Seniors, like all other Americans, have a wide range of personal beliefs and political views

[ahem]

Polls may indicate that seniors, as a “bloc,” favor McCain, but I’m sort of shocked by the number of posts that peg seniors as little more than out-of-touch racists responsible for dragging this country down.

First of all, seniors come in a variety of sizes, shapes and, yes, even colors. If I learned everything about seniors from a few posts here, I’d be certain that they were all ornery white folks who just watch Fox news and dream of seeing a whiter tomorrow before they die.

What about all those people who marched and fought for our civil rights? They’re today’s seniors.

Remember the ones demanded that women should have the right to reproductive freedoms and later fought to maintain Roe v Wade? Seniors.

Who voted for JFK? Who protested the Vietnam War? The liberal politicians, justices, demonstrators, community organizers and teachers who inspired many of us as children – the ones who planted the seeds for our future in the Democratic Party – are now seniors.

I’m not a senior (note: I hope to be one day), but I just feel like we get too caught up in demographics and poll numbers. Within those groups that so many are willing to write off (southerners, white married women, those making more that $200,000/year, senior citizens, etc) are a hell of a lot of Democrats.

Those voters will be just as responsible for helping Sen. Obama get to the White House as the rest of us.

Just thought it was worth a mention.

[codjh9]

1. Hey, my mother passed away last year at 81 1/2 and was an ADAMANT liberal, Obama fan, etc.

My dad taught political science, and the vast majority of my parents' friends/colleagues are liberals, and they're all 'seniors' now. I also know numerous 'seniors' in other places who are also big liberals... as the joke says, 'all generalizations are false'. :^)

[Captain Hilts]

4. Hey, my mother passed away this year at 81 1/2 and was an ADAMANT liberal, Clinton fan, etc.

Old folks, there are all kinds!

Hell, I know a retired Marine Corps Colonel who is a total socialist waiting for the revolution.

[roguevalley]

36. my parents and my grandparents were radical dems. My grandpa

was a socialist and my other grandparents were FDR dems to the core. We have been dems since 1796. I am a radical dem and so is my sister, although quieter. None of us are young. Hearing elder bashing is bs. Its as bad as young bashing. But no one seems to notice that.

[Captain Hilts]

2. True. nt

[Lifetimedem]

3. Thanks

You are right.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Vote for...

FDR: Me! Vote for me!
ER: They already did, dear. Now, please move over and let me drive, it's my car...

[codjh9]

6. Cool photo. Believe it or not, I've got a letter from Eleanor to my dad here somewhere...

[ahem]

7. How neat! nt

[Captain Hilts]

8. Find it and scan it!

[codjh9]

11. I'm gonna quit bragging :^), but my dad also interviewed Harry Truman - have

letters from him too, and even the little spiral-bound memo pad that my dad took notes with when he interviewed him! It's kind of like stuff you see on the Antiques Roadshow!

[Captain Hilts]

12. Cool! I actually know someone who knew ERoosevelt and took her parents to tea...

with her in the White House.

My mother knew Eisenhower, Bradley, etc. when she worked in the Sec. of War/Army's office.

We have a photo of Dad chatting with David Niven when Niven visited Dad's sub in Monaco. Our 'brush with greatness'.

[pipi_k]

20. And I have

a photo of my late MIL holding hubby when he was just a tot, being greeted by Eleanor Roosevelt

Funny story behind it, hubby used to like to pinch people, and when Mrs Roosevelt came over to meet them both, the picture shows hubby getting ready to give her a good pinch on the arm. It sure does look like he's thinking of it....

:7

[Captain Hilts]

22. Awesome!!! Scan it! Post it! I wanna see it! She was a champion baby kisser.

Shirley Temple shot the Old Girl in the butt with her sling shot, so getting pinched on the arm would have been nothing...

[BklynChick]

9. my parents are in their 70s and live in the south and are working their asses off for obama

[yy4me]

10. Thank you, maybe some of us Seniors will now be treated with

less condemnation. These past few days have brought quite a few wise cracks about everyone who could be considered Senior as being demented, senile, Alzheimer's patients etc. I am a little tired of it. Posted same myself.

For those of you who wonder what a "senior" might do all day, lets take yesterday as an example.

Helped roofer put up heating cable on roof edge, we're prone to ice dams.
Dug up some old, unhealthy rhododendron, spread half a dump truck of soil in the area where these huge bushes were.
Seeded and watered the area.
Transplanted an Azalea
Pulled all my dead tomato plants,
Washed the shower curtain, cleaned the bathroom.
Vacuumed the kitchen and den.

Probably a few more things too but I guess I'm too old to remember what they were.

Enough of the old age talk. Most of us can keep up with the best of you younger whipper snappers(how's that for age showing!)

[ahem]

30. You did a whole lot more than me

My weekend accomplishments can't compete with all that, and I'm in my thirties. Want to come over and give me a hand? ;-)

[LWolf]

13. THANK YOU.

I wonder how many of those attacking the elders of the nation plan on living long enough to BE an elder?

What goes around comes around. It's a good thing to pass around a little respect. Perhaps a little honor for the work done before your time.

[depakid]

14. Anyone who's ever been a caregiver for an elderly parent

or been involved in organizations- or initiative campaigns where a lot of seniors are involved- knows not only how cool they are- and how diverse their experiences and opinons on various matters can be- but also recognizes how valuable their insight is.

ps: I hope to be a senior one day, too- though I can't exactly say I'm looking forward to it. ;)

[codjh9]

15. Yes - I was my mom's caregiver for the last 10 months of her life until she passed away in May 2007,

and dammit, that's even part of the reason - but there are so many - I'm doing more this time than I've ever done in a presidential election. She LOVED Obama, and she was an old white lady, so this racism stuff and 'seniors are all McCain supporers' stuff are both exaggerations.

[lumpy]

17. And that's the truth ..... pthttphttt !

from this old lady

[ahem]

19. Well said!

[blondeatlast]

16. Today's elders enacted civil rights. 'Nuff said. nt

[emilyg]

18. Thank you.

[JitterbugPerfume]

21. I have been a "senior" for a long time

and I would personally blow my brains out if I fit any part of the official old persons profile

[Captain Hilts]

23. Sure you would, but - CONFESS! - you accept the discount at Denny's! nt

[JitterbugPerfume]

24. hell yes i do Mookie

I want everything I have coming to me :evilgrin:

[Captain Hilts]

25. Go for it!

[Captain Hilts]

26. By the way, I have a friend who wears a ring that her mother won as...

"Jitterbug Queen Canal Zone 1938."

[JitterbugPerfume]

27. cool!

[roguevalley]

37. My cousin Cheer was a rodeo queen in the old days when you

had to buck horses, ride and rope. She was putting shingles on the barn into her 90's. I love you, Cheer.

[BrainStorm]

28. You mean we can't just scream and yell and stereotype them?

That's a lot easier, you know. ;)

[ahem]

29. I'm such a killjoy!

;-)

[renie408]

31. My 77 year old mother is voting Obama. Her reason? Civil Liberties.

She lived through WWII and knows fascism when she sees it. She told me today just as calmly as you please that America has become a fascist nation. This is a woman who NEVER watches CNN, cannot operate her computer well enough to send or receive emails and gets her news from the local paper and by watching ONE local news channel. I almost fell of my seat on the train when she said it. This is also a woman who voted Republican all her life up until '04. Bush pushed her across the aisle.

[Odin2005]

32. My 86yo grandmother ADORES Obama.

She says he reminds her of a cross between FDR and Truman!

She's scared to death that we are heading for another Depression because of all the bank failures.

[jules1962]

33. Debunking the polls

My parents are in their late 60's and are very proud democrats. They are also white,southern,and very financially comfortable. Where are they from? The reddest (eww) part of Tennessee. So much for the stereotypes. HA!

[Waiting For Everyman]

34. Boomers are very different from Korea era or WW2 generation.

[old mark]

35. What is a senior - I'm 61 and retired - do I qualify?

I have been a Democrat all my life and voted every chance I had for Democrats. Voted Obama in the primary in PA, and will vote Obama in the GE. Donated to Obama campaign several times so far, waiting for my tee shirt.
Many polls reflect the interests and agenda of the pollster, therefor are bullshit.

mark