Ruby the Liberal (21,730 posts)
Mind blowing conversation this morning with a RW relative.
So I got a call this morning.
RW relative who has never voted for a Dem in their life was nervous, so called me to ask if Paul Ryan was the same guy who wants to replace Medicare with "coupons". She thought she remembered the name, but wasn't sure if it was the same person. "Yes, that would be him - why are you worried about his budget?". She knew much more about Ryan than I thought she did - and I am not sure where she got her information as she loathes politics - but she was right on the money about the high level issues ("He wants to kill Medicare so he can give wealthy people more tax breaks"). She lives in a 55+ semi-retirement community, but it is very conservative. No telling who said what to her to get her stirred up.
Then I about fell out of my chair. The next remark was, "We need the liberals to stay in Congress to stop them if they get in".
What?
Yes, I heard that right. She loves her R-Rep, but will be voting for her D-Senator. First. Time. Ever.
I still can't believe it.
Baby steps, I guess. Lord knows she rarely wants to hear about politics from me, so kudos to whoever she is listening to.
warrior1 (7,484 posts)
4. Wow
this is probably happening all over the country. Polls are showing it yet because a lot of people just don't know who he is, but the democrats will define him for them.
Lex (30,235 posts)
6. Polling shows that people far more trust Democrats with Medicare and Social Security
than they do Republicans. That's why Ryan is such a stupid pick. Or at least one of the reasons.
enough (6,353 posts)
9. "He wants to kill Medicare so he can give wealthy people more tax breaks"
Short, sweet and to the point. That's the whole thing in a nutshell.
I know I heard Obama say almost exactly that same thing a few weeks ago in a short clip of a speech he was making somewhere. Who knows how this piece of logic got through to your relative, but I think it's really powerful. It cuts through all their "deficit" bullshit and lays it right out: cutting taxes for the wealthy is their number one priority.
Not a baby step. That's a giant step.
lindysalsagal (895 posts)
21. I think it means Obama's money is doing the job with the TV ads.
I also think Obama seems trustworthy, and we americans like that for a change.
Lex (30,235 posts)
6. Polling shows that people far more trust Democrats with Medicare and Social Security
than they do Republicans. That's why Ryan is such a stupid pick. Or at least one of the reasons.
Gallup: Seniors Most Favorable To Ryan Budget (http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/04/gallup-seniors.php)
By Josh Kraushaar
April 27, 2011 | 7:48 a.m.
A new Gallup/USA Today poll contains a counterintuitive finding: the age group most receptive to House Budget Chair Paul Ryan's plan to deal with the budget - seniors.
The poll finds 48 percent of seniors (those 65 and over) support Ryan's plan over President Obama's plan, while 42 percent back the president.
That's the highest total among the age groups tested - a 47 percent plurality between the ages of 50 and 64 backed Ryan, and a 45 percent plurality of those between 30-49 backed Ryan. But young voters overwhelmingly sided with Obama by a 23-point margin, 53 to 30 percent.
Overall, 44 percent back Obama's plan, while 43 percent support Ryan.
Republicans hold a double-digit lead over Democrats in public perception of which party would do a better job dealing with the federal budget, according to the survey. 48 percent prefer Republicans, while 36 percent prefer Democrats in Congress.
The poll, conducted between April 20-23, surveyed 1,013 adults and has a four percent margin of error.
warrior1 (7,484 posts)
4. Wow
this is probably happening all over the country. Polls are showing it yet because a lot of people just don't know who he is, but the democrats will define him for them.
The democrats will lie about him.
("He wants to kill Medicare so he can give wealthy people more tax breaks")
I find all this Republican mind changing hard to believe. I work with three guys who have never voted in their life that registered this year just to vote against Obama. I have yet to run into a Republican that is going to vote For Obama no matter how much they dislike Romney. I have never seen Republicans around here more fired up. And I've run into many Democrats that have a lot of buyer's remorse over Obama-they may not vote against him, but they are not thrilled voting for him.
Granted, this is a very miniscule sample size, but it's a sample from a state that is guaranteed for Obama.