My Fundie Mom Watched Obama & Biden Speak...

[JeffreyWilliamson]

A few days ago I posted an e-mail I received from my Evangelical Mom. She is a Head Start teacher in Colorado. Her class is made up primarily of poor Hispanic children. As a result of this, she has had growing doubts about Republican immigration policies, and has become open to entertaining the idea of voting Democratic.

I called her a couple of hours ago, and sure enough she had watched Obama and Biden's speeches this afternoon. I asked her at the end of our discussion who she was thinking of voting for, and she said that she felt she was going to vote for Obama. I asked her why, and she told me that after today, she had really been thinking that maybe abortion, (she is usually a one issue, pro-life voter), wasn't the only issue that was important. Maybe, she said, there are other things that need to be looked at when deciding who should be President.

She listed several issues I had never been aware she cared about:

Medicare
Social Security
Education
Universal Health Care
Our Troops and how we best Honor Them
And The American Dream, and if we are losing sight of it...

Joe Biden was the right choice, people. Today was a good day.

And I think that maybe there is something out there that the polls aren't picking up on yet.

[WillyT]

1. Thank You For Sharing That !!!

Give your mom a hug for me.

:hi:

[DangerousRhythm]

2. Excellent!

Kudos to your mom... if more people took the initiative like that and thought with the brains they have rather than trusting in and believing the lies of those on the right, we'd all be in a better place. They can fool some of the people, but not all of them... not this time. :)

:patriot:

[JeffreyWilliamson]

3. Her brains were out in force today...

She told me that after the speech, she was curious who Joe Biden was, and so looked him up on Wikipedia and read his Senate website. She came away feeling that he had strong family values. She respected him greatly.

[DangerousRhythm]

26. Wow, even better!

Go, mom! :patriot:

[chiefofclarinet]

38. Barack and Joe have REAL family values

Our ticket has family values. Barack has a wonderful and intelligent wife in Michelles and two daughters, in what would be an "ideal home." Joe has two sons from his first wife, Neilia. After his wife died in a car accident, he remarried Jill, a PhD in education, and had a daughter. Even with hardships, he has a happy family, and he leaves Washington every day to go home to his family.

Now, McCain also had his first wife get in a car accident. However, he abandoned her to marry a beer heiress. He has had numerous affairs and has poor relations with his second wife.

Let's see, two men with happy families, or a womanizer. Which has family values? The Democrats.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Let's hook her up with the campaign...

She could kick some ass, and we need Colorado!

:hi:

PS, give her a hug next time you see her. Tell her it's from some dude in California that loves her.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

5. She is slowly developing a fanbase here, to be sure.

I really, really don't think she is alone out there in her way of thinking about all of this.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. And that's why...

Biden is a superior choice. I may not agree with him on everything. Well hell, I don't. But I agree with him on enough things, and by dint of his age and experience, and his manner of speechifyin', he is gonna pull a lot of older white voters back to this side, voters who have been wandering for the last 30 years or so, thinking they were gonna get a better deal out of the con artists and 3-Card-Monte dealers.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

9. It's amazing...

She's starting to see through the fog of the last 8 years, (well, the fog that conservatives live in anyway). It took Barack Obama to do that. Joe Biden helped seal the deal.

[a la izquierda]

34. You sound as if you're talking about...

my mom too. Except my mom's not a fundie.

[ms liberty]

41. Exactly, T_S...

I live in rural NC, and I think he can help us a lot in the south. His speaking style and abilities could do very well here for us. I thought Jim Webb as Veep would do it, because his understanding of southern culture is superior among Senators and Democrats. But while Biden is not a native southerner like Webb, he has the same kind of blunt, common-sense no-nonsense way of speaking.

[RedLetterRev]

46. I live in rural NC as well

and my mom is a strong, strong Democrat. Those things aside, we had a long conversation the other night while she waxed rhapsodic about Barack's picking Joe Biden as veep. I carefully hid my own excitement to see what she had to say. She lives around a lot of other lower-income retired folks in the western part of the state and has a lot of conversations with her neighbors. I was really curious to see what struck her as important.

Not only was it Biden's ability to stand up to Republican beeyess, it's his family values. She kept saying over and over, "he rode that train home, night after night, to raise what was left of his family." She is so awfully proud of that (and so am I). That, I think more than anything, will appeal to many voters. While the pugs shovelled a barnful of crap in the last few elections about "fam-ly vy-yewz" then proceded to screw the nation (and each other's wives, a handful of hookers while wearing diapers, some Congressional staffers, and some dudes in bathroom stalls) to the wall, the Democrats have been quietly walking the walk.

Who's got it and who ain't? The cat's out and there's no putting it back in the bag.

[DesertRat]

7. That's good news

I'm also a preschool teacher in a poor area. It's nearly impossible to work with this population of children and families and vote Republican.

Peace.

[SeattleGirl]

8. Yay!!!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: to your mom!

[JeffreyWilliamson]

10. The best part is...

She didn't even know who Joe Biden was until today. She had never even heard of him.

But after seeing him she walked away likely to vote a Democratic ticket in November.

THAT'S what Joe Biden brings to this!

[GrizzlyMan]

13. No, the best part is the fact she lives in Colorado

Swing state!

[progressiveforever]

15. Yes

I think Tim Russert was right when he said carrying NM, NV and Colorado will decide.

[SeattleGirl]

Absolutely!

MrSG really didn't know who Joe Biden was (he's a Dem, but not a political geek like me). He watched Biden today, and he was VERY impressed.

[Gregorian]

11. Yay!

People know a good thing when they see it. We're finally going to sweep the nation.

[DesertFlower]

12. great news. thank you for sharing. nt

[progressiveforever]

14. Thank you- we need thousands more stories like this

Now, I'm smiling. And I believe that Colorado may be key to this election.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

17. My favorite part of the conversation...

Was when she said that when he made a mistake, (like "Barack America"), that it made him seem really human to her. She really likes that he is a normal guy.

[nxylas]

30. I always thought this M$M screeching about his "gaffe" was bullshit

Thanks for confirming it.

[az chela]

16. Now this is a great post

[JeffreyWilliamson]

18. Thanks!

I have this idea that when it's all over I'm going to let her in on the fact that I have been posting about her here, and that she has a lot of fans.

[DesertFlower]

19. my granddaughter is a born again christian.

i guess she's a fundie. she likes obama. she watched the debate last week with obama, McCain and rick warren. she felt McCain was lying and was trying to control the questions and answers.

she said if a republican said things that she wants to hear she would vote for him. i said "steph, if he did he would be a democrat". her husband. well, he hasn't made his mind up yet. he likes obama, but is concerned about him being pro-choice and pro civil unions. my 8 year old great granddaughter told her dad "no more hugs and kisses unless you vote for obama". the kid has my genes. :)

[JeffreyWilliamson]

20. Great kid there!

These people are watching and are questioning their votes.

We are going to win in November.

[calimary]

21. I am loving these stories!

They give me hope!

THANKS, MUCH!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. Your Mom sounds like a smart lady. A big k&r..............

:kick:

[FloridaJudy]

23. To those wanting a "Pro-Life" ticket

It may be helpful to point out that abortions declined under Clinton, and not under George Bush. So: do you want a President who takes a hard anti-choice line, or one who will actually do something to reduce the need for abortions?

[Chulanowa]

27. Bingo. The anti-abortion people are best served by the Democrats

The Republicans take their donations and scream and cuss and carry on about abortion while pushing measures they know will never pass or stand up under judicial scrutiny.

On the other hand, Democrats aren't about to abolish abortion. But what they are willing to do is this:
1) lower the number of abortions through proven measures of quality sex ed, easy access to contraceptives and prophylactics,
2) make abortion safer for the mother through stronger regulations and reduction of social stigmas,
and 3) actually strive to care for the children and mothers who don't undergo the procedure but have no where to turn to.

Nobody likes abortion. But the Democrats are the team that are most likely to reduce abortion, and they will do so without draconian, ineffective measures that only serve to punish a mother.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

28. Whoa...

I can't believe that this thread got kicked up again!

I have been trying to explain to her for a while that education and programs that instill self-confidence in young women are the keys to decreasing abortion. For example, it's amazing the kind of self esteem is seen when teenage women are encouraged to participate in sports. That self esteem and confidence helps them in the saying "no" department when it's most needed, thus preventing an unwanted event in the first place.

I am a big advocate of integration of sports teams in school.

[pnwmom]

24. Does she know that's the same position of Biden, a faithful Catholic?

He agrees with the social teachings of the Church and is personally opposed to abortion -- but is not willing to impose his religious belief about abortion upon people who don't share that belief.

[bushisanidiot]

25. There are lots of stories like this. Thank you for sharing your's!

the tide is turning blue!

[Cha]

29. I'm hoping this is a sign of what I

think it is..a Cosmic changing of consciouness for the people who have voted on this single issue!

I know how happy you must be, Jeffery, and thanks so much for posting this! Very important.

[Hansel]

31. A co-worker of mine couldn't wait to share the latest Obama smear

with me. Every week it was "Obama is lying about not being a Muslim", "Obama sat in that Church for 20 years", "Obama wasn't born in the U.S.", blah, blah, blah. If he asked me a question about Obama I would answer it as positively as possible, but when he would start to argue I would just tell him to do more research because I don't want to argue with him about it. I chalked it all up to his fundy brother (because that was who was sending the emails).

Last week he came up to me sheepishly and said "I think I'm going to vote for the Democrats. I still don't like Obama but I think he will be better than McCain. I hate Bush and McCain is just like him. Anyway, the economy is always better under Democrats." I don't know what prompted this change of heart but I like to think it was me giving him calm and positive answers and pushing him to do more research.

[janet118]

32. As a woman, this is what I noticed at the event yesterday

I saw two men who obviously loved their wives who obviously loved them back. I saw two men on the rope line who were completely comfortable with young children. As a mother and wife, this made me trust and like them.

Good news - the largest percentage of undecided voters are women between 35 and 49.

[opihimoimoi]

33. Mood Shift....the people who can think....are starting to really see they been duped...

The Vision of Better is at once pervasive

[ginnyinWI]

35. My reaction too: he'll win us some Republicans.

My conservative dad was saying earlier this year, "why don't the Democrats nominate someone who isn't so far to the left? Someone like Biden?" I haven't heard from him yet, since the nomination, but I suppose I will soon. Unless RW talk radio gets to him first. They must be scrambling to think of some arguments against Biden.

[Hamlette]

36. We need a bumper sticker: "My Mom "hearts" Biden" True in my family too

although my mom is a died in the wool dem, she LOVES Biden. She was a Hillary supporter who was lukewarm on Obama (only because of Hillary). No worry, she will vote and she will vote straight party.

Did I tell you, she LOVES Biden?

[Radical Activist]

37. Did she see the prayer given before the event?

Or did the press not cover that?

[pamela]

39. Send her Sojourner's Voting Guide

That's great about your Mom. I bet she would like this... http://www.sojo.net/Action/Alerts/VGP_Issues_Guide.pdf

[LynneSin]

40. She doesn't sound very fundie to me

Head Start was one of the first programs that Bush put on the chopping block back in 2001. It was ironic because only a month before it got it's major cuts Bush had visited a Head Start program in Wilmington and talked about what a great program it was. Well hell, if it's a great program why would Bush take away money for it.

I tell my undecided anti-choice friends to look at the big picture. We shouldn't be fighting over abortion laws but making sure we have strong programs intact that ensure that every child born is a child that is wanted and will be born into a world that will provide that child the chance to live the American dream. That requires strong healthcare and education programs along with a sex-education program that teaches our children not just abstinence (which really, isn't a bad thing) but how to use birth control and find reliable, affordable methods.

[ClayZ]

42. Yay, for you Mom! K and R

I hope people all over the country are WAKING up to the possibility of OBAMA/BIDEN.

Change I believe in!

[beac]

43. K&R for a wise mom!

Glad she's been able to see past the GOP pandering and identify the real "values" issues. Brava!

[Stevepol]

44. Your mom is a little like me. It tookk me a while to warm up to Obama.

I think there are a lot of people who will just need a little time to come around, but by the time of the election, he'll have a substantial majority behind him.

The only thing that could take the election from him is the same thing that took it from Kerry: the voting machines and dirty tricks of various kinds.

[D23MIURG23]

45. So far as I remember the GOP and MSM didn't shit a brick over Kerry picking Edwards.

The fact that they are freaking out over Biden tells me that he was the right choice. This is how people behave when they have something to fear...