Who represents me?
Since the primaries are over in California, the TV has thankfully returned to stupid ads about cars and weight loss instead of the asinine ads for politicians running for office. Considering I am a Democrat in California, the ads should not have been that offensive. My district is so blue I cant remember even on Republican pleading for my vote. Instead I was subjected to ad after ad for Democrats and at the end of each one I became more and more convinced they had less and less in common with me. So who represents me?
I consider myself an environmentalist - Less than Gore (who isn't!) but more than Clinton.
My political heroes are Jimmy Carter, Lyndon Johnson and Huey Long.
I don't care what two (or more) consenting adults want to do in private and their expression of love has no impact on my marriage.
I believe in the social welfare system and the 90% of people who are on it once for less than 6 months.
I am married with children.
I go to a main stream Protestant church every week.
My children are Scouts and my wife and I are leaders.
I am in the military.
I support the arts personally and believe in public support for it.
My children attend public school partially because I believe in public education and refuse to be a hypocrite by sending them to a private school.
I don't think we are taxed enough but I also don't like where my taxes always go.
I would pay extra now for a car that consumed no gas.
I own a gun.
I am anti-amnesty/anti-immigration/anti-law breaking.
I hate political correctness.
English should be the ONLY language used in all government documents, ATMs and those *&%$% voice systems. And yes, I speak more than English.
I have complete control of what is on my TV, radio, video game and computers and so do my children. If it is offensive, I change the channel. I don't need anyone's help.
I believe we can work or tech our way of any problem.
Our foreign policy should be good things for good governments and bad things for bad governments. The "Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend" doesn't work, hasn't worked and wont work.
I oppose efforts to make war "nice." Its supposed to suck so much you don't do it.
So who the heck represents me and people like me? Most Democrats/Liberals/Progressives assume I am right of Albert Speer because I am a military officer. Being a church going gun owner only serves to confirm that view. On the other hand my concern for the environment and lack of concern for other peoples sexual preferences marks me as a flaming liberal in the view of most Republicans. We have become so polarized that there is no one to represent someone like me who is pro choice and anti affirmative action, believes in the Great Society but not in the UN, likes loud music and video games but thinks drug dealers should be shot on sight.
Democrats have driven away any "liberal" who doesn't believe in all things liberal. They treat it like a sacred recipe and if you are not willing to support massage centers in prison then you cant call your cake Democrat. Republicans have embraced single issue voters with single issue pitches - "Vote for me and I will stop your job from being taken by an immigrant" - never mind at the last stop the same Republican promised to make it easier to outsource the same job and the one before that promised to lift all safety regulations so if the job does stay Mr. Anti Immigrant will get killed/poisoned/maimed.
Democrats have got to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable to each other. If I were a Democrat running for office I would proudly announce I was opposed to affirmative action and illegal immigration. Saying that doesn't make me a Republican or a racist. My PERSONAL experiences with AAs divisive and corrosive effects and my embrace of the rule of law lead me to those views. Does that mean that some Democrats might not vote for me. Absolutely. Does it mean some groups might not endorse me? Absolutely. But until someone "does a Lieberman" they can be a Different Democrat. I always find it amazing that a party that preaches "tolerance" can be so intolerant of different views WITHIIN!
Who represents me?