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Sunday, November 7, 2004

Why the Democrats Lost - Part 2

Someone calling herself "A Very Sad American" has an open letter to the Democrats: How You Could Have Had My Vote:

Lastly, and I hope this doesn't hurt anyone feelings, because my objective is to make you think, not emote: I don't think you really want my vote. I actively sought out your perspective. I tuned in regularly, for months, to your biggest media project, your serious effort to get your message out: Air America Radio. I listened all day on Good Friday as host after host mocked people like me for believing in Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. I listened as Janeane Garofalo, who was one of my favorite comedians for years, expressed hatred and disgust for Bush voters so vile that I ended my live stream feeling assaulted, as if I'd been vomited on. I listened the night that Mike Malloy told a young Republican to hang up the phone and go open a vein. I listened to pure, unadulterated venom that was so intense I sometimes cut the stream and cried. Tonight, your spokespeople on AAR have been calling people like me "snake-handling evangelicals," and that was about the kindest thing I heard. Um…y'all? I've lived in the South my entire life and have never met a single snake-handler.

Neither have I. So, here is a voter who is perhaps a bit left of center and who describes herself as "not extremely religious". However, the Democrats managed to alienate her so much that she reluctantly voted for Bush. As always, RTWT. (Link via Twisted Spinster.)

Incidentally, the part I've excerpted makes note of the open hostility that many on the left have towards people of faith. Now, I realize that there are orthodox, serious Christians who are not at all politically conservative. I'm curious as to how left-leaning Christians feel about their political allies having such disdain for their deeply held beliefs.

Then, there's the Michael Moore factor. I remember Hugh Hewitt predicting that Moore would be to the Dems this year what Pat Buchanan was to the GOP in 1992. It looks like Jeff Jarvis, who supported Kerry, would agree with that. (Via Joe Gandelman posting at Dean's World.)

Comments

Susan, that animosity of the left for the right is so strong. I commented recently on my experience as a Unitarian Universalist. The animosity was so strong it drove me away, even before I chose to become a Christian. I couldn't understand how a group could worship 'tolerance' and be so hateful.

Posted on November 8, 2004 at 9:30 PM

I'm amazed that, for the most part, the left seems to be completely blind to how they are coming across. Those already mentioned, along with people I used to like listening to like Garrison Keillor, don't seem to understand that they're not being very persuasive when every word is accompanied by a slap. I listen to them, read what they say about the right, and I say to myself "I have no idea who they're talking about. That isn't even a crude charicature of me or those who think like me."

The thing that I occassionally wonder about is if those of us on the right are similarly blind to our own offensive behavior.

Posted on November 9, 2004 at 10:30 AM

Joel & Roy,

The hate I've seen being vomited out towards Christians by lefties and the MSM this past week is so overwhelming that I can't help but be angry. Even the more moderate and libertarian types are saying stuff like, "Well, you guys were asking for it, because someone once handed me a Chick tract." I also hate the stupid meme that concern about "moral values" equals obsession with gay "marriage".

I'm tired of being called "stupid" and "poor" and "easily led". I'm tired of the sick caricature of my beliefs being paraded around and laughed at. I'm tired of non-Christians telling me I'm just too silly for taking offense at this stuff and then say I should "turn the other cheek". What? They don't even believe in the Gospels but yet they are using them to preach to me? Shove off!

Roy, I agree that sometimes the right has said offensive things too. But right now, I don't care who I offend. The left has earned every bit of my contempt and scorn!

Sorry for the rant...well, actually I'm not. I may expand it into a post later...if I'm still angry.

Posted on November 9, 2004 at 2:48 PM

Susan,
In my haste I didn't phrase things well, I'm afraid, especially when I mentioned being offensive. I'm not so concerned about that, because I've lived long enough to know that the truth is offensive. No matter how you attempt to soften the blow, or sugar coat it, the truth can be a bitter pill.

What I am concerned about is whether we're being blind to when we're flat out wrong about something. Does that make more sense?

Posted on November 10, 2004 at 1:34 PM

Roy,

Yes, it does...and you're right. I think it's important for conservatives to engage in critical thinking about their beliefs. While we may have our blind spots, I think that generally we are far more open to critical thinking than the left.

Well, I never did expand the angry rant into a post. I'm just too tired to rant, I guess.

Posted on November 10, 2004 at 9:20 PM

So much for tolerance, right?

I am non-partisan, but mostly vote republican because of the same sentiments expresed above. The liberal left is so hateful and intolerant of people of faith, that they actual do a disservice to themselves. Who wants to be in line with a hypocrite?

Posted on November 13, 2004 at 2:06 AM

Hi Philothea Rose,

I agree...the Democrats don't even try to reach out to people of faith. (Well, when they campaign, they make speeches at black churches, but they are reaching out more on the basis of race than faith in those instances.) They have completely written them off. This is proving to be a losing strategy.

Posted on November 14, 2004 at 1:11 PM



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