I'm Becoming a Democrat Today

[Playinghardball]

By Huffa

I have lurked for so long, but decided to open a Daily Kos account this morning. My political journey has a been a long one. I have been a Republican, then a Libertarian, then I joined the Green party. Today, I am changing my voter registration to Democrat for the first time ever in my life. Why? Because of Bernie Sanders.

Bernie Sanders is the kind of candidate that does not come along too very often. I really hope the Democratic party will choose him as their candidate in the election. I have followed his campaign since he announced that he was running. His economic platform speaks to me.

I grew up in a middle class family, went to college and got a great job right out of school. I worked hard and made decent money. I bought a house I probably couldn't afford. When I lost my job during the recession, I lost my house. For the first time in my life I was poor. I had nowhere to go. I stayed in a hotel room that cost me $39 a night for a while until I couldn't afford that anymore. I went hungry many nights. I ended up sleeping in my car for a few months until I lost that too.

I slept outside at a park on a bench for a few weeks. Finally, as it began to get cold, I went to a shelter. They were able to feed me, give me a warm place to stay and help me find a job. Now, I have my own modest apartment, and a 15 year old car. I feel the most successful I have ever felt in my life. Thanks to a helping hand, I was able to get back on my feet. I make $9.50 an hour at one job, and $8.75 at my second job. I work very hard at both of these jobs and between the two, I often work 50-60 hours a week.

Bernie Sanders is the only candidate advocating for a $15 minimum wage. For this reason, he gets my support. He's the only candidate that is talking about helping the poor. He understands the plight of so many.

I like Hillary Clinton. I just feel that she doesn't understand me. She is so close to many large corporations and I worry that she has their best interest at heart instead of mine. I don't think she understands how a middle class person can become homeless in a matter of months. Many of us are one or two paychecks away from disaster. It wouldn't take much for me to become homeless again.

One of my jobs is talking about cutting back my hours after the summer. I won't starve if they do, but I won't be comfortable either. I'll do what I've had to do all summer. Eat cheaply. Keep the lights off as much as possible. Open the windows to cool off. If Bernie Sanders is elected and passes the $15 minimum wage, I would be able to afford to save some money possibly. I would be able to put a few dollars away in case I have an emergency.

I plan to hit the streets for Bernie Sanders to help him win. I've told all my co-workers about him already and several of them are excited for him too. When you vote in the election, please do remember the working poor and the middle class. Many middle class people are on the brink of becoming poor and are one problem away from it.

Please vote Bernie Sanders.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/22/1404556/-I-m-Becoming-a-Democrat-Today

[ruffburr]

1. Bouncing for Bernie!!!!!!

[SoapBox]

2. Every minute, more and more are Feel'n the Bern!

It makes me think that every person that hears Bernie's message...

stands with their mouth hanging open because they can't believe that someone is actually speaking about what MILLIONS of us feel.

He's clear...he's concise...he's honest...he's authentic...and he has the history to prove it.

And after all that reality hits them...they JUMP onboard.

It's a Sanderstorm that grows every second.

[PatrickforO]

3. We'll see this happening all over the US as Bernie gets the word out.

I talk to people about him too.

[JDPriestly]

7. Me too.

[daleanime]

4. Roll the sleeves up....

and keep going.

[uhnope]

5. GWB & Obama made me go from Independent to Dem

As long as we have this messed up two-party system, I am for keeping the GOP out of national office for the foreseeable future

[JDPriestly]

6. K&R.

[ancianita]

8. You are so welcome among Democrats! Hats off to you, sir! And may every good thing come

from your hard work and fierce hope.

[secondwind]

9. What an inspirational story! With you 100% of the way.... GO BERNIE!

[democrank]

10. So many poor people are on the brink of financial disaster.

All it takes is one event to turn their lives into a catastrophe. Those of us who have been there understand the profound value of Bernie Sanders` positions.

[beam me up scottie]

11. So many stories like this, people fall through the cracks every day.

We need to hear from them.

Bernie gets it, he wants to lift everyone up.

Rec.

[tclambert]

12. Off topic, but an ad appeared suggesting we should not trust Iran because they have broken over 20

international agreements. It came up just as I opened this post. I read it and wondered how many agreements America has violated. Perhaps we should ask some Native Americans.

Sorry for the interruption. You may return to your regularly scheduled topic.

[Skittles]

13. reply for post 10,000!

[Fuddnik]

14. I became a Democrat AGAIN because of Bernie Sanders.

I was a Democratic Congessional Candidate in Florida in 2004.
After I dropped out of the race because of lack of funding, I was my county spokesman for Kerry-Edwards.
I co-manged John Russell for Congress in 2006.
I worked several campaigns in the interim.
In 2007, after Democrats promised to cut off war funding for Iraq, and did not, I resigned my position in my county DEC in protest.
In 2007, after many outrages, perpetrated by "Democrats" such as Telecom Immunity, and Patriot Act Renewal, I changed my party affiliation to "No Party Affiliation" in Florida.


Now Bernie is running! This is the campaign I've dreamed about for a lifetime.

I'm a Democrat Again! But, only because Bernie's running. If he loses in the primaries? Well, fuggedabout it! They don't make a clothespin strong enough. Not even a Hazmat suit strong enough to get me to vote for Hillary!

[indivisibleman]

15. I went through a similar process

back in 2001. My wife followed a few years later. Welcome to the world of sanity. It isn't perfect but it is by far a better place to be.

[Dustlawyer]

16. Glad to have you on Bernie's side!

I quit the Democratic Party once I realized they had sold out to corporate interests, but I vote for Democrats because they are the lesser of the two evils. I support what the original idea of the Democratic Party was, I just we had more candidates that talked the talk and walked the walk like Bernie.
As an example, Obama has done many great, wonderful things for us, but he has to do his part of the Quid Pro Quo that got him elected. A current example is Shell getting the go ahead to drill in the Artic. They WILL screw it up, not maybe. Hillary would do the same on this issue, I have no doubt. We all know Bernie would not.
We need to recruit other potential candidates to the Bernie Party!!!!!!

[TheNutcracker]

17. GO BERNIE - Thanks for stepping up for the country!!!!!

[Politicub]

18. Welcome to the party!

We're all on the same team at the end of the day, so welcome!