So, what made you a Democrat...

[Lenape85]

...For me, it was the 1992 debates. George H.W. Bush was on and he was talking all about big business and growing our economy. He struck a bad chord with me then, and I remember my family talking about how Reagan and Bush's economic policies have hurt them. Then Clinton came on, and I remember I was enamored by his message, that he wanted to side with working families. I told my parents that I liked Clinton, and they said that they agreed, and he would be a breath of fresh air in a world of corporations ruining lives.

My story, believe it or not, was a lot like Schwartzenegger's "How I Became A Republican" bit, except it was "How I Became A Democrat" and GHWB vs. WJC.

[DaveinMD]

1. my parents taught me

to care about others, not just about myself. Therefore, I'm a Democrat.

[Nay]

47. That's me, too, Dave. I was taught not to be a selfish moron,

thus I am a Democrat. Gotta say, though, today's Republicans really take the cake. They are NAZIS compared to the R's in the 70's.

[prodigal_green]

2. I have an

IQ higher than a slug. Pretty much all that's needed isn't it?

Seriously, I grew up in a pretty progressive family. I was registered Green for several years, but switched back this election.

[LynnTheDem]

45. LOL!

"IQ higher than a slug...all that's needed."

Good point. :D

[camby]

3. I think I've always been one.

I used to think that it was my religion (Christian) which made me one, but I have learned recently that Christianity compels one to be Republican, so I guess I must be of the devil. But I'm still a Dem!

[Buck_Fush]

36. u r a cute lil devil though! n/t

[InvisibleTouch]

4. Bill Clinton & Al Gore. n/t

[BayouBengal07]

5. My dad.

He's pretty political and he ingrained it in me. I remember 1992 when I was 7 years old and went to see Bill Clinton and Al Gore speak. Not that I got anything from it, just that I've been raised a Democrat.

And I get a warm feeling driving through low-income communities and seeing all the Democratic signs.

And the more I become interested in international politics (I'm an International Studies major) the more I've come to fear right-wing jingoist schemes for the world. Something about bumperstickers reading "grab 'em by the balls and their hearts and minds will follow" rubs me the wrong way (actual bumpersticker I saw BTW)

[Lenape85]

10. I was 7 then too

[tjdee]

6. When I saw a bunch of Democrats and saw blacks, whites, women, young, old

and then I looked at the Republicans and saw a bunch of decidedly unhip old white people, that was when I first went....hmmm.

Then, when I saw that Bill Clinton cared enough to go on MTV and Arsenio, that said a lot. Poppy Bush looked like a major fake to me.

I'd never been anything other than a liberal, though, and when I got serious about politics the Democratic Party was the obvious choice.

[Wapsie B]

7. Iran-Contra made me

start to question the gop regime in this country. I stood with the party through Watergate. But the shit going down with Ollie North and the CIA drug-running put me over the top. I knew there was something rotten in the woodpile.

[sendero]

54. Same here..

.... I (shamefully) voted for Reagan - twice. Iran-contra opened my eyes and big. I realized that most of what the left said about Reagan was true, he was not an honest man and he chose a cabinet of crooks.

My main reason for remaining a Dem is economic issues, I just don't think that making the rich richer should be our top priority, but it seems to be the only priority of the Repugs.

[quinnox]

8. Family thing

All my closest relatives are Democrats, they have been ever since my grandfather's generation. But I do have some cousins in Texas who are republicans.

Beyond that, it just makes sense to be a Democrat as far as political policy, it is the only feasible party that represents all people, not just the fat cats and the connected. As if there aren't enough reasons, another is this current situation where the republican party is being run by lunatics.

[AwakeAtLast]

9. Clinton might have moved me in that direction,

but DU solidified it. When I found DU, I was a very strict Independent. I did not want anyone telling me who to vote for (that was what I thought at that time). If I wanted jump from one side to another, I would. Well, I have since learned (thanks DUers) that I have been a Democrat all along. I have voted Democrat in every election I have voted in. I always liked Jimmy Carter and never understood, even at the tender age of 7, how he could lose to the very creepy looking (in my 7-year-old mind) Ronald Reagan.

I guess it has taken me a very long time to put a label on myself, but dammit, at least it is the right one!

:)

[samwisefoxburr]

11. I can't really say...

...My Dad is a Republican, my Mom a non-voting Democrat, but politics was never talked about in my family (not up until about a year ago, when I got involved). However, both my parents are Atheists (they were Christians, though). I grew up not knowing much about any religion, and never had any type of discrimination ingrained in me. So, I grew up being tolerant of people. I guess I naturally became Democrat because of that.

ON EDIT: My three brothers are Dems, too. So, don't know what my Dad's doing wrong.

[gardenista]

12. My dad and mom, and then I was born 9 months later. n/t

[proud patriot]

13. I was green before Dean

:hi:

[SnoopDog]

14. Nothing *makes* you a democrat...

It is the class given to people who believe in life, liberty, ... oh you know, the positive side of things.

It is inherent.

There are a few fundamentals for human survival. The primary directive - sustain human life. This requires a clean environment, the education and fulfillment of one's mind, heart, and soul, and prosperity of one's labors.

Protect our fundamentals.

[sepia_steel]

38. You're right!

I was trying to put that into words below, but you said it better.

[SnoopDog]

57. Thank you my friend...!

[NMDemDist2]

15. the violence in the streets at the Chicago Democratic Convention

in 1968

i was appalled at the gestapo tactics used. Altho I wasn't a Dem then, it set my liberal leanings for the years that have come since...

[camby]

21. The 68 Democratic convention was a big turning point for me too

I remember watching it one night on tv while I was babysitting - all those kids who were getting beaten - I identified with them.

[NMDemDist2]

24. exactly! and my ex marine step father just dismissed them as wackos

I'm sure if he's still alive today he's a total FReeper

[proudbluestater]

16. When the Republicans wanted to control my uterus n/t

[housewolf]

17. Jerry Brown

I grew up in a Republican family and voted for Nixon & Reagan (I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know any better!)

Then in 1991 I found out that Jerry Brown, our beloved Calif governor, was going to be running for president in 1992. I started paying attention to him and found out that he'd spent time working with Mother Theresa in India and had transformed from being a top party Dem money-raiser to a anti-money in politics populist. That did it for me!

I had a political awakening that year. I'd never considered ideas of social justice before, really didn't understand what that meant. I'd never considered workers or union issues before, I'd always been lucky enough to work on a salary and with other salaried individuals. I didn't know anything about how politics worked. It was quite an amazing year. I worked on his campaign with some fabulous people, went to the convention in New York, and found my political home.

[NMDemDist2]

25. Jerry Jr is a good man

his dad was a bit more problematic LOL

[housewolf]

30. Well that's the truth!

I'm still pretty loyal to Jerry, though. He's done a good job as mayor of Oakland and I believe he is going to run for Cal Atty General or some such office in 2006 since he's term-limited out as mayor. He's brilliant and has a good heart. He was good friends with Caesar Chavez and was a pall-bearer when he died. That said a lot to me, that the former governor and 3-time presidential candidate could be a pall-bearer for a poor Hispanic farm labor union leader. He found a way to bring the spiritual into the political in a way that was human and non-offensive.

Gosh, guess I still just love the man! I hadn't really thought much about him lately, thanks for the memories!

[Buck_Fush]

41. I like your story! n/t

[Liberty Belle]

18. Nixon's crimes exposed.

I was 18 when he resigned in disgrace. I was registered Republican for only a few months. Changed to Democratic and voted straight party tickets (with the exception of an Independent just once) ever since.

[Schema Thing]

19. Only God Can Make a Democrat

[murielm99]

20. I was born with it. nt

[Lororia]

22. What made me a Democrat

I favor separation of Church and state.

I'm disgusted at the blatant manipulation of emotions and outlandish lies the other sides uses to get people to vote for them. They don't believe what they're saying; they just calculate what it takes to get elected and then go with that.

[murielm99]

26. Welcome to DU! nt

[Bouncy Ball]

23. Probably my stepfather.

He was very liberal and taught us to think for ourselves, care for those less fortunate, take good care of our natural resources, be fiscally responsible, and hate the republican party.

Pretty good guy.

[genius]

27. For starters, my family taught me to have a conscience.

I'm anti-death penalty, anti-NAFTA, pro social programs, pro civil rights, pro civil liberties, pro environment, pro stem cell research and pro choice and I think attorneys are the most altruistic people on Earth. So what Party do you think I should be in?

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. The first president I was aware of was Kennedy,

and then came LBJ and the Great Society. By the time Nixon came around I had an instinctive loathing of him, which I saw proved true over the next few years.

I've never considered not being a Democrat.

[IronLionZion]

29. The Republicans didn't want me but the Dems welcomed me /nt

[seabeyond]

31. i voted perot that one, impeachment........

what had me voting clinton (and i didnt like clinton, just didnt like people stomping on constitution more). then bush running against gore, (being from texas had him for governor) had me voting for gore. and after 2000 theft and repugs allowing, never again will i vote repug

[webjamn]

32. I became a Democrat

when my eyes were opened to the Repugs total disregard for the environment and their outright greed. I am disgusted by anyone who is wealthy and lives the good life and still complains about how much they have to pay in taxes. People who are able to make a great living in this country should be happy to pay extra because our capitalistic system is what created that wealth.

[Skittles]

33. I care about people and things OTHER THAN MYSELF

I actually empathize with stuff that does not directly affect me

[Democrat Dragon]

34. It's a loooong story

but has do with being teased by rednecks, religion abuse, and Iran-Contra. Not to mention that I have had a staunch view on conservation ever since I was nine.

[Stinky The Clown]

35. Mine is a long story

But the tipping point for me was GHW Bush's speech to the Republican convention on the night of his nomination. He caved to the religious right and in a somewhat veiled way bashed gays. That was it for me.

[sepia_steel]

37. I have no idea.

I knew NOTHING of the world for most of my life. I grew up poor, Christian, rural (I mean REALLY rural). I think I always had a soft spot for those less fortunate, but it didn't seem to be 'taught'. For a long time I was the same as everyone else - my worldview was extremely limited. Only my family and I were in my life's spotlight. I got my 'news' from the TV if at all, and I was taught to think that you should never question a 'leader' (think Britney Spears in F9/11). Very fundie, yet my young life at home was chaotic and abusive (the height of hypocrisy as far as parenting is concerned). My family was as far from politically aware as it gets. None of them voted.

The first interest I remember having was during Clinton's first campaign. I was in 10th grade (crazy). I had a new stepdad and my stepdad liked him. It was the first time I watched anything political (except reading the newpaper during the Gulf War in my 6th grade Current Events class, but when you're that young you are completely disassociated with war and tradgedy anyway. I was totally on our president's side but only because he was my president). My stepdad said that Clinton's young age was an advantage because he could relate to poor and middle-class family guys better. I wish I had asked more questions (sadly this guy is not my stepdad anymore; we kids still love and miss him).

Once I was out of high school, or maybe a bit before, I started to notice the difference between people who knew only what they were told to know, and those who relaly seemed to think for themselves. Those who lived in hate based on fear (people like my mom), and people who despite differences didn't mistreat others. And, I have to say it, those who seemed intelligent, vs. those who seemed extrememy arrogant and ignorant.

The word 'Republican' has always held a negative connotation for me; perhaps I was just born liberal/Democrat, despite my complete ignorance growing up. Until this year's election, I had not chosen it officially, but I was so disgusted by what I was seeing on the R side that I finally had no choice. I couldn't go on any longer without officially making a distinction. I have always felt very different from my family, and with each passing day it's more and more obvious. My family seems to really enjoy my black-sheep-ness. :) ]

Hope I haven't put you all to sleep. I felt like reflecting.

I just re-read that and it just blows my mind how much I do not seemt to fit with my family. I may as well have been adopted by aliens (but yes, I know I'm not adopted :P). I'm 'the crazy one who moved far-far away' and they know how happy I am to be living somewhere else. I miss living near them but their world is so foreign to me...

[Buck_Fush]

39. I've been a democrat since age 3

I remember every president and every presidential election back to Eisenhower's second term. I know it seems odd, because I was so young, but I tell you truly, I remember every detail vividly, as if it happened only yesterday. In 1955, when Eisenhower was re-elected, I was 3 years old. I still ate my dinner in a high chair pulled up to the dinner table, were I was now seated with my parents and my 4 older sisters. It was election eve, 1955, and as we sat at dinner my parents discussed the election. My dad, who was really a very violent and horrible person, a wife beater/child abuser, with no redeeming qualities, was yelling at my mom, telling her she would have to vote the way he told her to. He stated, "You will vote for Eisenhower because I said so! The only reason women were given the vote was so that married men could vote twice!" My mom was spreading butter across my mashed potatoes. I was kicking my feet under the table, just for amusement. She answered him without looking up, and this is what she said, "I don't like Eisenhower. He only represents a small portion of the American People. Adlai Stevenson has a greater social conscience". This inflamed my father, who launched into a rave which included some violence and, actually, spitting. My sisters and I quietly ate our dinner, we were not unfamiliar with such scenes. You know, I didn't know what "social conscience" was, but after dinner I was going to unexpectedly find out. When we had finished our dinner, the parents said they were going out to the polls, and that I should mind my big sisters while they were gone. The minute our parents left the house, my sisters flew into action. They did not clear the dinner table, but instead raced upstairs and stripped blankets off the beds. They gathered up our jump ropes. They brought it all downstairs and strung the ropes around the kitchen table, then hung the blankets over the ropes, enclosing the table in privacy. My oldest sister sat on one of the dining chairs inside the blanket tent, and the other 3 sisters formed a line at the door of the tent. "We are going to vote, they told me, get in line!" I fell in line. One after another, my sister's went in and sat on big sister's lap, telling her who they voted for. My turn came. I entered the tent. My sister beckoned me to sit in her lap. She was normally an abusive sister, or as I would have thought of it then, "very mean." She said, "Come sit in my lap and tell me who you vote for!" I feared to sit in this bitch's lap, as she often hurt me, but she insisted and cajoled, and so, I ended up in her lap. Now, in those days, our milk was delivered by a milkman, in a glass bottle, with a cardboard stopper. The name of our dairy company was "Lincoln Dairy" and so embossed on the front of the milk bottle was a silhouette of Lincoln. I loved milk. This bottle of milk still sat on the table next to us. "Well," my sister said, "Hurry up and tell me who you vote for!" "Adlai Stevensen!" I replied. "No, she said, pointing at the silhouette of Lincoln on the milk bottle, "don't you know who that is? That is Lincoln, our greatest president, and he was a Republican!" "I don't care!" I told her, "I want to vote for Adlai Stevenson!" "You will vote for Eisenhower," my sister replied, "or I will poison your milk!" Now here is where my memory fails me, for I remember no more, I don't know if I changed my vote under pressure or not, (milk WAS of paramount importance in my life at that time). But I do know that at age 3 I learned all in one night that republicans are mean, ruthless, overbearing, dishonest and will do anything, even poison your milk, to win. I have been a democrat in my heart and in my mind since that November eve in 1955, but I am all done with the democratic party now, because, they threw this fight, on purpose, they are whores, and they are not democrats anymore. Here's to the new democrats, and may our milk never be poisoned.


edited for spelling

[sepia_steel]

42. What an awesome story!

Sorry about your mean sister :(

[Nay]

48. Holy shit! What a story! "Poison our milk," indeed!

We were born around the same time, Buck Fush, and I can relate to a lot of what you say. My family was not overly abusive, but others clearly were, and I swear your post has brought it all back.

For all you young folks, it was not a good time for women.(As if any time has been very good.)

[steve2470]

56. Seriously, awwww :-( God bless you nt

[KitchenWitch]

40. My parents were liberal

I did explore other ideologies, called myself an independent for years.

[RadicalMom]

43. My conscience didn't like what the Repubs were up to.

Last vote as a Repug (I grew up in an almost all Rep. county)was for Reagan's first term. Then James Watt happened, along with Reagan's "if you've seen one Redwood you've seen 'em all" regarding California's precious redwoods, and his "ketchup is a vegetable" comment regarding the requirement that school lunches should contain a vegetable. We all said "the PRESIDENT is a vegetable," not imagining the Alzheimer's thing he was heading into.

[LynnTheDem]

44. I don't agree with the Libertarian or Republican platforms.

I find them both to be incredibly "me me me, screw everyone else" greedy.

I've never liked rightwing authoritarian; I don't need a daddy telling me what to do, thanks.

I've never felt the need to tell others how to live their lives re gay and pro-choice issues, so that immediately put me into the Dem camp.

I do like small govt, fiscal conservatism...but when I checked into actual facts, it's the DEMS who are fiscally responsible, never the Repubs. And does BUSH ever prove that!

Stock markets and job markets do far better under Dems; even the worst Dem did better than the best Repub.

So taking all the above into account, I became a progressive. :)

[elehhhhna]

46. Ronald (ga-ga) Reagan & tinkle-down voodoo economics plus

Newts' Contract on America.

[Catchawave]

49. Dems are kinder and gentler.....

...and more compassionate and less selfish than that "other" party. I was,am and always will be a Dem.

[tyedyeto]

50. JFKennedy, Vietnam and the Chicago convention......

My first Pres vote was for McGovern.
Was a pacifist then and still am.
edit to add: I am also a proud card carrying tree-hugger and sympathizer of the down and out people of the world.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[steve2470]

52. Combo of my own intelligence, my McGovern Dad, my

Democratic Socialist brother, my wonderful "true Christian" upbringing, Nixon, Watergate, and my sympathy for the less fortunate of the world.

[hollowdweller]

53. My Great Grandmother who was a widow in the depression bounced me on her

knee and said "you're a little democrat" Her husband was killed in an industrial accident and she raised 3 kids on her own in the teens and 20's. The new deal was a Godsend for people like her. When her son was called to be in WW2 she left her little hollow in WV and moved to California so she could be near him before he left and she became a lady riveter.

The other were my parents, both liberals and like others the Vietnam war.

[Hugin]

55. I was hatched that way... ;) n/t

[robbedvoter]

58. Stealing of the election 2000. Stealing 2004 made me an independent again

They are obviously unable to even get the significance of this - let along do something about it (this does not refer to the few courageous people who are the exception to the rule)