Sterotyping Republicans

[buckettgirl]

I love this place, and I love reading and getting into discussions with everyone here.
However, I have an issue that has slowly been eating away at me and I need to say something.
I would never want to defend the republican agenda or religious fanatical fundamentalists, but do any of you understand that probably a good deal of those who voted for bush really have no clue what they voted for?
It angers me to read posts that stereotype ALL republican voters as:
1. greedy
2. cowards
3. christian fundamentalists

I live in Northwest Kansas, in a small county where my husband and I are only 2 out of 400 who voted democrat in the presidential election.
Do we have radicals? absolutely.
But I also know the people here. My neighbors and friends are not cowards. Many of these people have family members who are veterens (or are themselves) and would be happy to serve our country and fight for a war they believe in. Most of the people in my community are kind-hearted, generous, and certainly not wealthy. There are good christians here. I don't think this is the exception, either.
I live in a community of people who genuinely want the same things I do. They want people to have educational and employment opportunities; but they expect people to make use of those opportunities and not throw them away (just as I think). Generally, they don't want people to be in harm's way and really do have charitable spirits and lookout for their friends and neighbors. Alot of these people are pro-choice too.
Alot of these people are honest, hard-working, compassionate American citizens who don't bitch, who pay their taxes, and raise their families - doing their best to get by just like the rest of us. I have found that they vote republican because they always have (or their family always has). Is ignorance an excuse? Absolutely not, but these people don't think they are ignorant, either.
I think that a good chunk of Americans vote the way they do (repub or democrat) and don't know why. I do know that it needs to be recognized that most of these people are good, honest, hardworking citizens that don't deserved to be lumped together with the extremists of either side.

I don't discuss politics with these people because I know it is a lose/lose situation. As long as we can all get along and have common interests and points of view otherwise, it doesn't really matter.

However, on the otherside, I have to say that the ignorance of republican voters has given us one messed up a$$hat who has made a mockery of this country.

[Dr Fate]

1. Birds of a feather flock together.

If they choose to ignore the crimes & lies of Bush, then they are all of those things & worse.

Sort of like the topic of slavery; "Well, EVERYONE thought that way back then..." Er- no they didnt- some were abolishonists.

Anyway, I hear ya, you are not incorrect, but neither are the people who choose to hold these "good" Republicans accountable for what they have wrought.

[NanceGreggs]

2. I hear you, BucketGirl!

I posted an essay on this very topic a few weeks back:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2370863

As you'll see by the responses, most DUers agreed. But some are convinced that ALL Republicans are evil.

[buckettgirl]

20. thanks

i knew i was going to get flamed for this... but i know i'm right. I know I am not going to turn my red state to blue (even though we have a democrat governor). I asked my husband what his thought was about my post, and he agreed that the people we know would never have voted for bush if they knew and accepted what was really going on.

[SammyWinstonJack]

144. You have a "democrat" governor?

:shrug:

[Obamarama]

108. All republicans ARE evil...what the hell are you talking about?

Anyone who fails to realize this by now has blinders on, quite frankly.

[slor]

3. I stereotype them as...

idiots.

[IChing]

14. Harry Truman's quote

"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a Republican. But I repeat myself."

"I don't like bipartisans. Whenever a fellow tells
me he's bipartisan, I know that he's going to
vote against me." 1-21-1962

The Republicans believe that the power of
government should be used first of all to
help the rich and the privileged in the
country. With them, property, wealth, comes
first.

The Democrats believe that the power
of government should be used to give the
common man more protection and a chance to
make a living. With us the people come first.
'A Government as Good As Its People'
pg 163

Republicans

Republicans approve of the American farmer,
but they are willing to help him go broke.

They stand four-square for the American home--
but not for housing.
They are strong for labor--
but they are stronger for restricting labor's
rights.

They favor minimum wage--the smaller the
minimum wage the better.

They endorse educational
opportunity for all--but they won't spend
money for teachers or for schools.

They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine--
for people who can afford them. They consider
electrical power a great blessing--but only when
the private power companies get their rake-off.

They think American standard of living is a fine
thing--so long as it doesn't spread to all the
people.

And they admire of Government of the
United States so much that they would like to
buy it.

http://home.att.net/~howingtons/dem/truman.html

[baldguy]

27. We need more real Dems like HST.

[IChing]

40. He actually said many "sterotype" type things about Repulicans

"Why, this fellow don't know any more about
politics than a pig knows about Sunday. "
Harry S. Truman

[Nevernose]

115. We need an honest man, and a populist.

It shouldn't be this hard to not only find a person who tells it like it is, but someone who isn't easily destroyed by the media. Our political messiah will come...

[PassingFair]

125. "destroyed by the media"

Or by the skulduggery of backroom deals in our OWN party.

[Nevernose]

113. Harry, where are you when we need you? n/t

n/t

[Dhampir Kampf]

120. We need another President that kills 120,000 innocents? nt

[SmokingJacket]

4. I guess we're just trying to figure out WHY people vote Repub.

From my perspective, it doesn't make any sense. Even if they vote republican out of habit... why??? We come to certain conclusions.

Some of the people who are closest to me in my life are Republican. They may be "good, honest, hardworking," but something else is up with them. If I had to generalize, I'd say the one thing they all have in common is a sense of insecurity and feeling of inferiority: they like the repubs (and Rush) because they make them feel big, tough, smart, and strong...

And thinking of self and family to the exclusion of others, esp. "strange" others.

[buckettgirl]

10. I can see that too

That makes sense... I still search for an answer to the "why"... I really do know people who only vote republican because they were taught that anything else is wrong... I also know people who vote republican just because they always have and don't have any political reason to do so. Most of the people I know who do this are open-minded, and open-hearted... I would consider them to have a liberal philosophy - However, they also truly don't know how ignorant they are about the events that take place.

[Dover]

31. Bingo!

While many had the wool pulled over their eyes (the GOP co-opted several one-issue readymade groups), I do think the underlying link is their general feeling of powerlessness, disenfranchisement, and a need for control. So much so that they went deaf, dumb and blind to achieve it.

Of course economics are too hard to ignore and that should be shaking their confidence in the GOP very shortly.

[FreedomAngel82]

65. Well I don't know if everyone is like this

but recently my US History class at college we started talking about the federalists and anti-federalists and than the first elections and we did a survey to determine who we were politically and a lot of people were on the democratic side and my teacher told how when she was younger she used to believe she was a republican simply because she was brought up with her parents being republican all their lives and she said she was now days an independent because it varied on issues (if you're wondering on this survey I leaned democratic). So people sometimes vote just because they've always voted that way instead of actually looking at the issues.

[question everything]

79. Because, at least, on paper, the Republican party stands for

what used to be the American Way. Hard work, pulling one by the boot strap, small government (yes, really) and, of course, "Christian."

The Democratic votes these days congregate in large metropolitan areas. Were it not for LA and SF, California would be red. Same, I suspect, for Illinois.

Many know, or heard about the "welfare queen" or king. There are too many stories about single women, mostly minority, who keep having babies from different men.

What we consider a freedom of speech and of opinion often scare these people who look at such a "godless" behavior and then hear from their ministers that this is what the Democrats stand for.

To be a liberal is to think beyond the now, the immediate circle. It is to think about who things can be or should be or may be. It is to think about the ones whom we do not know but who suffer in pain, and cold, and hunger and poverty.

But if you live in a small town which is pretty homogeneous, demographically, you will not understand how others suffer a setback in need a government assistance.

When you grew up in at least a middle class family and were taught about work ethics, and financial responsibility, you cannot understand people who grew up in poverty, in a one parent home where the parent never had the opportunity to instill these sense of responsibility on how to make a living.

And, if you are lucky enough to have a stable job, you cannot understand the plight of those who have lost their jobs, and their homes, and access to health care.

Human nature is to think about the immediate surrounding and to empathize with the familiar. This is how Nixon won by manipulating the fear of crime in the street, mostly by African-American, following the riots following MLK's assassination.

This is how Rove won elections by talking about "baby killers" and about "pervert" and about "godless Democrats."

I would not say that Republicans are idiots; I know too many who are quite smart and intelligent. But it is a lot easy to say "Hillary!" "feminazi!" "baby killers!" etc, than to talk about the budget deficit, about access to health care and about good schools and dignified retirement.

And this is what we need to do. We know that these issues are important to Reds, too. We need to be able to formulate these ideas and to present them in terms that even a high-school dropout can understand.

There is poverty in the south and the mountain states. There is joblessness. The other day I sat next to someone from Tupelo, MS, who was talking about how the textile industry and another one - don't remember - disappeared and how he was not sure how people were making a living now.

We need to talk about right to privacy and give examples, something that anyone can understand. And place the abortion debate in this context, not in choice.

Because, just as the "American Way" has been about self sufficiency, it was also about being left alone. After all, why would so many leave their comfortable homes in the East to take difficult move to the West?

[Rocknrule]

5. Not ALL Republicans are

racist, facist, homophobic, greedy, hateful, religiously intolerant, Bushlicking, neo-Nazi assholes.

But, with few exceptions, like Fred Phelps, everyone who IS like that is a Republican

[Lars39]

6. If you think they are educable and you don't speak up,

you are part of the problem.

[buckettgirl]

13. I don't if they are educable...

but when I think I am with someone who is, I do talk about political views... I am at least smart enough not to try to talk a farmer into voting for democrats... That is a losing battle. I actually truly don't know that either party can or does represent the self-employed, life-long farmer.

[Vektor]

136. My husband's family are all farmers - own several orchards in

northern CA. All are staunch Democrats, because they are smart enough to recognize (as ANY farmer ought to be) that Republican supported corporate farming, and destruction of the environment which is the livelihood of the farmer, are the biggest possible threats to the family farm. So self-employed, self-respecting farmer I know votes for the Republicans. Actually, NO farmer I know votes for the Republicans.

Farmers know who their friends are. It sure as hell isn't the Republicans, and if they aren't aware of that, their heads are way too far up their asses to know what's good for them.

[leftofthedial]

7. if they voted repuke in 2004

regardless of the reason

they are fascist-enabling accomplices to all the repuke crimes

treason
murder
crimes against humanity
perjury
theft on a scale unprecedented in history
conspiracy
kidnapping
torture


EVERY one of them.

[Kerrytravelers]

19. In 2000, I can forgive. But in 2004, it was a whole new ballgame.

For me, it a defining moment of one's character. They amy be all the things you say they are, but there is still something deep inside them that refuses to think clearly and look at themselves in a natural light. Are they homophobic, perhaps a bit racist? These are the things they are afraid to ask and that is why this country is headed in the wrong direction. The fear that motivates them is literally destroying our culture and civilization through their bigotry and invasions.

We have some rethugs in the family. They may be friendly enough, but there is that little something that makes me not trust them.

[marions ghost]

46. you put your finger on something for me....

I know Repuglicans of all kinds from the most blue collar to the gold cufflink brigade.

The ONE thing I feel about all of them is no matter how nice they are to your face, you can NEVER, EVER trust them with anything really important. If they have the opportunity they will screw you, or more passively they will desert you in a pinch. There is something callously opportunistic in their character, and they have very calculating views of 'who gets what' from them. There's always gotta be a deal. That's why they gravitate to Bidness. Like Little Boots, they are taught at a young age to look after Number 1--no matter what the circumstances...always to be looking for what you can get out of any situation. They are taught to be predatory.

Yes, you trust Repuglicans at your own peril. I prefer for them to be clearly identifiable. After some of them cut and run for the Dems (or at least start calling themselves Independents) then we will REALLY know where the worst hardcore Repuglican scumbags are. They are the ones who preyed on the fearful and ignorant IN THEIR OWN party. They are the real villains.

[Ishoutandscream2]

57. Sadly, that is very, very true

Greed and looking out for number 1 is their top priority. If it wasn't, they probably wouldn't be Republicans.

[FreedomAngel82]

67. And they treat you the same way

And you want them to vote democratic with how you're treating them? :eyes: How mature.

[marions ghost]

87. I grew up with predatory Repugs

and have been personally screwed by Repuglicans who professed to be my friend. On the macro scale we are ALL being screwed by them now. We watch our country torn apart by their grasping hands and you think we should be "nice"? Worry about how we are treating them? These people who have badmouthed us and bought every swiftboat lie about us liberals they have ever heard? Maybe the issues of today aren't really affecting you yet? Maybe you don't feel abused enough yet?

I also don't care whether hardcore Repugs vote Democratic or not. I'm NOT out to try to win them over. That is a losing battle. The ones who wise up of their own accord I respect, or at least I give them credit for intelligence. But I don't think there's enough to be gained in pandering to these types who have shown their true colors. They don't change no matter how much lip service they give you. It's wasted time. I'd rather they continue to be recognizable as twisted Repugs so I can see them coming. Keep them quarantined in my mind. Believe me, I don't WANT to incorporate them in anything I care about.

"Maturity" is not something we have much of in this country IMO. But what do you expect when people are treated like children by their leaders and the media, or worse, like pigs at the end of the trough? Sorry if I'm not mature enough for you, in taking a hard line against bullies and predators in high places and their Sheeple affinity group.
I think that it's not "mature" to put up with abusers either.

[Ladyhawk]

94. Part of maturity is learning from experiences.

I have learned that Republicans tend to backstab, no matter how nice they may be to your face. I'm not going to treat them differently from how I treat others with one major exception: I will never EVER let one get close to me again. From this side of hell, it's just common sense.

I used to be a Republican, but it never quite sat well with me. I didn't like telling other people how they should live their lives and now that I've bailed on fundamentalism and conservatism, I still feel the same way. I can only change myself. Maybe there are others who want to try to change these folks, but I find myself balking. That's what most turned me off from their path.

It feels strange to fight against them without trying to change them, but I don't know what else to do. :shrug: What's even stranger is I still love crazy Republican / fundy family members, but I know for a fact they cannot be trusted. It really hurts.

FreedomAngel: Try living with the pain of knowing your family supports the * agenda. See how it feels before you call someone immature for not wanting to deal with it. Feel your soul get ripped in two after they backstab you for the hundredth time, then come back and tell me I'm immature for not trusting them.

[Ladyhawk]

93. After many backstabbings, I've come to the same conclusion.

Fundies are sickly-sweet to your face, but they have an ulterior motive. As for other types of Republicans, I've found they are too greedy to trust. I'm mostly talking about family members, which makes it even harder. I've cried a lot of tears over this.

There is something about Republicans that makes them vote the way they do. I won't say all Republicans are completely untrustworthy, but so far I haven't found any that are and I'm not about to risk myself further by giving them more chances.

[marions ghost]

98. thanx for your support

:hug:

You and I are coming from the same place. My (extended) family has both strong liberals and strong conservatives (hardly any neutrals or don't have an opinion types--even the kids are opinionated). In every case of disagreement or issue, the conservatives have insisted on their way or the highway. If they have to, they will cheat to win. It has never been the other way around in the examples I could describe. The liberals are always on the losing end, suffering for "taking the high road" and all that--while the Repug bullies aid and abet each other in their slimy behavior. Like you say --many tears, on the liberal side, have been shed. Now we see the SAME pattern being played out in the bigger sphere in this country. It's all related.

There should be a support group for victims of Rethuglican domination. People who have not been hurt by this, whether on a personal or political level, do not really understand that you cannot play nice with abusers, predators OR their supporters.

There is a deep conflict in this country between those who still try to operate with some degree of integrity and those who live to take advantage of them. This is the biggest divide we face.

[AzDar]

53. Well put! n/t

[reichstag911]

8. While your (and your husband's) solitary courage is admirable,...

...I have no sympathy for the non-fanatical Bush voters who are smeared. What is their defense, that they're ignorant? Also, which is worse, Dems calling them names, or what the red state majorities have inflicted on the US and the world? Deal with it, and recognize what's really important.

[The Straight Story]

109. And what then is the defense of dems in power who have backed/enabled bush

Those who have done so will be re-elected by dem voters - you would vote for them as would 99% of the people here.

The problem is larger than just bush and republicans - what we are seeing in this thread is that we label people on the repug side that enable bush by voting for him and give a quasi pass to dems who support his actions - and then we will turn around and elect them again or vote for them for president.

My mom, now since passed, voted republican several times. And she was kinder and better to people than anyone else I ever knew. But she did not have 10 hours a day to sit around on a message board constantly reading every negative thing she could - she had a family to care for.

Ignorance? Where were we the people? Going door to door preaching our message, reaching out in brotherly love to others to educate them? Buying air time, news paper space, etc and laying the facts out in a simple non-partisan way?

Ignorance will continue, unless we stop it.

[Ksec]

9. You forgot angry

Thats politics. Nothing to get worked up about bg. Im sure most everyone knows not all GOPers are exactly the same but generally they do have similar traits.

[Nitrogenica]

11. How many of these good, honest, hardworking citizens will

look at the information on this site and realize how deceitful their election tactics are.

http://www.nrsc.org/

The NRSC site is rife with false argument and has a staggering lack of real issue discussion. Here it is, the very heart of the Republicans election strategy for all of us to see. They use techniques off this nizkor list to distract from truth so they can win elections. Deceit and smear seems to be their war cry. Elizabeth Dole should be ashamed.

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/index.html#index

I hope that they've played this game too many times, and that decent Americans on both sides of the aisle will see through it. I'm sure many good, honest, hardworking Americans who voted for Republicans have a severe case of buyers remorse.

[Dem Agog]

12. I don't stereotype Republicans like that!

There are two fundamental categories of Republicans. EVERY person who voted for Bush falls into one of these two, simple categories:

1. Hopelessly ignorant
2. Flat out evil

I have never met a single * voter who didn't fall into one of those two categories.

[PassingFair]

141. I give them 3 categories: The Three S's

Stupid
Superstitious
Selfish

It is always one of two or a combination of all three.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. I don't have repuke friends. We share NOTHING in common.

Who they vote for represents their morals and values and stand for EVERYTHING I'm against. EVERYTHING.. I could never be friends with a repuke.

If the last 5+ years has taught us anything, it's that POLITICS DO MATTER. It's as clear as the bloody massacre in Iraq.

[buckettgirl]

22. I like to have friends

My friends who vote republican actually share many of the same liberal values and morals that I have. Perhaps that is why we get along...
I am also in a place where if I want to hate everyone just because of who gets their vote, I will be a sad, lonely person for a long time - cuz we can't move for at least another year.

[leesa]

99. Are you educating them about the damage their votes are causing?

Friends are nice, but if you and they have kids, the kid's future is being destroyed by these greedy Republicans they are voting for. I am so sick of those who say it's not polite to discuss politics, etc. they are the enablers that have allowed us to sink to this point.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

16. Agreed. Stereotypes Of Any Nature Are Wrong.

To your direct point, many of them are as good of people as you or I, but are just simply either underinformed or misinformed. We just have to try to reach out to those that can be reached and help how we can, when we can.

Sure, there are many on the other side who are 100% aware of the criminal acts of the administration and choose, after being aware, to support, condone and encourage that behavior. Those I find to be deplorable. But those that just aren't completely aware of the truth of the issues can at heart be every single bit as decent and giving as the rest of us and don't deserve the slander. They just need to be made more aware of why being a progressive is the right thing to do :)

[buckettgirl]

24. Thank you for making my point more concise

That is exactly what I want to say. I can only do so much to help their views to evolve into a change in the ballot. I also hope that by living a good, respectful, and honest life, I can show them that being a liberal isn't a bad thing.

[slackmaster]

51. They're not always wrong

Just a nit - Some stereotypes have a kernel of truth.

What matters is whether a stereotype is harmful, or used in a harmful way.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

84. Fair Enough :)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. H.L. Mencken agrees with you. See quote.

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." H.L. Mencken

[philosophie_en_rose]

29. Great Quote! Reminds me of Stephen Colbert

The real Stephen Colbert describes the television Stephen Colbert as a well-intentioned, ill-informed idiot with delusions of grandeur. Which describes most of the lesser hateful Republicans.

[cynatnite]

18. Ask them why they voted for bush...

ask honestly and be interested in what they have to say. Do it with respect and you'll hear the very things you don't want from people you like. Many, like my fundie mom, considers him a gawd fearing christian who will protect them from the 'bad people'.

You may also be surprised at how many regret their vote because of Katrina, Dubai and other policies.

A little careful conversation can go a long way in educating these people.

Oh, and I'd also remind them just because a politician talks gawd and he or she is a christian don't make it so. Anyone who spouts their religion while campaigning for office may very well be pandering and should be taken with a grain of salt.

[Krist]

21. Repubs..

I dont hate republicans. I pity them.

[DURHAM D]

23. I grew up about 50 miles from Hays. I don't think folks out

there are greedy or cowards.

However, I think the influence of taliban-christian hate has grown to an alarming degree in the past 25 years, ex - the school board and evolution. Also, the christian fundamentalist values give normal Kansans cover for their fear of outsiders and others who are different. My non-thinking bush-supporting republican-votin' sister never really thinks about politics. She accepts all the ethnic prejudice around her as natural. Now that prejudice is directed at the latino population. When I was growing up it was directed at Roman Catholics and German-Russians.

Several months ago I told her that when asked I no longer admit to being from or growing up in Kansas. She was truly shocked and asked me what I tell people - I told her that I say I grew up in Oklahoma. Frankly, my shame really shook her up and started a dialog between us. She admitted to never really thinking about why it was important to make better political decisions. She asked me how to start learning more about the issues that affect her life. I told her the first step was to turn off FAUX. She said her husband would not allow it. I told her that since her husband does not work and she has been paying all of their bills for the past 15 years it should be her decision. Her political education is just beginning. Better late than never.

[Divernan]

25. They're either too lazy & self involved or too stupid to be politically

aware, and therefore they should just identify themselves as having no political party connections. To identify themselves as Republicans after the last 5 years, unless they are in that narrow top elite which have personally benefitted from the Bush gang, is to reveal oneself as a fool who allows we Americans to be stripped of our rights and privileges, as well as our pensions and our children's hopes for the future. As George Clooney stated to some GOP fatcats, anyone with 15 minutes and access to the internet knows what a flatout liar Bush was to get us into Iraq, and KNOWS that the Iraqis were not connected to 911.

[Divernan]

34. Sheep have no place in the voting booth.

nt

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. Everyone Has A Place In The Voting Booth, Period.

If someone said "all that matters to me is that the president has brown hair", well they have just as much right to hold that reason as their primary one as you or I do to hold ours, regardless how shallow the former may be in our opinion.

Choice is choice, democracy is democracy. Everyone has a right to vote and a right to CHOOSE what they consider to be the best reasons of who they vote for.

[reichstag911]

45. Bullshit...

...we need the informed consent of the governed, something we lack because of the abdication by the press of their Constitutional watchdog mandate.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

83. Not Bullshit. It Isn't Up To You To Choose What's Important For Others

Period. I may not like it if my neighbor goes out and votes for a candidate because he likes his style of clothing, but that's my damn problem. It isn't up to me what he gets to choose as his reasoning. I could always attempt to inform him as to why voting has many more important reasons behind it than that but it is up to him if he wants to listen or not. If he doesn't, he still has every damn right to vote as I do. That's inarguable.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

26. Those are very good points

I have come to the conclusion that DU is basically a very tribal place. And a tad adolescent. That's okay, adolescents have a lot of energy some of us lack. But there is a lot of piling on. It's like being one of the "cool" kids in school. There are things you dare not say. It is de rigeur here to believe that Bush is not just wrong or incompetent, but he is the spawn of Satan and Hitler reincarnated. The Bush twins are slut whores and everyone who appears on the national stage is closet gay or a sociopath. The scariest thing is how fair-haired favorites get turned on in a second if they step over the line like poor Al Franken. It reminds me of the dorm lounge when we'd all sit and bitch about everyone and everybody and we'd spend a lot of time wallowing in angst. That was 30 years ago and I guess it hasn't changed much!

Of course there are decent Republicans. My father and mother were two. And much of my familly still are. They are hard-working and compassionate people who are not doubters. They are optimists and believe what they hear. Are they sheep? Maybe. But sheep are nice animals and they have their place.

I used to think that the Democrats would prevail, but for a party of diversity, they are shooting themselves in the collective feet by coming up with a level of political correctness that generates a very strange and unique bigotry. I have met far nastier racists here on DU than anywhere in my life, and also a very strong elitist attitude about class, intelligence and education. I think one of the things that keeps the RW strong, despite the misfiring of this administration, is that they recognize this about the left and it gets their back up and no way are they going to come play in our backyard. We can be mean, judgmental and as adamant that people subscribe to our values as any fundie in any megachurch. We just don't seem to recognize that what we hate about THEM we see in ourselves. And I am no exception.

And after pondering it for a long time, I have come to understand that Republican and Democrat are completely artificial delineations. There are, basically, good folks and bad and they come in both parties.

[buckettgirl]

33. Amen to that

"And after pondering it for a long time, I have come to understand that Republican and Democrat are completely artificial delineations. There are, basically, good folks and bad and they come in both parties."

This is probably the truest thing I have heard in a long time.

[WI_DEM]

28. Yes, we do get carried away at times

I know some decent Republicans too.

[Skittles]

130. they are not decent if they are still supporting bush inc

not decent AT ALL

[Swamp Rat]

30. Sterotyping repuglicans: my new hobby

:)

[Mr_Spock]

42. lol - you always have a picture to speak a thousand words

:D

[rzemanfl]

32. I'd be willing to bet that there are several other couples in

your small county that think THEY are the only two people in the county who voted for Kerry/Edwards. The fraud in 2004 was pervasive.

[buckettgirl]

35. we weren't the only 2

2 out of 400 democrat votes... Rooks county had like 2600 votes total
sorry if that wasn't clear!

[rzemanfl]

38. Sorry I misunderstood, but I wouldn't trust the 400 number either. nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

36. I think you forgot one...

I'd say that they are either;

1. greedy
2. cowards
3. christian fundamentalists

or

4. fools

The Republican party's purpose is to enrich the rich, bully the powerless and establish a theocracy. We can see this plainly, why can't they?

If one wants to reduce poverty, promote peace and embrace tolerance, when why would one vote for a Republican?

The only reason I can see is because they are fools. On the upside - there are probably ways to get them to vote for democrats.

Sorry. One person's stereotype is another person's learned behavior.

[buckettgirl]

39. I'll send you the town newspaper ...

if you want to know why they can't see what is going on.

The Plainville Times and
The Stockon Sentinel (i don't even know if you could find them online)

Read through them once and you will understand why the community is mis-informed. I can't even read the papers here because they piss me off so much.

[gordianot]

73. I have seen similar small town paper problems but........

They have Internet, Cable Television, DVD's, Libraries, Radio, and life to observe what is going on around them. On a personal level they may be good people, dig a little deeper it is not ignorance or lack of sophistication.


I have lived in small rural towns my entire adult life, there are no excuses to be mis-informed to that degree. What else I have seen (including family members) there is NO excuse for viewing life in that manner. Their lives may not directly infringe on yours or others. It is easy to turn a blind eye to those you may have ties of community and family. I have learned ultimately there is no love lost and how to be socially polite and as painful to listen. I have also learned I am not alone in how I feel toward the so called "mis-informed", there are others who feel the same way.

[sadiesworld]

101. There are a lot of older voters in these small towns

who do not know how to use computers. The radio and cable they hear are RW. The newspapers are either RW or, IMHO worse, pseudo left-leaning (by pseudo I mean very corporate, deferential to republicans, liberal only on issues that alienate social conservatives). They also have to contend with politicking from the pulpit.

I'm afraid they have plenty of excuses.

[Mr_Spock]

41. I agree - Republicans are ignorant

...and they think ignorance is bliss.
















I disagree.

[mitchum]

43. Sorry, but I DESPISE them

no apologies

[tjwash]

44. I used to be a Republican. The hell with all of them.

I used to be a Republican, back when the Republican party stood for government out of our lives, and out of our businesses, upholding the very tenets of the constitution, and fiscal responsibility.

I know, it seems like a million years ago doesn't it?

Unfortunately, Ronald Reagan started this new breed of neo-con, that has driven us into massive debt, unending personal intrusion, oppressive, freedom stifling laws, and a merger of corporations and government that has finally climaxed into the use of our military to help those in power to rob other countries resources, and impose our will upon them.

I must say though, that it's not really the Republicans I tend to stereotype, or abhor, but it's these freeper-neocon-with-us-or-against-us-my-way-or-the-highway bastardization of what Republicans used to stand for jerk-offs that I truly can not stand. And to be honest with you, I am a little pissed off that this current crop of them that are in power managed to con a few million jesus-nuts to the polls in this last election under the pretext of "stopping those damn gay people from getting married", and am sick of watching them gloat over and over about it, while our country goes straight to hell.

Now, that said, if you have not been living under a freakin' rock for the past 5 years, and have looked right in the the face of all the undeniable corruption, that has been taking place by this group of conservatives, and still call yourself a "proud conservative", well, you frankly deserve to be mocked, and stereotyped, and scorned. And don't try to feed me this "I didn’t leave them, they left me" bullshit either. Anyone who would vote for a Republican after Ronald Reagan’s first term has no right to feign ignorance over the GOP’s irresponsible governance, and deserves no pity either.

[marions ghost]

48. well said

:applause:

Reagan was the turning point. Those who voted R after that can really only redeem themselves by taking responsibility for our present situation. It doesn't matter if it was a mistake or ignorance or temporary insanity. Just be honest about it. Then we can all pull together to create something better than this mess.

[tjwash]

68. I had a co-worker that liked to pull the old...

..."I'm a libertarian not really a republican", but would continue to vote republican. :wtf:

I just finally ended up telling him, "look pal, if you walk like a duck, and talk like a duck..."

Jeez. If any party is doing the polar opposite of what libertarians are supposed to stand for it's this group.

[glitch]

80. "Anyone who would vote for a Republican after Ronald Reagan’s first term

has no right to feign ignorance over the GOP’s irresponsible governance, and deserves no pity either."

Well said. M. Scott Peck equates willful ignorance with true evil.
I agree with him.

Edit to add: I also believe this willful ignorance is based on fear, so I do have pity for them. But I think until they face their fears they will continue to be captured by evil.

[AngryAmish]

47. Repubs are sub-human filth

They are roaches, rats. They are baby-eating monsters who must be stamped out. have nothing to do with them or they will infect you. Stay away and shun them because there is no way to be a good or even reasonable person and ever vote repub.

[slackmaster]

52. My mom was a Republican for most of her life

Your comment reminds me of the "Only whores and hockey players" genre of humor.

:toast:

Oh wait, you can't drink because you're Amish.

[Yollam]

49. Your list...

It angers me to read posts that stereotype ALL republican voters as:
1. greedy
2. cowards
3. christian fundamentalists


It's possible for a republican to not be any of those things, but if they're not, they are extremely ignorant and incurious. And in an age of the internet, what excuse is there for being ignorant, even if you live in the sticks. Being informed is a civic duty.

You say that people vote without knowing what they're doing, but that they are honest in doing so. How honest can a person be who casts a vote without studying the issues and candidates in some depth? If you can't be bothered to spend a couple hours a month reading up on issues in varied sources, not just listening to TV sound bites and what your co-workers say, then you have no business casting a vote.

People like those you describe are a big part of the problem.

[tjwash]

76. I hear you.

If anyone has an internet connection and 15 extra minutes, you can see that this administration is corrupt as hell, and screwing everyone but his top 10% buddies.

Still, it amazes me to no end, when I hear a Bush supporter say something, well, just stupid, like they think that Saddam Hussein masterminded 9-11. :argh:

[baby_mouse]

50. If they're voting for the Republicans because they "always have"...

It's likely through being enthralled by the Republican myth structure. The effect is identical, whether they are rich and greedy or poor and humble Republican voters, on the rest of the populace who must accept the effect of their vote.

If they vote for Republicans because Republicans are "crusty but benign", paternalistic, yeehahish, "focussed on the rights of the individual" (? Uh? Like... when?) and given to wearing butterfly-embroidered denim shirts on a background of twangy guitar music then they are wasting their vote and eveyone else's time, however nice they are (and I'm sure they're lovely in person).

And that's not fair on the rest of us.

It doesn't matter how nice people are in other areas if they fuck up in one big SIGNIFICANT area that affects large numbers of other people. If someone's a really good personal counsellor and also a god-awful father without realising it, someone's got to tell them that they're a god-awful father in order to stop them doing it, EVEN THOUGH they're a really good personal counsellor (and so are likely to try to convince you that you think differently about the situation in the process). Legitimate criticism of a person's fault should not be batted away because they excel in another area. It doesn't make sense.

It doesn't matter what people are like "underneath it all" in politics. What matters in politics is what people DO.

I don't really agree with the lose/lose situation. I think if you're smart enough to see that these are real people and not stereotypes, go you. But I would want to make use of that position and try to get them to think about what they're doing. :shrug: You can't FORCE people to change their minds, of course, but you can inform them of the alternatives. I know it's tough, I have Conservative parents, and getting them to see anything past their stereotypical hatred of anything left wing has been a decades-long struggle. But I'm getting there.

I agree with you that there's a lot of Republican stereotyping on this board. It's largely reactionary, and in the past I've been one of the most strident of all stereotypers, in fact, I think one of my threads entitled :"Dear Republicans," got a reaction thread to itself on FR. Google my username, it might still be there.

It has to be reciprocal. The Other Side suffers VASTLY more from stereotyping than this one. One of the problems in having conversations with the RW about the divide is that they think it's neatly symmetrical, (except where perturbations in the "balance" don't favour them) it isn't, they don't just hold different opinions, they hold opinions DIFFERENTLY from us. They will reserve the right to hold their stereotypes as long as they wish and moan bitterly that we're stereotyping *them* because they think THEIR sterotypes are TRUE and ours are the ramblings of the insane. The best solution would be that BOTH sides drop ALL stereotypes, but that isn't possible so long as part of the RW political machinery consists of, for example, accusing disaster victims of being state-spongers. The only meaningful response in a cultural war to THAT is to turn it on it's head. There's no point trying to point out the subtlety of the error to someone who has erred to that degree, you have to howl in their faces. Errors that are very subtle in terms of exactly HOW the logic has twisted out of true yet are extreme in moral impact are difficult to characterise to the right wing, they lack the moral tool-kit to deal with such things. They're usually "monotheists", monolithic thinkers who demand one solution for one problem, (despite that this is completely incompatible with reality, especially in macro).

In short, you are correct, but I wish your dislike of stereotyping was aimed at Certain Other People, preferably in *some* way that could help THEM get over it. It would be so great if you could.

Having said all that, soon, perhaps, it will be time to let go of the megaphone, and begin to plan...

[buckettgirl]

59. well, then

I know that stereotypes will always be thrown around on both sides, and I certainly am not going to stop them. However, some of the generalizations made here aren't right... Many of the people that I know, work with, take care of, and live amongst ARE decent, honest, give-the-shirt-off-their-back kind of people. They are trustworthy and loyal. And they most certainly are not evil, greedy, or have ulterior motives for anything. Perhaps all they are guilty of is following the herd, being sheeple, being uninformed. But like I said, They don't think they are uninformed.
I do my best to tackle the political issues and create awareness in ways that won't wreck my friendships... I might have differing views, but I certainly am not going ruin lifelong friendships just because of it. I can provide those around me with all the knowledge I have, but I can't make them believe it or act on it. As a nurse, that is something that is faced regularly when teaching patients abouth health promotion and prevention - you can give them all the teaching in the world, but you can't make them do a damned thing with it. It is very frustrating - I have learned to have much patience in these situations.

As liberals, we ought to be open-minded, tolerant, and accepting of other individuals. Just as we would not discriminate against race, gender, sexual orientation, or handicap; we should at the very least recognize that most people are good, honest people no matter their political affiliation. I think it is sad that there are people here at DU who would discriminate against all of these people because of the true greedy, corrupt, power-loving, fascist assholes who have taken over this country... Those who do that have very much devalued the strength of their character in my eyes. I do think that we are better people than to resort to name-calling and stereotyping.

That being said... I am liberal, college educated, redneck, country music loving, Pagan woman. I try to live my life as a generous, caring, compassionate, open-minded, accepting, non-judgmental person (but certainly I am not perfect, and tend to have a critical side that I keep under wraps). I am not telling anyone to unite with republicans... but good god, have a little compassion for all your fellow humans - not just the select few who you feel "deserve" it.

[rppper]

86. look at it this way...we have been stereotyped by them since the 60's....

liberal, pinko commie, beret wearing beat-niks, tree hugging tofu eating blah blah blah blah blah.......my two cents....if you can still call bush a republican and proudly support the policies he espouses, then you are part of the problem and by default are a small minded, homophobic, middle class hating douche-bag...i could care less whether they are veterans, good people or jesus christ himself...they choose to make me their enemy...they choose not to try to compromise, they choose to ram an agenda down my throat, they choose talking heads like limbaugh, savage and coulter who have, if not in straight words, in a round-about way called for my death...and yours. who you support is an extension of you...one with your mindset...i can not think for a second who in the GOP says anything for me...moderate or not...it's hard enough finding democrats who do that sufficiently. let them know how you really feel about the issues...i'll bet good money they will not speak to you again...don't use the old friendship excuse...test the waters...a real friend will be there...the average knuckle dragger will not.

[baby_mouse]

100. I mostly agree with you but have one key difference

I have no problem at all with most of what you're saying, in fact I think we may be talking about slightly different things.

But this bit here, where you say...

"As liberals, we ought to be open-minded, tolerant, and accepting of other individuals. Just as we would not discriminate against race, gender, sexual orientation, or handicap; we should at the very least recognize that most people are good, honest people no matter their political affiliation."

... In my head, doesn't work.

There are logical reasons we don't discriminate on the grounds of race, gender or sexual orientation. Discrimination on these grounds is based on conflation or bigotry, these discriminations are based on uninformed assumptions.

"Discrimnination" has become a value-laden term and it's ordinary meaning has been lost somewhat in the political debate, these days it seems to be a catch-all term for criticism, legislation, all kinds of behaviour. What we usually really mean by it is *baseless* discrimination, discriminating against someone on grounds that make no sense or simply aren't true. The suppostitions, for example that blacks are somehow irredeemably more primitive and violent than white people, that women are too weak and emotional in comparison with men to do "serious" jobs, gays want to radically alter the foundations of human society and are mentally ill and straights shouldn't have to treat them with the same ordinary respect they would treat anyone else, that sort of thing, they are baseless, they are the inner ramblings of an insecure white atraight male with no positive qualities to his personality to make him feel good about himself so he makes himself feel better by denigrateing people diofferent from himself. There is no *fact* to them. In these situations where some almost arbitrary characteristic isolates huge groups of prople, where millions of people are blocked from contributing to or receiving from society to the highest mutually benefical level on *fictional* grounds, this is baseless discrimination, the enemy of liberty.

REAL discrimination is telling the difference between a poisonous todstool and an edible mushroom, a true christian from a faux XXXtian. There's a REAL difference between the two. I'm sure you'd agree. This kind of discrimination is not baselss and is necessary to make the way you deal with the world efficient enough to live safely and courteously and all sorts of other things, we "discriminate" between all sorts of ordinary things all the time, forks and knives, shit and shaving foam, discrimination itself isn't "wrong", it;s baseless, meaningless discrimination that's desctructive. And it's baseless, meaningless discrimination that riddles the Right. The Left, having been the target of this discrimination has in some cases simply reacted without analysing the problem and shot straight back with a whole load of baseless discrimination of their own devising, which you have correctly diagnosed.

BUT.

It's not discrimination to criticise someone for making a DECISION that you think is WRONG. That's a totall different ball game of fish. The discrimination HAS a base in that case. If you just get rid of discrimination in politics you might as well say prosecuting the Third Reich as war criminals was wrong because it's discrimination against Nazis.

There's a difference between discrimination based on retreivable fact and internally generated discrimination based fiction. One's about dealing with the outside world and, when done properly, works, the other is about maintaining a comforting self image, and NEVER works, unless you take the original goal of the excerise to be keeping the generator of the fiction happy and comfortable in his suburban, white, straight maleness, in wchich case bigotry and baseless discrimination works just fine (as any politicican worth his salt will tell you, I'm sure. I have no doubt that they use that white straight male fear for anything they can get it to do).

No-one decides to be be gay or black or female, and most of the cultural values associated with these groups are just so much hot air generated by people who've never met any anyway. THAT's why "discrimination" on the grounds that one is black, latino, a Muslim, female, etc don't make any sense. Even if there WERE any noticable trends among gays to prefer a society without marriage (there aren't) or any evidence that women aren't as good as men at taking on positions of power and responsibilty (there isn't) that's no reason to chuck the whole groupd out of the equation, all that does is block off from society the proportions of those groups who DON'T fit into the trend FOR NO GOOD REASON. It's INEFFICIENT, apart from anything else.

Voting Republican, thinking that Iraq should be nuked to show that "we're there to help them", supposing that all Muslins should be deported, these are opinions and decisions, and it is THE BUSINESS OF POLITICS to discriminate on the grounds of decisions and opinions. These things are chosen and the chooser must bear responsibility for the choice. It has *nothing* to do with persecution. They'd know, these whiners on the right about being persecuted, if they genuinely WERE being baselessly persecuted, they'd certainly know about it. It's not really the same thing as having your opinions ridiculed or questioned. It's more to do with being locked up without trial, blocked from employment regardless of your ability to do the job or simply outlawed because of some aspect of your being that has no real impact on anyone else and that you can't change. THAT's persecution.

I've rambled a bit.

Of course there are decent Republicans. There are also thoroughly eveil ones. Would you like us all to preface every accusation with "But not you nice republicans, you're okay"? I'm not being faceious, it may be genuinely useful, the thing is, it gives the thoroughly evil ones a bolthole to retreat into.

Evil can masquerade as good by playing by the rules...

[buckettgirl]

134. I do agree

I think this might be the one post that actually has some common sense. Thanks for that.
I really have nothing to argue against your post. Yes, we do get to choose whatever political party we align with and I do agree that whatever choice should be informed (as others have stated). I do think that there are "evil" republicans out there and that they do masquerade as good people. But I certainly don't think they are in the majority. For as much as I hate to say it, many people out where I live either aren't smart enough to do that or purely would not have the time if they wanted to do that - they would just flat out be evil (and some are).

Alot of what I see here on DU is very disheartening - I could only wish that we, as a collective group of liberals, could rise above the name-calling and bashing. I wish that we could truly show we are better than that - that we are, in all ways, better than "them", than the bullies. I know that is way to idealistic to ever hope for, but I think that sometimes we need to be reminded of the human element as well.
I do see people here who have participated in "baseless" discrimination and stereotyping; who wouldn't touch a republican with a 10ft pole; who would never be friends with one; who have nearly completely disowned their family for it. Granted, I do not know their personal experiences with these people (maybe it isn't always baseless), but I DO know that to not give another human a chance is inherently wrong.
No, in many cases, it would not be proper to exclude only certain republicans from being criticized or whatever. And that is not my goal. My goal is to have people think twice before they lump half of America into a group called republicans, of which, only a small portion are actually represented by the current regime.
Is ignorance an excuse? No, absolutely not. However, Rural America has an aging population; many older people do not have internet access; many people only have access to biased media; and many still believe that being republican stands for honest hard work, small government, and thrifty spending. They believe they are well-informed citizens.

I think it is important to recognize that we all have at least one element in common: being human. It seems to me that it is very important to not lose sight of that; to not lose compassion for other humans; to not undermine our values with stereotyping and name-calling.

Stereotyping and name-calling are certainly not things that I want to be associated with, nor do I want the word "liberal" to be associated with that type of behavior.

[slackmaster]

54. You are very right, and thanks for having the fortutude to state it

My mom was born in a town in Iowa where nearly everyone was Republican. Her parents, neighbors, schoolmates, friends, fellow worshipers in church, EVERYONE.

She was politically active at times and didn't quit the GOP until about age 62, when she got disgusted with the takeover of the California GOP by wild-eyed far-right religious zealots.

I have no problem with traditional Goldwater-type Republicans. I have Republican friends.

Oh hell, my girlfriend is a Republican welfare mom. She's an immigrant, born in Brazil to people who fled the Soviet Union after World War II.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

55. hey we say stupid too...

it either stupidity/ignorance or greed or cowardice or fundamentalism

[Bigmack]

56. Most Repubs....

aren't evil, they're just "good Germans" who turn a blind eye to all that is going on as there country goes down the path to ruin/Fascism.

[pdx_prog]

58. I think fear is a big factor

Lot's of people WANT the status qou. They are afraid of moving forward and progressing.

[Quantess]

60. I hate stereotypes.

Stereotypes are a lazy shortcut. I'm guilty, though. I have this idea that every guy who kept their mullet hair into the 2000s, and every woman who had big, bubble-helmet, shellacked, hair in the 90s must be Rethuglican. My way of thinking was "nobody with hair that outdated could be a reasonable, liberal person". I'm sure I was mistaken once or twice.

The less we understand things about people, the more we need to stereotype. I do not understand neo-con fundies, and let's face it, a lot of liberals don't either. We don't hang out with each other voluntarily (that's the LAST way I would want to spend a Saturday night, with a freeper:puke: )
But, there is always the 1 in a billion chance that a freeper and I could be friends, and then we, as individuals, could see past the stereotypes.

BTW, buckettgirl, it sounds like you actually have to hang out with them. I'm sorry. B-)

[Mythsaje]

66. I had a mullet until after 2000

and I've NEVER been a Republican.

It was just a way to let my hair grow long without having to mess with it too much.

Now it's just long all over.

[Quantess]

71. sorry mythsaje

Some people really dig mullets even today. Its just my personal hair-fixation to judge people that way. (Taking foot out of mouth)

[Mythsaje]

72. You're not the only one...

Don't feel too bad. I've heard a lot of that sort of stuff over the years. I always wondered why it was a big deal...I actually had soldiers drive by and yell stuff about it at me. LOL. Go figure.

Welcome to DU, btw. :)

[BushOut06]

61. You forgot they have tiny penises - n/t

[mattclearing]

62. Ignorance is no excuse.

I know people like those you describe.

Ultimately, they are responsible for the decisions of those they choose to support, and if they don't wish to be held responsible, they will get on the right side and make noise about it.

The people who they have voted for have betrayed us all.

I hope they figure it out and feel pretty shitty about it for a few minutes.

Then I hope they help us all change it.

[FreedomAngel82]

63. Yes

I agree. It's up to us to help educate people on issues though. The media isn't doing their job and people are busy now days much more because of the fast paced society. I'm the only liberal in my family so I know where you're coming from. Thanks for your post.

[electropop]

64. 4. Chumps

It's not possible to be:

1. Intelligent
2. Educated
3. Moral
4. Republican

Pick any 3.

[ClayZ]

69. From the bottom to the top.... it is sort of like this:

[Blue_Tires]

111. great poster

[Dees]

70. I like your three. But when stereotyping Republikans

I like to use the following as well. Lazy, selfish, mean spirited, materialistic, pompous, rude, evil and dishonest. Hopes this helps.

[eallen]

74. We should drive wedges between the GOP base & others who voted for Bush.

There are all sorts of people who voted for Bush. But his base comprises the religious right. They are not a majority. But they do make a sizable base, accounting for somewhere between a quarter and third of all voters. There is little we can do to pull people from it, short of becoming what we are fighting. So we have to pull away those who voted for Bush, but who don't belong to his base. Part of how we do that is point out that ideological cohesiveness of the GOP, and of the evil at its core.

[annabanana]

75. Aw buckettgirl..

Don't take it too much to heart. We know that there are millions of good Americans who have just been grossly misinformed. If someone lives in an enclave like yours, and doesn't have politics as a hobby, it's understandable that they may not be exactly up to date on how badly the administration has cheated, lied to and basically f*ckedover everyone who calls themselves a republican.

Eventually, one hopes, they'll notice the smell.

[coalition_unwilling]

77. "There are good christians here" -- would those be

"good christians in favor of torture here"?

I grew up in SW Missouri (the former northern fringe of the Bible belt) in a small town whose biggest crimes were DUI and spousal abuse. There were a lot of "good Christians" there also and your description brought back memories, some fond, some not.

Or were you using "Good Christian" ironically, as in "Good German"?

[buckettgirl]

81. actually...

I really did mean that there are good christians here.... And, since I am not christian and avoid anyone that looks like they could be a bible-thumping idiot and despise those who use religion as a basis for hate - I would not normally say something like this. However, I have seen people here who do not gossip, who genuinely care about their fellow man, who attend church to actually practice their faith, and do their best to live their lives as Jesus taught. They don't throw religion in your face, they don't hate anyone, and they aren't fundamentalists.
Although this is a rare breed, they do exist.
And of course, we have radical bible-thumpin bigots, but I am not refering to them.

[smoogatz]

78. As a political strategy, sereotyping works. It's called "branding."

Our people are good. Their people are bad. Our people are regular folks. Their people are elitist, immoral scumbags. And so on. It's GOOD to make Republicans feel bad about being Republicans. It's RIGHT to tar them all with the same brush--they took power by getting into bed with fundies, fascists and bigots, after all--they've got no right to complain now when people on the left point that out. Fuck 'em--if they don't want to associate with fascists, fundies and bigots, let 'em switch parties.

[B Calm]

82. Face it, they are Cheap Labor Cons!! Defenders of Corporate America!

[Ron Green]

85. A couple of stereotypes: Republicans are afraid poor people are going to

take their money. Democrats are afraid rich people are going to take their money.

[B Calm]

92. Afraid Hell!! the rich already have taken it..

[nonconformist]

88. Apathetic voters are just as much, if not more, to blame than the others

Because if most of them were informed they would have made a different decision.

[dorkulon]

89. Republicans aren't all bad...

...a lot of them are just stupid. :nopity:

[Skittles]

90. if they still support bush they are TRAITORS

simply put, they put the interests of their party abouve the interests of America and that is DISGUSTING. They have BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS and I have ZERO RESPECT for them. Understand???

[buckettgirl]

95. You sound just as bad as they do....

Why do you not understand that there are people who really don't know what is going on? Who, if they did, would not have voted they way they did? Why do you not understand that there are people who vote they way they do because their family did or because they always have? Why do you not understand that not everyone is politically savvy? Not everyone has internet access; not everyone has 15 minutes to spare to inform themselves. The people that I speak of go and vote at every election, after that, they go on about their lives with politics as a last priority. They see it as something they cannot change, even if they do see the problems. They live the same kind of life that you or I do: raising families, working hard, making ends meet, volunteering in the community, and just living. They have no ulterior motives. Their only interest is in making it through life with a little something to show for it. Many of them have values just like you and me... they just don't know they would be considered liberal.

I have ZERO RESPECT FOR YOU for ignorantly believing that every single republican voter is well-informed and ill-intentioned; that they want to run this country into the ground and have every intention of doing so. The people that I know and that I speak of have no intention of ruining their own lives; they are not wealthy or elite (middle class at best), nor do they have a religious agenda to propagate.

The words of your post make my blood boil and frankly, I am becoming ashamed to be associated with a party who thinks it is perfectly ok to resort to such petty antics as name-calling and discrimination.
Apparently, no matter where I turn, I cannot escape hypocrisy.... Since when do liberals get to pick and choose who is a worthy human and who is not? I do not advocate hatred toward anyone for any reason. It is posts like yours and beliefs like yours that completely destroy any integrity associated with being liberal.

[marions ghost]

105. TRY to understand

the disturbing legacy and implications of the reign of Bush II -- for our future and children's future. There isn't much room for forgiveness or understanding at this point, or whatever leniency you'd like to get from Liberals. That's just unrealistic.

The best that can be said for your friends is that the average Sheeple are less directly culpable than their criminal leadership...but if they STILL support the regime at this point then something is WRONG with them. On the other hand, if they have trouble sleeping and are feeling somewhat betrayed--then there's hope for them. I don't think this group is as dumb and ill-informed as you say. I think they were mezmerized by the media and manipulated by those they trusted, but they need to take a hard look at the consequences of selling their souls. The ones who are big enough to say "I made a mistake in voting for B**H"--are the ones with integrity. The rest are hopeless.

Why do you forgive these poor Sheeple for their sins yet you castigate downtrodden Liberals for being rightfully angry and vengeful? That does not add up.

Some DUers weighing in on this topic will be with you and some won't--so? in such a polarized climate what did you expect?

[Skittles]

106. if they don't know what's going on that is THEIR g.d. fault

PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERY DAY BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO FALL FOR ROVE'S DIRTY TRICKS. MAYBE I can understand them voting for him once, but voting for him AGAIN after he illegally BOMBED AND INVADED A COUNTRY? And to STILL support him after he let people suffer and DIE in New Orleans? Please spare me your sanctimonious support of these freaking MORONS. I'll save MY symapthy for all the VICTIMS these people created by putting that incompetent piece of GARBAGE into the White House.

[buckettgirl]

131. What a perfect example!

You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself for picking and choosing who is worthy of kindness and compassion.
That is not what being liberal stands for.
You are just as bad as those posting over there at freerepublic; you are no better than those who despise us and think that we are unworthy - who think that we deserve to be treated as less than human just because of our political beliefs.
That you discriminate simply based on politics without making an effort to see past the bullshit is deeply appalling.
If I put up a post here in DU that said "all blacks are lazy" or "all hispanics are poor and uneducated" or "all women are whores" or "all christians are idiots" - I would be not only WRONG, but I would be dimishing the integrity of my character for standing behind those words. This is the same thing... YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG to stereotype ANY group of people - republicans or otherwise.

[Skittles]

143. oh PLEASE

you know what? I am not unhappy to not have have the respect of a sympathizer of BUSH ENABLERS. ANYONE - ANYONE who still supports bush is NOT A DECENT PERSON.

[Swamp Rat]

107. Your thread and this post makes my blood boil!

:grr:

"The people that I know and that I speak of have no intention of ruining their own lives;" - Wanna see some ruined lives??? Why don't you get your so-called liberal ass down here to New Orleans and see for yourself what those ignorant fucks did by supporting the GOP?!!

YOU should be ashamed of yourself! :puke:

[JI7]

112. did these fools not see what happened with Hurricane Katrina ?

with what is going on in Iraq. you claim they are well intentioned and all of that crap. so why do they continue supporting the party which allowed Katrina to ruin an entire city and people ?

[mitchum]

119. They are also STUPID FUCKS...

and anyone who makes excuses for those who are opposed to liberalism makes my blood boil.
I despise them (and their apologists)

[Redneck Socialist]

121. Those folks you're defending looked evil in the face and...

said, "looks pretty good to me" and pulled the republican lever. I'm sorry they're being used by the neocons, but at some point they have to take responsibility for what they've done, namely put fascists in power.

[Marr]

128. Oh, yeah- it's so horrible that people here are upset at Republicans.

But it's just fine to be a self-centered moron who either signed up to support fascism or was stupid enough to be conned into it.

[Hubert Flottz]

91. If they voted for Bush in 04 they are Anti-American!

They hate our freedom!

[BlooInBloo]

96. You forgot a few....

... bigots and dumb.

And it's basically true.

[gulliver]

97. You forgot racism and anti-homosexuality in your list.

The people you are talking about most likely would be Dems if the Dem party excluded or marginalized non-whites and gays the way the Republican party does in most walks of life.

It's identity and image politics at work. Divide and conquer. That's why Republicans don't try to lead minorities into their party en masse. They simply try to peel a few away. Republicans clearly don't want these constituencies. If the GOP had half the blacks and half the gays, your Kansas neighbors wouldn't know where to go to escape them. They would have to go Democratic on the fundamentals.

[U4ikLefty]

102. Good Germans...indeed!!! n/t

[stanwyck]

140. My thoughts exactly

why make up excuses for people who are willing to trash our Constitution and ruin America? They're "good, honest, hard-working people"....who voted for a man who "isn't sure about evolution", lied about sending our troops to war, is against a woman's right to choose, and is systematically erasing our civil rights.
And we're supposed to be more tolerant and empathetic.
No.
Let the Republicans be the "Good Germans" and live with the consequences.
We won't capitulate.
The future of our country is too important.

[stepnw1f]

103. Here's Another Stereotype

Republicans are weak on National Security. I think that's accurate actually.

[peanutbrittle]

104. They didn't know their party had been hijacked.....

we tried to tell them, they thought we were crazy. We were a lonely voice in the wilderness.

Some of them may now be seeing the light.

[mmonk]

110. From a stereotyped democrat,

I don't care if they get it back. There is more truth in stereotyping them IMO.

[earth mom]

114. Sorry, but I can't & won't give rethugs the benefit of the doubt.

Not now-HELL NO! Not after Iraq, Katrina, Spying, the never ending Fundie B.S. and all the other sickening outrages they justify oh so nonchalantly! I'm convinced that far too many of them are sociopaths. :puke:

Leftofthedial and Marions Ghost said it far better than I upthread-I agree with their posts. :applause:

But, I wanted to add that we would be absolutely naive and totally gullible to trust any rethug after the utter hell they've put people in this country and people elsewhere in the world through. Atrocities that may never end. :cry:

'Nuff said.

[DawgHouse]

116. My parents are republicans

but they are neither greedy nor cowards. They are, however, fundamentalist Christians. I just keep hoping they will see the light.

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

117. About Democratic Underground, LLC

About Democratic Underground, LLC (from the FAQ).

Hi! I'm linking this entry from the FAQ because your post implies that you haven't seen it. Given DU's stated position and history, getting "angry" at anti-Republican posting on DU seems naïve at best.

Just what does the nature of posts on DU have to do with your apparently wonderful neighbours or your reluctance to talk politics with them?

On edit: This DU thread also has some discussion on the purpose of DU, albeit from a third-party perspective, not a Republican one.

[left of center]

118. buckettgirl, you have a point; however, what the majority of

these good people have in common is an appalling disconnect between their personal interactions and their politics. I have family like you describe, people who will give the shirt off their back to help you. They are good people in the everyday sense, but... their political views are defined by what I'll call "the other". It comes out in their comments about people who differ with respect to culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, or anything that strikes them as weird. It also comes out in reference to people who are getting something from the system, like welfare or a service from a government program. These good people don't like paying taxes and are basically fearful of anything or anyone that is not exactly like what they're used to.

I've said to my wife on more than one occasion after being around some of these family members, "You know, Bob is a great guy. I just don't understand how he can be that way and have political views that are so cold and... evil". These good people are electing leaders who are destroying the country. They feel really great saving the country from the atheists, gays and socialists, but it is the debt, perpetual war, and oppressive laws into which they are throwing us that will do us in.

[Redneck Socialist]

122. I"m sure they're nice folks, but...

if at this point they're more worried about two guys kissing each other, or some woman that they don't know having an abortion, then they are about the sad state of their personal finances then they are a lost cause.

Maybe you should suggest that they take a look in their wallets. If they are unhappy with what they find in there maybe you could go one to suggest that they should take a look at who's in power. People that THEY put there. People that, in order to get votes, condemn gays and women, and then turn around and pick the pockets of the very people that elected them.

These folks are worse than the "extremists." At least the extremists know what they are doing and go ahead and do it deliberately. The folks you defend vote for tyrants out of fear and ignorance and there is no excuse for that.

[hiaasenrocks]

123. This is bullshit.

What you're arguing is that these people are ignorant because they have lives and don't have time to study the issues.

Guess what? Nobody is that busy. Sorry, I just won't accept that. But let's assume that these people don't have 10 minutes per day over the course of a few years (BULLSHIT meter going wild here!) to educate themselves on, say, one issue: Iraq.

You don't think these people knew, before the 2004 election, what was going on in Iraq? You don't think they knew by then what utter bullshit the case was that brought this country to war? You don't think that they picked up ANY of this in the year-plus between the start of the war and the election?

And by the way, the supreme irony of your post is that the people whom you are excusing from responsibility are the very same people who belong to a party that claims the mantle of "personal responsibility" and "self-reliance."

Sorry, but your post is a big steaming pile of horseshit.

[submerged99]

124. Another one of THOSE threads.

It looks like it's another one of those "The DU is just as bad as the Republicans and I"m leaving the board forever thread!"

Let me correct that. This is the "The DU is just as bad as the Republicans" set up.

The conclusion will be when the thread starter creates another thread announcing her permanent vacation from DU.

As for the content of her message-Republicans want a nice life for them and theirs. That is, they want good things for people who act, think and look like them. Anyone else can go to hell as far as they are concerned.

[buckettgirl]

135. HAHAHAHAHA

I won't leave DU.... I have no reason to; I am too stubborn and bull-headed to give up these arguments. I like creating havoc and I like debating everything.
Some DUers are just as bad as those they "hate", but not all. And that is certainly no reason for me to leave.
You have greatly underestimated me.... you're stuck with me.

[Marr]

126. Oh, screw this- they *are* cowards.

Yes, that's right- every damn one of them that votes Republican. They're all either moral cowards, or the lowest sort self-centered, "fuck you all" traitors, or just plain stupid.

If they're willing to trade their rights for a strong daddy president to protect them, they're moral cowards.

If they're just not paying attention- well- at this point it would take some serious determination to ignore the corruption and outright treason of this bunch of goons. That's the defining characteristic of evil, as far as I'm concerned; the determination to embrace it.

If they truly haven't noticed any of this, then they're just flat-out stupid.

[readmoreoften]

127. I need to stereotype republicans to survive.

These people have elected a man who ran a campaign largely based on the hatred of gays and lesbians. Anyone who voted for Bush during this campaign is my political enemy. They desire to destroy my freedom, interfere in my relationship, and-- in some cases-- threaten my life.

I don't care how nice all the Republican grandmothers in Kansas are. I'm sure that there are some nice people in the Klan, too. Or should I also be careful to waste my time drawing a fair and non-judgemental portrait of your average Klansman? What about Nazis who were just "swept away" by Hitler's charisma.

The truth is, your enemy will sometimes wear a smile and collect your newspapers while you're on vacation. It doesn't mean they won't call the Department of Homeland Security on you when their paranoia takes hold.

[Skittles]

129. get it now?

this is today: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060312/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_violence

EVERY DAY I read stuff like this and every DAY it reminds me that not only did bush start a COMPLETELY UNCESSARY WAR, some people acually VOTED FOR HIM AFTER HE DID IT.....and many of them STILL SUPPORT HIM. Even if they are now FINALLY f***ing sorry they voted for him they still have BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS. Maybe they should have thought twice before voting for a man who, unscripted, is unable to form a decent sentence and makes NO SENSE whatsoever.

[mandomom]

132. The republican misleaders have stamped their approval

upon the stereotyping, all the more to keep the lambs in line with das boot. If a republican does not want to be painted by Delay's or Bush's brush let them stand up in public and renounce their incompetent leadership that gives them both the requirement of toeing the party line and the shame that goes with it. When I hear an occasionally deserved insult hurled at democrats as a party, I set the story straight, man. Let the republicans who have caught onto their party's fraud step over the line and join ours. We have room for everyone with a heart, a brain or both.

[tlsmith1963]

133. Yes, They Can (Sometimes) Be Nice People...

But they are so ignorant about so many things. This country is suffering because of their ignorance. Is it really that difficult for them to educate themselves on the issues? If people paid more attention & cared more about what is happening to their country, we wouldn't be in this mess. It is apathy & ignorance that is killing us.

Tammy

[KyuzoGator]

137. 20 years ago, you couldn't level such stereotypes.

Today, if you support Bush you are a moron.

I strongly believe in conservative values on some issues. I'm very liberal on others. To call neocons "conservative" is a perversion of the English language.

[Rainscents]

138. You sounds like abused spouse...

Making excuse for their behaviors. My ex-boyfriend was VERY nice too, until you lived with him. He was typical REPUBLICAN... always calling me names, self-fish and was very mean. He was REPUBLICAN!

[crispini]

139. I agree, stereotyping is bad.

I think that if you as a Democrat are being open with them about the fact that you are a Democrat, then that in itself is taking a big stand right there.

Another thing you might want to look into is George Lakoff's book "Don't Think of an Elephant." It is very good at teaching you about where they are coming from and how you might want to engage them if you should choose to do so.

It is a thousand times easier to be a Democrat and sit around with your Democratic friends and neighbors and agree with each other than it is to put yourself out there and have a bit of dialog with someone who doesn't agree with you.

[flaminbats]

142. politics is very brutal..and all who win elections know this

Whether someone lives in New York, Mississippi, or Kansas..politics is not pleasant. But attacking the Republican Party and its leaders is not the same as attacking voters. Most voters..whether in Kansas or Illinois, never vote a straight ticket. Kansas may have allot of Republican voters, but why should this stop us from attacking reckless Republican incumbents? Republicans are brutal when attacking bleeding heart liberals...whiny civil rights supporters, or wide-eyed Democrats. This may be brutal, but it is also a winning stategy..in politics winners never turn the other cheek.

You say most voters are hard-working, compassionate, and honest. You also say they don't bitch, pay their taxes, and raise their families. ok...most of those who don't bitch believe in speaking out and holding those in power accountable for their actions. Those who do bitch, take no action politically to change things for the better. Republicans bitched about big government..but government is only getting bigger, more wasteful, and further into debt since Republicans have taken control. Republicans bitched about national security..yet 9/11 occurred because the Republicans in power failed to defend us. Republicans bitched about nation building, now they are the masters of this practice in Afghanistan and Iraq. Republicans bitch about compassionate conservatism..yet they fight every attempt to stop insurance companies and other corporate giants from collecting money while giving consumers nothing in return!

Most of the voters you talk about "want people to have educational and employment opportunities; but they expect people to make use of those opportunities and not throw them away". These are the very people who can bring down the Republican party! Things like national healthcare, a balance budget, and government assistance to the disabled are what they do support, and what Republicans viciously oppose. But these are not voters who Democrats insult, these are voters who need a real choice on the ballet in November. If they did have a choice between a real Democrat and those now holding office, you would not be calling those voters Republicans. Stereotyping is never kind, but neither is losing!