Converting a republican to a democrat is like

[clydefrand]

changing the pope to an atheist. Some people don't want to hear the truth.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Hmmm

I don't know. I know we have some high profile former Republicans at DU who converted to the Democratic Party.

I hope those men weigh in on this.

[wyldwolf]

2. It takes a life altering (for the worse) event during a time when Republicans are in power

Job loss and then loss of unemployment benefits at the hands of a Republican legislature... things like that. And then you won't always get a full conversion - sometimes they just disavow the GOP and call themselves libertarians.

[octoberlib]

3. I'd make an exception for the people like my mother, who wasn't particularly into politics

when she was younger and just voted Republican because her father did . Now, she despises Republicans.

[pipoman]

4. on a continuum

With the far left being the far left and the far right being the far right, the masses are gathered in the center. Elections are determined by slight movements of the center from left to right. If the rethugs win the presidency, it is because a bunch of people who voted for Obama voted for the rethug candidate this time...likewise when Obama won it required GW voters to shift left. The only time this doesn't necessarily happen is if there is a 3rd party which changes the dynamic. So, no, rethug voters vote democratic with some regularity.

[MO_Moderate]

8. One of the wisest things I've read since I've been here

[Coyotl]

15. You forget the 8% who are not riing from the dead on election day every 8 years.

The 8% of old people who are gone are replaced by 8% liberal youths.

[pipoman]

28. As it has been for centuries

If youths remained liberal we would have a one party system.

[Autumn]

5. I just don't trust converted republicans. I don't think there any such animal,

they might leave the GOP because they see them way out there on a couple of things but they hold on to their core beliefs. Better they stay republican and fix their party instead of fucking up mine.

[wyldwolf]

6. Here's a small list of converted republicans...

Elizabeth Warren
Hillary Clinton
Howard Dean
Markos Moulitsas
Carolyn McCarthy
Gabrielle Giffords

[Autumn]

7. Okay there's a few good examples of republicans who turned Democrat when

republicans were mostly human But most of them can just stay in their party and fix it because I haven't seen a half way decent republican in years.

[1awake]

11. I was Republican and am now Democrat

... am I not worth having?

Let me be truthful, and I do not mean this towards you. One of the hardest things I've had to deal with when I changed from R to D was a very vocal but small group who pretty much treated me like diseased crap. That is something I never experienced in the other direction.

[Autumn]

13. What drove you away from your party?

[1awake]

16. Their insanity?

Mindless Republicans who not only drifted further right... they jumped off the edge and started resembling the insanity of people like Hannity and Limps. There was a time when when being Republican or Democrat was a simple thing. Differing beliefs on how to get somewhere, but overall still wanting to get to the same place. That is no longer the case and hasn't been for quite a long time.

Personally... I think there are several Democratic Politicians who are only one or two steps away from being Republican themselves.

on edit: I own no party. I stand with those who share my beliefs and want to work towards a common goal. My loyalty is to my morals and dreams, not to a political party.

[Autumn]

17. They have gotten pretty bad, what do you miss about the republican party?

I agree there are several democratic politicians who are about a step away from being republicans.

[1awake]

19. I will reply to that with the hope that it makes sense.

I miss nothing about the Republican party. The party at this point... with what they currently stand for, can go to hell.

I have written this several times at this point but am finding it hard to not talk about my childhood (which I really dont want to get into right now). To put it simply, I joined the Republican party because at the time, they appeared to stand for good things and the idea of a Democrat was abstract. The older I got, and more educated I became, the more holes and chasms I found in their politics and logic.

I've known several wonderful people who were Republicans... unfortunately I cant say the same thing about the politicians nor their policies. Sorry if this was confusing.

[Autumn]

20. I understand that. I have some republican family members and I

love them very much. We have a mutual respect for each other and politics don't enter into it. I have always been a Democrat, never found anything in the republican platform that I admired. Of course now with some of these democrats it's hard to find much of a difference on some things . I'm sorry your party went bat shit crazy and mine turned into a bunch of wimps. I think that's because of greed though and the fact that corporations can buy the government.

[Fumesucker]

31. Were you a Democrat originally?

Otherwise how would you know what it's like moving from Democrat to Republican?

[1awake]

35. Yes, Sorta.

While my mother and father were... non political, my grandparents who stepped in were die hard Democrats. They never explained to me why... and I remember clearly back then when I was old enough to have interest in elections asking how they voted and why. They would vote straight democrat punching the one hole, which back then made no sense to me. Still, originally I claimed to be Democrat (teens) without even knowing what that meant.

To be honest about it, I probably was drawn in my youth to several things about the Republican party (none of which are true) such as flag waving, how great a country we live in and God speak. Also though, it was probably a form of Rebellion from my grandfather if for no other reason than to be different. I would try to debate with him how being a Repub was better, or at least how the candidate was. I used all the talking points at a time before I knew what talking points were. My Grandfather was the greatest man I ever knew, and while I rebelled politically, everything I learned worth learning was from him.

So yes, I was welcomed with open arms from people I knew into the R party... Unfortunately those people, many of them which were very kind, never looked past the bullshit to see the truth. I can tell you exactly why most of them are Republican, and its all based on misinformation and redirection. Say what you will, but the Republican party is SO MUCH better at the game of politics and values than the Democratic party ever has been... or at least since Roosevelt.

[Fumesucker]

36. The reason it's that way is because so many of the Dem politicians actually agree with the Repubs

You really can't make a good argument for your side if you secretly agree with those who are supposedly your enemy.

The Democratic party has been running away as hard as they can from "the left" since at least the '68 Democratic National Convention.

It also doesn't help that "The Liberal Media" is profoundly conservative in many ways and is largely a creature of the Republican party, even if the Dems were seriously trying to put a left-populist message it would have to come through the media who can and do distort things toward the Republican viewpoint a great deal.

[Token Republican]

9. Conversion is possible

but it depends on the issues. My short answer is repubs scare me away with their stupidity, but dems scare me away with the lack of logic. I swing back and forth until I'm dizzy.

PS - I'm working towards my tenth post so I can make a formal intro and find out if DU is an appropriate place for me. Until then I'll add a few short answers but nothing too much.

[uppityperson]

10. Well, I am looking forward to that. If you reply back to me, that will be one more

[Token Republican]

21. OK

For this post I say "turn me on dead man" (Hope the reference is not too subtle)

[uppityperson]

24. daed ton si laup

[1awake]

12. I am interested in reading it as well. n/t

[wyldwolf]

22. "dems scare me away with the lack of logic." LOL

I think Democrats and Republicans have a different definition of 'logic.' OURS is usually based on reality and facts. Republicans' is usually based on faith and truthiness.

[Token Republican]

23. And counter point

I find both sides can use logic in some areas. Repubs break down when the use fear and faith instead of logic. Dems break down when they use emotion instead of logic.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me post in the GD first to find out if DU is the place for me.

[wyldwolf]

25. It all comes down to goals.

For example: When Republicans say they want to cut the deficit by cutting social services and Dems evoke emotion to counter that, the emotion is steeped in logic. It's logical for a government to take care of it's people and it's logical for that to be a priority over decreasing the deficit.

Oh, and GD probably insn't the best place for newbies on DU - especially if you're coming from the other side of the tracks. I'd try Politics 2014: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1251 - it moves slower and there aren't as many spit balls being shot at you.

[Jackpine Radical]

26. I think I would use a word like "moral" rather than "logical."

Unless you make some assumptions about values such as the worth of human life and dignity, you can't use logic to prove anything much in this arena. Using "pure" logic, prove to me that you deserve to exist, or that I do, or that the biosphere should be preserved, or that slaveholding should not be promulgated.

[OKNancy]

27. I've read that before

"Democrats don't use logic, they use emotions"
I've read that Limbaugh says that all the time.

[Token Republican]

33. Probably

I've listened to Limbaugh. And Hannity. And Maddow. And Matthews. For gits and shittles, I like to flip between MSNBC and Fox. Not only is it amusing, but I'm convinced that it creates a flux in the space time continuum that will one day be harnessed as an energy source.

But in the end, I like to get my information from multiple sources and make up my own mind.

[Fumesucker]

32. Fear and faith are both emotions

[Coyotl]

14. raising the dead on easter morning, I suppose.

A good way to find rubes, get up an easter and see who believes in rising from the dead. If you can sell them that, you can sell them Republicanism.

[KamaAina]

18. I know one who has recently converted to independent.

I'll settle for that.

I imagine it's because he's gay and he finally got fed up with all the LGBT-bashing.

[wandy]

29. The pope and his followers may, "may" do some good in the world............

Teapublicans?
Not so much.
Hopeless cause.
Be nice to just 'put em somewhere'. Somewhere they could rant and hate and scare the heck out of each other and not get in the way of things.

I do not like the GOP scam.
I like it not, Wandy I am.

[gerogie2]

30. It depends

I was a republican voter in my youth until the reality hit it takes a community to get things done. It took a health crisis for me to realize that and many conservatives are a health crisis or a couple of pay checks away from being down and having to ask for help.

[woo me with science]

34. Trick question. Do you mean changing to a corporate or traditional Democrat?

Converting to a traditional Democrat is a major operation.

Converting to a corporate Democrat merely requires changing the letter after one's name...and perhaps a few positions on social issues.