Confession of a Republican for Obama

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15. Welcome to DU!

I so appreciate your post and I've quickly scanned your site. Let me tell you...you aren't alone, I'm sure you know that. I live in Arizona and the majority of my friends here are Republican or right leaning Indies. They're scared, sad, disillusioned and a little lost. Most of them, I should say. A few have embraced the insanity and I avoid discussing politics, or much else, with them.

I was born a Democrat, born/raised in Chicago. Growing up I really had little concept of what a Republican was. The closer I got to voting age, the more I learned about the Republicans and their party and the more I was grateful that I was born and raised a Democrat. My parents weren't the type to 'hate' the Republicans. My father was retired Army, 2nd Lt. and would have put these faux 'patriots' to shame. He taught me to respect the President, regardless of party. Nixon broke his heart. Not that he ever liked the man, but he disgraced the highest office and our country. But, he would never have said the things that are said about Pres. Obama. That would be disrespectful. So, this is the type of Democrat I am. Liberal, patriotic, love my country and respect our flag. But, what makes this country great isn't it's politics or the flag, it's our people. That's what I fight for. That's what I believe in. When I fly the flag I do it for all of us. Democrat, Republican, Indie, rich, poor, Christian, Atheist, gay, straight, teachers, bankers...you get the picture. I have faith in our country and her people. I wouldn't know how to be anything else. We're going through some tough transitions. I honestly feel a little bad for the far right. Hell, I hate it when my husband switches the milk carton with the Coke. Change isn't something I embrace. We're telling people that have their own irrational fears that they aren't allowed to have them anymore. It's similar to letting your child cry that first nite that you've decided it's time to outgrow the bogey man.

My son is a retired Marine. One of his buddies saw my FB page and made a joke about his 'liberal mom'. My son told him, "My mom loves this country more than anyone I know. A lot of Republicans could learn a lot from her." The flag I fly is one he gave me for Mother's Day, the year before he retired. He bought it at Camp Pendleton. I cried when he gave it to me.

So, let me close this windy rant by saying, all those years ago when I was so grateful to be born and raised a Democrat I never imagined that someday I would actually miss the Republican party. It restores my faith in humanity to know that the sane ones are still out there. And, maybe not as lost as I thought they were.

Again, welcome to Democratic Underground.