal. VOX Dec 2017 #48

Before I was 10 years old, in the 50s. I clearly remember my Dad explaining Republican fat cats L. Coyote Dec 2017 #49

What was he watching that brainwashed him?! ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #60

Television. It has been a cutlural propaganda tool since inception. L. Coyote Dec 2017 #61

Very young. My parents were always talking politics mvd Dec 2017 #50

I din't get really involved until the Internet hooked me mainstreetonce Dec 2017 #51

17, just started college, the Vietnam war got me going. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2017 #53

Quite Young ... DoctorJoJo Dec 2017 #54

It probably started with MLK's assignation when I was about 12. Ligyron Dec 2017 #55

I remember being 8 and hoping Carter would beat Reagan TlalocW Dec 2017 #56

Vietnam war mdbl Dec 2017 #57

36 yrs old, 2000 alittlelark Dec 2017 #59

When Reagan beat Carter by telling lies. Blue_true Dec 2017 #62

I always hated politics -- and still do RandomAccess Dec 2017 #64

My parents are die hard Democrats GreenEyedLefty Dec 2017 #65

15. A sophomore in high school. MineralMan Dec 2017 #66

I remember being between 8 and 10. Caliman73 Dec 2017 #67

Yeah Kennedy, Boo Tricky Dicky Nixon. Labor Day 1960 irisblue Dec 2017 #68

i grew up w/ grandparents w/ the 2 city newspapers. aligned myself w/ the liberal one. pansypoo53219 Dec 2017 #69

Remember the Brady Bill? ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #100

1972 presidential election and Watergate. Eugene Dec 2017 #70

Late 60's, Vietnam, Democratic convention in Chicago. Vinca Dec 2017 #71

Very young, elementary school. It was 1972 and I discovered Shirley Chisholm! FM123 Dec 2017 #72

November 1980. lpbk2713 Dec 2017 #73

Birth. democratisphere Dec 2017 #74

My dad always talked politics. That was his thing. He came from a family applegrove Dec 2017 #75

Early teens shenmue Dec 2017 #76

1962 raven mad Dec 2017 #77

Wow, this is a tough one for me. tavernier Dec 2017 #78

That was a very interesting story. Thanks for sharing! ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #105

I was born in 1967 in Lincoln County, West Virginia. Southern West Virginia. Saboburns Dec 2017 #79

The Vietnam war I was about 13 yrs old bdamomma Dec 2017 #82

8, made aware being liberal was weird here. 20, when Bush v Gore, that... moriah Dec 2017 #83

With the 1971 release of Jesus Christ Superstar. LuvLoogie Dec 2017 #84

Adlai Stevenson. I was 12, at the time, and every member demosincebirth Dec 2017 #85

I wised up shortly after voting for Gerald Ford yonder Dec 2017 #87

Age 20. Bobby Kennedy. Sneederbunk Dec 2017 #88

It is not like someone turned a switch and then I was. Yonnie3 Dec 2017 #89

I started contemplating posting this thread a couple days ago ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #108

Thank you for your response. Yonnie3 Dec 2017 #143

I also think political awakening has to do with realizing you have some control ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #148

Nixon Atman Dec 2017 #90

The day Kennedy was shot. PCIntern Dec 2017 #92

I'm 69 yrs old... hwmnbn Dec 2017 #94

I grew up around political discussions The Genealogist Dec 2017 #95

I was 11 during the 1968 conventions. House of Roberts Dec 2017 #96

A really neat website. Click through it. Some footage back to the 1890's JimBeard Dec 2017 #97

Pretty much always. Solly Mack Dec 2017 #99

1994, the North/Robb senate race in VA, and the GOP congressional takeover Blue_Tires Dec 2017 #101

After the Cuban Crisis and it was cemented after JFK was killed. Frustratedlady Dec 2017 #102

13, but that was when Historic NY Dec 2017 #103

9/11/01 TalenaGor Dec 2017 #104

17-18. Science fiction. byronius Dec 2017 #107

Are you talking about 1984 and Animal Farm type books? ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #109

Harlan Ellison, Heinlein, Harry Harrison, Robert Silverberg, Asimov, Philip K. Dick. byronius Dec 2017 #121

OMG! ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #123

My aunts took me to Democratic conventions starting at age 6 Hamlette Dec 2017 #110

It was the spring of '92 which made me 31 years old... TheDebbieDee Dec 2017 #111

60s, Vietnam, moondust Dec 2017 #112

Early 60's around age 4 or 5 Runningdawg Dec 2017 #113

Late teens. Calvin & Hobbes, Doonesbury, Hunter S Thompson, the Daily Show. meadowlander Dec 2017 #114

8 years old Awsi Dooger Dec 2017 #115

It had to be around Bush II's second term sakabatou Dec 2017 #117

I was 21, just back from Vietnam. Basic LA Dec 2017 #118

Inaugauration day 1981 stopwastingmymoney Dec 2017 #119

I have few people who want to talk politics with me as well ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #120

Age 14, 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago... SeattleVet Dec 2017 #122

well... shanti Dec 2017 #124

In 1992 Jspur Dec 2017 #125

Young. El Salvador Upward Dec 2017 #126

When I was 10. BBbats Dec 2017 #127

I was eleven years old in 1964 Thunderbeast Dec 2017 #128

That is very interesting, stopwastingmymoney Dec 2017 #141

Age 7, watching 1956 conventions unc70 Dec 2017 #129

Me too unc OxQQme Dec 2017 #166

During the Gingrich Revolution Lil Missy Dec 2017 #130

And yet he is suddenly relevant again ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #150

12 - 13 sazemisery Dec 2017 #132

About 5-6 years old Jarqui Dec 2017 #133

Kent State. I was 8 Va Lefty Dec 2017 #136

1972 when I was 14 PJMcK Dec 2017 #142

1972 McGovern Campaign Dennis Donovan Dec 2017 #144

The Kennedy-Nixon election CanonRay Dec 2017 #145

My political mindedness started with the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate. I was twelve. ancianita Dec 2017 #146

I was three when JFK was assassinated. It made a big impact on me. yardwork Dec 2017 #147

13. treestar Dec 2017 #149

36, and it was 9/11 for me as well. pnwest Dec 2017 #152

4th grade, racism. 7th grade, racism. MLK, JFK, RFK, LBJ Alice11111 Dec 2017 #153

3-4, read the news with my Dad. bettyellen Dec 2017 #154

I was 16. . . BigDemVoter Dec 2017 #156

About 15, in 1967 csziggy Dec 2017 #157

It was 1974 & I was a high school senior & CrispyQ Dec 2017 #158

As a teenager during Watergate marlakay Dec 2017 #159

Always interested in news history and politics but I flipped sides in 1992 underpants Dec 2017 #160

interesting ProfessorPlum Dec 2017 #167

About 9 months later when I got out and went home underpants Dec 2017 #170

My mother was a single mother and I must have been around 10 yrs old..... Tikki Dec 2017 #161

I think - 7 JustAnotherGen Dec 2017 #162

You're father had it right back then! ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #165

I was about 7 when I saw Nixon speak on TV Ernesto Dec 2017 #163

This message was self-deleted by its author JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2017 #168

My turning point was the book "The Clothes Have No Emperor" by Paul Slansky ProfessorPlum Dec 2017 #169

My mother was raised in a Christian Republican home Niagara Dec 2017 #171

My first job was in '88 going door to door ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #174

Yes it was astronomical pay for that time. Niagara Dec 2017 #192

Welcome to DU!! I am so glad that you have moved on from lurking to posting!! (eom) StevieM Dec 2017 #195

Pretty much always. I can't remember a time when I wasn't Raine Dec 2017 #172

Probably 3 or 4 nini Dec 2017 #173

Important work and inspiring. Excellent! n/t Niagara Dec 2017 #194

When I was 9... IluvPitties Dec 2017 #175

Around 7 or 8 years old DemKittyNC Dec 2017 #176

Cool dad! ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #182

) DemKittyNC Dec 2017 #184

About at 14-15 PoorMonger Dec 2017 #177

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #178

I was 32 hurple Dec 2017 #179

19 in 1969 apcalc Dec 2017 #180

Newt and the Contract "with" ("on") America lapfog_1 Dec 2017 #183

when my dad died because of the Vietnam War gopiscrap Dec 2017 #185

Two events. Sophia4 Dec 2017 #186

9/11 Rhiannon12866 Dec 2017 #188

20--1966--drafted retread Dec 2017 #190

8--JFK's murder did it for me. kairos12 Dec 2017 #193