I don't think the world at large cares overly for my personal political odyssey; but it may have some value as an example.
In brief, I came to political consciousness during Vietnam, voted for McGovern in '72, and have supported a straight Democratic ticket with votes, money, and volunteer work ever since. I have been for the Democratic president or presidential nominee through Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton, and up through Obama. I was a self-described yellow dog democrat.
But I no longer self identify as a Democrat. I voted in the last election; I donated to specific candidates; but when asked to contribute to the party, I refused, saying that the Democratic Party had left me.
Let me qualify that: the Democratic party under Obama had left me. The historical quotation which furnishes the origin of the term 'yellow dog democrat' reads:
I admit," he stated blandly, "that I said then what I now repeat, namely, that when the Democratic party of Kentucky, in convention assembled, sees fit in its wisdom to nominate a yaller dog for the governorship of this great state, I will support him — but lower than that ye shall not drag me!"
I voted for Hillary in the primaries, -- race was not an issue, since I am a member of a multi-racial household (Aframerican- Ashkenaz) , all of whose voting members were for Hill. One of my major issues was FISA, and Obama's failed promise to filibuster -- he wound up voting for it.
I voted for Obama -- under protest -- but out of fear of Palin. I was greatly encouraged when he started first to assemble his administrative team (aside from doubts about Rahm, of which the less said the better.)
But as his presidency developed, I found myself compiling a laundry list of complaints. The
health care bill written by a lobbyist (Liz Fowler) working for a blue dog (Baucus), the failure to come clean about the Gulf Oil Spill, the expanded use of drone attacks,, killing an estimated 10 civilians for every targeted terror suspect.
This is but a small sampling of factors that led to the point where I woke up one day, and realized I was no longer a Democrat. I'm no great shakes, but I (and others with similar stories) are perhaps not the ones you want to lose.
If the Health Care Bill had had Medicare Buy In at age 55 available in July 2012; the Democrats would still hold the House of Representatives.
But that fond dream of a might-have-been is further than ever from realization. In fact things are rapidly, precipitously getting worse. The news from the deficit commission is beyond belief. This thing was the President's baby. He could have pulled the plug any time. He didn't. Now it's a black eye for the Democrats, and just possibly, a tin can tied to yellow dog's tail. Or as the man said: "Lower than that ye shall not drag me!"