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This Suburban Housewife Has To Break Party Lines: Goodbye Hatred

I can’t do it. I can’t vote for a Presidential team (because that’s what John McCain and Sarah Palin are) that doesn’t have the courage to say, “we’re not going to be hateful.”

I can’t bring myself to be a part of the party that would not vote for a man because of his father’s religion. I don’t care what color your skin is.

I am an American woman, and (up until W) a consistently conservative voter. Yesterday was Yom Kippur. As I passed by Chabad and noted the 9mm pistols on the guards I remembered that I am a Lincoln Republican.  As one of the people they hate, I am in favor of a smaller government and a larger conscience.

Yes, conscience. I cannot have a woman in the White House who wouldn’t use her voice to shush people calling for Obama’s death. I will not have a man in the White House whose battle cry is “Who is Barak Obama?”, knowing that the answer is that he’s a black man with Muslim roots.

On our holiest of days, Jews in America still need to be armed. I strongly suspect that when The Good Ole Boys are tired of chasing down (brown) Muslims and Mexican immigrants (easily confused, no?) they’ll be coming for me and my children.

It’s with a great deal of sadness, and more than a little fear, that I’m resigning myself to voting Democrat in 2008.

Those aren’t speeches Sarah Palin is giving, they’re pep rallies, for the Klan. She’s missing a moral compass that I require in my leader.

0 thoughts on “This Suburban Housewife Has To Break Party Lines: Goodbye Hatred”

  1. What a brave and beautiful post! I don’t think you’re alone Jessica. As much as I’m an Obama Mama, I have many Republican friends whose hearts are broken at the very flaws you describe. In fact I’m writing about it now; economic times are hard on Jews always, as you know. I’ve been reading up on Father Coughlin. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but once the poison is out of the bottle….
    Again, hats off.

  2. What a brave and beautiful post! I don’t think you’re alone Jessica. As much as I’m an Obama Mama, I have many Republican friends whose hearts are broken at the very flaws you describe. In fact I’m writing about it now; economic times are hard on Jews always, as you know. I’ve been reading up on Father Coughlin. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but once the poison is out of the bottle….
    Again, hats off.

  3. We might be traveling a reflective path. I was very unsure up until a week ago. However, the only thing that makes me want to vote Repub now is the dumb things some Dems have said to me:

    “Palin wants to overturn Roe V Wade.”

    Yeah, that’s just not going to happen.

    “Palin will take books out of libraries!”

    Seriously? Really not ever happening.

    You’d be amazed at the educated and powerful mouths these statements have fallen from.

  4. This post literally made me cry.

    I have watched this week as the McCain-Palin rallies show us the worst of what America can be. I’m so happy to see you taking a stand against hatred, intolerance, and ignorance of the worst kind. I only wish our candidates would follow suit–all of them.

  5. Thank you for a well-thought-out post. I don’t care if you’re a communist or a Repbulican. I just don’t see how anyone with a conscience or an ounce of sense can vote for a team that includes Palin (I’m putting aside the issue of McCain for now). She’s dumb, uninformed, mean and, yes, dangerous. And if she winks at me one more time on camera I’m going to reach through the screen and wring her hockey-mom, mavericky neck.

    As for McCain–I just think he’s sold his soul to the Devil (Rovian politics, anyone?). It’s sad. He’s not the man he used to be.

    Thank you for your sensible vote. . .I know it was very hard for you and I’m sure many of us appreciate your thoughtful approach to this issue. Too many knee-jerk folks out there blindly voting party lines.

    If history has taught us anything, in precarious economic times we Jews, especially, have to be vigilant–which means not giving succor and support to hate-mongerers. In synagogue yesterday I was reading a book by a former professor of mine (my husband often brings jewish-themed books to long services). I was struck by the relevance of the following line: “The Nazi period serves as a warning of what we can all too easily become were we faced with a political or economic crisis of overwhelming proportions.” This comes from a short work called THE CUNNING OF HISTORY: THE HOLOCAUST AND THE AMERICAN FUTURE, by Richard L. Rubenstein. (It was published by Harper in the 1970s–if anyone is interested, although I doubt it is still in print. It has a nice foreward by William Styron, fwiw).

  6. I’m impressed with your courage and honesty, and your willingness to make a change in the face of these extraordinary events. As a long-time Obama supporter, I sincerely hope that he’ll be able to far-exceed your expectations and make you glad you rejected the hatred and bigotry that McCain/Palin have come to stand for.

  7. Well, I hope you don’t mind that the man you are voting for has no respect for the State of Israel. And speaking of death – how about the partial birth abortion murders that this candidate took the floor to support? That wasn’t someone in the ground that wasn’t hushed, that was the candidate. And now that you have become part of the physic network, since you can read John McCain’s mind when he says we don’t know who Barack Obama is – do you know the winning lottery numbers for tomorrow night

  8. Winning numbers = 17, 63, 8, 45 and a hefty dose of fuck you too.

    This kills me, I’m completely humorless.

    I am disgusted by partial birth abortions, but more concerned about calls for the death of adults (for the moment).

  9. @honeycat:
    On Israel’s security: “Our job is to rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security throughout the region. That effort begins with a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: Our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy. That will always be my starting point.”

    “Obama supports Israel. Period.” Haaretz

    http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=832667&contrassID=25&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=1&listSrc=Y&art=1

  10. I’m not surprised. I couldn’t figure out how any Jew could go through the Days of Awe services and ignore the call to Heal the World. Well, I suppose Lieberman can. But you–one thing I’ve learned from reading your blog is that you are one moral chick!

  11. I have read as you’ve struggled with the actions and decisions of your party as this campaign has unfolded, and want you to know I admire that you have taken a stand such as this. I wish all voters, regardless of party affiliation, were as introspective and thoughtful about the issues as you.

    Also, when you get a minute, take a peek at this post, which spells out where the candidates stand on LGBT issues. I don’t know the author, but was referred there by a friend. Seems her facts are in order.

  12. Jessica I promise I had my domain before the elections and I’m not a majorly active political type but this is redneck dawn.

    Palin’s rallies are really frightening and I’m sorry but this is not America.

    I’m glad someone as intelligent and well-spoken as yourself is doing the right thing and voting for humanity.

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