My wife, converted from the dark side

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

When I first met her in 2002, she was a Bush supporter. She watched Fox news, called herself a republican, the whole deal. Fortunately she wasn't very outwardly political so I was able to see past it.

Well, now just over two years later she absolutely despises shrub. She is actually over on a (non-political) discussion board, and her and a couple of other progressives are arguing with the republican majority there about his record. Unfortunately, she is discovering that trying to argue with them is similar with trying to argue with a tree stump, but she keeps it up anyway. (Side note: it's pretty funny to follow the argument - she posts a bunch of links that back up why she is supporting Kerry and not Bush, and asks the repubs to do the same. Their response? "Well, you just want me to do that so you can attack me. I'm voting for Bush because I think he's the right man for the job and that's all I need to say")

I'm just so proud to be able to say that with a lot of love (not to mention facts) even a "new republican" can see the light. I didn't really do that much to get her to change her mind, just explained my reasoning when the subject came up. I think the big turning point was when we saw Fahrenheit 9/11 - beforehand she was already to the point that she didn't like shrub much, but the movie really pushed her over the edge.

Does anyone else have similar success stories?

[reprehensor]

1. Congrats.

Know a couple of Republicans that have turned, but not that dramatically. Glad your marriage survived the transition!

[wryter2000]

2. It took a long time

My husband took a long time to come around. He was an independent who voted for Reagan once. He's been pretty progressive for a while now, but he only this year became a Democrat.

[DuaneBidoux]

3. I'll bet it's a lot easier to get turned on in bed

It sure would be for me. To me nothing on the outside ever substitutes for "sexiness" on the inside.

[CPUSA04]

4. k

gg, i guess...

[JimmyJazz]

5. I don't think the pundits are counting your wife and others

when they make statements saying Bush is going to win in a landslide. My mother-in-law was the same way. She really supported him in 2000 (mostly because of the effectiveness of the anti-Gore propaganda machine) and now, she not only hates him, but thinks his entire administration is full of criminals.

[steely]

6. Oh man - how did you do it??

I can't past the "right man for the job" type of thinking on her end. And like you guys, it never was an issue, now things have deteriorated - it sucks so bad. I mean really sucks. Can't even talk about it - and I am not a shouter either. The parallels (to her 'logic' and the dark side thinking) are frightening.

I envy you.

[OnionPatch]

7. Deep down

she wasn't really one of them. Just misled.
I have a similar story but it happened about a decade ago when I met my husband. On one of our first dates I asked him and he told me he was a Republican. I was shocked. I asked him a bunch of questions like: Are you against abortion rights? Do you want to protect the environment? Do you think the Christian fundamentalists should decide what our laws are? etc. etc. and he agreed with me on all points. I said, "I hate to tell ya this, but you're not a Republican."
He said he guessed he was a fiscal Republican, then, because he wanted to get layed, he told me he would vote Democratic just for me. :evilgrin:
Fast forward ten years....he's further left than I am, which makes him almost radical. :kick:

[BamaLefty]

8. Way to Go!

Why don't you have more than one spouse? Nah, it ain't paligamy... just more votes you could swing! Lol, way to go.

[Oak2004]

9. I haven't had the opportunity to turn a right winger lately

being as I'm A) currently housebound with a disability and B) living in Vermont. But I do know from past personal experience that no one is beyond hope (short of, perhaps, Hallburton execs, and even they might be capable of remorse). Many years ago, when I was doing community organizing in a working class neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, I even converted a real live card carrying Nazi party member.

All it takes, really, is respect for the person you're dealing with, careful listening, and speaking the truth in measured amounts at the appropriate times. The plain fact is that the vast majority of us have nothing whatsoever to gain from the right wing agenda. Some people just need a little bit of patient coaching to be able to see this.

[Francesca]

10. I myself was raised a republican

Both my parents are Italian/super conservative and my mother is a Born again Christian.. As a teenager I (this is shameful to admit) read Rush Limbaugh and thought he was fantastic. I hate him passionately now.. In any event it was not until 6 years ago that i started to stray. I was an anthropology major as an undergrad which absolutely killed for me the credibility of certain biblical and born again Christian claims (i.e. the earth is 5000 years old...) I eventually began questioning everything else I had been raised to believe... No real turning point for me until prior to the 2000 election when i decided to vote democrat for environmental reasons. At this point I still believed repubs where the best for economic reasons but felt the enviro was more important. After watching Bush take an office he was not elected to and then witnessing a series of the most absurd postures on foreign policy I began to not only hate (i know thats a strong word but i was raised to have a temper...forgive me) Bush but the entire republican party. I don't think i need to catalog to anyone here the failures of the bush administrations or the Republican party in general. Lets just say I thank Bush for thoroughly moving me from being on the fence to knowing EXACTLY WHERE I STAND. I no longer believe by the way the Repubs are good for the economy either and find my prior logic in this erroneous belief pathetically flawed...


In any event my husband of 4 years was not particularly interested in politics and while also being raised Republican was not raised by right wing lunatics like myself (I actually love the hell out of my parents and feel sorry for them). My husband is however VERY interested in fire arms and is a licensed Firearms dealer. For that reason he felt aligned with you know who.. 3 years ago he himself came to the conclusion that we would be better off with a democratic even if it meant he lost his firearms. Who needs guns if a REPUBLICAN is not in office anyway........WOW i am just being cute and please don't think i am serious. In any event we both fell in love with Howard Dean.. we are in the process of falling in love with Kerry... his performance in the debate really helped move us along and are starting to feel the excitement we felt over Dean for Kerry.......... I am super long winded so sorry....

[Dark Jedi]

11. Why the Right Hates Liberal Arts

So! It was anthropology that turned you? Damn these evil "librul arts" and their lefty professors! All good boys and girls should only attend bidness schools and be indoctrinated with how selling out your fellow Americans is a good thing, how predatory, darwinistic capitalism is to be worshipped. But hey, just don't you dare to even consider biological darwinism though! Cause dat be sin against god! LOL