Mom says she might vote McCain
Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:33:18 PM PDT
it's what she said on Tuesday evening when I picked her up after work to take her shopping.
I was, literally, struck dumb. If you knew me, you would be astounded.
What the hell could I say? This is 67 year-old white woman, born and bred in the lower class in SW Washington. She comes from a long line of alcholic musicians and rednecks. She still talks about the 'cuteness' of the rearend of the Chairman of the DNC, for whom she tirelessly worked as a personal champion, attempting to convert every single person she met, from the time of the Summer Tour events of 2003 right up to the manufactured 'scream' imbroglio, into a Howard Dean for Life club member.
A life-long Democrat, never, ever, ever talked about voting Republican in my entire frickin' life, not even for dog catcher. Until this week.
When I finally regained the ability to speak, which consisted of rolling my tongue back up and shaking my head like a beagle on the beach on a brisk spring morning, I asked her if she could tell me why that might be.
I asked her, in a slightly-shell-shocked tone, "well, Mom, uh.... what would make you do that... I mean, what's wrong with Obama? (here is where I disclose my own recent choice, made under protest after Edwards 'suspended' his campaign)
She says nothing for a bit, which was really only about 10 or 20 seconds, but at the time felt like about three weeks. Then I ask her, with great trepidation, "Do you have a problem with Obama being a black man?"
Keeping in mind that during the 1960's growing up in my hometown meant that in my high school graduating class of about 550 there were less than five black students. Do the math.
There was rampant racism, mostly contained to private conversations, because during that time, everyone, even grade school kids, knew that there was a particular part of Portland (Oregon, across the mighty Columbia River, south of SW Washington) where almost all of the black people lived. This 'segregation' seemed odd to me even then, but was simply accepted as the normal state of affairs by everyone that I can remember.
So this is the cauldron that stewed up the society in which my mother, and subsequently myself, were raised in. Even today she often says 'negro' instead of 'black'. I have often wondered just how much prejudice might still live in her heart, but never had the nerve or the inclination to actually speak up and ask her.
But this moment called me to ask the question. The length of time it took her to respond colors my belief that it was her honest feelings. She only said, softly and with a brief stutter, "I don't know, I mean, I'm not sure, but I don't trust him."
When I asked her what about Obama made her feel that way, she could only repeat her response saying "I just don't know what it is, I just don't trust him".
Then, with venom, she baldly stated that she could not, would not, vote for Hillary. Ever. And just the other day she was again defending Bill CLinton. (By the by, she always says Bill Clinton and she always says Hillary, I wonder if there is any psychological component to that little quirk?)
So. Is my mom a lone clone? Are there any other blue collar stories, of crazy old democrats, who are getting skittish about the black man and woman candidates left in the race, out there waiting to be told?
I'll be happy to take suggestions on how to change her mind, but I have to tell you, I already tried this one:
Wait a minute, have you forgotten about the past 7 years? Hey, even I admire John McCain personally, I mean shit, he spent frickin years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, tortured and lost for half a bloody decade. But come on, have you listened to him over the past six months? He has his head so far up G.W. Bush's ass he may never see daylight again.
Imagine another four years, or worse yet, another eight fucking years of Republican rule? How much farther can they break down our damn country, Mom? How could you? How could you even think about it?
By this time, I was breathing hard, I mean, I was actually worked up. I nearly broke out in frothing at the mouth. Seriously. Well, maybe not really frothing, more like dribbling, but that's beside the point.
At this point she did seem somewhat mollified, and said she'd have to 'think about this more', but you know, there isn't much more time. The WA State Caucus is this Saturday, February 9th at 1:00 pm.
If you are a Washingtonian, and a democrat, of course, click HERE to find out where you should go to caucus.
Please read the information on the caucus if you've never gone. Please. It's not rocket science. Show up, sign in, declare you are a Democrat, group up, elect a Caucus Captain, talk about the candidates, vote. Those candidates who don't get 15% of the table's votes are out and there is a new round of voting. Anyone can change their mind during any round of voting and pick any candidate, even one they discarded during an earlier vote. Voting is over when all candidates chosen have received at least 15% of the table's votes. Go home.
If you have any thoughts or ideas on how to re-convert my mom back into a vociferous, stalwart champion of whomever turns out to be the Democratic nominee, I beg you, commence commenting.
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