I am in an interesting situation at work because we are a union plant and our union, IBEW Local 66, endorsed Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal, except that the operators and maintenance personnel here are very pro-union, but they are primarily very right-wing, "Christian", rural, white people from Southeast Texas.
Let’s just say that I am in the minority here in more ways than one. Anyway, we are allowed to place one union sticker on our hardhats. Although it was almost suppressed, there is an "IBEW supports Obama/Biden" sticker, which I wear proudly on my helmet. You can imagine the looks I have received and the comments I have heard.
I have been called a socialist, and all of the other stupid talking point monikers that exist. My response is that I am a union supporter, and I ask them why they aren’t supporting their union. The main reason I have seen for all of this behavior seems to be fear, so I decided to make a list of things that might make repubs feel a little bit better about President-Elect Obama on Wednesday.
- Barack Obama is not going to outlaw Christianity in the US and institute Sharia law.
- Barack Obama is not going to require that your children be forced into homosexuality.
- No one is coming to take your guns, or limit your legal purchase of guns in the future.
- Barack Obama is not going to increase your taxes so that all current welfare recipients can buy a new car and cell phone.
- Barack Obama is not the Anti-Christ, nor is he the rebirth of any particular deity of any religion.
- Reverend Wright is not going to be the new Secretary of State.
- Black people, emboldened by an Obama victory, are not going to subjugate all white people into slavery.
- Barack Obama is not going to disband our military, nor is he going to make our country weaker against any threat deliberately.
- Fox News will not be outlawed during an Obama presidency. (even if it should)
- Republicans will not be required to pay any reparations, other than the joy I will get from seeing your disappointment that the black guy won.
- You will still be allowed to hate people because of the color of their skin, their religion, or their sexual orientation. Unfortunately, you have the right to do that and President Obama will make sure that you continue to have that right.
So, all of you McCain supporting people voting against their best interests at South Texas Project, don’t be afraid.
I won’t make too much fun of you. After all, I will already have your money (from bets) in my pocket. That's good enough for me.