I'm still a registered Republican

[brainwashed_youth]

Ok, i now I have a good chance of getting flamed for this, but let me explain. I was brought up in a conservative home and registered as a republican. I have been a democrat for about a year now. I became a democrat when I saw Bush lie his way into war and seeing the general hypocrisy of the religious right nationally and on a personal level. The reason I have not had an official party change is because, quite frankly, it would be too much of a headache. My parents are good republicans and they would act like they had failed me as parents and frankly, I don't want to upset them right now.

Does that make sense in any way?

[Goldmund]

1. No.

Makes no sense, dude/tte.

[JuniorPlankton]

2. Understand...

As long as you vote democratic :)

[AlinPA]

3. How would they know? How old are you?

[brainwashed_youth]

6. i'm 19 years old

but i haven't officially came out and told them of my party switch

[maveric]

32. Then dont. You dont have to. You are an adult and are not obligated

to tell your parents everything about your life and choices. Just dont bring the subject up and they probably wont question you about it.

[wuushew]

4. Voting in Republican primaries is a powerful weapon

excercise the power

[K8-EEE]

60. Bush Only Got 78% Of NH GOP Primary Vote

Write in a Dem in the GOP Primary!

[JanMichael]

5. How would they even know?

Do they check you voter registration every time you see them?

BTW: I was a registered rep up until a couple of years ago even though I voted straight Dem. Why? Lazy and often out of the country. That's a much better reason, don't you think?

[brainwashed_youth]

8. the thing is...

i still live at home and if i officially switched parties they would know about it. It would just be too much of a headache

[zonmoy]

46. Why

are they fundamentalist nuts That will try to exorcise you of some demons if you admit to voting democrat. Or will they simply harass and bully you into voting their way.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I understand

My father-in-law the very right-wing minister knows I am a Green and a liberal Christian. It freaks him out a bit, so we don't get into how different we are, but just consider the loose label of "Christian" to be enough to consider us "similar".

(Does that make sense? *lol*)

[eissa]

9. Sorry, but no

It is not a headache to change party affiliations; voter registration cards can be picked up in many places. You will not let down your family; I'm not exactly the most fearless person, but I registered democrat as soon as I turned 18, even though my entire family is just to the right of *. They may not be happy, but I am :-) And don't forget to vote dem!

[brainwashed_youth]

21. Where could i change discreetly

Where could i change my party affiliation discreetly? If i mail in my original card, she'll know about it. CAn I go somewhere and get it changed?

[4morewars]

28. town clerk......

or city clerk, you should be able to do it all in person, and walk out of there with your new card. its free and easy , good luck

[brainwashed_youth]

35. where would i find em

would they be at a courthouse or something?

[bloom]

36. yes - around here - it is at the courthouse....n/t

[ret5hd]

10. Man, WHAT is wrong with the youth of today...

When i was young, we LIVED to give our parents headaches...

when we weren't doing that, we just didn't care what they thought.

What, are you in line for a large inheritence if you tow the line?

I don't buy it.

On edit: Wait a minute...it just hit me...if you are registered you are at least 18.
come on. grow up and cut the strings.

[brainwashed_youth]

12. not at all

i just happen to have a very close relationship with my mother and that's something i treasure every single day and if I can avoid conflict, I will.

[ret5hd]

13. see my edit...

if your relationship w/ your mother depends on your party affilliation, i would have my doubts about how close the relationship was.

[brainwashed_youth]

16. no, it's not gonna be compromised

but it will cause a few problems that, quite frankly, I just don't want to deal with right now.

[ret5hd]

18. you'd better erase your internet history files...

think what would happen if she found out you were here.

[piece sine]

14. do you own thing

do it proudly but, if family peace is in any way compromised, then do it descreetly. No law says you have to tell your parents anything.

[beyurslf]

11. How would they know you changed unless you told them?

I suppose it doesn't make a big difference. As someone who works on campaigns though, I do check volunteer's registration and have much suspicion of someone registered for the other party. They tend to get less important (sensitive) things to do and are less in the loop. Of course, we welcome anyone who wants to help.

We always said if they want to send someone to spy, by god we're going to make them work for it. :)

[Cleita]

15. You don't have to tell them.

I was an independent for my first election. I couldn't register Republican although my parents thought I did. They never asked me and only encouraged me to register and vote because they were honest and believed they shouldn't pry. But I let them assume otherwise. I have registered Democratic since then, but I never told them. I know they entertained suspicions when I got involved in union activities, but my father rationalized my activity telling me he understood why I did it. He saw it as a business decision to keep my job.

[w13rd0]

17. You don't need to throw a "coming out" party...

...just to change party affiliation.

[fleetus]

19. I understand, but I'd recommend registering Democrat eventually.

My family is Republican too. If politics comes up I try to steer conversation towards things that we'd likely have common ground on that I believe the Democratic party is strong on right now. Civil liberties, deficits, neo-patriotism, etc. But I try to avoid being too specific like, "I AM A DEMOCRAT!" There is so much polarity between the two parties right now that it makes it uncomfortable to even be around the other side once the cat is out of the bag. So yeah, I understand.
:pals:
But on the other hand, it is doubtful they would find out you are registered Democrat, and you might be missing the chance to vote on and be informed about issues that matter the most to you.

[pacifictiger]

30. what an incredibly sad post.

The fact that "tribe" pressure trumps conscience explains a lot about what has happened to our, now so called, democracy. Always vote for what you believe in not rather than someone else's shoulds and shouldnts. Keep it to yourself for now, but if it does come out, you will then have that solid gut conviction of being able to stand up for yourself knowing you did the right thing for you. And who knows - perhaps your parents are being subtly pressured by their friends and would secretly admire your hutzpah. Breaking free of the nest into adulthood takes courage.

[CoolerKing]

20. oh I understand

I had the same problem. I come from a very small town Republican family and I chose to register as a Democrat when I turned 18 (this was 12 years ago). In a town where Repubs outnumber Dems 9 to 1, this was a big deal, esp. since my mother was head of the Republican Town Committee. Hell, Bush Sr. & Bar even stayed overnight at our house once way back in the day (before he was even VP to Reagan)!

Small town people do what small town people do, and that's talk and gossip and that's why I don't live there any longer. The only negative reaction I had other than the "scandal" was that I was refused an internship with our Republican congressman (I went to school in DC). They refused to consider me because I was a registered Dem. Nice. I suppose if I was going to stay in town and operate a business I might choose party reg over principle. My step-father was always a Democrat but when he married my mother and moved into our insulated little town he became a Republican simply because he owned his own business and knew that bucking the power structure in town might cost him business.

To my mom's credit, she voted for Clinton twice. Bush Sr. lost her vote when he made noises about reducing the federal student loan program and with three kids about to college she wasn't about to accept that.

In the end, it's important what you believe and who you vote for. Party registration isn't that big a deal unless you are passionate about voting in the primaries and your state won't allow you to cross over.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

22. One thing not said that should have been...

It should've been said first, but...


WELCOME TO THE TEAM!! We're ecstatic to have you aboard!
:grouphug: :yourock: :hi:

[brainwashed_youth]

25. thanks

glad to be here

[YNGW]

23. Do what is right for you.

You know your circumstances best. The last thing I'd do is listen to others who are questioning you. They don't have to live your life.

-------------------------------------------

He can't even run his own life,
I'll be damned if he'll run mine
Sunshine

- Jonathan Edwards

[calimary]

45. Agreed. If you have to be under the radar for awhile, then so be it.

Perhaps you can gently steer some conversations around to soften the turf further about their apparent misconceptions. But that IS why there's still a secret ballot - even while tampered with. Nobody's supposed to know how you vote unless you wish to tell them. Nobody, including your parents, goes into the voting booth with you and directs which chad you punch or which electronic click you make. YNGW is correct. Do what you need to do.

But don't forget to vote AGAINST bush. AND also any other republi-CONS running for Congress or the Senate. Our new president is going to need all the help he can get - NOT an oppositional Congress with a score to settle (after their darling boy gets bounced).

[cally]

24. It makes sense

I think we all need to resolve parental issues in our own way. Do what you think is correct and it will all work out. I'm still having a hard time telling my parents how liberal I am and I'm much, much older. I do know that eventually if you don't share this part of yourself that you will start feeling like they love a shell of you. It's hard to suppress core beliefs and passions for a long time.

[Stuckinthebush]

26. I remember telling my minister father that I wasn't a Christian

He smiled, and said, "Go check out the Unitarians, you'll like them."

I thought he was going to feel like he failed, but in the end, he felt fine about it because I had learned to analyze the world and come to my own decisions. Of course, he is a liberal theologian, so he doesn't hold to the notion of hell and damnation for non-believers, so that made it easier.

Tell them what you think and believe, why you believe what you believe, and ask for their input. You may be surprised at their reaction.

[Marymarg]

64. Your father is awesome!

You must be a wonderful person, too. No wonder you are on this board.:)

[Anaxamander]

27. "My parents are good republicans and they would act like they had failed"

My parents are good republicans and they would act like they had failed me as parents and frankly, I don't want to upset them right now.


You can't pretend to be something you're not just to spare someone's feelings. Everyone goes through this with parents: revealing they're an atheist, revealing they're homosexual, etc. In this situation you've got to be strong and stand by your convictions.

[AG78]

29. Sure it makes sense

I brought up differing beliefs slowly growing up. Still haven't told everyone in my family, but some take it better than others.

It all depends on what you can do. Everyone's family is a little different, but also basically the same.

I've only brought issues such as those up when someone asks. I don't push them on anyone. I've always been a fairly quiet person, but again, it's all up to what you want to do and how you are.

But discussions on the mystery's of life never hurt anyone. Well, they have, but that's the only way to understand each other in the long run.

[onecitizen]

31. I don't wanna sound rude here but........

it's time to stand up and be a man. Telling them you're a Democrat isn't like telling them you're a serial killer. And actually, you don't have to tell them anything. This is an opportunity to educate Mom and Dad. Who knows? Maybe you could convince them to come over to our side where the sun shines.

[Hubert Flottz]

33. I'm glad you are here!

Vote for any other Republican besides Bush, on the Republican ticket in the primary! In the general you may vote for a Democrat and nobody but you will EVER know! I know of some FReepers (Republican Radicals) who register as Democrats and vote for the Democrat that has the least shot at winning in the general election to try and hurt the front running Democrat! It's called FReeping the primaries and it happens in local, state, and national elections, believe me!

The main thing is to do the thing that you know is right for America! I'm seeing Republicans pulling out of the party now, that I never would have believed would ever do it three years ago! Country trumps party if you care about the country and a true patriot knows that! I think you are on the right track and I salute you!

[roughsatori]

34. Are their ANY Progressive Democrats at DU anymore?

First we had the "I'm still conservative" love fest--now your shame of growing up and being you own person. You posts tone makes it seem as if being a Dem is on par with child-molestation. How very sad.

Democratic-Underground seems not to be very Democratic and truly is not even slightly "underground."

[fleetus]

37. Well, if you ever lurk on free-republic...

Or hang out with Republicans sometimes, you might find that a lot of them have giant biases against liberals and put them in a category somewhere around scum of the earth.

I have found that I am able to get through to these kinds of people better and get them to do some independent thought by not being so obvious about my political orientation. Being flamboyant about it usually causes a "tune-out" effect, I've found.

[Cleita]

41. Once it was cool to be a liberal.

But I started noticing a swing to the right around the Raygun years. I posted once that liberals were becoming the RW scapegoat like the Jews were in Nazi Germany. I got really flamed for it but it doesn't make my observation any less true. The propaganda war on liberals is certainly working like the propaganda war on Jews worked in the Third Reich.

[bloom]

42. "cool to be a liberal"

might need to make that a major message of the campaign season. I've been hearing Gillespie and the like saying that liberalness is a reason not to vote for Kerry.

I think that would be a lot better than people apologizing for it. That makes me crazy.

[fleetus]

47. The war of the politcial labels...

Agreed on "liberal" propagandized by the RW. I see it all the time. But I think it is starting to lose it's shock value for a RW'er to call someone a liberal. I have seen a few Republicans stunned when they say, "what are you a liberal or something?" And I say, actually yes, I consider myself liberal. I can see them thinking, "hmmm... since he's admitting to it, maybe liberal does not equal evil." I think that as more people take it as a compliment to be called liberal, the RW propaganda will lose it's power.

On another note, I have a friend who gets offended if people ask if he's a Republican, but he does not take offense to being called a conservative. I think it may be an indication that it is becoming embarassing for right-leaning people to be called Republican.

[Hekate]

68. Liberals got demonized--and it is the same tactic

"I posted once that liberals were becoming the RW scapegoat like
the Jews were in Nazi Germany. I got really flamed for it but it
doesn't make my observation any less true. The propaganda war on
liberals is certainly working like the propaganda war on Jews
worked in the Third Reich."

When did "liberal" and "feminist" become dirty words? I think it was a tactic virtually invented by Newt Gingrich, complete with "vocabulary list" handed out to RW operatives. Feminists, liberals, and anybody who holds progressive ideas has been pretty much smeared. And yeah, it's the same tactic used to make "Jew" a dirty word. I'm not surprised you got flamed -- I shocked the heck out of my husband when I made the that observation a year or two ago, but I wouldn't back down. It really is the old story of "first they came for the gypsies" tarted up for our modern times.

Hekate

"But why should we hear about body bags and deaths and how many,
what day it's going to happen, and how many this or what do you
suppose? Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my
beautiful mind on something like that?" ~Barbara Bush

"I guess the 'nation's grandma' isn't the grandma of those her son sends into harm's way." ~Hekate

ARLINGTON WEST, SANTA BARBARA CALIF.
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Default.htm
click on the large photo of AW to go here:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Arlington_west_121003.htm
Scroll down the page for all the photos...

[bloom]

39. IT was

fun when it was more over-run with socialist types - but I think we have to adjust and welcome those that are fed up with Bush. Even if they are more conservative than many that have been around... I imagine they could use the support.

[youngred]

38. Yeah, I can understand that

doesn't matter what party you belong to. It matters who you support and who you vote for.

I for one am glad that you came to your senses and support the left now. :-) Party registration...well you can use that for a primary sabotage if you want ;-)

[jeffrey_X]

40. No......not at all. Who's life is it? Your's or your parent's??

I was brought up under similar circumstances.

I have completely changed my way of thinking and my parents know it. I think they have more respect for me now that I take my own stand on issues even though they can't understand.

[On the Road]

43. I Stayed Registered GOP for Years

But depending what state you live in, you may want to eventually have say in the primary.

In 1988, my loyalties had started to change, but as a Republican couldn't vote Democrat primary in Maryland. So I voted for Patrick Buchanan against Bush just to mess things up.

[TheDonkey]

44. What is a good republican?? Lieberman??

The religious right, Corporate America, and strict conservatives have hijacked the RNC.

Please don't fall into their trap of thinking "conservatism and republicanism" is sensible. It really isn't.

[fleetus]

52. I think he meant "good" as in...

rank and file... vote party line... gives president benefit of doubt just because he's Republican... got a Christmas card from the White House in 2003 but not in 1999... etc.

Sort of like saying a "good" democrat will vote ABB. Not that that's necessarily the moral high ground (debatable topic) but it's the kind of "good" he's talking about.

[lancdem]

48. I understand completely

Hey, my father was a registered Repuke for decades, but he never voted GOP. We live in a very conservative county, and he registered as a Repuke out of college thinking it might help him find a job. I don't care what your registration is. That's your business and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's just a label.

[K8-EEE]

49. Ugh, These GOP Families Sound So Opressive!

Thanking God that I was raised in an environment where I was encouraged to think for myself. My dad votes Green and my mom Dem.

But if I (gak) wanted to vote GOP they would say it was up to me.

I hope you don't end up raising YOUR kids in the GOP Taliban tradition!

[fleetus]

54. Yes, it sucks.

I am very envious of my friends who have liberal parents/family.

But it does give me insight to why people are Republican and ideas on how to slowly change their minds.

[brainwashed_youth]

50. I think there are some good points

What I'll probably do is wait until after the election and then officially switch parties. That way, I can still vote in this year's primaries and my family won't be shocked when I go with em to vote in the primaries and they find out that I'm a registered Democrat and didn't tell them. After November 2004, I'll register as a Democrat.
I'm gonna havta do it without anyone knowing about it though, which won't be too hard

[rumguy]

51. Why waste our time with this?

If you don't wanna change, you don't have to...geez, it doesn't matter...

What's your problem anyway?

[brainwashed_youth]

53. NO, what's ur problem

All I did was just explain something about me. I don't have a problem. But it sounds like you do, if u don't like this post, why did you respond?

[rumguy]

55. It's not our business what your registered as, and it doesn't matter

You can vote for who you want to in the GE regardless of your party affiliation...

[brainwashed_youth]

58. I know that

I was simply explaining something about myself. I wasn't trying to sound whiny or make my parents look bad(they're not, I love them very much and they raised me right). I just thought I'd share something with my fellow DU'ers and see the general reaction

[K8-EEE]

62. Right On....

I think you set a good example for others who might be struggling with the same kinds of issues. Apparently people with very strict GOP upbringings, it has become such an ingrained part of them that they have a lot of identity issues with changing their vote.

But hey if they taught you right from wrong, you gotta know....GWB is just WRONG no matter where you're coming from politically!

524 troops dead to defend us from WMD that weren't there? I just don't get how people who say they Support The Troops can support Bush.

[K8-EEE]

57. I Like Hearing From The GOP DU-ers

I think it's interesting...and I don't know, it just gives me hope.

[Butterflies]

56. I completely understand what the problem is

I was forced to register Repub when I was 18 because I still lived at home. I voted straight Dem anyway (my father couldn't control that once I was in the voting booth.) I was kicked out of their house soon after for non-voting reasons, and I ignored politics for awhile. I re registered to vote in the early '90s as a Dem and I proudly showed off my voter card to my parents at their house. That pissed them off, and they were meaner to me after that.

My advise would be to switch parties (because you don't want to be a fake), but don't mention it to your parents.

[brainwashed_youth]

61. I will

I plan to switch, but only after the election so I can still vote in the Republican primaries

[Logansquare]

59. I think I understand

Twenty years ago I was the kind of young person who also didn't want to disappoint my parents. I was really close to them and thought I couldn't stand it if they were angry about my choices.

Sooner or later, you need to start going through a process, a painful one, of separating from your parents. That doesn't mean not loving them, or of antagonizing them just for the hell of it, but you have to become your own person. It may take longer than this election cycle :-) but it will happen, and they will be really mad at you for a while. The funny thing is, they may say, five or ten years from now, "You know, you're right about the Republicans." It happens all the time!

[Hippo_Tron]

63. RINO is close enough to a democrat for me...

Welcome to the good side my friend.

[Marymarg]

65. Good for you!

Personally, I find it endearing that you love and respect your parents so much.
Both of my parents are dead now and believe me, I regret every inconsiderate thing I ever did to them, including things I could have spared them.
You know best what you can live with and what your parents can live with. Be true to yourself. They don't have to know everything about you and if you can, why not spare their feelings. It is an act of love and devotion.

[Sapphocrat]

66. Are you looking for permission from us, or from your parents?

You shouldn't have to ask for either -- you should do what you need to do in order to sleep at night.

If you were gay, would you stay in the closet out of fear your parents would think they had failed you?

By staying in the Democratic "closet," you're denying yourself and your parents the opportunity for an open discussion about why you've made the decision to turn left.

Obviously, you love and respect your parents -- how about trusting them to let you make an adult decision without assuming they're going to be upset with you, or with themselves?

Being open about it may just have a positive effect all the way around.

Finally, if you don't tell them now, do you ever plan to tell them?

P.S. If you don't switch party affiliation now, you won't be able to vote in the primaries (assuming your state has a primary, and assuming it's not an open primary). That's the sole reason I re-registered as a Democrat not long ago, after more than a decade as an independent. And, btw, my lifelong Democratic parents didn't have heart attacks when I left the party -- nor did my family breathe a sigh of relief when I returned; they just accepted that I needed to do what I needed to do, and respected my reasoning, both coming and going.

[Hekate]

67. Polling materials come to one's residence...

...that might be a factor. My twenty-something kids still use my address as their official residence -- I get ads from the Dems, my son gets ads from the Greens. If the 19-year-old's parents would have a hissy fit over the mail, I would respect a decision to hold off officially changing parties until after changing mailing address. At this time in life -- not forever.

All the best, young one. Glad you're thinking about things.

Hekate

"But why should we hear about body bags and deaths and how many,
what day it's going to happen, and how many this or what do you
suppose? Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my
beautiful mind on something like that?" ~Barbara Bush

"I guess the 'nation's grandma' isn't the grandma of those her son sends in harm's way." ~Hekate

ARLINGTON WEST, SANTA BARBARA CALIF.
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Default.htm
click on the large photo of AW to go here:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Arlington_west_121003.htm
Scroll down the page for all the photos...