Great talk with my conservative co-worker!

[Kixel]

This afternoon I had a very interesting conversation with a co-worker of mine that I thought I’d share.

My co-worker is conservative. He’s very religious and has always identified with the Republican Party. We have had many good discussions where he as truly listened to my views-he voted for one Democrat last election because of our discussions.

Today, he wanted to discuss Presidential nominees. I was shocked when he told me that my job as a good Democrat was to get him all the information I could on Barack Obama. He thinks that Obama is genuine and he has a lot of respect for him, and our discussion made it pretty obvious that he’ll be voting for Obama if he has the chance. He doesn’t like any of the other candidates on either side, but he’s pretty sure it’s all about Obama).

My father, who is a lifelong Democrat, is all about Obama as well. Its interesting-he’s a small town guy who grew up in the whitest of white towns in Minnesota (and to be honest, I heard off color jokes when I was younger). I wouldn’t have saw Obama as his first choice, either.

Obama is my first choice among the announced candidates (love the General!)-but I think our man Barack may be gaining ground on me. That’s a pretty wide range of appeal, considering I’m a single woman in her 20’s, my co-worker is a 30 something Republican, and my dad is a retired baby boomer.

I was really excited to hear my co-worker was excited about a Democrat, and I thought the rest of DU would be interested to hear it as well!

[The_Warmth]

1. Thanks!

It is some (more) wonderful news for the day.

[bumblebee1]

2. A few more pushes to get the rock rolling.

It takes a few more people to wake up to see what a clusterf*ck Bush and the Republicans have made of this country.

[Colobo]

3. I've had similar experiences

Some of my Republican students are very enthusiastic about Obama as well. I'm glad they are!

[murielm99]

4. That sounds very much like

the way I saw things develop here in Illinois.

And forget about the crappy opponents they fielded against Obama. I heard the buzz start before the republicans even knew who they wanted to put up against him. And Obama had to win his own Democratic primary against some good people, like Hynes. He had to win in parts of the state where he was unknown.

I live in a very red county. Quite a few republicans approached me about Obama even before the primary. The guy has something that is seldom seen these days in either party: charisma.

[Kixel]

5. I think you are right

I also think my generation is ripe for a politician we can get behind and truly admire. Hell, all of us do!

[POAS]

6. More and more I hear about

people who once identified as proud conservative Republicans who now call themselves "independents".

To paraphrase an old song, politics swing like pendulum do!

[gr8dane_daddy]

7. I have a similar workplace situation...

me and my conservative fundie coworker were talking about Dann Coulter and his remarks about Edwards. He said it wasn't that big a deal, she's a shrill and doesn't mean much to conservatives. I reminded him: 1. I think the remarks were disgusting; 2. He was speaking at a Conservative Convention of Nutjobs; 3. They continue to plug her and her bile; and 4. This aint the first time he's done this.

Although I do have him leaning toward Obama. Even a polished turd is still a turd I figure....that's what the repube have on their hands. The nutjob ex-marine here is a Guiliani fan as well...well until I pointed out his drag outfit and some of the things rudy has done and supported.

God these primaries are going to be fun.

[joeprogressive]

8. I just found out a conservative friend of mine is voting for Obama

There are no cross over Hillary voters out there that I can see

[Toots]

9. What does it tell you when Republicans want Obama?

They also wanted Lieberman....

[KKKarl is an idiot]

10. I am hearing the same thing here in OK

Conservatives are not happy with the McCain & Guliani circus. They want someone like Obama. I strongly believe Obama is going to carry this election by a landslide. All the negative on this guy is out in the open. There is nothing left for them to dig up. He put it all in his book. I never thought a democratic presidential candidate could carry a hard line red state. But I think Obama is going to carry a few of them.

[Cosmocat]

11. Yeah ...

McCain is flaming out ... I know the press DESPERATELY wants to annoint Rudy, because the republicans still are desperately holding on to their sacred cow - 9-11, and Rudy is in their minds a living testament to it ... But, I do agree that he has too much crape to clear the whole run to win the presidency ...

I actually worry a bit about Romney ... I hate to say this, but the man is legit ... He isn't their prototype idiot savant, he has for the most part actually LIVED a decent life ... He has the looks, the creds ... The mormon thing is a drag for him, but if I HAD to live with a republican president at this point I could call him my president, keeping in mind that from DAY ONE, I refused to call the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania my president ...

I tend to agree that Obama seems to be the guy who has the best chance of bringing it home for the democrats ...

[Kixel]

12. It also seems

That the Republican party isn't capable of pulling together to endorse a fresh face. They want someone they can bend to the back room deal makers will. Obama's refreshing.

[gratuitous]

13. Isn't your co-worker worried that Obama isn't black enough?

{Giggle}

That just sounds so goddam funny, I had to say it again. Okay, I'll do my penance now. You figure five Hail Marys oughta cover it?

[Kixel]

14. It's lent...

You should probably do a whole rosary-lapsed Catholic, so you are screwn!

Most people really don't seem to care about his race. My theory on that is that the people who don't like the idea of a black guy being President wouldn't be voting for a Dem, anyhow.