You're not going to believe this...

[flvegan]

Today I was behind a big ole Ford pickup. New, shiny wheels, dark windows. It had an NRA sticker (jeez, but they're everywhere), a Semper Fi sticker, a US Marines specialty tag (license plate) and...here's where the camera would've been sweet...a "Truth For a Change, Vote For Kerry" sticker. No lie. Not even lifted corners where it might have been stuck on by some vandal and the truck owner tried to peel it off. Nope, proudly displayed on the back window.

More folks are getting it. That current or former Marine, who's also part of the biggest pro-Bush lobbying group out there got it.

[gospelized]

1. that's fantastic

[classof56]

2. Hallelujah! Thanks for the uplift!

As we used to say in the 60s--We Shall Overcome!

As I say now:

BUSH MUST GO!!

[villager]

3. saw the same thing in L.A.!

in the 'burbs -- an ORV, festooned with Marine and Amred Services stickers. I was scanning for what I assumed would be the inevitable "Bush/Cheney" sticker -- but saw a "Kerry/Edwards" one instead!

[calimary]

5. I did, too - that's where I got the lead I was looking for - on a

"bush KNEW" bumper sticker. Big ol' white pickup truck, well-used, I might add, with a big ol' angry-looking beefy white guy driving. I hollered to him at a stop light - "WHERE'D YOU GET YOUR BUMPER STICKER!?" He snarled back - "I HATE that guy!!!!" I yelled - "Me TOO!" at him. Then I jotted down the copvcia.com address underneath it. Now, I am the proud owner of a dozen (minus a few - people have asked me for them and I've given several away)! Some of those pickup trucks are just dreamy, 'eh? By the way, a VERY good artist friend of mine drives one, herself, and her bumper bears one of my "bush KNEW" stickers, plus the one that says "obedient women seldom make history" (or some version of it, anyway).

[faithnotgreed]

12. i love when people shout out to others who have pro kerry or anti bush

stickers

great story

[Bluzmann57]

4. Why wouldn't a person believe it?

I drive a big ol' pickup truck and I am a lifelong Democrat. Not exactaly an NRA supporter, and not an ex-Marine though. I think it's time to stop sterotyping people and just accept folks for who they are. To me, saying a guy who drives a pickup, and has NRA stickers on the truck is automatically a repub is just as bad as saying that a certain race is lazy, or a person who is gay is bad. Stereotyping is bad no matter who does it and no matter the circumstance.

[calimary]

7. You have a MOST worthy point.

I must admit that when I see a pickup truck, I do scan it for stickers and what not. They don't all belong to knuckle-draggers.

[flvegan]

13. WTF????

Jesus, the fact that it was a truck doesn't matter. I wasn't making a specific point about it being a truck, just setting a picture. Of course they don't all belong to knuckle-draggers. I suppose unless I see a Maybach with "Rich Fuckers for Kerry" on it, I'll just keep it to myself.

Missed the whole fucking point.

[Bluzmann57]

15. I'm sorry to offend you

Maybe I did miss the whole fuckin' point. Please explain it to me. Your subject line just seemed like stereotyping to me. It's good that you saw a truck with a Kerry sticker and I hope you see many more, but you seemed to be amazed that a person who drives a big pickup truck that is all "tricked out" and had an NRA sticker as well as USMC sticker should be a Kerry backer. Once again, I apologize for apparently missing your point. My point is that one should never judge a book by the cover. A lot of people out here are getting sick of bush and his insanity.

[flvegan]

20. See my #19...

[cidliz2004]

23. Sterotyping to some is PROFILING to others

look for the type of person that would most likely be a Bush supporter vs. Kerry supporter.

It would be nice if you DIDN'T rain on this poster's parade.

To original poser:

Good work and thanks for sharing this observation of what you would think would be a Bush supporter and they actually are a Kerry supporter!

[BeHereNow]

33. No, you added to the point.

Thank you.
No one has implied anything remotely
insulting to the thread poster- what I question is
why general commentary and supporting views
are interpreted as offensive and personal attacks.
I personally do not see anything remotely offensive
in your post as insinuated by the original poster.
Sorry, I just don't quite understand the accusations.
BHN

[leesa]

45. Well, it would amaze me in my neck of the woods

If he is from a redneck central like I am it is practically a miracle.

I think the main point to focus on is how great that military people are expressing themselves and letting folks know they are military and Kerry voters.

[drdigi420]

50. Pointing out the FACT that most rednecks like Bush is not stereotyping

[LiberalFighter]

17. I don't scan because it is a truck... just a cursory glance to see...

if they have a political sign.

[Tsiyu]

42. But please remember

Organic farmers, cowgirls (some Dems), dog breeders, builders, landscapers - all of these people need trucks. Driving a truck is more a practical choice than a testicular one.

Just saying. I live in Truck County. Mostly Dems.

[flvegan]

9. Give me a break

Yeah, had I said, "wow, a guy in a truck had a Kerry sticker" then maybe I'd be stereotyping. This person was proud of his membership in the biggest shitbag lobbying group for Bush. Additionally, he's obviously proud of his current/former military service. Then, not only a pro-Kerry sticker, but an anti-Bush one.

Certainlly not quite as broad and sweeping as a certain race being lazy or sexual preference is bad (that's not a stereotype, BTW, but a dipshit opinion of gay folks in general).

So much for rah-rah around here. Guess regardless of excitement over an unexpected sight needs to be dragged back down...Sorry for posting something positive.

[BeHereNow]

30. I have to say-

You are taking general observations and making them
about "you." I happen to think what you posted is
very positive. Thank you for sharing a great moment
with everyone, it gives us hope.
I happen to also think that it is not
healthy to assume that everything is somehow related to
you, personally.
It's called narcissism and it is a form of neurosis.

BHN

[flvegan]

35. Indeed

I'd like you to reread the post suggesting I was stereotyping an individual I saw today.

You are assuming that I think this way.

Thanks for the update on narcissism. I don't recall suggesting that EVERYTHING was somehow related to me personally. If I did, I'd be cracking the 20,000,000 posting milestone, as I'd be responding to EVERYTHING posted, eh?

[BeHereNow]

37. Please see my post to you below-

I repeat:
(((Hugs)))
BHN

[BeHereNow]

Amen!

It has always annoyed me that the so called "left"
is often just as guilty of stereo-typing as the so called
"right" that they complain about.
FACT IS: EVERY one of us are going to be equally screwed
if the multinational corporations are allowed to continue
their hegemonic take over of the planet. We are in this
TOGETHER- all of us and polarization between us is
what they count on...it is the same technique that
they have fostered in the prison system, managed
conflict to divide people to keep them from rising up together.
BHN

[flvegan]

19. Funny...

You stereotyped me by assuming that I was stereotyping another. I saw an individual that saw past his likely informative sources: his military buddies or current military commanders, as well as his NRA cronies pumping him full of BS information. Not only saw past it, but tossed it on the ground and kicked it around a bit. I saw enlightenment, you saw stereotype.

[BeHereNow]

26. WAIT just a second...

I really want you to slow down here-
Why do you assume that anything I said was
directed towards YOU? Let me clearly state-
NOTHING I posted had anything remotely to do with you
personally. It is interesting that you think so-
care to spend a moment in self examination
to ponder why you thought my comments were
directed towards you, personally?
I assure you, they were not.
BHN

[flvegan]

32. Assumption being the enemy

Because your response appeared to be backing up the post stating that I was stereotyping, as it was posted as a response to that particular one.

I DO appreciate you setting me straight as to your intent.

[BeHereNow]

36. Relax, we agree with you.

If you take ten steps away, put on a different
pair of glasses, you will realize that people are
extremely supportive of your point- we are adding to it
actually!
You don't have to answer this, but I am curious to know,
did you happen to have an extremely critical parent
growing up?
I strongly suspect that something in your past
conditioned you to operate from a space
of constantly defending your validity as a person.
Just a hunch.
(((HUGS)))
BHN

[flvegan]

39. Wow

All figured out, huh. Mmmm...let's see...very supportive parents. My dad's dead, you can analyze that if you'd like, but my mom's supportive enough to listen to my diatribe and 1. become a vegetarian, and 2. become a Bush hater (she voted for him last time, can't stand him now). Frasier doesn't have anything on you. He did it all with a phone call, you've done it with a couple posts.

Lots of folks here are supportive in this thread, but then there seem to be naysayers, that have to find the grain of sand, a perceived flaw in a statement, and then run amok with it.

But hey, we're all family in this, and we all need to get along as much as we can to set this country (and world) straight.

[karlrschneider]

14. I drive a little bitty pickup (Toyota) most of the time out here in this

lakeside community 'cause I haul a lot of junk around here and there. Got a "Republicans for Kerry" bumper sticker on it. (You'd have to know the political ambiance here to appreciate how it's appropriate) :D
Gotten quite a lot of thumbs up (or is that thumb ups?) ;-)

Oh, my partner and I aren't NRA people but we have a LOT of guns. And we are crack shots. heh heh

[villager]

49. it's a good point but....

...it's hardly a stretch to assume an "NRA" bumpersticker is going to be followed by some kind of Republican one. Sheer stats, if nothing else. Always glad to see folks thinking for themselves, however...

[Dzimbowicz]

I am a former Marine...

and I am also a South Carolinian (born, raised and still reside here) however, I own neither a gun nor a pick-up and I support the Kerry/Edwards ticket. I have voted for every Democrat since I was eighteen. The only thing that gripes me is that my vote will be (and has been) swallowed up by the majority of my fellow repuglican residents via the Electoral College system.

www.veteransforpeace.org

[calimary]

8. Welcome to DU!!!

And thank you for your service!

[luaneryder]

10. Thank you for your service

from a fellow vet and K-E supporter. I also visit VFP!

[Dzimbowicz]

18. To both calimary and luaneryder...

Thank you. I do my best to persuade voters to support Kerry/Edwards. As of today, I have convinced (and converted) one Naderite, and I have one person who voted for bu$h last time now declaring himself as "undecided".

[Dzimbowicz]

53. I forgot to thank you for your service as well.

[LiberalFighter]

22. Don't feel bad... just remember that you are not alone wherever you are...

And those that get involved in one fashion or another are making a difference. What you do will rub off on others and make them feel that they are also not alone.

[Dzimbowicz]

24. Just visited your website...

Good one!!!

[annarbor]

40. Another Former Marine Voting for Kerry/Edwards

I currently live in Ann Arbor, MI, but I lived in Camp Lejeune, NC most of my tour and those boys down there were hard core conservative Republicans. It is indeed refreshing to hear that there are current and former veterans out there that want Bush and Company out of office this November. Thanks for posting such good news!

Ann Arbor

[Dzimbowicz]

52. I'm glad to know that I'm not alone

I spend several years at "Swamp LeJeune, (2nd TKBN)and agree with you that they are some rather hard-core repubs. Thanks for the support!

[Tsiyu]

47. "Wage Peace" I love that, dzimbowicz

Welcome to DU
:toast:

[Snotcicles]

6. Thats my Bubba n/t

[Tsiyu]

11. How about this one, seen today

on an SUV next to the Kerry sticker- "I'm a Christian, a Gun Owner and a Democrat."

The peeps is wakin' up, my DU friends!

[Snotcicles]

16. Gotta luv em n/t

[William Seger]

21. Not too surprising, really

Military people are the ones who should be the most pissed off about Bush*'s mendacity and incompetence. They're the ones paying the heaviest burden, by far.

[Disturbed]

25. Military.

Many in the Military and those who have served, that are aware of how W., Cheney and Rumsfailed have pissed on the Military are not pleased.
It's one thing to serve to defend America but quite another to be used and abused by Neo Fascists serving their own greedy interests.

[Dzimbowicz]

31. I was in the USMC

shortly after the Vietnam War and the attitude of most of my fellow Marines was that if we were called upon to fight for America, we would go, no questions asked. However, with the prevailing attitudes in America at that time we were openly reluctant to put our butts on the line for anything else.

I agree with you that many vets have been pissed on by the current regime in Washington, especially the wounded and the treatment they have received after returning.

I received this from the VFP mailing list on 8 September:

Fact: The Bush administration charged wounded soldiers
arriving at Fort Stewart Georgia from Iraq $8 per day
for food.

Fact: The Bush administration is making more than two
hundred thousand veterans wait more than six months
for their initial visit to VA medical facilities. Some
are waiting two years.

Fact: The Bush administration reduced the number of
veterans waiting for health care by making 500,000 of
them ineligible.

Fact: The Bush administration recently announced
eleven VA hospital closings or partial closings.

Fact: The Bush administration has proposed cutting
health care benefits for 160,000 middle-income
veterans.

Fact: George Bush opposed legislation which would
allow disabled veterans to receive disability payments
in addition to retirement benefits.

Fact: George Bush said he would veto $87 billion in
supplemental funding for body armor, ammunition, and
supplies for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq unless
Congress cut $1.3 billion in veteran's benefits from
the bill. They did.

Fact: George Bush's 2004 budget is $1.5 to $2.6
billion short of what is needed to fully fund
veteran's benefits according to various budget
reviews, and he wants to cut almost another $1 billion
in 2006 according to a secret memo sent out to the
affected agencies.

Fact: George Bush tried to cut hazardous duty pay for
soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and tried to cut the
monthly separation allowance for their families.

Fact: George Bush's 2004 budget proposed a $1.5
billion cut to military family housing and medical
facilities, and a $174 million cut in funding for
schools near military bases .

Fact: George Bush opposed giving National Guard and
Reserve members access to the Pentagon's
health-insurance system despite a recent GAO report
which estimated that one of every five Guard members
has no health insurance.

[Tsiyu]

48. Kick for vets

Everyone should read this...Thanks for posting this info.
:kick:

[bvar22]

27. I may add an NRA sticker to my vehicle.

I don't support this organization, and believe in stricter gun control. I already have a Kerry/Edwards sticker, and a DU sticker, but I believe that the addition of a bogus NRA sticker may have more of a political impact on undecided mushy middle voters.

[napi21]

28. That doesn't surprise me. NRA isn't as strong as it used to be.

Maybe it was the attraction of Heston, and people just don't pay much attention to LaPierre. Or maybe lots of members realized that the "They're going to take your guns away with this asault ban" that was enacted 10 years ago just didn't happen.

The gun issue is still a bad one for Dems and they need it to just go on the back burner for a while, but my husband has a lifetime membership in the NRA, and even he thinks they are getting pretty ridiculous.

[Stew225]

29. Cool! I love hearing this. eom

[TrustingDog]

34. I guess you didn't hear that BaBushka is up 78 points....

hehe.

WAKE THE FLOCK UP! may be working.
but the bastards have the bastard media on their side. Although I love hearing news like this, let's not get too comfy with it. What we think means crapola to our masters.

[Cha]

38. I got your point about it being ...from

a marine And the NRA! You really uplifted some of us with your report. Thank you!

[Lefty48197]

41. The USMC should sue the NRA for stealing their logo.

.

[chaska]

43. I saw a 'Republicans for Kerry' sticker yesterday, and...

an obvious work truck with 'Teach Peace' on it today.

I think that, while it's tempting to think so, Americans aren't always as dumb as we think they are.

[leesa]

44. I saw a Marine sticker right below a Kerry sticker a few weeks ago as well

This is so powerful for those of you who are military supporting Kerry. I highly recommend putting both those stickers on.

[progressivebydesign]

46. Been seeing that A LOT here in Tacoma area...

trucks that I was CERTAIN would be Bush supporters, people I was SURE would be Bush supporters, are Kerry supporters. Lots of Veterans for Kerry! here!!! I am amazed every day when I see that...

[drdigi420]

51. Excellent, just ignire the reactionaries here, they do it all the time