Shocking news from law school friend in Pittsburgh

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

I talked to my buddy from law school today. I haven't talked to her for several months, at least before June. She informed me today that she is undecided about whom she wants to vote for. This is a 68-year-old white female who is a staunch Democrat and was volunteering for Hillary earlier this year. She doesn't declare herself a PUMA, but she told me today that she doesn't like Obama. She said she thinks both campaigns are lying - she thinks Obama is lying about not raising taxes on the middle class. She is a retired social worker living on her pension; although she's licensed in PA, she has chosen not to work as a lawyer in the 3 years since we graduated from law school. She said right now she "doesn't want a redistribution of wealth." I had just assumed she hated Sarah Palin as much as I do, but she said she doesn't hate her.

I must say I am really shocked. I told her jokingly I couldn't be her friend anymore if she votes for McCain. Once she said she wouldn't vote for him, but at the end of the conversation she said if she did she wouldn't tell me.

I just can't believe it. She is the very last person I ever expected to be undecided and even remotely considering voting for McCain. I feel so violated! All my illusions are shattered!

:shrug: :wtf:

[stopbush]

1. Too many people vote their fears, rather than their hopes.

[opihimoimoi]

44. DOW dropped 450...closed at 10650....Our Econ is in the Conservative Crapper

[grassfed]

2. I don't believe your friend's reasons, think she's lying

[1corona4u]

5. Yup.

There's NO "logical" reason not to vote for Obama.

[Dawgs]

31. That's what it sounds like to me.

sad!

[Diamonique]

3. Hmmm... let me get this straight.

She's a Democrat.

She supported Clinton.

She doesn't like Obama.

She thinks he's lying about raising middle class taxes.

So.. it's not that she doesn't like him because of his tax program. It's just that she doesn't believe him when he presents his program.

So she's admitted that she doesn't have a tangible reason not to like him, so she made up one.

Sound familiar?

[smoochpooch]

8. She's 68 and graduated from law school 3 yrs ago? WTF? n/t

[Carolina]

16. exactly, and she isn't practicing, either?

What a fucking waste of a spot in law school!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

26. Well, I'm not practicing right now, either

But I was working at a legal aid office until I developed two herniated lumbar discs and had to leave. Now I'm focusing on volunteering for Obama - I might look for work after the first of the year.

[Carolina]

32. you miss the point

she went to law school late in life and then, gleaning from the OP timeline, has done nothing with the degree. That's a waste of a spot in law school.

Also sounds like she doesn't have or doesn't use good sense!

[Gormy Cuss]

50. Law school spots aren't anything precious.

It's not as if there's a shortage of lawyers in this country. :eyes:

[Carolina]

63. true but I'm on an admissions committee and

many qualified applicants vie for ONE spot in medical school,law school, etc.

A younger person who would use her brains and education for GOOD should have gotten that spot. PERIOD!

Besides, law school costs BIG TIME, so attorney-shit-for-brains must have had money to burn and that's why worried about redistribution of wealth... naturally. That and, of course, RACISM!

[Gormy Cuss]

64. A younger person could have come out of law school and become a shark too.

There's no contract to exit a professional program and practice. I've known plenty of people who completed PhDs and JDs and the like with full knowledge by the end of the program that they weren't going to pursue a career in that discipline. They're smart and well educated people and most certainly didn't waste the slot. I can understand why you might feel that way after working so hard on selecting candidates but the fact of the matter is all such selections are a bit of a gamble.

My main point was and is that her law school grad status is irrelevant except to illustrate how the OP met her and to establish that this is a well-educated woman -- a woman who either isn't being candid about the reasons for her hesitancy with Obama or who is worry about her own little pot of money more than anything else.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

24. Yes

She didn't miss a day of school - she loved it. She had a master's in law and decided to go on and get the JD.

[Ikonoklast]

4. Latent racism is still strong in that age group

She'll never admit it, but if Barack Obama was a white guy, she'd vote for him in a heartbeat.

Vote McCain, and lose your Social Security, and get your health care taxed as income. Bank on it.

[xiamiam]

9. I agree...it is most likely racism...I grew up in Pittsburgh...hate to admit it..but racism is alive

and well in various parts of that burg...

[RamboLiberal]

17. I live in Pittsburgh and believe me it is still alive

especially among the older white Democrats here. One problem with Pittsburgh because of the topography and rivers and immigration patterns we have clustered neighborhoods where blacks and whites never mixed. And many were Democrats because of union ties but are still very conservative.

Always amazed me how many here rarely venture much beyond their neighborhood area.

Also we have nothing but hate radio. No liberal stations.

[TwilightGardener]

52. Yep--you speak the truth.

[rufus dog]

12. Your last sentence is the key

Even if she fears Obama may raise her taxes at most that might be $1,000 per year. Pay taxes on healthcare and, at 68 she could lose SS in the near future. It is a no brainer, worst case in one plan costs you 1000, worst case in the other plan costs you tens if not hundreds of thousands.

[renie408]

13. Seriously, it might just be her age and limited resources talking.

Oddly enough, even though the change represented by Obama is exactly what would benefit her the most, fear will make her stick with what she knows.

It's like a horse in a burning barn. When they panic, they will plow you over to go back into the barn...fire or no fire.

[chatnoir]

14. Agreed. Sounds like if he were white, she'd not be worrying

about him 'raising taxes'. She's just giving that as a cover story b/c she's ashamed of the real reason.

Edit - typo, bad keyboard needing replacement.

[kaygore]

51. I agree

People hate to admit they are racists, so they vote for Satan rather than vote for someone who doesn't appear to be all white. It kind of makes it easier to accept the meltdown of our economy because people like her if McCain gets elected will be living under overpasses (unfortunately, along with those of us who tried by our vote to prevent such an end!)

[Overseas]

6. Tell her-- she doesn't have to guess what McSame will do -- more of the same.

Did she know he wants to tax health benefits we may receive from our employers, but continue the tax cuts Bush gave to the top 2% ???

[everything-bolt-up]

7. By their deeds you shall know them.

[McCamy Taylor]

10. There is some nasty anti-Obama propaganda on the internet. Some people are falling for it.

However, I expect that a lot of people will come home to the Democratic Party by election time.

[secondwind]

11. tell her to get a grip. The middle class needs a break more than the assholes

who are in the top 1%. She sounds like she may have "Bubba" issues, not uncommon for folks her age.

I can't wait til racism is not a factor anymore!

[Arugula Latte]

49. It's harsh, but, when this older generation dies off it will take

millions of racists with it.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Email her the "White Privilege" essay......

cause it sounds like she needs a dose of her own reality.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1755

[Carolina]

21. exactly

it's racism and double standard camouflaged by a BS excuse.

I sure wish Obama surrogates would remind these older, white women that his mother and grandmother were working class WHITE WOMEN!

[Doremus]

18. Amazing how the racists are coming out of the woodwork.

We've all learned the code:

"not enough experience"
"elitist"
"don't trust him"
"he's different, exotic"
"don't like him"

When they start dropping code words, I skip to the chase. Time is growing too short to dance around the subject. Besides, I can't abide racists.

[EmilyAnne]

19. I know a few people in Pittsburgh like this. I really don't get this place and the experience I had

while canvassing for Obama during the primaries have made me decide to move on as soon as possible.

I grew up in Texas and always had this ridiculous idea that Pennsylvania was much more liberal than it apparently is. I have heard and seen more overt racism than I have ever seen anywhere else in the world, including my hyper-conservative home town north of Houston. Who knows. Maybe I am more aware of it now, maybe this particular campaign is bringing a lot of stuff to the surface that was always there and maybe if I had been canvassing in my hometown, I would have heard even more whacko BS.

In Texas, it seems that Democrats are viewed as liberals. Up here, there seems tot be something else at work in a "lifelong" Dem. Many I talked to certainly don't seem to be liberals in any way shape or form. I really hope my anecdotal experiences turn out to be abnormal.

[sufrommich]

20. "A redistribution of wealth? Did you tell her watching

FOX causes brain damage? Maybe she's spending her retirement listening to right wing radio.

[tishaLA]

56. Exactly. It's an O'Reilly/Hannity talking point

and the stuff about him "socializing" everything, too.

[anneboleyn]

22. Tell her she can kiss her pension and medicare goodbye if she votes McCain

and he actually wins, and things keep going as rapidly downhill as they are right now. Point out that Obama is stronger on social security, medicare, and issues for the older population that (ironically) McCain is...she may think her health and so on are perfect now but this won't last forever.

[me b zola]

23. I tend to agree with the other posters who don't believe her excuse

A way for you to find out if her stated reasons are honest is to simply point out that it was the bush* administration who orchestrated a huge re-distribution of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy, and is in part to blame for the financial mess that we are in now. Remind her of FDR and how vibrant our economy became after his programs enabled regular citizens to do well.

[morillon]

25. Redistribution of wealth?

It's going on RIGHT NOW -- from all of us to Bush's pals. Does she really want to support the Ken Lays, Bob Nardellis, and Dennis Kozlowskis of the world?

She doesn't like Obama because he's young and black. That's my guess, anyway.

[EC]

27. If she supports the Democratic platform then no matter who was

voted our representative for the party, she should vote for our platform...Obama...


Trusting HIM has little to do with anything, he can't do anything by himself...it would be the party's platform - so she is saying she doesn't trust the party anymore?


It's fear of a black face as an authority figure...

[RollWithIt]

28. If she worked as a social worker for that long, she should know better....

Race an issue?

[writes3000]

29. SUGGESTION: Consolidate these depressing "I can't believe my brother/buddy" posts into one.

I think many of us would appreciate it.

[ljm2002]

30. So she thinks Obama is lying...

...about his tax plan, the one that he has had out there from the beginning, and that independent analysts all agree will benefit individuals making less than $200K and families making less than $250K -- whereas McCain's plan will be worse for 95% of the population, benefitting only the very rich.

Brainwashing. It's the only explanation that makes sense.

I am at the point where I have little patience with rank stupidity -- so at this time in the U.S., I am becoming quite crotchety.

[AndyTiedye]

33. Show Her This Ad From Defenders of Wildlife

https://secure.defenders.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=1547&1547.donation=form1&s_src=6JY08WDC4F&s_subsrc=6JY08WDC4F_EJI08D1web&JServSessionIdr012=65hn2ot2t1.app26a

[Left Is Write]

34. A "staunch Democrat" would not be undecided about this race.

A "staunch Democrat" would be voting Democratic, period. Therefore, I would say your acquaintance is not a staunch Democrat.

If she's concerned about Obama's tax plan, she can go over it for herself - it's on his website. Has she done that? Does she think the proposal as laid out is a big lie?

Frankly, I'd feel a little violated too if I had a friend who claimed to be a Democrat and considered voting McCain for even a minute. My closest friend is a Democrat, and she was a huge Hillary supporter. She's not over the moon about Obama/Biden, but she wouldn't vote for McCain even with a gun pressed to her head.

[faithfulcitizen]

35. No doubt this primary hurt us. Helps us too, but I think these types were hardened by the primaries.

[mitchum]

36. Fuck her and the withered old white ass she rode in on

[goodgd_yall]

48. Nice---insult her friend. n/t

[mitchum]

62. That was my intention; she's no friend of mine (or the Democratic party)

[BlooInBloo]

37. White person #4574574574574 shocked that white folks are racist....

EDIT: And in Pittsburgh, no less - BWAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!!!

[RBInMaine]

38. Do we really need these depressing posts ?? Pretty needless isn't it?

[Canuckistanian]

39. All the buzzwords from RW radio

"Obama is lying"

"raising taxes on the middle class"

"redistribution of wealth"

Tell her she needs to expand her news sources.

You MIGHT want to direct her to Obama's "Fight the Smears" website:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/

[mikekohr]

40. SEND HER TO obamataxcut.com TO CALCULATE HER TAX CUT

I make $30,000 a year. McCain plan will tax me $795.00 more than Obama's plan. If She is over 65 and makes less than $50,000 per year her txes under Obama wil be ZERO!

mike kohr

[krkaufman]

60. It would appear that the facts wouldn't matter. She simply doesn't believe Obama.

(Though the OP didn't comment on her relative trust of McCain, who's been a consummate liar throughout the campaign.)

[mikekohr]

41. SEND HER TO obamataxcut.com TO CALCULATE HER TAX CUT

I make $30,000 a year. McCain's plan will tax me $795.00 more than Obama's plan. Anyone over 65 and making less than $50,000 per year will pay ZERO dollars in income tax under Senator Obama's plan!

mike kohr

[Motown_Johnny]

42. redistribution of wealth is misleading. none of the people who Obama would help would become wealthy

we are just talking about basic human services like health care.

[abumbyanyothername]

43. Try another approach

Just act like you don't believe her when she says she isn't voting for Obama. Say things like, "I know someone as smart as you would never be able to pull the trigger on 4 more years of the last 8 years. I know you love your country too much to subject its citizens to another term of failed policies. Even if you have doubts about Obama, I am sure you can see what a failure the Republicans have been." etc.

The campaign itself is one thing, but if we at the grass roots just need to start acting like we know we are going to win, and we are going to be gracious winners while we are at it. The tent is big enough for everyone that wants to get in.

[MarjorieG]

45. Hillary spent months lying about Obama-maybe just politics-but had lasting effects.

[samuraiguppy]

46. I would have a hard time staying

friends with someone like that (just saying)

[goodgd_yall]

47. I'm sorry your friend disappointed you

That's a drag to find someone you respected doesn't have respectable positions on the issues.

Sounds like she may be having some bitterness about her life---"doesn't want a redistribution of wealth."

[EFerrari]

53. I thought my mom, my comrade in political arms, would get over

her disappointment and realize a lot of us had to let go of our first choice.

No deal.

She's voting for McCain and for me, that's one of the signs of the apocalypse. She's never voted for a Republican in her life. Maybe this is the onset of senility or something. It's not racism, she doesn't have a racist bone in her body. She was just so counting on Hillary. Very painful all around. My best pal is gone. None of this is as much fun without Mom.

:(

[Lilyeye]

54. That sucks.

Why doesn't she just stay home, rather than vote for McCain?

[EFerrari]

55. I don't know. She's just still in a blind rage and there's no talking about it.

It's sad. Because any other year, she'd be out there beating the drum for Obama. :(

[Waiting For Everyman]

57. The redistribution was already done, and she'd be paying zero tax.

Those aren't her ideas, they are the standard talking points.

[Blarch]

58. she sounds like a idiot.

[mtnester]

61. No, she sounds like a Republican

oh wait...same thing

[krkaufman]

59. Exactly what does she think has been happening for the last 30 years....

... other than a redistribution of wealth from the people to the wealthy? And especially over the last few days? And does she not realize that "redistribution of wealth" is a Right Wing frame?

Sounds like a Reagan Democrat, at best. Doesn't understand how Republican policies have destroyed the value of whatever dollars she's earned.