Success story

[skygazer]

This has to start with a confession - my S.O. has NEVER voted. Never even been registered. Quite honestly, had I known that when I first started seeing him, I probably would have walked away in disgust. I'm glad I didn't because he's a keeper in many other ways.

Anyway, I didn't know this until we'd been together a while. I talk about issues all the time but I'm pretty passionate and didn't really notice that his contribution was always just, "yes, dear" "oh, really?" and that sort of thing. It wasn't until we got embroiled in Iraq that it became obvious that he wasn't really interested.

I was aghast. How can you not be interested? He had never seen political issues as anything that particularly affected him. His parents were not political, his friends had never been, he'd never paid any attention to political contests and told me that he was "afraid" to vote because he was afraid he'd make the wrong choice.

Well, I've been patiently working on him. I talk about the issues - focusing at first on the environment because he's an avid camper and hiker. As glimmers of understanding came into being, I touched on more and more issues. I pointed out examples in my family and in the community of people who had lost health insurance or jobs. He has a friend who is a teacher and I pointed out how she has to buy supplies with her own money so the kids can learn.

Gradually, he got interested. He is Union so I pointed out how the Republicans try to strangle the unions' power. He watched the DNC with me. He was impressed with Obama, liked Edwards' style and was very impressed with Kerry. Last week, we watched snippets of the RNC and I could see his mind comparing the two.

Last night, a breakthrough. As I cooked dinner, he was watching the news. Suddenly, I heard him yelling at the TV. Bush was on, speaking about Kerry and I heard Michael holler, "He didn't say that, you lying asshole!"

Today, he handed me his voter registration form to mail. The box marked "Democrat" is checked.

I'm so proud........

[kimchi]

1. You have every right to be proud!

My husband was once a Trump Republican, and only voted out of duty. I catch him sometimes in a "lightbulb" moment too. Feels damn good, don't it?

To this day he says "I'm a Republican" just to piss me off when we are having a disagreement!

[elehhhhna]

2. Love wins again, ya SO Whisperer. Well done!

[skygazer]

3. Hard work, though

There were times when I just felt like throwing him out! Ah, well, sometimes you really can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Of course, who wants flies?