A Curious Inquiry while doing Voter Registration Tabling

[funkybutt]

old lady in her 70s, wearing a lime green semi formal outfit complete with a big rimmed hat with little dangly things. "I'd like to find out how to change my party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. I don't want it saying that I'm a Democrat when I die b/c democrats are for abortion and killing people and stem cell research. I don't support any of that b/c I'm a Christian and I don't want it to say that I'm a Democrat when I die"

I started to try to discuss some points with her about how Democrats aren't "FOR abortion" and how Republicans are doing their fair share of "killing people" but I was so dumbfounded by her statements that I could not think of where to begin. Does she think that God checks her voter identification before allowing her to pass through the Pearly Gates? Very strange indeed. She actually took several voter registration cards with her claiming that many of her friends felt the same way!

[qwlauren35]

1. Umm....

Some things, and some people are not worth arguing with.

[Child_Of_Isis]

3. Well said! n/t

[leftofthedial]

2. just die already

preferably before Nov 2

man, that's harsh of me, isn't it?

[BlueEyedSon]

5. She's already dead inside, like all the other diehard GOPers

:)

[lasttrip]

4. I wonder if she got that from her Sunday "sermon". nt

[demnan]

6. You won't change her mind

abortion is a very emotional issue for some people.

[yellowcanine]

7. I guess she is worried about what people will say about her at the

funeral if they find out she is a Democrat. I don't know about you but I always make a point of checking out the voter registration of people when they die so that I can talk about them at their funeral. Silly old lady!

[oasis]

8. Just another Rethug playing games. They call in to C-SPAN all the time.

:puke:

[wtmusic]

9. Congrats...you're not a Repub plant virgin anymore!

I've gotten similar requests several times.

[liberal N proud]

10. Her church probably told her they would not let her have church

funeral if she voted Democrat and convinced her that Democrats are not Christian. My 17 year old daughter experienced the Democrats don't make good Christians for a RW neocon. She came home and took my bumper sticker we had just got and put it on her car.
She told be this Sunday on the way home from church, she wants to wear her Kerry/Edwards button to church next week because of all the Hate Kerry speech from others in her youth group.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. A fear minister probably got her at church.

My mother has become very religious now that she's older. It's just something that happens to older people. If that lady's priest or minister is a right-winger, who knows what he's telling her. She's afraid. She's only human in that regard.

[funkybutt]

20. Yeah..either that or she was lying

but she seemed so serious. I really got the impression that she was for real. Also, it was Saturday.

[LibDemAlways]

12. I would have politely told her that she'd better

return her next Social Security check and not accept any more Medicare payments because the evil Democrats fought for those programs, and she wouldn't want to explain to God that she had accepted tainted money.

[MontecitoDem]

13. I've gotten some pretty lonely folks

at voter reg, talking crazy sometimes. I would just forget it, if you can. Doesn't make sense, and probably never will.

Isn't registering voters fun? I love it, despite the amazing number of weird people and issues that come up.

[funkybutt]

19. i loved it!

This group of friends and volunteers and I have been working full time jobs and putting in several hours every night registering voters. This weekend we were working 12 and 16 hour days to get as many as we could. It's been a great experience. I didn't let that old bat bother me. Actually we had a great laugh about it after she left! The enthusiasm and interest in this election is overwhelming. It's been a great experience. Now time to get started with Get Out the Vote initiatives!

[MontecitoDem]

22. Hey!

I just got back from hanging doorhangers in my precinct - gotta say it isn't as much fun as registering! Glad you and your friends are doing so much for the cause and enjoying it too. I agree 100% - all that enthusiasm is new for so many people. Perhaps this is actually the beginning of something much larger than this election cycle? (I'm an optimist!)

[Redbear]

14. There are millions of people who feel this way.

They actually think they will make God angry if they vote for Democrats.

It's the only way a party (GOP) that represents the interests of about 5% of the country can remain a major national party.

[treading_water]

15. *rolls eyes*

Wow. Today as I was registering people, I had one lady tell me that she doesn't want to register because she doesn't want to feel responsible for whoever gets elected.

WTF?

Oregon state law (the state I'm registering voters in) prohibits displaying party affiliation or seeking to influence political preference or party registration. So I'm just being non-committal when people say things like that. Not the easiest thing in the world. ;)

[JusticeForAll]

17. Did you tell her

That her apathy is equally RESPONSIBLE for whomever does get in?

We are all to blame when it comes to national elections. Maybe this sounds like the martyr approach to elections but responsibility rests on everyone to get the best candidate elected.

[treading_water]

18. No, I didn't tell her anything.

Because I got my work (conservative insurance company) to agree to the voter registration table on the condition that it is non-partisan and non-controversial.

I'll be registering people all week, so I figure she'll think about it and come see me later. ;-)

[JusticeForAll]

23. If you say it slowly and calmly enough

it is neither controversial nor partisan, simply matter of fact.

Good luck in your endeavor, you are awesome!

[IIgnoreNobody]

16. Just what are the chances she was telling the truth?

I'd be willing to bet that this lady, who was apparently so concerned about getting into heaven, was LYING about being registered as a Democrat.

[cheshire]

21. The closer you get to death the more you worry about judgement day.

They try to repent and buy into the religious BS.