Driving while Democrat down south.

[Ford_Prefect]

I had a very strange thing happen for today. While waiting for the light to change along the local shopping strip I noticed the driver in the car waiting behind me hold his phone outside the car and take a picture of the back of mine. I think this is now the 4th time this has happened recently, although I may not have been aware of others doing so previously. What made me notice was he had the phone outside of his car to do it.

I drive a 1995 Toyota Camry. It's covered a few miles but looks like it was bought last year. The only unusual aspect it would show from the point of view of that driver is the "Obamanos!" sticker I still have in the lower part of the rear window. Our county publicity committee came up with that one for local Dems for the 2008 campaign. I live in Orange County, NC which is generally held to be more lefty and liberal than much of the surrounding state.

I'm still trying to figure out why the driver took the picture because every time it has happened the one thing that is consistent is the drivers have all been white males and none of them have waved to me in passing. If I was going to be suspicious about it I would add that they all seemed to avoid making eye contact whether at the stop or on the road. I keep wondering what internet page they have posted it on.

I should say that over the years many people have commented to me face to face in appreciation of that same sticker. I get compliments on it at least once a month at the grocery store, or a restaurant parking lot, and while on other equally ordinary errands. I should add to this I am white, 6'2" and generally look and dress much like my neighbors in this small NC bedroom community. No reason I can think of that I stand out except for that sticker. I doubt much that anyone stopped behind me can tell who is in the driver's seat.

I have never had a confrontation with anyone who seemed to disapprove of my sticker or its location. Although my mechanic who is a Republican (not Tea Party) has at times pulled my leg about it.

It was that someone went to the bother of that photo and that it has happened again that made me wonder. It hardly seems worth the bother to take a picture of it all alone on the rear window. Believe me when I say there are far more outspoken political statements on far more visible vehicles around here.

[apcalc]

1. What you say does not surprise me.

[Rex]

2. Maybe 'Obamanos!' confused them as to what the exact message means.

So they were going to google it later. My guess.

[Ford_Prefect]

3. That's a point to consider. There were plenty of other cars in this county with that sticker in 2008

But I got the vibe it was not from simple curiosity. Other drivers with similar political sentiments on their cars have waved and honked both here and on the interstate. It was the sense of tension I felt I saw in the faces of those holding the cameras and their complete lack of other connection that put my radar up.

[Rex]

4. Be careful Ford Prefect! I live in south Texas and have to be very careful what I say in public.

I feel that tension almost daily. Some folks are just chomping at the bit to be feral animals.

[quickesst]

6. it's funny..

... I was born in Arkansas and have lived there most of my life. I have made no bones about my political affiliation and most of the people that I know as friends are actually Republicans. There is a lot of back-and-forth but very very little of it is serious. I now live in Louisiana because this is where my son retired from the Air Force. Had to be close to them and my grandchildren. I work part-time at Home Depot and most of the white people there are Republicans also but I get along with all of them just fine. I do get my fair share of ribbing because I'm a Hillary supporter but nothing that even borders on violence. All I can say is if it is that bad for you down there remind me never to move to South Texas.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

38. Same way for me here in NE Tarrant County. But what really sucks is the cons...

...say their stupid shit right out loud no matter where they happen to be standing. They may draw a few strange looks but for the most part nearly every other person around agrees with him, though most don't make that obvious.

[Rex]

39. If I did not have family here that I am helping take care of, I would uproot to another state.

Too many birthers around here and like you said - they seem to have no filter on their mouths.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

41. Oh I so wish I could bail out of here. Probably not going to happen though, too much...

...of my life invested here.

[seabeyond]

5. I have always done sticker in my red area. Always respectful. Some profound. One time I had 11.

The kids young. The rule, they all had to be respectful to other, while making our statement. I had a man get out of his car at a stop light, run to my window, I am a little concerned, to tell me how much he loved the sticker.

I had another young man at a convenience store tell me he had heard about my car, And he is all they way over on the other side of town. Very cool.

I had Obama signs in my yard.

I am really considering putting a Clinton on my car. And I do not think I will do the yard, in todays climate, and how these people think of Clinton and a woman president.

If I do a sticker, I want the shattered ceiling and an H.

?w=468

[MillennialDem]

24. I won't put stickers on my car (because of the damage) and can't use magnets because the bumper is

fiberglass. Any ideas?

[seabeyond]

26. As I said, I had eleven at one time. They were on the car, accumulating, for three years.

After, what was it, 2006 that we took the senate? People were pissed. They were more pissed than 2004. I had three incidents of young white male being aggressive to me in their driving, in like a 24 hour tine frame. I took those 11 stickers off that night, telling husband, I am concerned for our safety and i was driving around two little boys. I could not trust our safety to the community around me.

I spent about an hour, carefully peeling. There was some glue left behind and used nail polish remover and a qutip? and got the rest of the sticker off. No damage. I did have one man while considering trading in, tell me the damage I caused. I put a picture of it on Du once, and the other site gave me some schooling on my stupidity and ignorance, putting those stickers on my car. How unappreciative I am, being a housewife and hubby had bought me that car in the first place. You know, my role to respect, so he is able to cherish.

So fuckin' funny. I digressed.

Anyway. I had no problem with stickers and that would not be a reason for me not to put them on my car.

[LuvNewcastle]

28. Same here.

While it isn't likely that I would be physically confronted by someone who doesn't like my political views, I can see some coward doing damage to my car because they don't like a political or other controversial message on the car. I can't afford to be replacing slashed tires, gouged paint, etc. so I don't have bumper stickers. It's just a fact of life for those of us living in some conservative areas of the country.

[MillennialDem]

30. I don't mean someone doing damage, I mean the glue potentially causes damage if I want to remove it,

I would actually love if some dumbass keyed my hotrod.

$500 deductible new paint job (potentially free if they catch the person), thanks dumbfuck

[LuvNewcastle]

31. Oh, I see.

Yeah, if you have a nice car, you don't want to get that glue all over it. My car isn't really anything special, but I still wouldn't want that glue on my paint, either.

[mercuryblues]

35. I had that

happen. I put an Obama sticker in my rear window of my Charger. I came out of a store one day and a huge gouge on the trunk, right under it. Pissed me off. The unintended consequence....My husband hates, hates a vehicle that is not in pristine condition. I got a new car a few months later as a birthday present. I will never put a bumper sticker on a car again.

[Kentonio]

47. Or maybe just put one up each time you're ready for a new car

[maxsolomon]

7. I think your word means "Let's Go Obama"

but could it be interpreted as "Get out Obama"?

[Ford_Prefect]

8. So far as I know it was has always meant the 1st remark.

The positive responses I've had seemed to see it that way. I've lived here 36 years and this is the one thing that really got my radar up. I've done door to door, and poll watching, and information booths and I have seen the kind of cold look this guy seemed to have. I just never thought I was doing anything that was that controversial by that old sticker.

[maxsolomon]

9. i just ask because Republicans are generally stupid

and their bumper stickers are usually stupid too. So they might have thought it was Anti-Obama...

[yeoman6987]

10. I never put stickers on my car.

I understand others like them but I never got the fascination.

[LakeArenal]

14. I don't get bumper stickers either

But the most quizzical to me are the Jesus Fish. Plunked right by the exhaust pipe.. Is that supposed to honor Jesus? Right by your car's butt hole? I would think one would put their Jesus fish on the front of the car to proclaim they follow Jesus. But no...right in the foulest area of your car. Some honor...

[yeoman6987]

23. Lol. That gave a me a chuckle because it's so true.

[AgadorSparticus]

34. No. It is a play on the word vamanos which means let's go (we).

Or we go.

[GoCubsGo]

11. This is why I never put bumper stickers on my car.

I live in South Carolina. I don't want my vehicle vandalized. I don't want to be a target for the cops. I don't want some nutjob mechanic tampering with, or getting "careless" with my car. I also don't understand why people feel the need to voice their opinions and beliefs on the back of their source of transportation. I just don't get it.

[Hortensis]

46. I'd make a little statement on my vehicle, no big deal,

but here in one of the most conservative counties in the nation it'd be asking for trouble, just as you say. It's also not a reasonably new and costly enough car that would signal I'm living a worthy and conforming life. It's a small, old pickup I bought long ago to haul stuff around.

In any case, studies show discrimination on the basis of political orientation is very real all over America these days. Some liberal against conservative, but stronger and more pervasive conservative against liberal. Cars are the least of it. Being fired, or not hired in the first place. Our son's business would almost certainly lose contracts in this county if certain people connected him with us.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. And it's off to the Greatest Page with you!

[hobbit709]

13. It now has a Texans For Bernie sticker instead of the ass one.

[Action_Patrol]

17. That dan Patrick one is hilarious.

[seabeyond]

27. I love this car. I do not have my pictures, because new puter, but I did that too. So much fun. Nt

[Eleanors38]

42. I think I've seen that vehicle. I live in Austin, too.

[hobbit709]

43. I'm mostly in South Austin

[Eleanors38]

44. Same here. I hang out at Bouldin, Radio, Borrego de Oro, etc. My circle...

of travel is increasingly circumscribed by the hideous traffic, now the heat!

[ncgrits]

15. Weird!

I live in Hillsborough (that's also Orange Co. NC, folks) and I have LOTS of liberal bumper stickers. Never had a negative encounter and assumed it was BECAUSE I'm in Orange Co., not despite it.

But you're right. Kinda weird.

Hey neighbor!

[lindysalsagal]

16. Someone ripped the "atheist democrat" bumper sticker off my car, in new england

At a grocery store. Go figure.

[Ford_Prefect]

18. I'm impressed that whoever ripped it off was able to read the big words...or were they?

[cprise]

19. Hope this one isn't yours...

http://legalinsurrection.com/2011/10/obamanomas/

What a bunch of idiots at that site.

[Ford_Prefect]

20. Nope. We just used the word on a dark blue background.

[TheKentuckian]

21. Cops are mostly Reich Wingers and get away with murder. You do the math.

Shit, you don't have to be driving either.

Try to guess which cars get towed first...an Obama puts you first in queue.

Around here though TeaPubLieKLAN stickers are even rarer, I've only ever seen like five or less Romney stickers and one was just last week.
They hit McShame some, some Dubbya but not a ton. They vote for the shit stains but most aren't too proud of it I guess.

So, while I'd say I've seen about as many Obama as all the other guys put together for about 20 years, it is sadly a brave but unwise decision and targets stack. Running around being black with an Obama sticker on a junker is just painting a fucking bullseye on your own ass.

You are virtually asking to go to the impound lot, court, jail, the hospital or the fucking morgue.

[Ford_Prefect]

22. After nearly 8 years of that sticker on the car I hope not.

[TheKentuckian]

49. It is better to be lucky than good even for someone from the neighborhood of Betelgeuse.

[bemildred]

25. It's like posting on the internets, the less you say, the less can be misconstrued. nt

[left-of-center2012]

29. What does "Obamanos" mean?

Never heard of it.

[Ford_Prefect]

32. "Let's Go Obama"

[L. Coyote]

33. I want a photo too. Please post. n/t

[left-of-center2012]

36. I found these on Google images

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=596&q=Obamanos&oq=Obamanos&gs_l=img.12..0j0i24.3245.3245.0.4387.1.1.0.0.0.0.210.210.2-1.1.0....0...1ac..64.img..0.1.208.TCQFmDVYYqA

[L. Coyote]

45. This is a good one.

[UTUSN]

37. Solution: I have a Vietnam Vet bumpersticker on left corner & (Dem candidate) on the right.

I'm in a horribly Red state where the wingnuts are rabid about their own stickers. They don't *DARE* react badly about my Dem with the Vietnam next to it.

[B Calm]

48. I have an IN Navy Vet license plate & Dem candidate sticker

and get a few stares here in Indiana.

[LoverOfLiberty]

40. I just took a picture

of a truck on the freeway with a confederate flag painted on his tailgate. Don't plan on posting it anywhere, but just wanted proof that when I see those flags here in Oregon, they are almost always on vehicles from Washington.