I'm writing this diary as a solicitation for help in making a convincing argument to my right-wing father that he should vote for Barack Obama. This will not be easy by any means. My Dad has recently retired and spends most of his free time listening to Rush, watching O'Reilly, and cruising the web to pick up all the conservative talking points. But I've had some recent email exchanges with him that suggest a crack in the shield - one permitted by John McCain not appealing to him enough (and my dad lives in Arizona, no less).
I am particularly looking for 2 things: 1) a list of policy positions that represent what Obama will change as President; and 2) position points related to Obama's openness to the issue of abortion.
This request is issued because I'm pressed for time while at work. I could spend the time researching and compiling lists of positions, but I know I've read some incredible diaries and comments at this site featuring the great work of fellow Kossacks. So if anyone reading this has quick access to such info, please post in the comments - I believe a catalog of position points such as we might assemble here could be valuable to many other people in my position.
My Dad and I went through an interesting Father's Day weekend, exchanging heated argumentative (and sarcastic for my part) email messages. We do love each other, but have learned to give each other distance when it comes to politics. For some unknown bad-timing reason, that fell apart over the weekend.
First he sent me an email about Obama's Fight the Smears website - specifically the part about the "whitey" hoax.
...the actual smear is that Rush is spreading this rumor. Larry Johnson, a democrat blogger started it and Bob Beckel repeated it before Rush ever discussed it. Rush has said from the beginning it is an unproven rumor. Let the smears begin!
I replied:
Oh, that’s so horrible. I’m so sorry for Rush. It’s so terrible that people mention he’s discussing rumors. How dare they?! That’s just so much more hurtful than having people spread lies about your religion, your patriotism, your education, and your wife. That stuff is all fair game apparently, but we have to draw a line at pointing out when someone discusses baseless rumors (even though he knows full well that as soon as it’s mentioned it will become truth in some people’s minds).
Later he mass emailed to his whole address book a rant about Congress' act to require the use of compact fluorescent bulbs, pleading:
Please, Lord, deliver us from this insanity!
How long will we continue to put up with this crap!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm an architect involved in fighting for sustainable design, so this struck a raw nerve. My reply:
Please, Lord, help us learn to accept (and continue to improve upon) new ideas that will help ensure that your creation will be available to our future generations.
I think he didn't like my smart-ass reply, especially since I hit "reply all" and it went to all his friends. He zipped back:
You want me to "accept" and obey Big Brother's new ideas that, in this case, mandate and require me to buy expensive light bulbs that contain hazardous materials and that enrich only China, who couldn't care less about saving the environment?
Let me make the choice... I'm just sick and tired of things like some city in California banning bonfires on the beach because the smoke is bad for the environment and contributes to global warming.
So that one got my ire up over the knee-jerk conservative concept of "government interference". My reply, again heavy on the sarcasm:
Yes, consider all the things we could do if it weren’t for the annoying intrusions into our lives by government:
• When stuck in traffic, I could just drive on the sidewalk!
• We could reduce overpopulation by letting trial and error tell us which drugs work and which ones kill us.
• Our immune systems would be more durable from fighting off the pesticides and spoiled food we would have available.
• No unsightly landfills – just garbage strewn everywhere for equal-opportunity stench.
• Prisons wouldn’t be overpopulated – I’m sure we could learn to live with our neighborly criminals.
• Water would have such new and interesting flavors available.
• Free landscaping maintenance – livestock could just roam free.
• Free education – everyone home-schooled!
• Some of us would get out of any hard work at all – we could still have slavery.
After that one, he laid off for a couple days. Then today this one came:
Okay, Obama says he's for "change" - so what's going to change and how will he change it? He says he will change the "way Washington does business" and "Bush's failed policies," but that's all I'm hearing. His lofty rhetoric sounds great when he's in front of a teleprompter (I'll be watching the Town Hall meetings to see how he does) but I want to hear about the actual changes he'll make and how he'll make them. Change just for change's sake might not be a good idea. I'm looking but haven't found much so far.
And in a separate email, also today:
My reason for calling you Sunday night was really to tell you not to get so upset about my emails. Sure, we're on opposite sides of just about everything political, but even though my emails might give you the impression my blood pressure is mounting and I'm shouting at you, I'm not. Not at all.
As far as I'm concerned right now, except for their stands on abortion, I don't think it matters whether Obama or McCain gets elected. This country is going to disintegrate sooner or later just like the Roman Empire due to its immorality, corruption and greed - on everyone's part. I guess I'd rather have Obama in office just so I can blame the Democrats for what's coming! ;-)
I sense an opening. He's a good guy, but he's heavily influenced as he gets older (almost 70) by the memories of his conservative father and brother (a Viet Nam vet, his hero). He's become increasingly religious (Catholic) as well. With the candidates currently running, he's become more or less a single issue voter (abortion). I believe there's a chance, if I can show him a list of meaningful changes that Obama will make and Obama's openness on discussing abortion, that he just might be swayed.
Update 1: Kudos to bincbom for providing the link to the must-have Obama Blueprint. And also, thanks to a few posters who pointed out the inherent conflict between a stance against government interference and being for a ban against abortion.
Update 2: Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Below is a message I sent my Dad this evening, incorporating some of your thoughts.
I haven’t read all of it yet, but here’s a link to the campaign’s description of some changes: http://www.barackobama.com/...
It looks like it includes a lot more than just lofty rhetoric.
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I’ve also seen this on the differences between the candidates on taxes: http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/...
I’ve just skimmed it, but it seems to say positive and negative things about both.
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One of the topics Obama is different on from other Dem candidates in the past is that he is more a man of faith (and most likely more so than McCain). Even though he will not support a total ban on abortion (which would be another form of big brother government interference, wouldn’t it?), I’ve heard him talk about the need to engage all sides in a conversation on appropriate limits and working to reduce unwanted pregnancies through other means.
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A comment I came across: "Barack Obama is not going to change anything all by himself. However, because he is motivating so many people to participate in government, the change he is talking about will happen because the voices of the regular people in this country will no longer be drowned out by the special interests."
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For myself, Obama’s candidacy suggests a change in just being able to get anything done at all, by enacting reforms to reduce the influence of lobbyists (just look at the way he’s run his campaign), and even more importantly, by trying to get us all to be more open to listen to what others have to say – to realize again that we’re all in this together. In this spirit, I will restrain myself more in the future and not be as sarcastic in my messages to you. I’m glad that your blood pressure isn’t rising and that you’re not yelling at me in your messages to me; that’s also the case for mine to you, but I realize that sarcasm doesn’t help. Sorry.