My 73 year old Dad, a former Republican, now Obama supporter, blows a gasket at Rethug "friends"

[powergirl]

My dad, white guy, a former Republican who grew up in segregated schools here in Texas, is voting for Obama - yes hell has frozen over. He gets frequent email crap from his retiree friends which is a bunch of recycled Rush Limbaugh crap talking about how the Democrats love terrorists, the Democrats criticize and don't appreciate our troops, and we shouldn't complain about torture, etc. etc. Anyway, my dad blew a gasket and here is his response. I thought I'd share it with you b/c it is great and it shows that people can and do change. My father also told me that he feels that if he votes for Obama he can help cleanse the stain or racism in our country. So here it is:

"Dear friends:
It is interesting to me that disagreement with the management of the war and the treatment of the "detainees" is twisted to be a criticism of our individual soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. With the exception of a few bad apples, I have heard no one say anything negative about our troopers. Yet slanderous crap like this keeps circulating.

"The propagandists for the Bush administration are genetically incapable of admitting they screwed the poochie in Iraq, so they must defend to the death their actions there. John McCain plans to ride that mule as far as it will go.

"For the record, I think this administration's middle east policy is a catastrophe, and the conduct of the war in Iraq is a disgrace. Our country continues to be the greatest ever, but we have a bunch of incompetent leaders. They worry about gay marriage while the Taliban regain strength in Afghanistan. They get all hot and bothered over Obama's flag pen while car bombs go off in Baghdad. They are beating the drums about Iran while our armed forces are stretched to the limit in Iraq and Afghanistan. Could it be because George W. Bush has the military expertise of a toadstool? And Senator McCain, whom I respect as an American hero, thinks this is all just hunky-dory. Jesus H. Christ on a crutch! Wake up and smell the coffee!

"And don't anyone say I am not a patriot. I'm too old to be a soldier now, but I was once a long time ago. I know that a soldier overseas thinks about one thing more than anything else - going home - even when there is no fighting. Senator McCain says that's not important. Well, he's dead wrong on that.

"Everyone in this great country is entitled to his or her own opinion, but not his own facts. You have heard my opinion; what's yours?
All of you have a glorious Independence Day; it's important. The guys who put it on the line on July 4, 1776 did not agree on everything either, but they managed to put together a pretty good organization."

An "in your face" from my Dad.
:patriot:

[Hope And Change]

1. WOW!Very powerful.Thanks for posting.K & R!

[sazemisery]

2. Speaking Truth to the Kool Aid Drinkers!

Many people have awakened to the nightmare our country is living. Hopefully, we can turn the tide and make the people in Washington that we ELECTED represent the majority of the people!

[ErinBerin84]

3. That was awesome. Give your Dad a hug for me!

Haha, laughed at this part : "And Senator McCain, whom I respect as an American hero, thinks this is all just hunky-dory. Jesus H. Christ on a crutch! Wake up and smell the coffee!"

[yellerpup]

4. Glad to see a veteran and patriot of your dad's age

standing up for the current crop of servicepeople now serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. I'm sure HE has credibility within his peer group and may be able to sway opinion where others can't. Good for him and good for you! Thanks for sharing. "kick: K&R!

[NatBurner]

5. this is great

i wish i cld see their faces when they read it

buy your dad a brew for me; i'll pay u back :)

[panader0]

6. Excellent response!

You and your dad should figure out a way to get this out to everyone. Coming from a former republican, his new beliefs could sway a lot of votes.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. He's a true gentleman. Thanks so much for sharing! n/t

[NotThisTime]

12. Agreed, that's fantastic...

[rasputin1952]

8. A salute from this old Vet.

:patriot:

None wish more for peace than those ho have fought this nation's wars...something the entire bush cabal seems to have missed out upon.

[yardwork]

9. I love it! Thank you for sharing this.

[Arugula Latte]

10. Go Dad!

:toast:

"screwed the poochie" ... :rofl:

[Muttocracy]

11. that's fantastic

send to the Obama campaign, or get your dad to speak at a rally!

[NatBurner]

25. a commercial in texas would be great

i would love to turn texas purple

[AnneD]

46. Texas has been turning purple for a while now.....

We are getting rid of much of our old do nothing DEM leadership for some IN YOUR FACE leadership. It is a movement-Obama just happens o be riding it, but it is a movement none the less. I don't know about other cities, but Houston is a deep blue and has been for a while.

[NatBurner]

95. i live in houston

and i'm going to do my part to register as many new voters as i can

i hope you're right, cuz i 'm sooo sick of living in a red state-

that whole W thing was embarrassing :(

[powergirl]

99. Dallas is Blue

2006 swept out all of the local Republicans - District Clerks, judges, etc. They are all Democrats now. I live in the Dallas Area now (about 15 years) but I'm a Houston girl. That town will be Blue soon and the Wingnuts know it.

[powergirl]

47. Minus the salty language

I told him he should call them up. He'd be great.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. thank your Dad for me

for this wonderful letter and for his continuing service to his country.

[KT2000]

14. "screwed the poochie!"

the whole thing is good but that cracks me up!
Thank you to him for a great letter.

[powergirl]

78. Thanks.

That's an old army expression, like FUBAR.
pmh (powergirl's dad)

[boobooday]

15. the expertise of a toadstool!

:rofl:

Your dad ROCKS. Give him a fist bump from me.

[moriah]

16. Your Dad rocks, and he's oh-so-right.

"And don't anyone say I am not a patriot. I'm too old to be a soldier now, but I was once a long time ago. I know that a soldier overseas thinks about one thing more than anything else - going home - even when there is no fighting. Senator McCain says that's not important. Well, he's dead wrong on that."

Another thing that my friends who are soldiers say -- "No one values peace more than a warrior." My mother was an Air Force wife during Vietnam, and her first husband, my sister's father, recently retired from the AF. I have several friends who are deployed, and a few who have been able to come home for extended leaves before going back. One of my coworkers is back from his third deployment -- he is too injured to go back, so he has a medical discharge. All of them agree -- they value peace because they know the reality of war.

I think your Dad understands it perfectly.

I protested the Iraq war. I was very lucky to be in New York at the time. But I didn't carry a sign that said "No Blood for Oil", or signs with pictures of dead Iraqi civilians.

My sign said "Support Our Troops -- Bring Them Home!"

And I meant it. I still do.

[polichick]

17. "Jesus H. Christ on a crutch! Wake up and smell the coffee!"

LOL - great letter!

[Barack_America]

18. Your father is awesome. This made my day. K&R.

He gets it.

:patriot:

[janx]

19. "military expertise of a toadstool"

:rofl:

[harun]

20. Awesome. My Dad refuses to drink the kool-aid his co-workers keep trying

to peddle to him as well.

[1Hippiechick]

22. Kisses to your Dad, too!!!!!!!!!! :)

[1Hippiechick]

21. I hope everyone recommends this! Give your dad a big kiss from an old 60s Hippie Chick! :)

[ellenfl]

23. good on your dad!

this is the most important part to me . . .

"I know that a soldier overseas thinks about one thing more than anything else - going home - even when there is no fighting."

i would imagine more than one of those soldiers/sailors/airmen would agree with that and look to our leaders to take care of them.

ellen fl

[panAmerican]

24. Is it OK if my husband plagiarises your Dad to set his parents straight?

That was a powerful indictment of the administration! For the past several days, my MIL has still been arguing with my husband about the bipartisan senate report that concluded that the administration lied us into the war.

[moriah]

26. I hope it is, because ....

... I just forwarded it to my mother, giving the credit to "The father of a poster on Democratic Underground, who is a veteran."

(If you name your sources, is it still plagiarism?)

[powergirl]

44. Forward it to anyone who needs to hear this

Email me and I'll give you my Dad's name! And he won't care if you send it. The message is what matters!

[SwampG8r]

86. nope thats the way around plagiarism

is to name sources

[powergirl]

43. Yes you may

And if you email me, I'll give you my Dad's name.

[rox63]

27. K & R for your Dad!

What a powerful statement from a true patriot. :patriot:

[Peacetrain]

28. What an awesome letter!!!!

You are do lucky to still have your Dad.. Mine passed away last year..but he was a true blue patriot just like yours.. and he thought Bush was the spawn from hell!! .. GOD BLESS your Dad, he is a stand up guy :patriot:

[lebkuchen]

29. great post

My sig. other had a similar situation. A RWer friend put him on the e-mail list of all his many RW friends and sent the same crap e-mail crap around. When sig. other finally responded, to everyone, with something factual, one of the RWers on the list e-mailed him and said, "Please remove me from your list."

My friend wrote back and said, "You're not on my list."

She wrote back and said that she was a patriotic conservative and supported the troops, and that she had even visited VA hospitals to help the soldiers (so there!).

My friend wrote back that he was a veteran with 21 years in the army, two years in Vietnam, and that she was being lied to by the Bush administration.

She didn't write back.

[madwivoter]

30. K&R

Your Dad rocks! :headbang: :applause:

[AspenRose]

31. God bless your dad.

Indeed, there IS hope. :patriot:

[Cha]

32. Wonderfully written rebuttal

to the sleazey lies circulating in the name of the rw smear machine!

Thank your Dad from us at DU, powergirl:bounce: :patriot: :kick: :party:

[beac]

33. Go Papa powergirl!

You are right to be proud of your dad-- he hit it out of the park!

[AldebTX]

34. My Dad

My dad a 76 year old former republican from East Texas is also voting for Obama. He ended a 30 year friendship with a neighbor who came over and started talking about Obama being a Muslim with a racist Christian Minister. (Does anyone see a disconnect here?)

My father said "I never realized I sounded THAT stupid and I never will sound that stupid again."

[powergirl]

53. Maybe he knows my DAD

He's from Trinity Texas but lives in the Galveston area now. I love the Muslim/ Crazy Preacher dichotomy!

[lastliberalintexas]

84. Did your dad know Charlie Wilson growing up?

He's also from Trinity, in case you didn't already know.

That was a great response, and he stayed much nicer than I usually am able.

[powergirl]

102. No he didn't

He wishes he did, though.

[specimenfred1984]

35. Nice story but I bet he still votes for a repuke

Repukes spend their entire lives lying to everyone.

[powergirl]

42. Not a chance - he already gave Obama $$$

I looked it up and it is true baby - he doesn't want my sons, his grandkids to go to war. Obama will win b/c of people like my dad.

[powergirl]

56. Not this year.

If the Republican Party ever gets it head on straight, I may vote for them again. But not this year. I have voted for Democrats and for Republicans, but I don't like to label myself. I am certainly not a Repuke. I have never before contributed to a national campaign. This year I have contributed twice to Obama, because I think he is the right man at the right time. What I said in my rant was what I believe. I don't feel any need to lie to anybody. I voted for Bush in 2000 and for Kerry in 2004. Veritas vos liberabit.

Have a great Independence Day.
Phil Hopkins, a.k.a. PowergirlDad

(note - this is my dad's post and he's using my handle and avatar!) powergirl

[renate]

62. Three cheers for PowergirlDad!

Thanks for writing such a wonderful letter! :applause:

And a very happy Independence Day to you too, sir. :patriot:

[MadrasT]

36. Priceless

Priceless. Every word. Go, Powergirl Dad!!! :yourock: :applause: :patriot:

"screwed the poochie" :rofl:

[Tim4319]

37. Wow! I would love to know what the response was!

[damonm]

38. Tell your dad, from me...

:woohoo: :applause: :yourock:

[rufus dog]

39. Great response

My kid graduated from jr high yesterday and the Principal was retiring so he gave an emotional speech. He was is a Viet Nam Vet and was Principal at this School in affluent part of the OC for thirteen years I believe. He grew up in the Gulf Coast of TX and remarked that his schools had segregated drinking fountains. The school is made up of Whites, along with a fairly sizable population of Indians, Asians, Hispanics then maybe 2 - 5% black. Anyway his main point was that he himself was graduating and he learned a lot over his career from his students, then finished with "they get it, I walk out at lunch and snack time and watch them all get along talking and messing around like teenagers, together! ... the rest of you better get it quick."

I thought it was a good way for him to send himself off.

[abelenkpe]

40. I wish I could say the same of my Dad

Unfortunately I continue to be bombarded with Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter talking points from my father and brother. You are very lucky and I commend your father for standing up for what he believes.

[roguevalley]

41. your dad is my new hero. he reminds me of mine, my sweet dad.

I hug him long distance. :)

[PoliticalAmazon]

45. Your dad RULES! Give him a great big amazonian kiss from me. n/t

[loveable liberal]

48. I still give my dad shit for voting for Nixon...

But I think he voted for Carter, Mondale, Clinton, Gore and Kerry. He has redeemed himself I suppose.

[powergirl]

55. It's never to late to repent

One bad vote can change your life.

[bluerum]

49. Go papa powergirl! Hey powergirl - you raised a good dad!

[Kerrytravelers]

50. My favorite line:

The guys who put it on the line on July 4, 1776 did not agree on everything either, but they managed to put together a pretty good organization."

Brilliant! And damn funny, too!

[RedLetterRev]

51. From another old vet

:patriot: for your dad and :hug: to you for sharing. Betchurheinie I forwarded it :)

[NanceGreggs]

52. Tell your dad I said ...

:applause: :patriot: :applause:

EXCELLENT STUFF!!!

:kick: & REC'D!

[Imalittleteapot]

54. Oh how I wish your Dad's piece

had been written by one of my RW brothers. What a great Dad you have.

[Lost-in-FL]

57. Nice!!

I hope more republican join him. :patriot:

[MissWaverly]

58. Horray for your Dad, I hope he emails all those ditto heads

[pnwmom]

59. Move-on should put your Dad in an ad.

He'd be perfect.

What a great voice. Thanks for sharing it.

[bronxiteforever]

60. Kick & R

:thumbsup:

[Blue Fire]

61. A toast for your dad!

:toast:

[juno jones]

63. K&R for my dad,

He would have agreed with the sentiments.

And he would have chuckled out loud at the 'toadstool' reference.

[ThatsMyBarack]

64. K&R for your dear old dad!

May many more follow his example! :patriot:

[classof56]

65. What a great response! How lucky are you to have such a great dad!

Thanks for sharing. Do I have permission to cream off some of this great verbiage to send to my TX (far right wing fundie) relatives??

Hug your dad for me!

Tired Old Cynic

[powergirl]

66. Feel free - you can send the whole thing

My Dad gave me permission to let you use his name too. His name is Phillip Hopkins. Please pass it on - it's the message that matters.

[Jazzgirl]

67. A big wet one from me!!!!

:loveya: :yourock: :applause:

[Bluzmann57]

68. You gotta love these older gentlemen.

This man is telling it like it is, to use an old cliche. Very wise man. The years haven't hurt his brain at all. Thank you powergirl's dad. Kick some ass!

[akiak]

69. Good luck

Good luck to your dad. Have him go to www.vote08here.com so he can vote for Obama now.

[psychmommy]

70. wow you go dad.

tell him with every mind that is opened it does begin to erase the stain. when elders like him make a stand folks do listen. here's a cyberhug from an aa woman that thinks he's great.:hug:

[Skittles]

71. AWESOME!!!

:thumbsup:

[DailyGrind51]

72. Older and wiser!

Your dad sounds like an extremely wise and introspective guy. My Godson's cousin was sent to Afghanistan after he had been married only a short time. Just when he thought he had done his duty and could go home to begin a family, he was sent to Iraq. If McCain thinks that deployment overseas, even without being shot at, is no big deal, I wish he would talk with this guy's wife!

[graywarrior]

73. Dude can kick some serious ass.

[Schema Thing]

74. Beautiful

makes it just a little easier to be a Texan today.

[progressoid]

75. Dayum!

Way to go DAD!

[existentialist]

76. My Dad is a 78 year old life long Republican and veteran

He's also going to vote for Obama.

I don't know that he's blown up at anyone. Also--for sake of full disclosure, he has voted Democratic many times in the past. It's not as if it's a first for him. Indeed, in South Dakota he has previously been a swing voter.

I can't honestly predict that South Dakota will go for Obama because my Dad is voting for him, but it's still some indication that things are indeed changing.

[Stump]

77. K&R

Reminds me of my own conversion...

[More_liberal_than_mo]

79. I'm a 60 year old Vietnam Vet

and I couldn't have said it better!

I have several ex-friends who wouldn't know the truth if it hit them in the head. They kept sending me the same hateful smear emails that have all been proved to be false and yet everyone of them swear it's the truth. I finally had enough and got tired of pointing out the truth which they all refused to see anyway, so I cut them off, banned them, removed them from my email lists, labeled them spammers and to hell with them!
:toast:
BTW: I haven't hear the Jesus H. Christ on a crutch quote since I last used it myself 20 years ago.

[powergirl]

81. I know what you mean.

The old army language comes out once in a while. I salute you for you service in Viet Nam. I am older than you, and I was a cold warrior (1955-1958). I never had anybody shoot at me on purpose. Your ex-friends hear what they want to hear. There is a fine expression in Spanish, "No hay mejor ciego que uno que no quiere ver." It means "there is no one more blind than one who doesn't want to see."
Hang in there.
Phil Hopkins (powergirlDad)

[bertman]

82. Thank you, Powergirl, for that note of sanity.

And thanks to you, More_liberal_than-mo, for your service. I'm a Vietnam vet who has the same types of experiences with some of my friends, though only a very few.

It's way past time that the RW's put that "don't support the troops" shit to rest.

Judging from Powergirl's dad's letter, there may be hope yet.

[The Wizard]

92. Welcome home

and welcome to DU.
Cutting off idiots who would otherwise waste our valuable time is liberating. One thing I say to them in parting is that our country has been at war most of our lifetimes, and that has to change. It's an unconscious land mine with a delayed fuse that will go off in the future, hopefully sooner rather than later.

[whistle]

80. Good for your dad!

:bounce: :applause:

[trickyguy]

83. Your dad really knows how to put it out there. He should be

in a commercial as a former Republican and a veteran who has "seen the light"

and is now voting for Obama. I love his spirit.:toast:

[orleans]

85. i saw the title of the op and thought: this is a post i look forward to reading

k&r

good for your dad. give him a kiss on the cheek for me. (my dad's been gone for 20 years now. i still miss him. so, i'll live vicariously through you for a moment's worth of a kiss.)

[NanceGreggs]

87. Back to give this baby ...

... another :kick:.

(BTW, I think I have a crush on your dad :loveya: )

[EVDebs]

88. Proud to put this at 100 'greatest page' votes. Dad's a great guy !

We need more Republicans to stand up and regurgitate that kool aid they've been handing out.

[Shae]

89. Good on your dad!!

You have a right to be proud of him!

[BlueJazz]

90. Alright!.....Dad finds his Cool!

:) :)

[mwb970]

91. I never get any wingnut e-mails.

:( I feel left out. I have no right-wing friends or relatives, so there is nobody to forward to me all the crap e-mails I read about on this board. I would love to hit "Reply All" and let them have it, but I never get the chance. Is there a repository of these things somewhere, or a way to subscribe to them?

I get political e-mails from my liberal friends, but they are boring by comparison - just facts and insights (yawn), nothing juicy like the crazy ones the wingnuts create.

[powergirl]

93. You are lucky, indeed

I wished I lived in your paradise!

[raccoon]

94. This one's a keeper:

"It is interesting to me that disagreement with the management of the war and the treatment of the "detainees" is twisted to be a criticism of our individual soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. With the exception of a few bad apples, I have heard no one say anything negative about our troopers. Yet slanderous crap like this keeps circulating. "

Undoubtedly, that is due to Rush Limpballs and his ilk. I'll keep it for future reference.

[wryter2000]

96. May I send this to freeper friends?

I have one who's polluting an e-mail list I created with friends with the usual wingnut forwards. May I send this to that list? If so, would you like me to credit you or leave you (and your dad) anonymous?

[powergirl]

98. Send it!

I emailed you more information about my dad. And use his name - he's fine with that!

[ourbluenation]

97. BADA BING BADA BANG!

Good for pops. Well done.

[Brigid]

100. To your dad:

:patriot:

Tell him he has fans now on DU! :)

[Hepburn]

101. Oh, wow....

...I LOVE your Dad. Please give him one of these from me! :hug:

[1Hippiechick]

103. if he votes for Obama he can help cleanse the stain or racism in our country.

MY favorite line - and it is NOT White guilt!!! It's about being older and wiser and realizing just how young our democracy is--about going back and reading the Declaration of Independence, not as a school child, but as an adult who realizes that, as we get older, how very little we know and how very little we as a country have learned. It's about being a part of the Civil Rights Movement and the turbulence of the 60s, and finally seeing something most of our generation thought we would never see: a Black President. And, it's not just about his being Black - far from it. He's the total package: intelligence, charm, wit, with a penchant for peace. And, Michelle, beautiful, wonderful, intelligent, witty Michelle. They are a breath of fresh air, much as John and Jackie Kennedy were, and it is exciting! I, for one, in my mind am dusting away from Camelot the cobwebs that have accumulated over the years.