I'm a former Republican. I joined the Dem party in 06. Obama is the first candidate

[Colobo]

that has captured my imagination. Why isn't my presence in the Democratic Party welcome? There are many people like us who have seen the light and are Democrats now or are attracted to one of the Dem candidates... what's so wrong with that?

[maximusveritas]

1. Who knows?

Apparently it's ok for Edwards to completely change his mind on almost every single issue, but not ok for voters to do it.

[Cha]

21. I'm okay with Edwards and

Katz and anyone who sees an epiphany. Most people aren't like gwbushit except his 29%ers or less.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Your presence is most certainly welcome.

"Come to the light! All are welcome, all are welcome!"

[SharonAnn]

65. You are very welcome! I "came over" in 1982. I was "moderate republican"

in Iowa. But that party went bad with Nixon, then Reagan, and I finally had to admit that I had nothing in common with them. I though of myself as an "Independent" type of voter until I finally had to admit that the Democrats are "my kind of people".

[goclark]

69. Welcome mat is out in full force for you

Glad to welcome you aboard! :bounce:

[Supersedeas]

71. Yes, it is -- so you may want to explain why you feel differently

[Lurking Dem]

3. There is nothing wrong with that!

I have long held the belief that the saving of our country was going to come from moderate Republicans who felt disenfranchised enough by the Christian Right takeover of their party to make the switch.

The pendulum swings both ways and we are now headed to a more liberal, and more rational, electorate.

Welcome to the party!

:party:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

4. I have never understood that either

I once worked on the campaign of a former Republican whose primary opponent made a big issue of his former affiliation. I can't blame the opponent for doing that, but I was surprised at how many Dem voters for whom this is an issue. Guess it's that "yellow dog" thing. :shrug:

However, I tend to see it more in older folks. Younger people tend to be more independent and flexible where politics are concerned. Personally, I welcome anyone who 'comes into the light'! :hi:

[The Traveler]

5. I didn't know you are unwelcome

DU is often like Fight Club without the good manners ...

[BringBigDogBack]

6. Of course you're welcome

[applegrove]

You are welcome here. The more the merrier.

[malta blue]

7. Sorry you feel your presence is not welcome.....

WELCOME :bounce: to the big tent.....
:hi:

[sandnsea]

8. Here's the real irony

DUers have been saying we've got to reach out to these voters who have been voting Republican against their own best interest.

Now those same people are mad that somebody is attracting them. :crazy:

They're only mad because they wanted an uprising and are getting a mundane middle class movement instead.

[NavyDavy]

31. you sure like to make generalizations about the people here at

DU......i haven't seen many posts like the ones you describe and i spend alot, i mean alot of time here, just lurking and watching. :boring: sorry i dosed off in the middle of my rant....

[sandnsea]

34. You missed Howard Dean's run?

He said it in almost every speech.

:shrug:

[Eurobabe]

49. You totally missed 2003-2004 primaries

if you weren't a pedigreed Democrat, forget it.

[sandnsea]

57. The same people bitching about Republicans now

are the same people cheering when Howard Dean said he wanted to bring them into the party. Has nothing to do with being a pedigreed Democrat.

[Eurobabe]

58. who is it then? progressives?

:shrug:

[sandnsea]

60. Huh?

[avaistheone1]

54. Yeah, a middle class movement would be real mundane.

:sarcasm:


Are you for real? :puke: People don't have jobs, can't afford gas or health insurance!!


You sound so very Republican.

[sandnsea]

56. You support Obama then?

Because that's where the middle class movement is happening.

[Double T]

9. Nothing. All candidates and opinions are welcome.

The ONLY thing wrong is your choice of candidate. Obama is clearly not experienced enough to be President, yet. This country needs a seasoned veteran for President that doesn't always "want to make nice!"

[Capn Sunshine]

10. You are VERY welcome

people have come to us for inspiration and change, despite the media spin lots of people like and understand Howard Dean and his vision for America. It is this environment that inspired Barack Obama to run.

There will always be dead enders whose agenda involves fighting and discord ; they are welcome too--ESPECIALLY on DU.

[jefferson_dem]

11. There's nothing wrong with that.

You should be proud to support a candidate who reaches out to all segments of the US population...

and we should welcome voters like you to the Party, with open arms.

Welcome aboard, Katz! :applause:

[Mythsaje]

12. Didn't you read my welcome the other day?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2571343&mesg_id=2571343

[THUNDER HANDS]

13. you're okay with me

the more the merrier, i always say. :hi:

[FredScuttle]

14. No less welcome than any new Democrats who support other candidates

I'm sure you've been more than gracious and welcoming to supporters of Clinton and Edwards...or Kucinich, Biden and Dodd...or any of the rest.

[avrdream]

15. You have been very reasonable in your support for Obama.

This Clinton supporter is just fine with you being around.

[stimbox]

16. You are welcome as long as you leave your repuke ways behind. n/t

[Cha]

17. Nothing's wrong with it...and I've

welcomed you before to the light side as it were. I'm sure the republican party was fine during the Eisenhower days but then it turned ugly and has only gotten more fascist. Why would any thinking, kind person want to be a party to that?

[AlCzervik]

18. who said you weren't welcome?

you've been here for almost a year.

[chascarrillo]

27. vvv Look out below vvv

But, to the OP, you're damn right you're welcome! And I'd say the same thing if you were supporting any one of the Democratic candidates.

[AlCzervik]

29. um what?

[Stop Cornyn]

19. I suspect that Obama appeals to MANY former Republicans. As a life-long Democrat, he leaves me cold.

[Cha]

23. That's a joke if you support hillary..

the bushit enabler since Oct 2005.

[Stop Cornyn]

38. I don't support Hillary, but I don't find Obama any more progressive than Hillary. I'm an exKucinich

supporter leaning toward Edwards but still considering Dodd.

[Cha]

63. Sorry, I must of

had you confused with someone else. :)

[cali]

24. heh. I'm a life long dem.

And yet, I voted for Jim Jeffords when he was a repub. Of course in Vermont, our repubs are better than your dems in TX- Ann Richards and Molly excepted.

[Stop Cornyn]

41. Jim Hightower? Lloyd Doggett? Barbara Jordan? Sam Rayburn? LBJ?

[Lurking Dem]

42. I worked on one

of Doggett's campaigns, 2 of Richards', and was a state delegate for Bill Clinton and I support Obama.

[cali]

43. That's the problem. All of your good dems (or most of them)

are dead. Now shouldn't you be preaching at me for voting for Jeffords?

[Stop Cornyn]

46. "Shouldn't you be preaching at me for voting for Jeffords?" Was Jeffords running in an election

where I got a vote?

If not, what's it to me?

[babylonsister]

30. I'm a Dem and he appeals to me. What's your point, he only appeals to repubs? nt

[Stop Cornyn]

45. My point: (1) Donnie McClurkin, (2) opposition to universal health care, (3) voting to build a wall

on the Mexico border,

(4) voting to continue funding the war,

(5) skipping important Senate votes like Kyl-Lieberman,

(6) voting for Bush's energy bill,

(7) voting for "tort reform" against consumers' rights,

(8) negative campaigning,

(9) "The Audacity of Hope" (Have you read it? He bitches about "liberals" too much -- isn't than Ann Coulter's job),

(10) flip flopping on issues where he used to be right during the good old days when he was a liberal.



It adds up. Of course, I like Obama more than any Republican, and I like him better than, say, Richardson, but I'm well to Obama's left and I'm not that into him.

You're welcome to support him as hard as you like, of course, and I wouldn't ever suggest otherwise. If he wins the nomination, I'll even join you. Unless that happens, however, I'm looking for someone who has a shorter list than the 10 objections I mentioned above.

[babylonsister]

48. Whichever candidate you decide on who has a snowball's chance in

hell, let us know. We can come up with our own lists of their records and actions we don't like. That floats both ways. I think Obama is the lesser of several evils and have never said he's perfect.
But he is inspiring to me.

[flpoljunkie]

37. As a life-long Democrat, he inspires me. If he wins Iowa, it will reverberate around the world.

This would be good for our party and our country in the eyes of the world.

[TeamJordan23]

39. As a life-long Democrat, did you like your candidate pushed for Bush's Iraq War? nm

[Stop Cornyn]

47. That one of the reason why I originally supported Kucinich.

[Blue-Jay]

20. Don't confuse DU with the Democratic Party.

Your presence in the Democratic Party is certainly welcome. Don't let the smattering of DU screamers get you down.

[Renew Deal]

32. DU is a Democratic viper pit.

It's not the Democratic party. You're more than welcome.

[Lurking Dem]

35. Sweathogs

DU is the Welcome Back, Kotter of the Democratic Party.

[iconoclastic cat]

22. Ignore the haters. I welcome you! nt

[Catherine Vincent]

25. A lot of people don't trust so called former republicans.

But you're welcome here. What brought this on?

[Cameron27]

28. That's my question too.

[Catherine Vincent]

33. Maybe he's been getting pms from some meanies around here.

We can contact Skittles to kick their ass. :)

[melody]

26. Why do you think you're not welcome? The Democratic tent is big enough for everyone

The GOP is the one that limits who gets in.

[flpoljunkie]

36. Your presence is absolutely welcomed, Katz! Your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated.

[chimpymustgo]

40. Wow, Katz. Did you vote for Bush? Twice?

Dole? GWB?

Tell us what led to the conversion?

[wyldwolf]

44. how old are you, Katz? I suspect not older than 25.

[babylonsister]

50. And BTW, missy, you

started this! :spank: :evilgrin:

You're A-OK in my book and I welcome and enjoy your contributions! :hi:

[Catherine Vincent]

51. So are you coming back to the thread?

[AlCzervik]

52. must be waiting for the welcome basket from the democratic party.

i still haven't gotten one.

[thoughtcrime1984]

53. I voted for W in 2000, repented around 2002

I fancied myself more of an Independent, in reality I hadn't a clue about politics and didn't really care to know much. I went to see JE at an event when he was Kerry's VP candidate, and became much more interested in the process and now vote at every election, be it local or national. I am now what I consider to be pretty well-informed of how politics go, at least as much as an outsider can expect to be, and am a proud member of the Democratic Party.

[loveangelc]

55. anyone who thinks its wrong for republicans to back obama shouldnt be taken seriously

they are ridiculous and should be ignored. you don't have to be so militantly pro-democrat that you think anyone else who is supporting a democrat must be excluded. its the stupidest thing i've ever heard tbh.

[xxqqqzme]

59. nothing but suspicions abound.

I have been known to change my registration for the primaries for CA governors.
I know one time that created much suspicion, like I was a spy for the other side or something.

[Chovexani]

61. I'm sorry you don't feel welcome in the party

I certainly don't have any beef with Republicans seeing the light and coming on board with the reality-based community. :hi:

We might disagree on candidates, but the more of us the better. I honestly think a lot of lifelong Dems are concerned that an influx of former Republicans, many who are a lot more moderate-to-conservative than we are, may "take over" so to speak and shut out more progressive voices. It's a very real concern and I think many are lashing out, out of fear.

[Vinca]

62. ??? Who's not welcoming you?? Were you expecting a gift basket? nt

[mmonk]

64. Glad you have joined.

You're welcome by me.

[info being]

66. See...that's the problem. He requires us to *imagine* he's great...

...instead of spelling it out for us. I'd rather hear the specifics than imagine what's so great about him.

[DemOkie]

67. I'm sorta with you on this

As a reformedpublican, I sometimes find my Democrat buddies look at me like a Baby Ruth in the punchbowel. The good news is that we kiss and make up pretty quick.

I'm pretty psyched about Obama too, although I believe any of our top three folks will be a vast improvement over the alternative. I see in Obama the ability to get things done by selling the public with an optimism we haven't seen in awhile.

[cascadiance]

68. I think our party welcomes most Americans, and certainly those interested in the party...

I think if you're hearing resistance, it might be that many want to ensure we elect someone with more than just style, but also substance. There are SO many issues that we feel need to be addressed by our next president. And the two front runners in my opinion have been triangulating so much it is really hard to get past the style and into the substance. At least from where I'm standing, Edwards is making an effort into taking strong positions on issues of substance that puts him on the hook for things that I'd like to see the others do as well. That's why I'm currently in his camp.

Hillary for me, in addition to being a potential rallying cry for Republicans in the general election, gives me too much indications that she will not be the candidate I'm looking for to do substantive change like Edwards is campaigning on. I think that's why she finished third in Iowa. People are tired of the corporate monster that is in our government now. I think that might have also played into Huckabee trouncing Romney on the Republican side, as the religious right is starting to say that they no longer want to trade in too much of their well being to a corporate serving candidate and want to focus on a "values" candidate like Huckabee.

I think that will come out with a strong and believable message that they will force change in the way K-Street and Washington do business will do well in just about all of the political spheres this year.

Obama is still a bit of a mystery to me though. I'd like to see more substance. He certainly has style down, and he comes across as a receptive candidate. It's just what his real agenda on what he actually wants to do (BEFORE he does his compromising that he talks about so much) that is what I want to hear about before I'd gravitate to him. I've not really written him off as someone I can't support just yet like I have with Clinton, but I still don't see "the beef" that I want to jump on to his wagon. For now, I'm still in the Edwards camp.

[redqueen]

70. Who said you weren't welcome?

:shrug:

[yardwork]

72. Try to tone down your disrespect for gay people. That might help.

I've been noticing your posts for some time. You rarely miss an opportunity to put down gay people. It's offensive. This advice is kindly meant.

[Colobo]

75. Are you serious? When have I said anything disrespectful about gay people?

Are you confusing me with another poster?

[yardwork]

77. No, I'm not confusing you with another poster.

[LostinVA]

79. I agree 100%

Most of the Republicans I know IRL are better on equal rights than him.

[Kashka-Kat]

73. who said its wrong? this aint lockstep repub party, this is the "herding cats" party

Any and all opinions, all the time. No one party line. Its wonderful that inclusivity ... and its absolutely MADDENING - that no one agrees about nuthin! Find your niche and enjoy.

[Strawman]

74. Welcome to the party, bring others...and you raise an important point

I think you raise an important issue. I think there is a certain elitism in Democratic politics that has hurt us. I have no idea what specifically kept you away from the party and my take may or may not apply to your situation, but Matt Taibbi wrote about this elitism in his coverage of the Bush campaign in 2004 and I think he was spot on:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/6539082/bush_like_me/

"Here I want to make a general observation about the social aspect of working for Bush. It's very different than it is working for a Democratic candidate. Corny as this sounds, it is much more egalitarian and brotherly than most Democratic campaigns. Almost every Democratic campaign I've seen has let itself be seduced by the Primary Colors paradigm -- the hip clique full of mildly sexually adventurous twentysomethings who have been working on their memoirs since high school and dream of that chance to wear Versace sport coats and crack jokes on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

If you've ever hung out with the Tricia Enrights and Joe Trippis of the world, you know that the operative vibe of the Democratic insider is wisecracking cool. It is not a reach to say that the ideological vision that mainstream Democratic politics has offered America since Clinton has been the supercool high school, the party of the popular kids. For all the talk about the Democrats being the party of inclusion, it really doesn't feel that way from the inside."

{SNIP}

"You get that same besieged fraternal feeling in a Republican campaign office. There is no M*A*S*H ensemble-cast repartee. Nobody wears T-shirts that mean something, and nobody looks cool. As I would later find out, most Republicans hate "cool" ("They all think they're so cool and artistic," griped one woman as she watched Fox coverage of Democratic delegates arriving in Boston). Many of the parent volunteers I met were especially bitter because they think that cool is what liberals use to lure their children away. Which they might very well be right about, of course.

In my first month on the campaign, I did not meet many people who came into the office with the serious intention of working hard for the president. I did, however, meet a great many very lonely people who came in because they knew the Bush offices were the one place where they could share certain deeply held ideas without being ridiculed."

[LordJFT]

76. welcome to the party!

from a lifelong dem and fellow Obamaniac

[beachmom]

78. Your presence is VERY MUCH welcome. The Democratic party

is a series of coalitions, and it is not always pretty, but don't let a few whiners on DU get you down. We need you and a lot more Bush voters so we can win this year.

[Bread and Circus]

80. You are welcome but a few things first...

1.) DU is not really representative of Democrats on the whole. It's not really that progressive either, so don't take it that seriously. A lot of what you see here is partisan hackery, pure and simple.
2.) This is primary time and it's a bloodbath until a nominee is chosen, then it's mostly love and kisses after that. It was a lot worse in 2004 during the primary season and it became a love fest after the convention pretty much. For now, people have dug their heals in on their brand... er candidate and they are going to put you and your candidate down in the erroneous belief it will somehow influence anything outside the amount of bandwidth this site consumes.
3.) Liberals, progressives, and Democrats are naturally inclined to grey thinking and so we like to hash it all out to the nth degree. It's a loose coalition of herded cats.

BTW, Obama is a great speaker and has a great presence. People are just dissing him because they think he is a threat to their guy or gal. It is nothing personal and if he wins the nomination, they will almost all be singing his praises by Nov 08.

[Faryn Balyncd]

81. You represent the millions of Americans that voted us into Congressional majorities in 2006 . . . .

. . . Without former Republicans, independents voting Democratic, even registered Republicans voting Democratic, we would be another minority party. . . .

We won the Senate, (and control over judicial nominations), by 7000 votes in Virginia, including victories in every (previously Republican leaning) major marine, naval, and military base in Virginia. We won this razor-thin victory with the support, not only of millions of formerly Republican leaning independents, but even of conservative Republicans.

When we elected a former Republican Naval Secretary to the US Senate, we elected not only a powerful opponent of this unjust war, and an eloquent advocate for our soldiers, but also a populist spokesman with the guts to take on the taboo subjects of class struggle and corporate greed on the pages of the Wall Street Journal.

Without the support of such former Republicans and independents, the militarists, corporatists & authoritarians would have further consolidated their stranglehold on democracy.

Thoughtful people like you, who are willing to admit mistakes and work for positive change, are the hope of the world.

Thanks! :)


:kick: