My republican inlaws changed their votes for Obama after the debate...

[cynatnite]

They voted for bush both times and have deeply regretted it. They liked McCain because they bought into the whole maverick gimmick of his, but after seeing Obama they completely changed their minds.

Obama was polished, knowledgeable, confident and they felt reassured by his demeanor. They also felt that McCain did okay, but he stumbled too much and relied on the same kind of stuff that bush did to get elected.

They are both enthusiastic about Obama and look forward to voting for him.

[livetohike]

1. Chalk up two more for our side

:-) Thanks for the good news story :hi:.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

39. And two less for their side.

+4

[K8-EEE]

2. K&R!!! I know two "on the fence" aquaintences that are now on board

the Obama Express!

great news!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. this is what I was finding door to door today.

[1corona4u]

9. Yeah? Do tell....we love these stories...

:-)

[cui bono]

4. Sweet!

[CitizenLeft]

8. where, if possible, could I get a larger version of that...

beautiful artwork in your sigline? It's gorgeous!

[1776Forever]

12. Sold Out! "Progress" by Scott Hansen

http://blog.iso50.com/?p=1669

More info here:

http://store.barackobama.com/Artists_for_Obama_s/1018.htm

[CitizenLeft]

35. oh thank you for the links!

I like the other artwork too, but that piece is particularly beautiful!

[cui bono]

14. Yeah, follow the link in the post above and you can get a larger digital image of it.

[CitizenLeft]

36. thank you, cui bono!

I wish I had $70 to spend on it, but I don't. I hope it's still available after the election, I may be able to get it then.

[eshfemme]

5. Yay!

This is why Obama won the debate because he obviously has become someone people will be comfortable with and that is why his strategy is superior to any daily tactic that the Republicans can come up with.

[MissWaverly]

6. drip, drip the steady sound of a country changing it's mind

one vote at a time.

:-)

[CitizenLeft]

7. wooohooo!

:applause:

[codjh9]

10. EXCELLENT!!! What state? I do have to say I'll never understand why people voted

for Bush TWICE, because he/they screwed up so many things, and did so many bad things, during his first admin that - as my mother said - he should've lost 98-2 in 2004.

[cynatnite]

21. They are in Montana...

They voted for him the second time for a couple of reasons. One was they didn't think switching presidents during wartime was a good move and the other was that they didn't really like Kerry all that much. They liked Edwards a lot and were disappointed he didn't get the nom in 2004.

They had complaints about bush, but what really turned them against him and the republicans was hurricane Katrina. My inlaws, who consider themselves devout republicans, want bush impeached over that. They want him tried and imprisoned. In their minds that was criminal neglect on his part. Everyone involved in the aftermath of Katrina that didn't do their jobs should be thrown in jail.

This is how they see it. I'm just glad they came around...even though it's a bit late. I just couldn't hack a discussion about McCain if they were going to vote for him.

[crazy_vanilla]

11. tell them hi from me, and congratulations n/t

[1776Forever]

13. I can only hope that my Sisters will turn around now - both are in the mid-70's

I can only keep trying. I am 62 and know that he is the best choice!

[ailsagirl]

15. COOL!!!

[rvablue]

16. Two of many no doubt

And you should give yourself a pat on the back.
You probably gave them 1,000 good reasons prior to the debate to go with Obama and his stellar performance just pushed 'em over the fence!

[casus belli]

17. Great news! n/t

[democracy1st]

18. K & R

:bounce:

[beac]

19. Hurrah!

I think the next two debates will bring about even more conversions!!

:bounce:

[wildeyed]

20. Cool! My DH's theory, people are looking for a reason to vote Obama.

And that last nights performance will reassure them. Obama looked polished, knowledgeable and in control. Very reassuring to the whifty swing voters. The content of the debate is less important.

[OneGrassRoot]

37. And, a what I heard was....

that they saw "Obama isn't going to take any crap."

They didn't see the "typical Democrat" up on the stage. They saw someone who will fight back - play offense when necessary, as well as great defense.

Those were lifelong Republicans' words.

:)

[nradisic]

22. I wish my inlaws would do the same....

How did you get them to change? Any influences from you?

[cynatnite]

23. Katrina is what turned them against bush...

If you ask them, they'll say that bush, brownie and the rest of them who failed to take care of NOLA should be thrown in jail for criminal negligence. They were really pissed about everything that happened and have never forgotten.

[Cha]

24. Wow! And, they're in

North Carolina, right, cynatnite?

It's turning out that Obama was reaching out to these kind of folks last night, I think.

[cynatnite]

26. Montana, actually. n/t

[Cha]

27. Bueno!

:toast: Montana:patriot: :patriot:

[Blarch]

25. Torture, murder, rape, war, lies, and wiretapping...

didn't get them to change their views, but this debate DID ?

How fucking ignorant can somebody be ?

[cynatnite]

30. They are not ignorant...

They saw some things such as torture and wiretapping as necessary evils...well, at least before Katrina. The aftermath of that hurricane changed their entire perception of the bush administration. Now, they completely condemn everything they did and have deeply regretted their votes. I wish more people, such as other RW family members, would change their minds as well.

[Blarch]

31. If they think...

torture is necessary then they are .... well, almost as smart as my dog.

If they thought it was necessary to shred the constitution ...well, then they betrayed their nation.

Thats the fact jack.

[cynatnite]

32. You don't know the facts...

The fact is my inlaws are retired folks on a fixed income who live in the country. They have no computer and get the local paper on Sundays. What news they get comes from corporate media.

They don't get the whole picture like many of us do.

The fact is these are the very people that Obama needs to get in the WH. If he can change the minds of people like my inlaws then he's making some very good progress. Ignoring them and not wanting to change their minds is the fast track to Obama losing and McStupid winning.

That's two more votes for Obama. I'm all for it.

[MrMickeysMom]

28. As Randi likes to point out, "real men" (of course real women) are the ones...

... who step up to the plate when shmelling the coffee...

Right on.

[anigbrowl]

29. After talking to various reps on a mixed politics forum...

We naturally had the predictable partisan back-and-forth but I was also struck by how many of them expressed respect for Obama. They were geared up mentally to see McCain walk all over him but instead most acknowledged a tie. I had the impression that a lot of them were secretly impressed, and also a little disappointed that McCain didn't offer any concrete policies but rather stuck to a holding pattern and said 'victory' a lot.

In fairness, I should say too that McCain put in a better performance than I expected. I'm not impressed with his demeanor or patronizing attitude, but he looked sharp and confident in a way that doesn't usually come across during his speeches. What he lacked in ideas, he was able to make up for displaying his sense of moral certainty and patriotic emotion. I don't want to vote for that, but it was a strong display of political skill.

[jules1962]

33. cynatnite

I just wish that I could change my inlaws' minds. They live here in Kingsport, and to beat all my father-in-law is from NOLA. He won't budge. They used to go to my parents every year for Christmas but they stopped going. I think he saw my mom's framed pic of Clinton in her home office. He is also retired military and after what McCain has done to the veterans I can't believe that he would vote that way. Needless to say we don't talk politics anymore. If he tries to, I change the subject. I really love Joe, but I do not want any hard feelings between us. I just try to keep the peace. I just scream all the way home after seeing them. LOL

Both of my parents are yellow dog dems that are the product of repug families. I always tell my husband that I was raised right by my parents. :grouphug:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. They are true Americans! Where do they live? Can they talk to their Republican friends?

[DevonRex]

38. I think it is clear now that Obama's debate style and his answers

were geared specifically toward those undecided voters that he has a chance of winning over. We are already on board. Die-hard republicans won't vote for him and neither will the folks who think belligerence is good. But those in the middle who prefer substance and calm during crisis are winnable and Barack showed both in his performance.

[OnionPatch]

40. I think a lot of people were waiting to see the debate before deciding.

As we know, most people aren't as political as we are here at DU. Many people wait until the debate to even bother paying much attention to the election. The debate has given a lot of people their first chance to really see and listen to Obama. Once you listen to the man, there's no way you can stop yourself from respecting him if not totally loving him! Unless you're a hardcore freeper, that is.

[StopTheNeoCons]

41. GREAT post, thanks for sharing it

[sakabatou]

42. This one scares me a little