A Deep Red Mississippi Family just turned blue.

[DonRedwood]

My honey just came home from work and shared this story:

His Mississippi-born co-worker got a call from her extremely deep red Republican Mississippi sister. She walked out shaking her head and said, "Oh my God...I have to tell somebody..."

My partner was all ready for some terrible news and she tells him:

The whole family is conservative and live in Mississippi but apparently they all talked about the election and they all hate Mitt Romney. She said her whole family has decided to vote for Obama.

She can't believe it.

All over America people, it's happening all over America.

[nolabear]

1. Boy I wish I could say that. I'm the blue sheep of the family.

But a girl can dream.

[DonRedwood]

12. I fear there is quite a bit of red in my roots too.

I haven't seen many of my dad's family since he died but I'm guessing they are all pretty red. Though, there were a couple of teachers so I'm not the only spot of blue.

[AverageJoe90]

17. Me too.

Don't have any Teabaggers in any family but they're all somewhat devoted Republicans. Except for my aunt Cindy up in San Mateo, she's a Democrat too.

[DonRedwood]

34. well, thank goodness for aunt Cindy!

I must be honest when i say my mom is the only family member i know is voting dem. OH! and my gay cousin!

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. Awesome!

Great story!

[DonRedwood]

15. Great start to the weekend!

[gejohnston]

3. 1964 all over again? That would be so cool

[DonRedwood]

14. That most certainly would be nice!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Greatest Page for you!

Thank you, my dear DonRedwood!

[DonRedwood]

8. That's funny because I was just there with that Bloomberg cover.

I was having coffee before work and saw the cover and shared it. Came home from work and it was the top of the Greatest List. That's my third time in a week. I love talking politics so it is wonderful to be part of so many conversations!!

[Booster]

10. I always enjoy your posts & read every one of them.

[DonRedwood]

13. Well thank you!

I can get a bit cranky sometimes but I at least try to be entertaining about it.

Meme making, I've learned is a lot of fun tool.

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

25. What Reagan Said.

[DonRedwood]

29. yeah..that hasn't helped them all that much, has it?

[JanT]

5. there's hope in the air nt

[fadedrose]

6. The South will Rise Again with this change in attitude!

[DonRedwood]

18. A lot of Southern DUers have been saying there is some change. I keep hearing Texas

will be blue here in a few more cycles.

[Skittles]

23. I'm in Texas

I know of plenty of people who claim not to like Obama, but only ONE who is pro-Romney - he posted something pro-Romney on his facebook page and had to take it down after he was roundly hooted by family, friends and coworkers.

[DonRedwood]

30. Ooooh, now that made for some good reading!

Any chance Texas just isn't gonna be able to bring itself to go for Romney? Nobody seems to like him.

[Skittles]

35. aw it will still be red

it is still fucking Texas but there is no enthusiasm here - while I have seen DEFEAT OBAMA stickers, I've seen ZERO R/R stickers

[DonRedwood]

44. Some DUers from Texas said in within the next 20 years it will be blue

with so many people moving in and the Hispanic population growing.

We can hope can't we?!!

[Skittles]

64. I remember Ann Richards

yeah - there's always hope

[newspeak]

49. my black sheep uncle

the only one who loved crazy beck absolutely hates mormons. when i told him his hero was mormon, his jaw dropped. well, he's very much a bigot-so he's faced with the muslin black dude and the hated mormon. i got a feeling uncle may be staying home this election. of course, there's always the libertarian candidate, i'm sure he's not mormon or black.

[DonRedwood]

50. i think there will be a lot of write in votes this time around

people who just can't vote for either one.... but can't stand not to vote.

Ron Paul. Jesus. Mickey Mouse will all get a lot of votes in 2012.

[DeschutesRiver]

75. I guess he doesn't know that Glenn Beck is also a Mormon. nt

[freshwest]

37. Got off the phone a couple of hours ago and I have similar news. My best friend and family were

Last edited Sat Nov 3, 2012, 12:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Leaning GOP and Tea for a while, she lives in Texas. We chatted about voting and who she asked how I voted, I told her I voted straight Democratic! And discussed some of our ballot initiatives. I also recounted my last telephone torture session with a Teabag relation down there. Even though my friend and I have not always agreed on politics, shes' still a friend, which sadly I cannot say for my Becker head relation, who insists that everyone MUST agree with her, whole heartedly, or else.

As the conversation progressed, every news item I brought up, in which the right had done a negative spin on Obama, she stuck up for him with a passion. She'll be voting in person next week and I warned her about stories of True The Vote showing up, and how some had voted Obama or just straight ticket and the top vote flipped to Romney. So the advice I read was to vote the whole ticket, then go back to the POTUS election.

I told her about the Republican shenanigans in several states. I've had a feeling she might be receptive to voting for Obama when I told her about Julian Castro's story at the DNC which mirrors her own family's successes. None of her five boys could pay for college although she worked hard to bring them up after their dad passed, working any job she could. So they all went into the military to get a start.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Obama will be getting about twenty votes all the same last name there. I'm glad this thread came along as I wanted to tell someone!!!

[DonRedwood]

45. Yahoo!! See, I think the people vote their heart

And there is not much to love about mitt and ann romney

[freshwest]

57. And everyone I know. religious or not, just voted for marriage equality here. It should pass, as

All the the right wing objections were answered in the ballot pamphlet. Because they've been scaring church people by saying that they will be harrassed for not marrying them in their church. The language had all kinds of provisions for them to go their own way and not feel threatened, also a clause that those who are in domestic partnerships, which were our civil unions, will in a few years be automatically married under the law if they so choose. There were even exceptons made for seniors who were living together but were unable to marry without losing part of their social security benefits, which before had left some seniors witthout the legal status of a union. This is one area where I think most intelligent Americans agree.

[DonRedwood]

61. At least one of the westy states has some sense.

[freshwest]

62. Even though we've been under sustained Rovian attack since 2000 and Baggers since 2010.

Their more sexy brand group, Libertarians, are trying to continue the Koch plans without the baggage of the GOP and the Tea Party. Zealous, aggressive and intolerant, most of them Paulites. There is really no difference now, just the Koch brothers funding at work.

We now have intolerant fundamentalists, Grover Nordquist and conspiracy folks all joining into one purpose: Defeat the 'statist' Democratic Party, defund services, parks, schools, fire, police and degrade all government workers while smearing unions and emigrants. They want to privatize everything and give the money to their buddies. Oh, and 'Don't tax me, Bro!'

It appears Oregon got stuck with this kind of crazy some years back, but I'm hoping that DUer Ron Green will win his election there and the Clackamas county vote theft will be turned back. We appreciate the help from Oregon.

[mahina]

7. What is it about him that turned the tide?

Fascinating.

Usually people don't change but it would be like if we nominated Festus E. Douchebag Rmoneybags and they ran someone real and smart and right on and committed.


I'd flip.


But we never will.

[DonRedwood]

11. Watch him give a speech with the volume off....

The only time he looks happy (in a cat-who-just-ate-a-bird-sort-of-way) is when people are clapping for him. I believe he is a megalomaniac.

meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a? ?[meg-uh-loh-mey-nee-uh]
1. Psychiatry . a symptom of mental illness marked by delusions of greatness, wealth, etc.
2. an obsession with doing extravagant or grand things.

[Skittles]

36. he's the snotty rich kid every Texas bubba would like to trash

yes INDEED

[DonRedwood]

46. That's why I am so shocked he has such support in the red states

He IS the snotty rich kid who thinks they have the right to everything.

ech.

[Irishonly]

51. I used to be but then I talked to my cousin

In my family (cousins) I am the lone democrat. I finally figured out I am related to people who would vote republican no matter who they ran. If the republicans nominated a toad I believe a few of my relatives would have no problem voting for the toad as long as the R was beside the name.

They no longer call democrats evil because I finally starting saying they must think I am the most evil thing ever put of the face of the earth since I do not think I have ever voted for a republican, vote to abolish the death penalty, etc.. They know me so I guess all of you must be evil in their eyes and I am the exception. LOL Makes you want to bang your head against the wall.

[DonRedwood]

56. What you are doing is teaching them by showing them their ideals conflict with their knowledge

You are their nice cousin.
Dems are evil.
But the nice cousin isn't evil but they are a Dem.
Then, maybe not all are evil?
But they all are evil.
But they aren't.
Does not compute
Does not compute
Does not compute

Or... well, I guess Dems aren't evil and the liars are the ones telling me that.

[Irishonly]

74. I hope so

I confuse them. I believe its a good thing I confuse them. LOL

[Skittles]

65. he doesn't really have their support

they simply hate Obama more than they like Romney

[mahina]

39. No doubt, and he gives me the heebies with or without sound, but

was that what turned them? The yuck factor?

Beady dead red-rimmed eyes
lies every time he opens his mouth
greasy slimeball hair
no beliefs at his core
will do whatever to whoever to win
megalomaniac?

Or was it a policy thing?

[DonRedwood]

47. lip smacking

or ferocious greed. Those are my choices.

[calimary]

70. The dark, menacing brow. Overhanging those beady dead red-rimmed eyes.

Scary. Halloween's over. But Jeepers Creepers is still hanging around.




Great thread though! Anecdotes like this give me hope!

[cilla4progress]

9. Amazing.

Perhaps racism will die once and for all.

[DonRedwood]

20. I do hope so...

The right wingers really robbed the country of some healing that would have come from Obama's presidency.

But, no matter what, every little black kid in American now knows they can grow up to be President. That is a lasting change that we can't go back from.

:0) When history forgets all the strife we will be the generation credited with making that step so we won't be judged too harshly. (until they get to the subject of global warming.... that's how we earn our place as some of the world's biggest idiots.)

[Historic NY]

16. I have family down there from NY in the 60's ...

[txdemsftw]

19. That's GREAT news!!

People ARE seeing the light!!

[ashtonelijah]

21. I live in MS too, family members voting Dem for first time

My granny, who is 83, will be voting for Obama after voting Republican her entire life (her family has always been Republican). My mom, too, will vote Democrat for the first time in her life. My aunt, who is an evangelical, is writing in someone else because Obama supports abortion and Mormons are a cult.

On the other hand, my dad, who voted Dem his entire life and whose family has always been Dem, stopped voting completely in 2000 and has refused to vote for any Dem after Bill Clinton.

[DonRedwood]

24. That is fantastic news! I really think you should do an Original post and share your story

I think more people would want to hear it.

AND WELCOME TO DU!! (and I apologize now for DU because we get a little ticked off at the South sometimes....but we still love you!)

[upi402]

22. OMG Coulter was right!

Christie didn't go for the Presidency and Romney became the nominee - and who was it she said would win???

Rmoney was a crap nominee for them, in the end.

lol

[DonRedwood]

31. yeah, i'll never understand how he got so far

[cui bono]

38. Nine, Nine, Nine

for one.

They didn't have a good field to begin with since no one wanted to run against Obama. The only reasonable guy up there, Huntsman, was totally ignored by the new crazy GOP.

[johnlucas]

41. What you said here sounds just like a post I made on October 10th

ELECTION SPOILER: Obama wins in a LANDSLIDE

I mention this very Republican field in my reasoning.
Check it out & see if you don't agree.
John Lucas

[DonRedwood]

48. That was an excellent post sir!!

[cui bono]

60. Love that post! I would add that Newt was in it to sell books.

He knew he wasn't going anywhere.

[DonRedwood]

58. 999.... yikes yikes yikes

[blackdiamond62]

54. The GOP got "played"

by Mitt Romney. He got the Republican nomination by doing what he's doing now ... lying his ass off. His positions on issues are based on which audience he's speaking to ... He manages to be on both sides of every issue, it's all the same to Mitt. He may have fooled some Repubs during the primaries but I think that we, the American people will see through the "bull" on November 6th.

[DonRedwood]

59. I am sure hoping!

[Ilsa]

71. I think I read on DU that RMoney stole

Some Midwest states from Santorum with those Tagg Romney-owned voting machines. The former NSA analysts said there was no way the results would run the way they did. I think Iowa and Ohio were fixed for RMoney.

[mrmpa]

26. i stopped in to see a neighbor tonight...........

she's about 76 and her husband was working. She is a devoted catholic and liberal. I told her my mom who is 82 is very frightened about the election & doesn't know wha she'll do if Romney wins.

My neighbor began to cry she is frightened too. But her tears were about 2 of her children. They were raised catholic and attended catholic grade and high schools. Her son belongs to some fundamental church & she knows he will vote for Romney. Her daughter died last year, but she knows her daughter voted for McCain, because she would vote the "pro life" way.

My neighbor was crying and wondering where she went wrong. Last note my neighbor is a former Nun.

[renate]

28. wow. that's so sad

Not that her kids were/are Republican, but that she's so upset about it that she would cry. (It's even sadder that her daughter died; how awful.) It is so terrible the way politics can divide families. I am so lucky; my immediate family are all die-hard Democrats and the Republicans and Democrats in our extended family have an unspoken agreement that getting along is infinitely more important than politics.

Your neighbor didn't go wrong. When we live in a society with free speech, we're exposed to all kinds of people and beliefs and some are just more manipulative than others... it's not her fault at all.

[DonRedwood]

33. my mom was on the bubble but told me she hates romney

so, who knows, his horribleness might push even more people away.

[DonRedwood]

32. wow... it is sad there is so much fear of these people winning :0(

[Chemisse]

73. I am happy to be able to say that all five of my kids vote Democratic

Even the daughter who married the bat-shit crazy right-winger. Thank the gods she is right there to cancel out his vote.

[DeSwiss]

27. K&R

[johnlucas]

40. WHAT?! In Mississippi?!

DAMN!

This election's gonna be full of surprises.
John Lucas

[Rowdyboy]

42. Obama's not gonna carry Mississippi (where I've lived for-fucking-ever)

But he'll do better here than in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska and a bunch of other states.

[DonRedwood]

52. How did a rowdy boy like you end up in a place like rural mississippi?

please tell me it was for love! (i used to live in the country on a farm with my ex...it was crazy. The whole town knew there was a homosexual couple. Very small town...I'd go to the store and the clerk would say, "I saw your car wasn't at the school Monday, were you home sick?" Pretty crazy!!

[Rowdyboy]

76. Love? Yes. Born here in 1954 into a big mutigenerational family...1st grandson on both sides of the

family. A real "Golden Boy" who liked to drink and smoke pot, was smart but lazy and wound up finding the love of his life in a gay bar n Jackson Mississippi on a Monday night, (1989). I am not shitting you, thats truly how and when we met and we're just as crazy in love today as we were 23 years ago. He was a Spanish teacher and I worked for the Employment office when we met. We were inseparable from the start and I moved in to his 100 year old home 6 months later. 23 years later we've both retired, have pretty much finished the downstairs, but upstairs is still in progress. We have a kickass back-yard garden (nearly 50 heirloom tomatoes last year). So yeah, you're right-it was for love (as well as laziness).

Our town sounds just like yours on the farm 12,000-15,000 people. I left my wallet on the counter of the local discount drug store one day buying beer and the cashier (an older black lady who I'd been friendly with for awhile) brought it by our house. We spent today making a huge pot of shrimp gumbo so we could give some to a sick friend.

I'm amazed when I realize I know all my neighbors on all sides (and across the street) for the first time in my life. Please don't misunderstand. I hate living in Mississippi. It IS a Hellhole. But there are people here who love me and whom I love back. Its a hellhole but its home.

[standingtall]

63. I dont understand Missisippi

African Americans make up 38% of the population. Assuming African Americans vote about 90% Democratic like they do nationally I would have to think the republicans must be getting close to 100% of the white male vote there. To keep winning the way they do. Unless of course minorities simply don't vote in that state, and if that is the case I am sure it's because of voter suppression.

[Rowdyboy]

77. You have to understand many in the African American community in Mississippi

aren't reliable Democratic voters because they are poor, extremely poor, in a way thats hard to understand unless you've experienced it. Extreme poverty can make you unimpressed with half-measures.

Also, the,predominant white culture in the state is incredibly conservative and Republican. I can't talk to my family on facebook, I've lost gay friends because I can't reconcile their support of people who hate me.

Its a combination of disillusionment, poverty, anger and of course voter suppression.

A Democrat only needs to take approximately 25% of the white vote here to be elected Governor, Lt Gov, etc. when you add in black voters but even that isn't easy enough in this god-forsaken state.

[DonRedwood]

43. I have two coworkers who are repubs who are voting obama and my mom too

:0)

[southernyankeebelle]

53. Honestly I don't know why anyone would vote for someone who is a downright known liar. If

he lies about his taxes and changes his opinions from one minute to another then once he is president he will never stand in front of the american people and tell the truth. He will go on Fox News and they will let him lie.

[valerief]

55. Too bad Mississippi will flip their votes to Mittens. Sorry, but I fear the worst. nt

[TheSlayer]

66. Not the Same but...

That is a great story. I love it.

This is not the same. Obviously a whole different demographic but after the Republican, Susan Eisenhower, endorsed Obama and gave her reasons, I went to her Blog to read a little about her. ...and I started reading the comments on her endorsement. There are a BUNCH of Republicans voting Obama. They were swarming. It was amazing.

I have always been a far left Democrat but just thinking about it, it must be horrid to be a moderate, sensible and tweed, old school Republican, in these times. Jeez. It must be heartbreaking.

[redstatebluegirl]

67. If Obama was white George Smith

He would be pounding this guy, even in the deep south. Nobody can convince me, includimg my Republican neighbors this isn't about race...

[Raster]

69. It's completely about race. Of course the shrieking heads on Bullshit Mountain have invented...

....every cover story possible to give the racists cover.

[cherish44]

68. I have a very republican friend who announced weeks ago he won't vote for Romney

It's going to vote 3rd party but any vote taken away from Romney is a win in my book.

[d_r]

72. Bradley effect

maybe their will be a weird Bradley effect where they will get in the booth and not vote for a mormon