Worried About The Republicans Switching Parties To Vote InThe PA Primary?

[JimGinPA]

Funny story. Last week I posted a personal report of the Obama town hall in Lancaster. I mentioned a couple behind us in line and I said the guy had a "Republican for Obama" button on, and that it turned out he lived in the same town as I do. Turns out he has become a volunteer in our region for Obama. Not only that, he has arranged for us to use his office, in the business he owns, for a local jumping off point for the GOTV the week before and the week of the primary. He also came to our region's weekly strategy meeting tonight.

I don't think he has any intention of switching back for the GE.


Yes We Can!

[AllentownJake]

1. Yep

My mother was in the GOP till March and so were two other very active Obama volunteers I encountered last week.

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. Why not, that's his base. n/t

[SunsetDreams]

4. actually no, but nice try

[Yael]

7. That, or like some other ex-Republicans

namely, ME -- we are waking up to the fact that we had been lied to. People say there is nothing more arrogant than an ex-smoker. Guess what -- ex-Republicans who believe that they were lied to can be a rather vocal and militant group.

I don't know his story, but I swallowed the "supply side" garbage in college and while liberal on social elements, believed that the republicans had a better grasp on the economy.

I admit I was wrong and for whatever personal reasons, this gentleman has as well.

Get over yourself.

[Cronus Protagonist]

10. uumm.. you confirmed my observation and THEN dissed me?

"Go fuck yourself." - Dick Cheney, your hero before he wasn't.

[JimGinPA]

15. Your Parents Must Be Proud

:eyes:

[demasiado]

13. many Republicans have voted for Obama in past states

The trend finished in Mississipi, I believe, where most Republicans supported Clinton.
It's only fair.

[Eurobabe]

30. I was a PA Repube until 1992, never went back

Once you switch, you don't want to be in that group any longer. Read the stories in the Inquirer (Philly) and the Daily Local (West Chester) about how many people are done with the GOP, especially in the exburbs which used to be solid red. (McMansions, materialism, etc.)

http://www.dailylocal.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Daily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FDLN%2FHome&r21.content=%2FDLN%2FHome%2FContentTab_Feature_1870815

[Yael]

3. Thanks for posting this Jim

It was great seeing you tonight!

I can vouch for this story. :applause:

[JimGinPA]

11. I Almost Mentioned That Another DUer Was There...

But I wasn't sure if I should. Great seeing you too! :pals:

Sounded like we're going to be busier than a three-headed cat in a fish house for the next couple weeks.

[SunsetDreams]

5. Thank you Jim!

I see that here too. I really am hoping he will come here after he gets the nomination, maybe more would turn out for him in Nov.

I live in Oklahoma, a very, very RED state.

[crankychatter]

6. under reported disaffection of republicans with bush, the war and corruption

simple

tha'z why he'll kick ass in the general

[Yael]

9. Not only under-reported

but underestimated.

The media may be picking up the shift, but they are not picking up the intensity behind the shift. IE -- how pissed off former Republicans are about the lies we were fed (and swallowed whole).

[Cosmocat]

20. I am telling you ...

I have many republican friends in central PA ... Good people, just play for the other team ...

Some of the "not saluting the flag" BS, but for the most part ...

1) They are at worst, OK with Obama ... A good number genuinely like him ...
2) Hillary remains the anti-christ to them ...

[stillcool]

8. It's funny that some republicans..

are people too!

[anonymous171]

12. Most Obamacans don't.

[grantcart]

14. It is an interesting group

http://www.republicansforobama.org/?q=about


I find it interesting that they seem to include a significant portion of military folks


Director

John Martin is the Co-founder and Director of Republicans for Obama. He lives in The Bronx, New York, where he is a law student and a United States Navy Reservist.

John was active in his high school's Young Republicans Club and became a registered Republican shortly after his 18th birthday. After graduating with honors from Binghamton University, John interned and worked for Senator James Jeffords (R-I) of Vermont, and then received an MA in Political Science from Columbia University. He has worked on both local and national election campaigns.

John recently returned home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, where he served supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.



Deputy Director

Kenneth Wehking is the Deputy Director of Republicans for Obama and head of the Colorado chapter. He lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado and works for a large healthcare company in software quality assurance. Being raised in Colorado, he enjoys hiking with his Great Dane, climbing the 14ers of Colorado, marathon running, cycling and dog parks. Educated at the University of Miami, he met people from around the world and has seen first hand that we can celebrate our diversity and cultures, while still sharing common ground.

A lifelong Republican, Ken feels that many politicians have forgotten about the people they were elected to represent. In the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt, America needs a statesman that can set a new course and change this culture of division to one of cooperation and solutions to our most pressing problems. Including, budget deficits, healthcare reform, energy independence, social security/medicaid reform and protecting our natural resources, among a few.



Forums Moderator
Erik Paterson has been a conservative Republican all his life, is an NRA Life Member, and has always voted the Republican party line, that is until he actually started listening to what to Senator Obama had to say. Erik first heard Obama speak during his senatorial debate with Alan Keyes, and then during his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic convention. The more he listened, the more sense Senator Obama made. After reading his books, Erik was sold on the idea that Barack Obama is what this country needs in the White House.

Erik is 53 years old, and was born in Berkeley California. He is a United States Marine Corps Veteran, currently working as a Public Transportation Professional. He has been married for 36 years to the same wonderful woman, who is an Army Veteran, and a Health Care Professional. Together they have three fantastic sons, all USAF veterans who brought them three wonderful daughters

[rasputin1952]

16. Out here in NE...our caucus was expected to be about 30

good souls in my county precinct...we had well over 300. I know of many that had been to one of these for the first time, and I personally handed out voter registration cards to 7 new people and 3 R's that werechanging over to D that day, (there were others working the ropes as well).

I have to tell you though what struck me the best about the whole situation ...a lot of these people were young, and that alone gave me hope thatwe are on the cusp of something great.

[JimGinPA]

17. AM Kick

:kick:

[Maribelle]

18. Has anyone believed Obama would not use his "Be a Democrat for a Day" deception in PA?

I truly believe Obama will pull every dirty trick in the book possible from here on out. However, he has not been able to put Hillary away with the dirty tricks he has used so far - - such as the race card in South Carolina.

[AllentownJake]

19. Cough cough

Your candidate is the one with negative ads on the radio...not TV but its not because she doesn't want them there she just can't afford the ad buy for them.

[JimGinPA]

21. You Are...

[Vinca]

22. I'm still waiting for someone to post a link to any comment

made directly by Obama on this matter. This is another Hillary myth.

[Maribelle]

23. The Obamacrat campaign was not a myth. It is merely Obama supporters that are uninformed.

http://obamasdeckofcards.blogspot.com/2008/02/obamas-voter-manipulation-its-called_23.html

http://correntewire.com/bush_latte_obama_democrat_for_a_day_scheme_in_florida_not_only_in_nevada

WANNA BECOME AN OBAMACRAT?!!!
By Obama Florida 2008
Published: April 24, 2007

That’s why “Democrat for a Day” was launched this spring by ObamaFlorida2008. Using the official forms provided by all Supervisors of Elections offices, you may re-register as a Democrat for that one day — when the primary is likely to be held — on February 5, 2008. You must do so before the end of 2007, to make sure it is done 30 days before the primary.

But this is not about some “hard sell” to recruit voters to become permanent Democrats. Not at all. After the primary, you may re-register back to the
Republican or Libertarian parties, or revert to your previous status as an Independent! There will be plenty of time before the general election in November 2008.

ObamaFlorida2008 recognizes and respects all citizens who have varying points of view. We just want to make it make it possible to vote for Barack Obama in the primary — or for that matter — anyone you wish.

[JimGinPA]

24. Did You Not Even Read The Last Sentence You Pasted???

That was for people who want to vote for Obama in a primary, but not be registerred permanently Democrat. It's not a "ditto-head" program to cause mischief. Nice try.

:eyes:

[Maribelle]

25. Doh! You've learned what "Be a Democrat for a Day" means.

[JimGinPA]

26. Is It Realy That Hard For You To Comprehend...

That someone would want to be able to vote for their preferred candidate (Obama in this case) in a closed primary, but also want to return to their preferred party affiliation? Some people prefer to be an independent or whatever, but wanted the opportunity to vote in the primary. That's not a "deception".

[Maribelle]

27. A closed primary is to allow each party to select their party's nominee. This concept ...

is what bothered Obama the very most back when Hillary was receiving a double-digit lead within Democratic ranks.

What is your objection to the concept of the party selecting its party's nominee?

[JimGinPA]

29. That's Because It's A Losing Strategy In The GE...

We need independents and moderate repubs to win the Whitehouse. The wife of an ex-president with high name recognition and even higher negatives is not the answer in the GE. Sorry.

[Maribelle]

31. Just democrats selecting the democratic nominee is a losing strategy in the GE?

Perhaps you need to send your thoughts up to the DNC.

[JimGinPA]

32. The States Choose Their Own Format...

Not the DNC. The states with open primaries reflect the will of the voters IMO. Not to mention the focus of your argument is a miniscule percentage of voters who choose to vote for Obama. He is trying to increase the democratic party, rather than bring repubs together who don't like McSame, as your girl will surely do.

[SIMPLYB1980]

33. Here you go.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/14/obama-nevada-flyer-you-can-be-a-democrat-for-one-day/

[JimGinPA]

34. "insists that Obama’s campaign had no connection to the literature"

Check your own link, it refutes your argument. Nice try though.

[SIMPLYB1980]

37. I read it, and the others and that flier came from the Obama campaign.

My link does not refute my argument. It backs it up. I would never take the word of someone that made that flier up as truth, and since he was precinct captain for Sen. Barack Obama I find it hard to believe he put out that flier without the Obama campaigns permission. As Obama would say leadership comes from the top.

[JimGinPA]

39. Your Link Absolutely Refutes Your Premise - Your "Choice" Not To Believe Your OWN Link...

Makes you look obstinate. At best.

[Shae]

35. I guess this is the wrong place to mention ....

Republicans for Hillary.

"For a party that loves to hate the Clintons, Republican voters have cast an awful lot of ballots lately for Senator Hillary Clinton: About 100,000 GOP loyalists voted for her in Ohio, 119,000 in Texas, and about 38,000 in Mississippi, exit polls show.
A sudden change of heart? Hardly.
Since Senator John McCain effectively sewed up the GOP nomination last month, Republicans have begun participating in Democratic primaries specifically to vote for Clinton, a tactic that some voters and local Republican activists think will help their party in November. With every delegate important in the tight Democratic race, this trend could help shape the outcome if it continues in the remaining Democratic primaries open to all voters."


http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/17/many_voting_for_clinton_to_boost_gop/

[democrattotheend]

36. You can't be a Democrat for a day in PA

You have to be a Democrat for at least 30 days. And I don't think most people would do that if they would not at least consider voting Democratic in the fall.

And for the millionth time, that flyer was made by a volunteer and disavowed by the Obama campaign in Nevada. Campaigns cannot control everything their supporters do. I can tell you that when I did voter registration/conversion in PA, I met a staunch Republican who said she preferred Obama over Clinton but would definitely vote for McCain in the fall, and I did not ask her to switch to vote for Obama.

[noel711]

28. Hard to imagine it, but there are/were republicans who

have the capacity to think, and are well educated,
and know that change is in the wind.

All republicans who have crossed the line and
registered as democrats to vote for Barack Obama
are NOT Limbaugh clones, doing thus to put Hillary
in the driver's seat.

Here in the Lehigh Valley, I have spoken to more
than I ever imagined who are going for Barack.
They are sick and tried of politics 'as usual'
and are inspired to take a step into the future.

Many of these were republican women who no longer
trust their previous party affiliation, but
cannot relate to Hillary for various reasons...

[InsultComicDog]

38. Lots of Republicans in the Philly burbs have switched

I don't know whether they are voting for Hillary or Obama, but most of them didn't switch to the Democratic party just to mess with our primary and switch back. "Moderate Republicans" may be a rarity in national office, but there are lots of them around here. Some of them have been pushed over the edge, I think.

But an even bigger factor is that when their kids are turning 18, they are registering as Democrats even when their parents are Republicans.

[ORDem]

40. Oh yeah, I grieve over it long winter evenings. LOL!