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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI Witnessed A Conversion
First a little background. I live in an area of Columbus, Ohio that is sandwiched between two VERY well-to-do suburbs (Dublin and Upper Arlington, for those familiar with the area) and one fairly well-to-do suburb (Hilliard, which is where my kids go to school). In my neighborhood, I have seen almost no yard signs whatsoever for either candidate. One guy at the end of the street has a Rmoney sign and a Josh Mandel sign. I have seen only two other yard signs (both Rmoney signs), but at least one of them, and maybe both, are now gone (they are no longer being displayed--for what reason, I have no idea). When I've walked through the neighborhood, I haven't seen any Obama signs, but that doesn't really bother me, because I tend to think that most people in this neighborhood are like me (i.e. they're Obama supporters and will vote for him, but just aren't putting a yard sign out, 1) because it would likely be stolen, and 2) because this election is such a forgone conclusion that buying one would really be a waste of money). During the 2008 election, there were no fewer than 30 Obama signs in this neighborhood (I know because I used to count them as I went on my walks through the neighborhood).
There is one particular neighbor who lives along the main road, and has a wooden rail fence at his property line (because there's a small pool inside the fence). During all of 2008, this guy stapled McCain signs to his fence. He put up one during the primaries, and then after McCain won the nomination, he plastered like 15 of them all right next to each other, all along this fence that faces the road. So all this time I'm thinking that much like the guy who had a Josh Mandel sign in his yard, this guy is a "true believer" ideologue (because who could possibly like Rmoney or Josh Mandel if they weren't completely brainwashed?) These days, every time I drive by this person's property, I keep waiting to see the Rmoney signs stapled to the fence, but there hasn't been any signage this year (and I really expected him to start posting signs during Primary season).
Today I drove by and there were Obama signs in his yard. I'm so completely floored right now that I had to come on DU and tell the world about it. I mean, I knew that a LOT of Republicans absolutely HATE Rmoney, but I never thought they hated him so much that they would enthusiastically endorse Obama. I've met a lot of Republicans who are voting for Obama because they hate Rmoney, but they were doing it reluctantly. This guy is energized enough to buy and post yard signs. There must have been a miraculous conversion at some point along the way.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)kicked, and rec'd
bongbong
(5,436 posts)Do you know him at all, or well enough, to ring his bell and ask him why he switched? It could be interesting...although it might be as mundane as "I hate Mormons!".
12AngryBorneoWildmen
(536 posts)marions ghost
(19,841 posts)did it.
porphyrian
(18,530 posts)The military isn't just made up of poor kids from bad neighborhoods and many old school republicans are veterans. I don't think any of them appreciate a potential Commander-in-Chief who neglects to even mention soldiers or the longest war in U.S. history. Many of them are giving Romney the one-finger salute.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)porphyrian
(18,530 posts)n2doc
(47,953 posts)Hard to believe that someone so into Gramps would come to support Obama enough to put up signs. But maybe they just like politics?
nichomachus
(12,754 posts)There were two Romney signs on the lawns of adjoining houses. Then, right after the 47% comment, one of the signs went away.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)NICO9000
(970 posts)I know he voted for him in 2008, but had no clue he liked him enough to put a sticker on! Go Dad!
Cha
(297,271 posts)but putting a sticker on the car!
TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)If you get a chance to talk to him, please report back!
Care Acutely
(1,370 posts)Stargazer09
(2,132 posts)Who drives a minivan covered in hateful RW bumper stickers, including one that reads FBO and another that says ABO (we can only guess what they mean, but given the other messages on the vehicle, the words "f*ck" and "assassinate" come to mind). I call it the "hate mobile."
He put up about half a dozen yard signs a couple of weeks ago. All were for local and state candidates. The Romney/Ryan one is conspicuously absent. Maybe the old guy finally figured out that RR will take his Medicare, his social security checks, and probably his military retirement, too.
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)busterbrown
(8,515 posts)I love hearing all these positive personal experiences.
Maybe, just maybe a lot of these conversion stories are happening because
a lot of these people are just ought right beginning to trust the president and
beginning to tune out Fox and friends.
It's just really hard not to like Obama even if you disagree with some of his policies.
irisblue
(32,975 posts)I live quite near the junction of northeast columbus and westerville (Rmoney has spoken there at least 2 times that i know of). Some of the neighborhood kids go to W'ville school district(more property tax money+better school reputation) and some go to the C'bus school district (bad rep+low graduation rates). I walked my dog yesterday, a long walk in the neighborhood of Otterbein College (the location where he told students to borrow money from their parents). I didn't see but one Rmoney sign, at least 5 mandel for senate signs and a few local congress creep (Pat Tiberi-Repulsive troll). I did see at least 5 Obama and 4 Sherrod Brown for US senate. This is the town the freaking governor Kasich lives. Todays' morning walk was more in my neighborhood park. No Rmoney, no Mandel signs 2 Obama and 2 Sherrod Brown signs. May the conversation be so....
Cha
(297,271 posts)MsPithy
(809 posts)I of course do not wish that on anybody, but, maybe now he has a preexisting condition.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)among Republicans to even discuss politics where I am. Most of them are absolutely ashamed of being Romney supporters, and are only going to vote for him because they can't stand Obama due to pollution of their brains by Fox News, etc. They won't even admit anymore that they watch Fox News - simply because they know it only tells them what they want to hear.
I've yet to hear someone in the Deep South say with pride that they will be voting for Romney. If anything, they just say they are voting "to get Obama out of the White House".
That's not a recipe for enthusiasm at the polls, nor is it a recipe for electoral success.
TeamPooka
(24,228 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)Southern Baptists around here have issues with Romney for that reason. I don't encourage intolerance, though.
Cha
(297,271 posts)And, you told it so well! It would be sooo Interesting to find out what made that guy do a 180!
emmadoggy
(2,142 posts)and town (surrounded by mostly purple to blue counties). I usually don't see a whole lot of democratic signs before elections. A smattering here and there, but not a lot. Mostly repub signs.
This year, I am seeing a pretty even mix of both D & R signs. Maybe a slight edge to the R's, but really a good number of Dems too.
Interestingly, though, I have not seen ONE single Romney sign. NOT ONE.
Two houses down from us is a guy who always has all the repub signs out. He has a string of signs in his yard for all the repub candidates - but NO ROMNEY SIGN.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)And Obama won his heart by killing Bin Laden.
life long demo
(1,113 posts)I live in Montgomery Cty very close to Bucks Cty. I picked up a friend on Saturday who lives in upper Bucks, very republican area. Of course I was looking for yard signs, and I did see one for R/R, one. But saw a lot for Smith (R) running against Casey and others were for local R candidates. I was driving with my jaw hanging open. In my area in Montgomery Cty, it was very red when I moved in in early 1970s, now it's maybe half & half but the trend is Democratic. I still have not seen any R/R signs. There are Obama signs but not as many as there were for the 2008 election.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Just to thank him and let him know he is among friends.
How often do you think the right-wingers ever did that for him?
ChoppinBroccoli
(3,784 posts)First of all, I'm certain it's the same person/family, because I do recognize them. It's an older couple (probably in their 60s), but the only interaction I've ever had with them is to nod hello to them as I walk by and to occasionally pet their dog when we meet on the sidewalk during one of my walks. Unfortunately, I don't know them well enough to just walk up and start talking to them
If I had to guess, I'd say that they are either former military, or they have children in the military, or both. That would explain the intense love for McCain. I just can't imagine someone loving McCain but then ardently supporting Obama the following election. It doesn't seem to make sense. I even allowed for the possibility that it was a practical joke that somebody played on them, but I drove by again later in the day and in the evening and the signs were still out (if it had been a practical joke, they would have taken the signs down as soon as they noticed them).
I suppose if they're very pro-military, they might respect Obama for getting out of Iraq and getting Bin Laden. That combined with an intense hatred of Rmoney might do it.
I also would like to point out that one of the other houses I mentioned above seems to have removed its Rmoney sign purposefully. I remember noticing it a few months ago (it was very visible from the street). Then one day, it was just gone and has not returned. If it had been stolen, there has been ample time for this person to get a new one. That sign is gone for a reason, I'm virtually certain of it.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)In '04 I stayed for 2 months with a Dem couple in Upper Arlington who were nice enough to put me up while I volunteered as a kerrytraveler from CA in the campaign's Franklin County Field Office (which was located in the union hall by the steel mill).
I did a double-take at the mention of Dublin because I have another friend in that area, but he's a retired coal miner from the Sardis area and his townhouse isn't that upscale. Turns out he's in Powell, near W. Powell Rd. & Sawmill Pkwy.
You're probably right about the quiet Obama support there this year. Franklin Co. went for Obama over McCain 60% to 39.1% (a margin of more than 116,000 votes), which was better than Kerry did there (his margin was some 41,000 votes, 53.6% to 45.6% for Bush).
It would be interesting to find out exactly why your neighbor isn't supporting Romney. If you do find out, be sure to let us know. Inquiring minds and all that...
sellitman
(11,606 posts)Even the most ardent GOP acquaintances are not fond of Flipper.
Even less enamored than they were of McCain