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October 4, 2007When & why I left the Democrat partyMy turn from left to right began with the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas debacle, and Captain Ed does a great job of demonstrating in this post exactly how despicable and underhanded was the behavior of the left in that circumstance. Ed has been writing about Clarence Thomas for several days now, and all of his posts are worth reading, but do read that first one I’ve linked to, because I remember watching that exchange and becoming more and more frustrated by what I saw members of my party doing. I remember watching this “high-tech lynching” and knowing that Thomas was correct; that was exactly what it was. I remember people testifying on behalf of Thomas and both the press and the congress simply dismissing them (in much the same way Democrats dismissed Gen. David Petraeus, recently) before they’d opened their mouths. I remember the whole sense of bared-teeth salivation coming from my party, and I remember thinking, “wait…this isn’t right…” It was like a coming of age. I remember reading my local newspaper and finally canceling it, because the writing had clearly and distinctly moved from “reportage” to “propaganda” in the space of what seemed like a few weeks. When I called to cancel the subscription they asked why and I told them pretty much this: “I’m very interested in these hearings, and I look to the paper for information and instead I’m being served something very different from what my own eyes are seeing, what my own brain is receiving. Instead of unbiased information that allows me to decide for myself, I’m getting something very unbalanced, and I don’t want it.” A few hours later a woman from that newspaper actually called me up and asked me if it was true that I had canceled my subscription because of their coverage. I said yes, and she said, “you mean you actually believe him?” I was stunned. “Yes, I do,” I said. “And I can’t believe you’re calling me like this. Your job is supposed to be about informing, not persuading.” She sputtered but by then I was hanging up. The Clarence Thomas hearings were the beginning, for me. They were when I began to open my eyes and see something happening within my party - the Democrat party my entire family had been loyal to for as long as I could remember - that I really did not like. I’ve been trying to balance myself, ever since. For a little while, I believe I may have gone too far right in an over-correction, but that was another uncomfortable fit and not where I wanted to be, either. There are plenty of folks on the right who are as interested in a lockstep mentality as there are on the left, and nastiness abounds on both sides, so I’ve recently found myself stepping more and more toward the center and marching to my own drum. I keep thinking back to Abraham Lincoln’s important words, which I quoted here:
We really must get ahold of our emotions and not allow them to replace reason when it comes to the future of our nation. Having said that - as much as I am now trying to step to my own drum, I can echo to you what Ronald Reagan said: I did not leave the Democrat party; it left me. And these Clarence Thomas hearings were the start of it. Frankly, watching the Democrats do this incredible, manufactured smear job on Rush Limbaugh (of whom I have more than once written I am not a fan) tells me I’m well out of it, too. This “scorched earth” policy which the Clinton’s brought to the fore during the Clinton 42 campaigns is ruthless and shameless, and it is intellectually so dishonest as to be embarrassing. And the tit-for-tat “oh, you didn’t like the Petraeus ad, but Rush did it too,” mentality is remarkably idiotic; the Petraeus ad was a planned and thought-out slander; the “phony soldiers” remark was a spontaneous moment of a conversation - a simple brain/mouth shortcut that delivered imprecise language, such as we are all capable of delivering at times. And the Democrats are revealing something incredibly ugly about the state of that party as they go about trying to make something huge out of something small, something real out of something not real. The Democrats are revealing that they are not serious about real issues, anymore; they’re only serious about winning elections, consolidating power and destroying identified enemies who - incredibly - are all domestic. As they try to crack down on dissent both within and without the party (is there any dissent anymore, within the Democrat party? Is there a dissenting Democrat who dares to do so, in the press? In the Congress? On the blogs?), and within alternative media, they’re actually getting a little scary, to me. Taranto has a must-read on Thomas and those hearings. Btw, I just ordered my copy of My Grandfather’s Son, by Clarence Thomas, last night. http://theanchoressonline.com/2007/10/04/when-why-i-left-the-democrat-party/trackback/ 28 Responses to “When & why I left the Democrat party” |
October 4th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Let’s Review!…
Border of the Living Albinos Freeberg is so NOT buying “the poor precious babums vs. the “cruel veto pen” blather — from either side. He’s also not down with the “racism” crapola and supplies you with albinos to prove it.By the way… what does…
October 4th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
“As they try to crack down on dissent both within and without the party (is there any dissent anymore, within the Democrat party? Is there a dissenting Democrat who dares to do so, in the press? In the Congress? On the blogs?), and within alternative media, they’re actually getting a little scary, to me.”
Well, there is Senator Joe Leiberman. Oh wait, the Dems tossed him out.
Never mind.
Kos Kidz Kool-Aid anyone?
October 4th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Good day nice ladyperson…I find I am reading you daily for a reality check from the screaming…and finding that you always give me a pearl. BTW, go Yankees tonight! Like you, I left the Democratic party that I was rasied in. Or at least, what I believed in prior to 1972. For me it was the foolishness of the party after HHH and then the nominating of MCG…I could no longer see a home for me when tearing down the society and country was more important to the Dems. What I find comforting is to pray, to pray as much as possible without ceasing and realize that He does have a purpose in the events of 2007 in the world…be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid; neither be thou dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Interesting, Anchoress. One of my majors was communications when the Thomas hearings began. An assignment for one class (Professor Marzov, I think) was to read the coverage in three newspapers and do both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Among other things, we had to identify and count words or phrases that were subjective, rather than objective, statements. We also counted how many quotes (and how long) were given Hill supporters and by Thomas supporters. Not counting Catherine McKinnon stories (our university’s personal guru on sexual harrassment - and bona fide flake, as I learned in law classes), the coverage was truly appalling. Even people who tended to sympathize with Hill were surprised by our findings.
Not only did I learn how unobjective reporting is, I also learned that radio and TV stations often regurgitate the news from other sources; e.g. paraphrasing the morning’s newspaper editorial and calling it “news”.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
I think it was Waco that made me start to wonder. If a Republican president and Attorney General had been responsible for something like we know how the press would have reacted.
As for Clarence Thomas, he was badly used.
Like you I am coming back to center. I think the thing that annoys me the most about the right is how often they do dirty work for the left. Right now they seem willing to put another Clinton into the White House rather than to give an inch.
Disgusting.
As for Rush, I am not a fan, but this is silly. Just like the silliness with O’Reilley in a Harlem restaurant. Hopefully the PC police will over play their hands and everyone will just ignore them.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
“When & why I left the Democrat party”…
Yep, me too….
October 4th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
so very well said. I find myself feeling like there isn’t a political party that represents America anymore. The Liberal Democrats and the ultra right Republicans both scare me and cause me great worry. What is happening to our country? and what can we do to correct the insanity?
October 4th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I have to agree with your turn from the left to right. Same thing for me as I watched the democrats turn from being the “Party of the People”, which my parents thought it was, to the party of the total fruit loops which is what it is today. Unfortunately.
I trend conservative, but am finding more aggravation lately listening to so-called conservatives tear down Rudy Giuliani for things we can all agree to disagree on, politely, and things that he may have no direct influence on in the end anyway. You know and I know what he did for NYC, and all those things were conservative to the max. Anyone who does not see it is deliberately blind.
Sigh. It’s not easy trying to be a reasonable human being these days, is it?
October 4th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Lately, when the inevitable rants on Limbaugh,other radio entertainers, or our noble troops and their Generals, the song,”Bring in the Clowns” runs through my head. I wish I had a recording. My mind paints a colorful picture of Harry and Nancy et al in full face paint. Joseph Mccarthy finally tripped over his size 25 shoes….maybe the Democrat clowns will trip over their baggie pants.
October 4th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Mommynator, I am a conservative, and yet I’m willing to give Rudy his chance to make his case for the nomination. Same with Fred Thompson and the others. I’m sure many others are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Anchoress, have you seen The Politico yet today? The whole smear against Rush is going down to the point of absurdity… Wait, I correct myself… to outright slander. I hope he has a good legal case against Media Matters and the others, and that a good lawyer is taking account of all of it.
October 4th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Thank you ever so much for your comments. I was just having a discussion with my wife this morning about how much my feelings have changed towards the Democratic party. They are much further out of favor with me than I ever wanted to admit. What’s frightened me about coming over to ‘the other side’ is what appears to be the same amount of slavering, screaming and yelling as the left. I’ve been begging for voices of reason on BOTH sides, and now I appear to have found at least one.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
[...] When & why I left the Democrat party [...]
October 4th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I love your blog and today’s was no exception. Well, with one caveat, your comment about “the ‘phony soldiers’ remark was a spontaneous moment of a conversation - a simple brain/mouth shortcut that delivered imprecise language, such as we are all capable of delivering at times.” I was actually listening to Rush at the time of the comment and had also heard him in the previous broadcast discussing Jesse MacBeth in detail. This remark was most definitely not a “brain/mouth shortcut”. What he said was absolutely true as has been proven by the court in sentencing Jesse to jail. What is really so sad in all of this is that the story of MacBeth was out months and months ago (I recall reading it on “Sweetness & Light” a l-o-n-g time ago. He is a phony soldier and it has absolutely nothing to do with his stance against the war. It has to do with him washing out of boot camp after 44 days and then claiming to have gone to Iraq and seeing horrible atrocities perpetrated over there. It is positively surreal to see people like John Kerry who, though having served, 1) chose to accompany a “phony soldier” when he went to Capitol Hill to describe all kinds of atrocities back in the day; 2)claimed that our Marines were breaking into homes in the dead of night and terrorizing women and children, and 3) made a”joke” about the troops in Iraq being there because they were ignorant and had no other choices–. Yet now he can come out against Limbaugh without batting a jaundiced eye. See also Harkin, et. al. The saddest part of all this is that now words can be taken out of context, mixed around, made to fit any template and no one, least of all the media who should at least check sources for facts, instead spread the suppositions and downright lies. All anyone had to do was check the timeline, check the archives, call Rush and ask him, check out his website, etc. But they are so wimpy and fearful of talking with someone who can actually refute them that they prefer to just throw the mess out there. I see this whole saga as a ploy to distract the electorate from Murtha, the Betray Us ad which bombed astronomically, Harry Reid’s investment in defeat, and Pelosi’s incompetence.
October 4th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I was never registered as a Republican in my youth and I supported McGovern over Nixon. I went back and forth in my political beliefs, but as a veteran seeing the Democrats sell out the South Vietnamese and the besmirching of the honorable sacrifice of those who served in our military caused me to move to the right of center and register as a Republican. I have never forgiven the Democrats and I am reminded almost daily why I hold them in utter contempt. Especially when few in that party will stand up and call the attacks on General Petraeus, Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. O’Reilly and Mr. Juan Williams what they are, despicable partisan attacks that do an injustice to our right of free speech and serve to embolden our enemies to our country’s detriment.
It is a shame that we do not have the legal right to challenge these people to a duel to “recover” our honor from their intemperate words. We are supposedly much more civilized now, but looking at Democrats who serve in the Senate such as Senator Kennedy who permitted a young girl to die, Senator Leahy who leaked a covert campaign against Libya and may have caused the death of a US supported operative, Senator Byrd a former member of the KKK, Senator Harkin and Kerry who falsified their military resumes and Senator Clinton who continues to support a husband who has had acknowledged sexual affairs and has been accused of criminal sexual attacks, one wonders if character and integrity have any standing today and what consequences such actions engender; obviously little reproach from the MSM or the voters of their respective states.
October 5th, 2007 at 9:08 am
[...] are leaving the Republican party, but there was a time when the migration flowed the other way. The Anchoress [h/t Patrick J. Conlon] explains why (and when) she left the Democrats. Whichever party we’re [...]
October 5th, 2007 at 9:12 am
[...] same former mayor whose office he now occupies. And a real Democrat? What’s that? Is there such a thing [...]
October 5th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Anchoress, I lef the Democratic party too, but I left during the debacle of the Jimmy Carter Administration. I had been a moderately liberal Democrat from the day I registered to vote on my 18th birthday in 1972. I missed that presidential election by one month. After college I decided to do a hitch in the US Air Force as a way to buy myself some time before I would have to “grow up” and become a responsible adult in the real world. That hitch turned into a 26 year career. I would have to say that it was my time in the military that changed me from a moderately liberal Democrat into a slightly more than moderately conservative Republican. It was Carter that I can thank from the bottom of my heart for “helping” me see the light.
When I joined the military in 1977, our economy was heading for financial ruin. I’m sure you can remember the double digit inflation, double digit mortage interest rates, and then there was the kicker that finally drove me to the other side: Carter’s handling of the Iranian hostage situation and his allowing the overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of an Islamic dictatorship in Iran. What we are facing in the world today, is a direct result of the ineptitude of Jimmy Carter. During the next election I was one of those Reagan Democrats who then became a Repubican shortly after. I’m glad I did.
I have become completely disgusted with the leadership of the Democratic Party. As a retired member of the US Air Force, I find their anti-military positions, as well as the anti-military positions of their power base revolting. We are at war. Whether or not we agree with this war, we have men and women dying overseas to help keep us, including them, safe.
It’s time to stop being so nice and polite and “Politically Correct,” and let’s start exposing these people for what they really are. They are not Progessives, they are not Liberals. They are anti-American Marxists. Their goal is the overthrow of the United States Government and the establishment of a Socialist quasi-dictatorship as revenge for Ronald Reagan taking down the Soviet Union. They have been working under the radar and behind the scenes since the early 1900s. They read right out of a chapter of their philosophical mentors; Herbert Marcuse, Antonio Gramsci, and Eduard Bernstein. They have all the pieces in place now to enact this revolution as a bloodless coup with the election of Comrade Hillary Rodham Soros Clinton in 2008. We better wake up, and we better wake up, and grow up, real soon.
October 5th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
newton - just to be clear, I realize there are a lot of “grass roots” conservatives who are willing to hear Giuliani out.
I was speaking of the pundits and well known conservatives who just jerked their knees and closed off their brains to the possibility that he may actually be the best man for the job. Reasoned disagreement is fine. It’s just the jerkiness of the knees (anyone for Requip? Sorry, I work in a sleep lab) that disturbs me.
Thanks for your honesty and open mind.
October 5th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Great post.. I chimed in here at
A Catholic Talks About Why She Left the Democrat Party
http://opinionatedcatholic.blogspot.com/2007/10/catholic-talks-aboutr-why-she-left.html
I mentioned that the latest PEW survey that included Pope Benedict also is telling
The GOP or more to the point COnservative bloggers and pundiots can learn some lessons from this. I know there are some issues that are Do or Die in the party. However from the Dubai Port Deal to the emotional issue of illegal immigration there has been an attitude of there not allowing any dissent. I hope we don’t repeat the same mistakes
October 5th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
LEt me add one other thought at least from a Catholic /Christian view. THe Vatican Secretary of State visted the USA a little over a month ago. HE gave a far ranging set of talks. A few months before if people remember several Democrat Politician got togther and said the Pope should not talking about denying communion to Pro -Choice politicans. I thought the Cardinal Sec of States remarks quite apt that he made in Nashville at what appears to aimed that group. I spent some time looking for this and I am glad I did now.
He said:
Idon’t think it is necessary to repeat new norms because the norms are well explained in the doctrine of the Church, and those norms which deal with the proper stance and stance of people who want to receive Communion.
I’d like to underline one particular thing, especially here in the United States where the freedom of conscience is a major issue. On the basis of the Catholic identity, the man who is in public office or the man who is a politican, I can’t understand how a party whether it be an American party or an Italian party, how a particular political party can impose an ethical choice on the member of that particular political party.
I am speaking here about the question of abortion, about homosexual marriage, about embryonic research, all the points that were dealt with so eloquently by the Supreme Knight Anderson yesterday.
It’s exactly based on the question of this freedom of conscience that a party cannot impose a particular choice on an individual. I find this a great contradiction here in the United States but also in other places as well that these ideas can be imposed by a particular party.”
http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2007/08/meet-bertone.html
Seems apt
October 5th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Funny, my conversion came about the same time. It was the Thomas hearings that got me interested in digging deeper into politics and not just voting Democrat because I was a Chicagoan. It was my boss - a successful small businessman - who was so outraged by the way Thomas was being treated that got me interested.
And I thank God he did.
October 6th, 2007 at 5:18 am
Weekend Wrap Up…
Jo’s Weekend Wrap Up OTB Post
……
October 7th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
See, I was too young to be affected by the Thomas hearings. But I left the left anyhow - what triggered my enlightenment was the realization, upon doing a little research, that Michael Moore was completely and totally full of it.
October 7th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Anchoress,
Your blog has been a continuing blessing to me: thank you for sharing you thoughts, trials, experiences, and insights.
As to the current subject, you & I come to much the same position from different directions (My wife would tell you I’m somewhat to the right of Ghinges Khan). Even so one of the things we have in common is respect for those we disagree with, provided they are respectably honest. Important political debate should be a persuasive search for the right, not propaganda or domineering party dictat. Honest men can disagree on many subjects, but so much of what passes for political speech today is merely juvenile angst and ‘gotcha’ shtick. Where the heck are the adults? …not in Congress, that’s for sure.
Some wise man once said “Better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” So I’ll sign off, and hope that the very loud shysters (on both sides) find the wisdom to do the same.
October 8th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Dear anchoress,
Re: over-correcting to the right. A wise man once told me that ALL correction is over-correction. After all, it’s hardly likely we’d get it right the second time any more than the first, right? So we can’t be afraid of it… we just get prepared to correct again! Like driving a car, little nudges to hopefully stay in the center lane.
Although I consider myself a Republican, as a Christian I find there’s a limit to how far I can identify with either the left or the right. Why? Because flesh operates in both parties, shutting down dissent, stifling thought, elevating Wrong as Right. It may perhaps be true that one party is currently worse than the other in this regard but I have no doubt the scales will eventually shift the other way.
Respectfully,
Brian P.
October 8th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Anchoress, I was a teenager during the Hill/Thomas debacle, but I do remember watching it. I was still too naive to take it all in and form a solid opinion, but I do remember it as “sordid.” I do remember feeling sympathy for Thomas. I didn’t consider myself as aligned with either political party at that time, as I was still quite young, but I remembered when I was old enough to start voting that I had resolved myself to vote for the person whose ideals best aligned with my own. I knew fully that that wouldn’t be 100%. That’s a given. Both of my parents were working-class, middle-class Democrats. So were my grandparents. The Democratic party was different back then though. I remember being turned off by the Democrats during the Clinton administration and I’ve never given them a second glance since that time. I can wholeheartedly say that while I do not always agree with how the GOP handles or doesn’t handle things, I can’t align myself with the Democratic party in any way whatsoever. I don’t want to be in cahoots with baby-murders and gay rights activists.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
This post is a few days old but wanting to comment here prompted me to register and it took a bit to get a password.
I love this site. I feel like I’ve found a good, thinking bunch of individuals.
Anyhow, to add my two cents. I left voting for the Dems (I’ve been independent since ‘92) after 9-11, but the foundation really cracked after the Barak deal was turned down by Arafat, and the Second Intifada began. I distinctly remember following the story all year and more than a few of us were hopeful. No one could believe he turned it down. Then, when Israel defended itself against attacks, the left condemned… you know the story… Israel! I was apoplectic. I then began to look more closely at the beliefs held by the left (and myself, who was attracted to their words). Affirmative action: I always thought it should be based on economics, not race. I’ve learned that some won’t let the race issue go because it keeps them in power. Immigration: I’m second generation American, and my family is grateful to be here, learned English, and have always considered ourselves lucky to be Americans. Taxes: I think lefties tend to like the European model of letting the government take your money and then dolling it out, but righties like to decide where to put their money. And I have learned that many on the right tithe their salaries, which I do not think is as common on the left. Very recently, I am steamed at Hillary’s proposal to have the government put aside $5,000 for people’s retirements. Why should I pay for someone else’s lack of planning? I plan for myself, so should they. People need to make better choices, not expect the government to take care of their every need.
Finally, I am ashamed that I ever voted Democratic when I consider the 40M+ human lives that have been aborted since ‘73, just in the US. The linguistic acrobatics that happen in the name of killing pre-born humans is really unbelievable. Kudos to the pro-life forces that have kept up the fight. I join you now, and I am deeply sorry I haven’t until these last few years. I take responsibility for my own voting record on this, but I do want to say that it makes me realize how pernicious it is to have the government say something is legal, even as appalling as abortion is. When I was 18 I registered to vote. I was raised in a house that respected the law and authority. When a couple of years later a good friend wanted to have an abortion, I considered my role as her friend. I gathered for her much info about Catholic adoption agencies and offered to schedule my college classes, along with her, so we could take care of the baby she might have. She decided to get the abortion. I remember thinking it through in my mind and considered that I was seeing the choice thing played out; that even though I disagreed with it, it was okay because it was legal, and this is what the choice issue sometimes boils down to. Looking back, today there would be a 20 year old young man or woman in this world who isn’t here now. She thinks about it on Mother’s day and I suspect other times. We both made a mistake that day. Hers was greater, but my support of her no matter what was misplaced. I would not have supported her if she “owned” another human being. I would not have supported her if she was a bigot. But I supported her right to abort her child, all because I figured it must be okay if the government said it was legal. God Bless the people who have not let this issue die.
These are some of the big reasons I no longer vote Democratic.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Not sure if my comment went thru. “Bad behavior” might be blocking it.