Should I Even Try To Convince My Republican Parents To Vote Dem?

[eeyore]

I posted this in 2004 Primaries General Discussion already, but I'd love to hear suggestions from the General Discussion dwellers.

I'm a lifelong liberal son of Republican parents, and over the years I've learned to avoid politics for the sake of family harmony. But I think there may be a chance that they will swing to the other side for the first time this year.

Are they a lost cause, or should I give it a shot? If you think I should try, what is the best approach? Thanks for the advice!

Here's the profile:

- They are both 70 years old and live in Colorado, not the most liberal of states. Dad is a retired doctor, mom has always been a homemaker.

- They are not extremely religious, but raised me Catholic (against my will), and go to church on holidays.

- They don't really know any gay people, and while they are not outwardly anti-gay, they probably think that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

- They both got caught up in the patriotic pro-war fervor, but my dad recently divulged to me that he really likes Wesley Clark, and enjoyed his point of view on CNN during the war.

- My dad spent time as a captain in the Air Force during his residency on the way to becoming a doctor.

- My dad was diagnosed with bone cancer this year, and has benfitted greatly from a stem cell transplant that he received. As you know, Repubs are strongly against stem cell research.

- They are very concerned about the economy, but may place a good part of the blame on 9/11. I'm not sure where they stand on the defecit spending, but are generally very fiscally conservative.

Cheers and thanks!

- eeyore

[Armand]

1. It wouldn't hurt.

:)

[emanymton]

2. What Do Republicans Stand For? ...

Ask any Republican what the shrub junta stand for. Are they the same?

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. You have my empathy

My parents are also Republicans...the typical rural town type that vote against their interests, but that's another story.

I'd ask if what they think about what's going on (and maybe even how does it compare to some of the elections/campaigns they remember when they were younger). Then, just listen.

You're not going to necessarily change their mind, but you can get them really thinking about it and talking. :)

[eeyore]

4. Thanks!

That's kind of how I generally do things with them. Especially with my dad being sick this year, I don't really want to shake things up. But I do think they are on edge this election. Ahhhh.....family and politics just don't mix sometimes (most of the time).

[noahmijo]

7. I had the same dilemma this is how I did it

First off I myself am a convert to the Dem Party.

I was never really a Conservative from the social standpoint, probably more of a Libertarian but eh still.

Anyways my mother is not into politics but my father is still on the "you can never trust a Dem" trail. Like most brainwashed Repubs and "Conservatives" he holds the belief that if you're a liberal or a democrat you must be anti-American pro-Communist ect, I know because I used to hold this belief myself.

For starters if your parents are religious and this is a foundation of their "Conservative" label try this approach.

Tell them although they may believe that their religion abolishes gay marriage, abortion, this country is not built on a fundamentalist foundation of any religion. As a Catholic you won't see me having a gay marriage anytime soon. BUT it's not my place to decide these religious convictions as law. I have no right to press my beliefs on other children of God. True religion teaches us to be tolerant of others regardless of their beliefs or sexual practices.

This is what makes this country truly free. The fact that we can all have different beliefs but we cannot force them on others. Our country is run on the principles freedom not on that of the bible, the koran, or any other religious text. This is what separates us from middle eastern countries who force women to walk around enslaved in their berkas.

Religion can be twisted and will be twisted to the suit the needs of those who sin behind a veil of righteousness. Today a phony hiding behind the Christian religion will scream for a gay marriage ban. In 10 years you could have the Iron Maiden brought back to be used on those who practice Wicca.

On economic issues, I can tell you Republicans as of now have virtually no friends in the legitimate business community. On Microeconomic issues, just ask your father to take a look at his "tax cut" I won't disclose how much my father paid in taxes this year, but it was enough to make him admit to me that maybe Bush's so called tax cut was pure bs and that this whole time economically he has been screwing the middle to middle-upper class (which is us) in favor of the richest. Your average Repub is usually a middle class or higher and thinks that the Dems want to raise taxes on them. Now we know that the Repubs have lied to us and in fact have been using us and depending on us to see them as the "true" patriotic party" who supports free trade.

If the Republicans support Free Trade than the Taliban supported Women's Rights. Although I know most liberals and dems don't support outright free trade, and for good reasons unregulated free trade is dangerous, it should be used as a tool only, Republicans wield this issue like a rooky rodeo rider.

Ultimately after pointing these little tidbits out to my father I have him virtually on the Kerry side with me. Although converting your parents fully over to the Dem side will surely not happen anytime soon. hey getting them interested in what the Dem has to say is a HUGE step, because take it from me, once you're deadset on the right wing side you don't even want to listen to what the other side has to say.

I personally think it's because of the fear that you may question the beliefs you thought you held strongly onto.

[Stephanie]

11. Great post, Great post, noahmijo!

And welcome to DU! We need more like you!

xx
S

[maggrwaggr]

5. send them this

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/04/13/news-cooper.php

It proves (by a life-long conservative) that Bushco lied about why we invaded Iraq.

Most people really don't like being lied to.

[Semi_subversive]

6. I'm very lucky

to have 70-something parents (married 54 years) that get more liberal as the age so wonderfully. Talk to them in a rational noncondescending way about how they, and the rest of us , will be better off with Bush gone. Ask them why they might support Bush, and wherever possible, provide proof that they should be thinking otherwise.

[noahmijo]

9. Oops sorry

I misread cause I'm too sleepy to make sense.

I thought you said they WERE very religious and you said they aren't so my whole religion rant was basically a waste.

Sorry bout that.

Well you're older than me I think (I'm 22) so maybe my perspective isn't the best since you're dealing with a more mature situation, however I think some of what I said could apply.

When I get caught up, I'm looking to write up a long post or something about how being a combination of fiscally liberal and libertarian (basically a Nash equilibrium approach) is actually the best route as opposed to what the Conservatives consider Capitalism.

[MichaelHarris]

8. absent T

get um to vote absentT and fill it out and send it in before they see it.

[TXDemGal]

10. If you can't convince them to switch

then hold out staying home as a valid option for them.

[abbyhoffman]

12. Should they or

other family members convince you to vote Repuke?

[tkmorris]

13. Well...

Of course you should try. Failure is a given if you don't bother to at least try.

Having said that, the point is HOW do you do it? I don't know your parents (obviously) but given what you say of them you clearly cannot push radical liberal agenda at them. Nor can you rant about Bush, it'll turn them right off. You can speak against him of course, you simply have to do it in a thoughtful and utterly rational way.

So what issues will be likely most effective? They sound fairly Conservative, you might be able to use the huge deficits we currently are running. Especially if you can demonstrate that they have little to do with 9/11. It aint hard, do your homework. The stem-cell research is a nice tid-bit, but not enough by itself. How about Medicare? Is this important to them? If so, illustrate why the recent Medicare bill is simply a giveaway to HMO's and pharmaceutical companies. Also, how do they feel about Social Security privatization? It may not affect them directly but they will be able to empathize with others who it will.

You say they are concerned about the economy. You might discuss the Bush admin's position on out-sourcing. You could in fact build a very nice case that shows the Bushites kneeling before the corporations at the expense of the American labor market and the economy. Demonstarte their connections to big oil and defense industries and show how the policies they implement benefit those industries to the detriment of the country. Wonder aloud why more effort hasn't been put into finding Osama instead of trumping up a war against a country which had (and you MUST demonstrate that you understand this) an evil leader but was really no threat to anyone, unlike North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, etc.

Basically it depends on having a feel for who your parents are and appealing to whatever will work best. Fortunately for you the Bush cabal has provided enough gaffes that you are certain to find something.

Good luck! :beer:

[morgan2]

14. could be worse

my parents are what I'd call fairly selfish wealthy republicans. He likes Bush because he cuts his taxes, and thats all he cares about. He tries to teach me about politics and I just rip apart all of his arguments, then he just says well I don't think so and changes the subject. Its funny though, he votes Dem locally because his work depends on being appointed to cases by elected judges. So he votes locally for his friends to keep up his income, and republican nationally to keep his income taxes low. Truly a voting in his own short sided self-interest voter.