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

[eeyore]

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

[thebaghwan]

1. Ye, give it a try! I have talked with several of my doctors about the

economy as I have been looking for a job for over a year. They all say how there hear how bad the economy and job market is everyday. They don't say which way they lean (except for one who isa very anti-Bush)but most doctors' are empathetic.

[sallyseven]

5. Most drs. are too involved with

what they do everyday. They are poor business people and live in their own world. I think that if you approach your parents with small thing about the way things are going like the outing of the CIA person, the deficit and the war in Iraq. Keep away from 9/11. That is being used as an excuse for the failure of bush but it still scares people. The tax cuts is the biggest reason. unless less your parents are retired with 1,000,000. in the old bank they felt the drop. He mentioned it in his speech about 10 times yesterday.

[saltpoint]

2. Don't do it verbally.

Put up movie-poster 7-foot tall cardboard replicas of John Ashcroft.

Get one for the kitchen, the bedroom, the den, and the living room. Also the garage and tool shed. And the dog house.

Wire red lights in his eye sockets and have them somehow follow your parents as they move through each room.

No words need be exchanged.

Night before the election, ask them how they feel about the Patriot Act.

[eeyore]

12. Nice!

I'll get right on that!

:headbang:

[ShaneGR]

3. Life and death

Hit em on stem cells and hit em on no WMD.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Get them on

1) The deficit.

2) Lack of jobs.. If they are anti-welfare, a lack of jobs means they are paying more into welfare

3) Lack of healthcare, assuming your Dad is concerned about this. One would think so.

4) Lack of vet benefits. There's a lot of info about how $hrub is shortchanging all our vets. SHow it to your folks.

5) Stem cell research.


Also, if there are grandkids in the picture now or might be in the future, point out how education has gone to heck in a handbasket and that vouchers aren't working. Show how the public system needs to be overhauled, or we're gonna have paramedics counting on their fingers and toes when trying to figure out how much lidocaine to give someone. *sigh*

If you can't talk them into voting against $hrub, maybe they will consider staying home? Lots of repubs are.

Good luck!

~Jen

[eeyore]

11. Thanks Jen!

Great suggestions. I think that logically a lot of these things would make sense to them. There is the pride issue, though. It can be really tough for people to come to terms with a big mistake like, say, supporting going to a war on false pretenses. Unfortunately, they've never been outwardly political, and don't really like dealing with political people - it's just so unseemly and déclassé. In the end I think they are more depressed about the world than angry.

Thanks for the help!
:)

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. No prob. Keep us apprised! :)

[eeyore]

6. Great suggestions

With my dad being sick this year I'm really trying to be a supportive, good son and not stir things up unnecessarily. But I do think the future of the country is at stake. Quite the quandry!

[alcuno]

7. Play the Catholic card.

John Paul II said "You go to war with Iraq and you go without God." Wouldn't we trade our tax cuts for the lives of those killed in this misadventure?

[bamaman9151]

8. I have tried, and failed, with my own father

I live in the south (AL) and the vast majority (including my father) have been so indoctrinated by the religous pandering that any attempt to sway them otherwise is seen as "anti-Christian". I can't even discuss politics with my father anymore. It is very disconcerting.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Welcome!

Yeah, hard to talk to religious family members. I married into an evangelical family, soooo it's even harder in some ways, cause I have never felt right yelling at my dad-in-law *lol*

[eeyore]

10. that's tough...

They know or can guess where I stand on most things, so we silently agree to disagree. I can tell, though, that they are not all that pleased with the way things have gone with this administration. I think that on some level they might actually feel a bit betrayed. I may just have to lay low and let them save face.

[alcuno]

16. Here's how I turned my dad.

I simply said that I had a lot of questions about this administration. He asked me what I meant and all I had to say was one thing, "I want to know why the Bin Laden family was flown out of the US right after 9/11 on private planes destined for Saudi Arabia." You could almost see the gears working in his head. Don't try and convince, just raise questions.

[minkyboodle]

23. Welcome

It's a tough situation that you are in and I sympathize greatly. If this makes you feel any better I think its great that you have been able to overcome that indoctrination and form your own opinions. On the family front sometimes you have to just let it be and avoid the subject, it can be very disheartening but sometimes its worth it for the sake of the family (just make sure those on the other side of the political divide observe the same rules)
Scott

[newyawker99]

25. Hi bamaman9151!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[shoopnyc123]

13. Yes...

...I just had this conversation with some Repub friends from Jersey...you must try, as this admin is NOT your usual run-o-the-mill conservative, (I've even become *slightly* fond of Pat Buchanan of late!)......Try, TRy, TRY!

[eeyore]

15. Pat Buchanon is making sense lately!

What's going on? Up is down, right is left, but I guess Rush is still wrong.

:toast:

[Lady President]

14. Keep trying

I've been fairly successful convincing my Republican father to at least consider voting Democratic this election. I'm sure he'll still vote for Republicans on much of his ballot, but for President, I think he may switch parties. Like your father, my dad really respected Clark's military background and I think he'll vote for Kerry if he's the nominee. Basically, my father still believes in the Republican platform, but feels that Bush is a liar and can't vote for him.

One thing that sealed the deal for my dad was when Bush claimed he couldn't remember anyone who served with him. Ask your dad if he remembers anyone from his Air Force days. My dad is 68 and rattled off names, hometowns, and funny stories about a dozen people without hesitation. I'm sure most former military people can too.

I agree that focusing on stem cell research and medical coverage may be the key with your dad.

Good luck! :)

[TomSeaver]

17. What

exactly has this President done to deserve their vote??????? Can someone tell me what good this guy has done? Unless they are rich and loving the benefits of his tax cuts, it shouldn't be hard to convicne them.

[eeyore]

19. well...

My dad is your basic rags to riches story, and he values keeping what he's earned in his life. Also, he is quite pleased with the changes in estate taxes, because he wants to pass on as much tax free as he possibly can. He is quite philanthropic, and believes that he should be able to give away money the way he chooses, rather than giving in to an overblown government that will surely waste it. That's the part of him that would be really tough to appeal to.

[question everything]

18. If they are life long conservatives, this means that they support small

government and fiscal responsibility

Point to them how Bush has enlarged government beyond any previous administration. Point to them how he inherited a surplus but drained all of it and then some. When Reagan left office his was the largest deficit in history, largest than all previous ones combined. Now Bush is doing the same thing.

Yes, the war on terror takes a lot of it, but a lot more is from the irresponsible tax cuts. Conservatives often want government to run like "business." This is nonsense, of course, but you could point to them how we, as individuals, and businesses know that we need to tighten our belts during tight times and Bush should have done the same.

Also, as mentioned earlier, many states now have to increase taxes because of the economy so we have money come into one pocket and out into another.

If they are life long conservatives they should be dismayed by the intrusion of government into the most personal aspects of our lives. And live it at there. You don't have to mention "hot buttons" issue like gay marriage and abortion. The deficit that will have us paying, for generations, will be enough.

[MI Cherie]

21. Do you have kids?

Do they want their grandchildren to pay off BushCo*s debt?

Do they want to see their grandchildren go to war?

Do they want their grandchildren to live in a better world?

[eeyore]

22. All great points...

I think that all of these things are of concern to them. But how do I convince them that Dems have the answers this time? After all, they voted for Nixon, Reagan twice, Bush 41 twice, Dole, and then Bush 43. How can I break the cycle? I feel confident that they are as unhappy with the state of the world as they have ever been, even thought they often talk about how difficult it was to raise 4 boys in the 60's. I think that most people are sympathetic to the points you raise, but many conclude that this is no time to rock the boat.

Go figure!
:shrug:

[Dr Fate]

24. It may be easier to convince them to NOT vote for Bush...

...if they see him as corrupt, they might stay home...