Viewpoints: I'm ailing, gay and now an ex-Republican

[Newsjock]

Source: Sacramento Bee
By Tom Knutson

I am 69 years old. I am a professor emeritus from California State University, Sacramento. I am gay. I have pancreatic cancer. I am changing my voter registration from Republican to independent. Let me tell you why.

First of all, since my cancer diagnosis in April, I've been treated by an incredibly gifted team of cancer surgeons, anesthesiologists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, endocrinologists, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, social workers and nutritionists. This incredibly knowledgeable group has provided me with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and a wide assortment of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The cost of these services to date totals well over $400,000 -- perhaps a partial explanation of the massive construction projects currently under way at hospitals in our region.

... Secondly, the Republicans have a disgraceful record in extending constitutional rights to gay American citizens. I am an American citizen legally married during the "California Window" in 2008 to Phan, my loving spouse and a citizen of Thailand. We have been together for more than 20 years, 15 of which have been spent in the United States during which Phan has earned three college degrees.

... The Republican leadership has engaged in frightening seniors about health care and has cavalierly disregarded gay American citizens. For these two reasons, I am canceling my Republican voter registration. I will maintain my fiscal conservative views, but I will no longer participate in the politics of hate and fear. In a very real sense, I am not abandoning the Republican Party; the Republicans have abandoned me.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/21/4925169/im-ailing-gay-and-now-an-ex-republican.html

[BlueCaliDem]

1. Ugh! Another Republican who only saw the progressive light when he was personally affected

by the Republican Party's uncaring, callous stance on our most vulnerable. Yet, he's still unwilling to support the Democratic Party. Unbelievable.

I'm so frustrated with Republicans like Knutson and Haggard. It's not as if the Republican Party has ever been compassionate about health care for the vulnerable, equality for all, and the other social safety net programs Democrats have been fighting for and struggling to keep! It's been the Republican platform to undo the New Deal since its inception! How does this come as any surprise to him?

NOW, when they're at their most vulnerable, suddenly they "see the light". I'm sorry, but I wish he had seen the light when he wasn't suffering pancreatic cancer or that his loving partner wasn't facing deportation or the risk of never being able to collect the social security benefits he had worked so hard for. Had he, and I assume many other Republicans like him, voted Democratic Party, it would have strengthened his and his partner's position. But no. When he was young, healthy, and wealthy, he happily voted Republican Party out of greed so he could keep a few extra dollars more of his, I'm assuming, huge salary.

[HooptieWagon]

2. +100

[Raster]

16. Yes, I agree.

The republican crap has been going on for a long time, and just now he's are aware of it?

Your comments are spot-on, BlueCaliDem.

Welcome to our Team, Frustrated Republican.

[BigDemVoter]

17. THANK YOU

You managed to say EXACTLY what I was thinking when I read his article!

Boo Hoo. . . . I'm really tired of people ONLY changing their minds when they are personally affected. He didn't give a shit when he wasn't sick.

[reflection]

18. It needed to be said.

Thank you for saying it. How noble of him for "getting it" when he was affected. I'm glad he got it, but I wish more people just had basic fucking empathy.

[defacto7]

3. I am mostly sorry to hear that

he hasn't left the Republican party, the Republican party left him. From what sort of compelling force doesn't he leave the Republican party "because" the Republican party left him? I don't see any reason why he should have any affinity or vague affiliation to a party that has and will make his life even more difficult in the end, one that has caused the same difficulties to millions of others in his position and he still thinks he hasn't left?

If it's your last human act in life, do the honest thing and just cut the damn chain.

[Zambero]

4. What took him so long?

The Republican party has been singing this tune for ages. Now that their policies and postions have hit close to home, this gentleman has decided to disassocaite from them. I wish him and his spouse the very best, but I can't help but wonder why so many like him steadfastly remain loyal to a party that has and will always work against their best interests.

[Dan]

19. Word....

[Mothdust]

5. and a professor emeritus, yet ?

As a graduate of the C.S.U. system, I'm curious to know what subjects you teach?

[TBF]

10. The OP just posted the article -

you'll have to do a google search on the name of the professor to find out which subjects he taught. Full professors likely keep their title in retirement (that's the "emeritus&quot .

Welcome to DU

[Ash_F]

6. "Fiscal conservativism" is the weakest logical argument to be a Republican

At least if you are a bigot then being a Republican makes some sense. I get annoyed with people who basically go "I disagree with everything Republicans stand for but the economy where they are strong on". History has proven otherwise. Television brainwashes people.

Still, good article. Good for him. I'm glad he changed.

[LeftofObama]

8. +1,000,000

I wish someone would explain to me where and how the republicans are fiscally conservative! If you ask me republican fiscal conservatism is just new speak for, "I've got mine and I'll do everything I can to get yours too!"

[TBF]

12. People are completely brainwashed re capitalism -

when you think back to elementary school we are sort of taught that "freedom" encompasses both freedom of action (speech, assembly, etc) and free market (your ability to open a small shop etc). It is very romanticized and we are taught you can "grow up to be whatever you want to be". The details of the gap between rich and poor, and income mobility between classes is not at all addressed but we are behind many industrialized countries in that respect. When folks do notice that perhaps big corporations are robbing the rest of us blind they are "reminded" by their neighbors and churches that "money isn't everything" etc ... which is most definitely a true concept but it's being used here for a specific purpose - to keep people from looking too critically at the economic system. It is quite a con job all the way around.

[just1voice]

7. The old "I need help so now I'm a (D)" story

Too bad the hypocrite voted against his own and most other peoples interests his entire life.

[lunasun]

13. yes i am so sick of these stories now.... if not I now need help / am sick now

it is some family member or friend
To me it does not say "I have become enlightened"
To me It says "I only cared when it was me and I am selfish "
but I guess its the same old hypocrite story
IOKIYAR
and many will still have to hold their noses voting cuz they are just in a bind that is all

[XanaDUer]

9. Oh how wonderful!

You voted to screw yourself and everyone else for decades and now when it affects YOU, you have flipped! Idiot

[daybranch]

11. faint praise indeed

you know we have two central themes from the progressive base which drives the democratic party-empathy and responsibility. In other words we believe in understanding and connecting with others and we believe in responsibility both to ourselves and to others.
As a result when we read your article describing your conversion to policies republicans would have us associate with the takers and anti-religous gay lifestyle we are hardly enthused but we as progressives believe in helping those in need even if they have spent a lifetime preaching against us. Welcome, we can only hope you use the rest of your life to reconsider this bull conservatism you keep spouting. In some ways without refutation of the taker myth you now embody we wonder if you help us when you speak, but best of luck to you.

[workinclasszero]

14. Now that I'm sick and need help...

..I renounce teabagRepublican, I got mine FU, hate politics?

And a gay man to boot?! Really? Really,really?

Sorry dude but you are a willfully ignorant asshole. You throw the poor, the sick and even your persecuted brethren under the bus your whole life, then have a epiphany when you get sick and need help?

Well I hope you get better but really...f off hypocrite!

This is like the mass killer in prison for life who suddenly has a "come to Jesus" moment and begs for mercy. A mercy he denied his victims of course.

Just like this guy who turned his back on the sick and poor till it affected him personally. Republicans are sociopaths, every damn one of them!

[LoisB]

15. Sorry that you're ailing but how could you have been both "gay" and Republican in the first

place? Republicans did not just begin their "politics of hate and fear". I really do hope you regain your health.