Driving while Democrat down south. [View all]

[Ford_Prefect]

I had a very strange thing happen for today. While waiting for the light to change along the local shopping strip I noticed the driver in the car waiting behind me hold his phone outside the car and take a picture of the back of mine. I think this is now the 4th time this has happened recently, although I may not have been aware of others doing so previously. What made me notice was he had the phone outside of his car to do it.

I drive a 1995 Toyota Camry. It's covered a few miles but looks like it was bought last year. The only unusual aspect it would show from the point of view of that driver is the "Obamanos!" sticker I still have in the lower part of the rear window. Our county publicity committee came up with that one for local Dems for the 2008 campaign. I live in Orange County, NC which is generally held to be more lefty and liberal than much of the surrounding state.

I'm still trying to figure out why the driver took the picture because every time it has happened the one thing that is consistent is the drivers have all been white males and none of them have waved to me in passing. If I was going to be suspicious about it I would add that they all seemed to avoid making eye contact whether at the stop or on the road. I keep wondering what internet page they have posted it on.

I should say that over the years many people have commented to me face to face in appreciation of that same sticker. I get compliments on it at least once a month at the grocery store, or a restaurant parking lot, and while on other equally ordinary errands. I should add to this I am white, 6'2" and generally look and dress much like my neighbors in this small NC bedroom community. No reason I can think of that I stand out except for that sticker. I doubt much that anyone stopped behind me can tell who is in the driver's seat.

I have never had a confrontation with anyone who seemed to disapprove of my sticker or its location. Although my mechanic who is a Republican (not Tea Party) has at times pulled my leg about it.

It was that someone went to the bother of that photo and that it has happened again that made me wonder. It hardly seems worth the bother to take a picture of it all alone on the rear window. Believe me when I say there are far more outspoken political statements on far more visible vehicles around here.