Reply #153: I think [View All]

[Emit]

In the case of my Republican SO:

Republicanism is an idea, not just a political movement.

Look, I have had numerous discussions about this very issue with my SO. My SO has had some serious discussions with others about this. And, it has caused a lot of uncomfortable feelings between us and has required a lot of introspection and communication on both our parts. I know exactly where you all are coming from.

But, I also know the flip side of why some Republicans will not abandon their party. It's the question of "Do I stay and fight these nuts who've taken over my party, or do I switch parties and fight them from a distance?"

You are assuming that their ideology would be welcomed in the Democratic Party or in an Independent Party. I do too, 'cause I'm a Dem and part of me doesn't understand what the big deal is about joining my party, and I also feel that there is a desperate need for change. But just because we feel this way doesn't mean they do. They think differently and their party loyalty remains to their ideals about Republicanism, not necessarily to Bush & Co. If the reverse were true, would you switch parties? I'm not sure I would, and if I did, it would probably take some time and weighing of the pros and cons. I could never imagine myself as a Republican, for example. And if my spouse changes, it will likely be to a Green or Independent, not Democrat.

You are also assuming that people have come to the level of awareness that many here at DU are fortunate to come to. Many haven't. Many Dems haven't. Many Repubs haven't. Many people who are not registered to vote haven't. It's not just the Republicans. These folks haven't reached a level of awareness that, IMO, is really crucial to saving our asses right now. My frustration lies with them. That's why I'm volunteering for every register to vote and other Dem Party volunteer positions that I can handle right now to spread the word and try to convince people of the direness of the situation at hand; that our democracy hangs by a fraying string. But you can bet I won't be wearing a sign that says "I hate all Republicans 'cause they're traitors!" That's not gonna win any points. Heck, we can't even get that awareness from our own fucking complicit Democratic Representatives in Congress, how can we expect that from people who've called themselves Republicans for 20 years or more?

Anyway, my problem is with the OP's hyperbole: "You are either with us or you are against us" message. Now, where, pray tell, have we heard that ultimatum before?!

Just the simple clarification of "I hate Republicans who still support Bush" would likely not have warranted a response from me -- I usually stay away from these rants anyway. But, the more I read the thread and realized how many DUers were joining the bandwagon, the more I felt compelled to speak up. It's just not a message I would condone even if I weren't married to a Repub. It's silly. And, frankly, it is the one thread that I have come across since I have been a member of DU that has really, sincerely disappointed me -- enough even to briefly reconsider whether DU is still my choice for sound liberal ideas when I see so many people buying into this extreme, hateful message with out clarifying their responses.


I appreciate your effort in trying to explain where you're coming from, and I am sorry that it is frustrating that you feel I can not understand, because I do, really, understand the desperation we all feel to take back our democratic Republic. I do. But, this is not the way to do it. The Bushbot hate radio is way ahead of us on this message -- "Hate all liberals, hate the pinko commies, hate all Dems, etc." We were invited a long time ago to that game. We don't need to be a part of their game. We need to find our own game plan, and I hope that it will not include such a bigoted and hateful message.