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Old and In the Way

(37,540 posts)
24. Good news! I'm really hoping this latest Republican outrage will prove to be a teaching moment
Sat Dec 24, 2011, 02:21 AM
Dec 2011

for a lot of people who have a life-long identification as a Republican. This tribal political identity (both sides) is not always based on a rational and sophisticated analysis of political philosophy - for many, it's simply based on a irrational hatred for "them" - in our case, Democrats. Could be a single incident where some Democrat did something on a very personal level to that person and that created a lifelong animosity...and the association got transferred to the entire party.

If this legislative fiasco drives home the complete hypocrisy of the republican agenda to a lot of lifelong, self-identifying Republicans, it will have been well worth it.

I think once a person reaches that qualitative decision point of political ID change, there's no turning back and we also benefit from the enthusiasm/outrage/energy of a political convert who'll work even harder than many Democrats to see today's Teapublican Party buried. I've know a couple of converts over the past 5 years that are now rabidly anti-Republican because they've came to realize that this Party was not promoting an agenda that was in their best interests. One, who I know really well, is constantly e-mailing me information and links - most of them I've been well aware of for some time, but for him, this constant discovery continues to generate more validation of his new-found disgust for his former Party. Before the conversion, you could supply all of the information you wanted and he wouldn't read it because he wouldn't believe it. His mind was closed. Now his mind is open and he's feeding himself. I suppose it can work the other way, but one interesting note - the only converts to Republicanism I see are by anonymous posters on the internet. "I used to be a Democrat, but now...". In real life, the few converts I've met or know all went to the light.

Hooray for your dad... snacker Dec 2011 #1
Wow! wow! wow! mazzarro Dec 2011 #2
It's so funny. sandyshoes17 Dec 2011 #3
My nephew, brother-in-law & sister stopped watching fox news. My brother-in-law voted southernyankeebelle Dec 2011 #47
Maybe he's not a racist anymore. Odin2005 Dec 2011 #4
Sign him up on DU. Downwinder Dec 2011 #5
Hehe joshcryer Dec 2011 #6
That will only serve to get him to change his mind! LOL Grown2Hate Dec 2011 #27
That's how I read it... JohnnyRingo Dec 2011 #35
Sounds like he's not a Republican or a racist anymore--he's a 99 percenter. nt MADem Dec 2011 #7
That's right -- we're all in this together. nt gateley Dec 2011 #14
You're setting up the President-is-a-Republican crowd for endless jokes here. ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #8
My diehard Republican sister and her husband will probably be voting for Obama. RebelOne Dec 2011 #9
I am just giddy at the mess they've caused for themselves. nt gateley Dec 2011 #16
Hope comes again. yellerpup Dec 2011 #10
Your life and example may also have been influential Tanelorn Dec 2011 #11
I'm not surprised, some people consider Obama a republican. firehorse Dec 2011 #12
Yes, I think at their age, sandyshoes17 Dec 2011 #13
Most of those people... ellisonz Dec 2011 #30
Almost forgot sandyshoes17 Dec 2011 #15
When they start throwing things at the TV when Cantor is on, we'll know they're gateley Dec 2011 #17
Makes sense - a lot of Republicans even endorsed Obama in 08 progressoid Dec 2011 #18
You've done a wonderful job Ilsa Dec 2011 #19
Much of what we call racism is really more a stereotype. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2011 #20
screwing unions,social security and welfare cuts and extending millionaire tax breaks will do that. IamK Dec 2011 #21
k&r n/t RainDog Dec 2011 #22
Congratulations. What caused him to back him? nt Sarah Ibarruri Dec 2011 #23
Good news! I'm really hoping this latest Republican outrage will prove to be a teaching moment Old and In the Way Dec 2011 #24
There is racism and then there is prejudice... cthulu2016 Dec 2011 #25
It does not surprise me that traditional Republicans prefer Obama. JDPriestly Dec 2011 #26
Nixon? ellisonz Dec 2011 #31
Great news! Be sure to give him lots of hugs :) n/t Tx4obama Dec 2011 #28
+1 ellisonz Dec 2011 #33
Obama Republicans B Calm Dec 2011 #29
I'm grabbing my ice skates... Vestigial_Sister Dec 2011 #32
my dad, an Eisenhower Republican, voted for Obama right before he died w8liftinglady Dec 2011 #34
Awesome! Let's hope there are many more like him out there for 2012 Chemisse Dec 2011 #36
Kick and Recommend malaise Dec 2011 #37
Amazing treestar Dec 2011 #38
Lol! Obama gains the vote of a racist Republican. (nt) (nr) T S Justly Dec 2011 #39
It's a Festivus miracle! Dyedinthewoolliberal Dec 2011 #40
Thanks for posting. emulatorloo Dec 2011 #41
My 80 yr. old Archie Bunker dad said the same thing! glinda Dec 2011 #42
This is a truly inspiring story Jack Rabbit Dec 2011 #43
Times they are a changing. sarcasmo Dec 2011 #44
Good for your dad. SmittynMo Dec 2011 #45
Your Dad only thinks he's a Republican BlueToTheBone Dec 2011 #46
Oh yeah. Ask him if he would vote for Obama is Jeb Bush is the nominee. nm rhett o rick Dec 2011 #48
It's a miracle! sakabatou Dec 2011 #49
Excellent. But what's coolest, IMO, is he gets he's part of the 99%! tpsbmam Dec 2011 #50
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