http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7011963moez (455 posts) Wed Sep-10-08 09:04 AM
Original message
My mom and Palin supporters.....
I spoke with my mother the other day and she and many of her friends (all long time Democrats) are voting for McCain / Palin. The reason for it isn't really complicated - a short tour through these boards illustrates it pretty nicely.
There are endless posts about "are women seriously stupid enough to vote for her...", threads bashing her mothering ability, threads implying that she can't manage both her family and the vice president job, and the latest ones ridiculing her for not wanting to be called a pig.
These threads and talking points do NOTHING but help McCain / Palin!
Many women (my mother and many of her friends included) went through the years being passed over for jobs for non-job related reasons (i.e. perceived family reasons, or anything else NOT related to the job). Also, they spent more than their share of time listening to men diminish their thoughts and opinions at work (i.e. "are they seriously stupid enough...", "if she can't handle that how can she handle the job, etc.).
What my mother and many of these other women are seeing is a woman going through the same thing that they had to deal with over and over and over. Palin is being bashed for being a working mother, for not being able to "handle" the job, and myriad other non-specific "issues".
We need to address the actual issues and leave the other crap alone. Talk about Palin's views on reproduction rights, her weakness on foreign policy experience, or ANYTHING else that is actually germaine to the actual job. Every time she gets blasted on these other issues, we're practically handing her another vote.
I don't believe that these women are "irrational" or "stupid". I think many of them are not as plugged into the daily blogs and news as many here are; with that, they are striking back at what they perceive as unfair treatment aimed at Palin. It's a gut level reaction that will stop only when we begin to focus on issues and leave the other shit alone.
Not long for this world.
Vinnie From Indy (1000+ posts) Wed Sep-10-08 09:25 AM
Response to Reply #4
22. Amen!
While I actually agree with not focusing on Palin, the fact is that ANY mother in America that votes based on the way Palin is treated in the media or on DU is inherently STUPID. I also believe that as a family member, it is your responsibility to call them out on their stupidity. This is the perfect example of working locally to help secure the victory of Obama and Democrats. Small individual efforts by millions of people does have an effect!
I also know of no person that has decided to suddenly vote for McCain/Palin simply because they are miffed at some perceived slight by the media against Palin. While that is the message being pounded by the GOP and their allies on hate radio etc., I don't believe that it is
Yup. That'll win em over.
patrice (1000+ posts) Wed Sep-10-08 09:09 AM
Response to Original message
6. I'm sorry, I don't know why anyone would think posters ARE necessarily honest about their
Edited on Wed Sep-10-08 09:10 AM by patrice
party affiliations nor whom they support. They know what kind of reaction their hideous writing gets from your mom and her friends and that's why they do it.
Lying means very very little to very very many people.
Only a true DUmmy can relate to this.
eShirl (1000+ posts) Wed Sep-10-08 09:24 AM
Response to Original message
21. frankly, I think their real reason is they're racist
When all else fails......
ashrob123 (70 posts) Wed Sep-10-08 09:29 AM
Response to Original message
27. Well, I don't know your mama
but I'll tell you this. Any long time Democrat who was voting for Clinton based on his/her political beliefs who who are now voting for McCain because of perceived sexism is a liar. They are voting for McCain because Obama is Black. Period.
And no one can tell me otherwise.
Buncha racists.
phillysuse (589 posts) Wed Sep-10-08 09:29 AM
Response to Original message
28. Bet your Mom didn't vote for Shirley Chisholm when
she ran for President.
Your Mom isn't a Vagina American - she is a racist.
Hamlette (1000+ posts) Wed Sep-10-08 09:38 AM
Response to Original message
32. which blogs does your mom read? And her friends? They are the worst kind of sexist.
first you say they are upset about the attacks on Palin then you say they don't read blogs.
the media has handled Palin with kid gloves, its only the blogs that have attacked her.
So how can they be supporting her because of the blog attacks when they don't read the blogs?
My mother, a VERY strong Hillary supporter, who worked outside the home her whole life and lived in Alaska for years thinks Palin is an insult to women everywhere.
I agree with her and I'm a mother who worked outside the home my whole life.
Voting for someone because of his or her sex is sexism. We should fight it or ignore it.
Not only racist, but sexist as well.
There's more. Flame is starting to get really big.
