OMG! My usually-Repug boss is supporting Obama

[rox63]

Today, I asked my boss if I could leave work an hour early tomorrow, because I want to attend a candidate event in southern NH. In 2004, she was very anti-Kerry, which bugged me because I was very pro-Kerry. When she asked who I was going to see, I told her it was an Obama event. She immediately started gushing about how fantastic Obama is, and how wonderful Michelle and the kids are, and how proud she'll be to vote for Obama.
:wow:
Wow - I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor. She lives in NH, and says she's an independent, not a repug. Last summer, she was talking about supporting Giuliani or McCain in 2008. Now she's in love with Obama. This gives me concrete proof that Obama truly has crossover appeal. I don't know what sparked her turn-around. But if there's a lot of that happening out there, it's a good thing.

[Christa]

1. Here's to millions more like her

:toast:

[Mass]

2. Surprises happen. I was visiting my 90+ year old aunt last week and

to the general surprise in the room (her daughter nearly fell off her chair when she heard that), she said she liked Obama and did not like any of the Republicans.

My MIL (late 80s) likes him too (she is a Democrat, but who knows), and my 18 year old son does too, so he definitively has a cross-generational appeal.

[babylonsister]

3. And some DUers don't like his crossover appeal. What's not to

like about this? Thanks for sharing.

[Anouka]

10. Fear of Success

is a terrible thing.

[Cronus Protagonist]

13. Fear of another fascist

I only speak for myself.

[iconoclastic cat]

27. Please explain. nt

[Cronus Protagonist]

30. No need. n/t

[iconoclastic cat]

33. Really? Generally, if I go around accusing people of things,

I have the intestinal fortitude to back it up.

[Cronus Protagonist]

37. I accused no one

I simply stated a fear that I have. No further information is needed to support my feelings. Unless, of course, you think you should vet them all for me, in which case you'll have to make an appointment.

[iconoclastic cat]

38. That's not fear. Fear occurs when you are actually threatened. You have anxiety.

Anxiety is generally ambiguous. It's not a very good way to make decisions.

[Cronus Protagonist]

43. Thanks doc.

You are a qualified doctor, I presume.

[iconoclastic cat]

44. Nope, just a guy with access to an online dictionary. nt

[SoxFan]

52. Oh kaaaaaayyyy...

[jlake]

50. I fear it for the same reason the republicans like him...he is very similar to Bush.

[babylonsister]

53. Jeeze, good luck with that meme.

:eyes:

Similar to *? Yea, and I'm the queen of Sheba.

[Mountainman]

56. The repubs that like Obama do not like Bush. Bush is so bad he turns off even some in his own

party and the repub candidates are all so weak that some rupubs, who now call themselves independent, will vote for Obama. It's taken them this long to understand what we knew since 2000.

[RoadRage]

57. Very True...

They are both males.. very, very similar. And, Hillary TOTALLY can't claim that similarity..

:eyes:

[killbotfactory]

59. He's the anti-Bush

And having a popular, charismatic, progressive president should be the least of our worries.

[loveangelc]

4. I'm telling you. I'm young but I've been looking at elections since I was 8 years old.

There are soooooooooo many republicans who will vote for Obama. My parents are republican and considering voting for Obama, which is huge. More than the amount of people who 'will not vote for a biracial president' WILL. I really feel like Obama is the most electable candidate we have.

[TooBigaTent]

5. The trouble with crossovers is that their influence will push BO (or any other)

even further to the right.

How much will Obama give them to gain their vote? He's already indicated that equal rights for homosexual Americans is "off the table." Who is next to be thrown under the bus?

[ellisonz]

7. Assumption.

[Anouka]

9. when did Obama say that about gay rights?

do you have a link or a paraphrase of exactly what he said, or what you mean by that? that's honestly puzzling.

[TooBigaTent]

12. see the entire "Donnie McGurkin" incident. nt

[rox63]

15. None of the top 3 Dem candidates supports equal marriage rights n/t

But I believe all of them will go as far as supporting civil unions. Which is a hell of a lot better than the repugs. Not perfect, but a step in the right direction.

[TooBigaTent]

17. Please excuse me for wanting a candidate who supports equal rights. My bad.

[rox63]

19. The only one who does is Kucinich, and he's not going to win n/t

[TooBigaTent]

26. Almost as good as counting slaves as 3/5 of a person. Wow! what progress.

[rox63]

28. Which candidate are you supporting?

And do they support full equality?

[Colobo]

29. Good question.

[iconoclastic cat]

39. Now *that's* funny. nt

[chascarrillo]

34. Looks like someone rose from the dead, nt

[magatte]

21. Obama on Gays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIQLwe-MmxY

Stop lying your ass off! punk.

[babylonsister]

24. magatte, would you mind

posting this in the youtube forum? I don't think it's been posted before. Thanks!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=385

[magatte]

36. unable to start video forum thread

Hi babylonsister,

I am not quite sure how to start a new topic in that forum. I don't see a "New Topic" button of sorts.
It would be great if you put up this link, if you knnow how to do it.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

45. OK, will do, and thanks for finding it. nt

[magatte]

49. Thanks a lot!

Much appreciated.

[here_is_to_hope]

42. Good point and welcome to DU!

And as for making decisions based on 'anxiety'...
Perhaps the relief of someones own 'anxiety' is what has them in Obama's camp.

[Anouka]

6. Giuliani and McCain are RINOs

So it's not that difficult to believe she'd dump the pretenders and go for the real thing by supporting Obama. I hope she's doing it for the right reasons.

[ellisonz]

8. It's the hair.

:sarcasm:

Well that, and the hope, and the change!

[luckyleftyme2]

11. sure beats

sure beats
hucka chucka bee!

[Luftmensch067]

14. Love this story!

I'm as shocked as you were to hear that a NH voter who was leaning Republican is pro-Obama or any Democrat! Gives me hope for our country, actually. :-)

Recced and kicked!

[Colobo]

16. Barack Obama will unify America.

[TooBigaTent]

20. At what cost? And haven't we learned that unity and bipartisanship with the

enemy means more compromise (sellout) to their views?

What ever happened to standing up for what is right, not just the expedient path to votes?

[iconoclastic cat]

32. Indies and R's are coming to his side, not the other way.

It's not pandering if they are voluntarily supporting him.

[flordehinojos]

18. a victory for duplicitous obama is a republican victory, please do not forget.

[magatte]

22. You are losing you mind, and veering into absurdity

What kind of 1984 "newSpeak" is this? Vote for the candidate with the most libral voting records, sure...

[Colobo]

25. He totally is.

[iconoclastic cat]

35. May I quote you? nt

[0007]

23. I'd say you have one damn good boss. I wouldn't push it if I were you.

[ClericJohnPreston]

31. Her endoresment would make me think twice!

Any rational person would question why their RETHUG boss finds Obama appealing.

It is the very reason we Edwards supporters question his "bi-partisanship", in an era when an iron fist is needed.

Obama is as corporate as Hillary.

[ellacott]

40. Many Republicans are disappointed in the Republican party

Bush only has a fluctuating 30% approval rating among Republicans.

[madrchsod]

41. "in an era when an iron fist is needed."

those days are over comrade...

[ClericJohnPreston]

48. Guess you don't know anything about Corporations

You want to nice them to death?

Good luck.Komrade

[Renew Deal]

46. My wife is a dem, but...

She's a low information voter. She says that Obama and his family are classy. Also, she likes what Obama is saying.

[Dinger]

47. I Wonder How Many repukes Say This And Actually Do It?

Since they can't be trusted and all.

[Arugula Latte]

51. The flip side of that:

I know someone here in Portland who is normally uber liberal (he likes Edwards and Obama, as do I). Basically, we agree on everything. However, he shocked me by saying that if Hillary got the nomination, he would not vote for her, and would consider McCain or Giuliani if one gets nominated. :wow: Now, I can't stand Hillary, but if she is the nominee (ugh! x( ) I will do the proverbial nose-holding vote.

Hillary would be a stinker of a candidate for our side.

Obama, on the other hand, seems to have broad appeal. He will be a FABULOUS general election nominee.

[rox63]

54. If he's going to vote for a repug

Please find a way to at least make him stay home on election day. :crazy:

[Arugula Latte]

55. Well, actually, we can ONLY vote by mail here in Oregon.

So he'll have a couple weeks to vote. :o

[ljm2002]

58. And this is one reason I don't like him...

...seems to me that Republicans feel they can support this candidate because he is the ONLY Democratic candidate who is pre-inviting the Republicans to the table. Saying he wants to work WITH them. Gaak.

Personally, I prefer a candidate who is ready to kick them hard. Let the EARN their way back to the table, if they can.

And it isn't revenge politics, nor a simple case of tit-for-tat. No, it's the last 30 years of our history which have demonstrated unequivocally that the Republicans, and especially the current crop of Republicans, CANNOT EVER be trusted.

Obama's rhetoric inspires. It calls to us to be better than we are. It would have been great 25 years ago. Maybe even 15 years ago (timewise; not considering specific elections here). Now, it is the wrong message: it is an admission of defeat. Because if we can't shove these guys away from the table now, we may not get another chance. And if we let them join us at the table, they will continue to out-maneuver us.

Don't believe me? Just look at the last year, where we had majorities in both houses of Congress. Yeah, we sure have been wildly successful there, haven't we? Even given that we've had to deal with a petty and obstructionist White House, we got played again and again, up to and including the recent defense funding bill.

Okay -- I don't mean to hijack your thread and I am sorry if it appears to be that. It's just that having seen a lot of these "my Republican (aunt/grandmother/boss/etc) is leaning to Obama!" as if that is the greatest news yet. Yes, it is absolutely worth noting. And in a normal political cycle, it would be heartening that a candidate can produce crossover votes. I just worry that Obama's ability to do that, due to his conciliatory rhetoric, is in fact a negative, since it speaks to how he will govern. Giving these people any quarter will simply result in more of the same oppressive corporatist imperialist government that we have now.