Palin is having an effect on disenfranchised Democrats. The effect is, they love her, and though they would never 1) vote Dem again, nor 2) vote McCain (meaning, the group of people who, for this election, were electing to abstain), they WILL vote Palin. Logic or no, it seems to be working. So either the Republicans are geniuses, or just so stupid it works.
Anyway, I say this from the Island of Massachusetts (born and raised), where, though historically Democratic, they aren’t exactly liberal. And my dim generalization, after being out in the woods and roaming in pristine undeveloped land in New England is this: people who live in places like this don’t think our environment is in trouble, don’t think we need things like pro choice and gay marriage rights, they still smoke a LOT, and they definitely don’t want to pay taxes.
And why would they?
They are surrounded by lakes, rivers and streams they can drink from, their land is miles away from other people’s land so they don’t get into each others’ personal business, there hardly seems to be a population problem (when the town pop max is 2,000), and the community takes care of its own. Everybody waves and says good morning. When people fall down, or crash their bike, or get stuck in the snow, the first person to pass by stops and helps. Cops give warnings not tickets and save lives in storms. People grow their own food and chop felled trees for fuel. It’s a live and let live and don’t ask don’t tell kind of society that has worked for a very, very long time. These are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and they have these kinds of signs on their lawns. So asking people who are happy just to make it through another winter to understand urban and social service issues in a presidential campaign just makes them run screaming to the right, whose party line is to protect that rural person and all their “values.”
The Democrats need to find a way to translate these larger “urban” issues for this group of people who care deeply about the people around them, and not at all about what goes on in The City (think Joel Salatin. I bet he’s voting McCain if he’s voting at all). When my parents say things like “Obama is a bullshitter,” what it really means is they are afraid of all the things they don’t understand. They did not go to college, have rarely travelled, and resent people (as they rightly should) who make them feel stupid because they don’t have a vast vocabulary and have’t been half way around the world (Obama doesn’t do this, but many Obama followers, self-righteous academics, do). They aren’t interested in theory-speak. They have been alive since the late 1930s and have lived through disappointment after disappointment in their policitians. By now, they simply feel more secure in a business as usual world, where they can watch their fox news, complain about how rotten it all is, then go sit in the woods by a fire. Because at least then, when the politicians fail as they always seem to do, they’ll know what’s in store: the same as now. A beautiful fire in the woods.
I know beause of where I have been and what I have lerned that the “fire in the woods” will be gone before long, with population soaring and resources dwindling. So I’m not saying the Right is right; I’m saying we need to understand each other. It’s a big country, and if we’re going to be idealists – Obama! – then we’re going to have to embrace compassion of fearful, reactionary folks (on BOTH sides) like the stubborn New Englanders. They are not stupid, their points are valid. They are just not what is going to be able to carry us as a nation through the next 50 years. Our biggest issues are going to be all about quality of life: health care, housing, poverty, food, jobs/purpose, and environment. These are the issues at the foundation of community organizing. So I’m not voting Democrat come November, I’m voting Obama. Change must come now, and it must be a slow progress. Any that comes too fast won’t stick. Obama is our start. Let’s give him time and opportunity to lay some track for the next.
Tags: fly away please, left wing, mccain, new england, obama, right wing
September 10, 2008 at 9:15 am |
Hi Melissa, Yes, the country is divided. Yes, racism is real and a real part of this election. Yes, there are other issues. And whoever wins, some progress has been made.
BUT don’t give up. Black people have always thought that “just because you can’t win is no reason not to try.” Look how far that kind of thought has brought them. Other minorities must think likewise.
Go Obama!!!
September 10, 2008 at 3:00 pm |
Obama/Biden all the way!
September 10, 2008 at 3:53 pm |
I am glad to read this today, after reading so much about Palin’s bounce after the convention and the democrats/obama team on the defensive after said. It drives me crazy because they Democrats can be the party of the working class, considering the amount of labor reform they have worked for throughout the years. I hope the campaign can get to talking clearly and plainly about issues that matter to all Americans (economy, equal rights, sustainability) before its too late.
September 11, 2008 at 1:43 am |
Read this, especially the last paragraph, to keep in mind what needs to be done and why:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/215224.php
September 11, 2008 at 10:24 am |
hmm. if “drill, baby, drill!” chanting doesn’t scare those who live off the land, don’t know what will. that scared me so.
anyway, buy an “Obama mama” T-shirt for your mama. she’ll love it. and she won’t even know it made obama $5 whether she wears it or not. hee hee.
September 11, 2008 at 3:26 pm |
Let’s do everything we can to help him win. It will be tragic if that woman becomes the first female president.
September 12, 2008 at 11:07 am |
I love this post, because it addresses, whether you realize it or not–the rural voters IN THE SOUTH, too. Riverview and Ruskin are too dink-y towns in South Hillsborough County(SE of Tampa) and I’m certain most will vote McCain because of the very things you presented!
On another note: a dear friend and I spoke today by phone. She was a staunch Hillary supporter, so I was devastated when I heard some lenient words come outta her mouth, almost in “defense” of —PALIN!
I softly asked “Uh, you aren’t a PUMA, are you?”
“Yes, I AM a PUMA. Absolutely. Party Unity My Ass.”
She then went on to discuss the corruption she feels is deep within the Democratic Party(she’s a hard-core Dem, btw) and how she “hates” John Dean, Donna Brasile(spell?), and especially “that Nancy Pelosi, who’s obviously jealous of Hillary.”
I’m no fan of Nancy’s, either, PWADJ, ever since she dropped the ball on “…holding George W. accountable…”, but I pressed on and said “Uh, you aren’t uh, voting for McCain, are you?”
“Lisa, ” she said “I’m not sure. But I won’t vote for Obama. If I vote–I’ll vote for McCain, and I’ll hold my nose when I do it.”
I insisted she consider how hard Hillary worked, how she wants her to vote Dem, but she said “I’m sorry, Lisa, but this is a vote against the corruption in the Deomcratic party.”
“But what about the corruption in the Republican party?” I asked (increduously)
“As long as we have a veto-proof Congress, I feel okay voting for the other side. It’s the principle.”
Sigh. Double-sigh. I surely hope there aren’t a lot of her type, running around……