WTF??? Get THIS, ya'll - a letter to the ed. I just read in the Austin paper

[codjh9]

Most of you probably know Austin is an 'island of blue in a sea of red', so to speak. I just read a letter to the editor from a woman who lives essentially in suburban south Austin that was in response to some previous editorial or article slamming Palin (which I didn't see). Here's why I'm posting this: she said she was a 'LIFE-LONG DEMOCRAT' who was going to vote Republican this time!!! WTF??? Because of PALIN? - that's pretty much what she said. So I just sent her an email and nuked her, saying at first 'I can't imagine why any 'life-long Democrat' would vote for Palin', then listen many of her shortcomings/outrages, then said hmmm, 'maybe I should've started by saying I can't imagine why you would've EVER been a 'life-long Democrat''. :^)

[bunkerbuster1]

1. FFS, these "life long democrats" have been concern-trolling with LTEs for forever

there were a rash of "life long democrats" who just HADDA vote for Bush on account of that Frenchy-looking guy their beloved party had decided to run for Preznit in 2004. My Atlanta paper was full of LTEs like that.

This is bullshit, and I'm surprised you don't recognize it.

If you hear "lifelong Democrat but..." just say "Bullshit." Practice it. No "lifelong Dem" is voting for McShithead.

[GrantDem]

2. It's a strategy that repubs use....

IN LTTE's they claim to be Dems or Independents that are now voting republican or they admit to being a repub and proceed to trash Democrats in a LTTE that is three or four paragraphs long with the very last sentence saying words to the effect of "...and don't get me started on the republican leadership". By pretending to eliminate partisan bias it adds the illusion of validity to their "point".

All part of their game. The person that wrote that letter is not and has never been a "life-long democrat".

[elkston]

3. Any comment that begins with "I am a lifelong Democrat ..."

is a prelude to a slam against Obmama.

Other key phrases to look for:

Referring to Obama as: "BHO", "Barry", or "Hussien"
"Never in my life would I have considered ..."
"My country before my party"
"Hope is great BUT..."
"Who is this guy?"
"Drinking the kool-aid"

[CTyankee]

4. Yeah, just talked to one in my office. She is a lifelong Dem.

But, she says, she is a conservative Dem.

OK fine, but she says she can't vote for Obama because he said his grandma was a "typical white person." That's it. No other reason. Period, the end. No discussion.

My question is how do you open up a dialogue with somebody like this?

[GoesTo11]

11. How to respond?

Say "I heard him say that too. It wasn't the best choice of words, but it's well-documented that this woman raised him and he loves her. Here's what I thought he meant - that like many white people she was uncomfortable around African Americans -- even though she was raising him. It was awkward phrasing, but I didn't see it as anything more than that. And in this campaign, there's a whole lot of really important problems we're facing as a country. I trust Obama to do the best job of solving them."

You don't put down the other person's belief. You hear what they said and you explain what you think. This may or may not convince them, but it opens the door to reasonable discussion.

[slampoet]

16. The person in your office is a racist and is looking for validation.

[MsTryska]

20. Don't bother....that's Racism cloaking as anti-racism...

along the lines of "black people all want to vote for obama because he's black. That's not racist?"


of course to me that's a better reason than voting for failure cuz it's white, but whatever.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. I'm a lifelong Democrat, but

I'd slap any other lifelong Democrat silly if they dared to suggest to me that they were thinking of voting for anybody but Obama-Biden.

[Bleacher Creature]

6. You should write your own LTTE claiming to be a life-long Republican voting for Obama.

[Raine]

8. Good idea, we can play that game too. ;-) nt

[sharp_stick]

10. I've done that

had one published about two weeks ago. I'm a "lifelong Republican" that can no longer support the party because of the lies being spread about the opponent. Anybody that uses the term I'm a lifelong whatever, but... is a bullshit artist.

[codjh9]

13. Yep, good answer. OK, so maybe I shoud've sniffed that out, but a) being honest,

sometimes I forget to think like a lying sumbitch, and b) there are probably SOME idiots out there that really do think like this. As someone else said, a conservative - like really conservative - Democrat, weird beast that that is, could possibly vote for 'em.

[Raine]

7. Oldest line in the (political) book

and THEY are so STUPID they honestly believe they can fool our side with that BS. :yoiks: :rofl:

[TwilightZone]

9. The city is blue. Many of the suburbs are not.

Some of the suburbs are quite conservative.

[codjh9]

14. I know that - I'm in San Marcos, which is a bit of a mix of both red & blue. Round Rock

is quite conservative - my aunt & uncle there are pretty 'out there' on the right.

[Zuiderelle]

12. Oh sure. A life-long democrat couldn't possibly be fooled by McCain or Palin.

[Pipertastic]

15. Don't Underestimate the Palin Democrats

I lived in Austin for 10 years, so I am familiar with the thinking there. There has been a huge backlash against Babygate and other nonsensical Palin issues. One friend I still keep in touch with has always supported Democrats. She is beyond disgusted at the media treatment of Palin. I'm not sure to the point she would vote for McCain, but not sure she wouldn't either.

Many independents are being pushed over because of not only Palin, but the sexism that has been voiced over the MSM. Many of these are people who were upset at the sexism they saw during the Hillary campaign. We ignore this fact at our peril.

Calling them a Republican will not shame them, it often is just the final nail in the coffin as to where the vote of a fence sitter goes. It works the other way too. You win over independents on issues, no rhetoric. Right now the issues mostly favor our side. Stick to focusing on issues, we easily win. Bill Clinton understood that and had two terms.

[elkston]

18. Oh, please. Go back to the free republic or PUMA-land with your veiled threats. (eom)

[Zuiderelle]

19. LOL! "Palin Democrats" at least must be fewer that "Obama Republicans"

What a laugh to hear Republicans accuse ANYONE of being sexist. I guess they weren't paying attention when the media actually WAS sexist in their treatment of Clinton.

[Frank Cannon]

22. Thanks for your concern. I guarantee you that about 99% of Palin detractors

are more concerned about her being a demonstrated psycho end-timer dumbass than they are about "Babygate".

[No Elephants]

23. Texas is a red state anyway and not likely to change this go round.

[Cosmic Charlie]

17. luckily Texas will only be able to vote for Barr

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. Something fishy here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7072045

I'm thinking it may be the same letter...same author. I'm also questioning whether it really is a "life-long Democrat" or even a woman who composed it. :tinfoilhat: