My younger sister and her family has been staunchly Romney until she was dx with Breast Cancer today

[demtenjeep]

Last edited Fri Oct 19, 2012, 11:42 PM - Edit history (1)

I am sure that her husband is the one saying his family will vote for Romney becuase of that uppity #%R$! W#R$ in the white house. You know the kind that would have the sticker saying put the white back in the white house....


She and I just got off the phone and now because of her very scary diagnosis today called to ask about Obamacare and what it would mean for her. I gave her the facts and the best one...no one can refuse you insurance because you are now a pre-existing condition person. She is now in Obama's camp and is working on her family.

It is quite ironic because for years they used food stamps, had two babies using a medical card while they worked two shit jobs each just to make it. Then about 4 years ago, they moved to Missouri, are renting to own a really nice home. He has had the same great paying job from then on and she is in nursing school (on a pell grant) and only working one job in the same hospital that is helping her courses.

Their oldest son, got married and they had a baby on a medical card and got WIC ect.

They had said they couldn't afford another 4 more years like the last four. I pointed out how much better off they were the last 4 years and they wouldn't listen.

TILL today. She called me in tears and said she didn't know what she was going to do. I pointed out some provisions in Obama care that will be taylor made for their situation and she said "we got to keep him in then cause I will need this"

DUHHHH

I love her so much, she is my baby sister but it is sad that bad news like that is what has changed her mind of who to vote for. Never mind, that I have told her how Obama Care has been a blessing to me and my family, I guess it takes things to
"hit home" before they wanted to consider it.


Sad thing is, it has already hit home ME and my disease. If insurance had their way I would already be dead. The Crohn's Chemo I take is 3,000 a pop every six weeks and after 3 years it is no longer effective and we are now starting to document to make the switch to a new drug. With out the insurance provisions of No lifetime limit I would have already had to stop and very likely have been dead. She knows this but didn't care.

Now that it is her suddenly it isn't a "socialist program" it is somehting important for people.

[still_one]

1. All the best to your sister

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Best of luck to sis and family during this difficult time. *hugs*

[Arugula Latte]

3. Aaargh. So frustrating.

There are so many people like that -- they don't care until they have a personal stake in things.

Well, I hope she survives and goes on to vote as a Democrat for many years to come.

[bluestate10]

9. TYpical of people in the South and parts of the Midwest and interior West.

They have no idea of how much government support them. They sneer at blue state "liberals" without the slightest clue that those blue states are supplying the funds to run their state governments and if not for that money coming in, they would feel the effects of their stupidity.

I sincerely wish the OP's sister get well. I hope that the younger sister recognize how fortunate she has been to have had government in her life. But given some of the details about how the younger sister has benefited from government and is still benefiting while wanting to stranger those less fortunate, I don't hold out much hope. May be a jolt like cancer is what the younger sister needs to change her perspective to the better permanently. I can only pray that the younger sister wins her fight and become free of cancer, I pray that fight will cause her to expand her humanity.

[Darth_Kitten]

45. What you said.

Even a family member with health problems of their own wasn't enough to change her.
That should have been the "jolt".

[madrchsod]

4. hope everything works out ok for your sister and family.

[cheriemedium59]

5. Sending good thoughts and prayers for healing for your sister!

[progressivebydesign]

6. Good thoughts for your sister. Does she know that Romney will dump the Pell grants?

and when they own their home, he plans to dump the mortgage deduction? So many things, beyond the Obamacare, that would affect them. It is so shocking that people who relied on WIC and other social safety nets would vote for people that want to take that all away. Does it ever occur to people to look at the red States, that are controlled by Republicans and look at education, health, jobs, mortality, etc., and see how voting for the (R) is the reason why so many people are down in the past 12 years?

I hope that your sister has speedy recovery, and that her family realizes what is at stake in November.

[upi402]

7. It gets real when it hits home

Good luck to your sister

[Zalatix]

29. Ayup, it's called a "Come to Jesus" moment.

[BlueToTheBone]

8. Remind her he can't do it alone and

to vote McCaskill and Nixon (gov) and straight party to make sure she gets what she needs! Good luck.

[Cha]

10. wish the best for your sister and her family, demtenjeep!

Hope We DO get to Keep President Obama, too!

[Ilsa]

11. Give her and her family our best

Hopes and hugs for a good outcome. I don't want her to go broke over medical expenses, either.

After getting all kinds of assistance like they've gotten, you'd think they would have figured out by now how much people need help from the collective.

[demtenjeep]

13. I totally agree

we have had some spirited discussions over these things and how much "help" they have gotten over the years. I also told her to hurry and finish her program cause this would likely be the last semester for Pell Grants if robme gets in.

It took her getting sick to see how important this is

[Lex]

12. I don't understand people who only seem to care about themselves, but not others.

It's only important when it affects them, but fuck anyone else who might be in a bad situation like this.

[kath]

25. I'm with you. And many of these "I've got mine, fuck you" types call themselves Christians.

[lindysalsagal]

40. I have a personal theory that selfish, fearful people use religion to ameliorate/disguise/rationaliz

rationalize/excuse their childishness. Religions often serve up heaping helpings of "us vs them" thinking, which gives small, frightened people a false sense of security.

That's what the whole "War on Christmas" thing is about: They're essentially saying, "You're threatening my sibling-rivalry scheme that puts me ahead in line for daddy's favors."

They're religion tells them they're all the chosen people. It's perfect for the "me-first" mentality.

[Lilyeye]

30. Agreed and it kinda pisses me off

One of the women, who worked at the plant Bain closed down, said she was for Romney until she lost her job. When they become in need then they want to benefit from the very thing they were going to vote against. It didn't matter that other people were struggling and in need before them. It really does boil my blood, but better late then never. I really do hope the Op's sister makes it through.

[Sebass1271]

61. Ppl are selfish

This too, makes me really upset. Makes me not to want them to turn to us or join our cause and party if they didnt think about the well being of others to begin with. 

[cherish44]

14. I know several people who have flipped to democratic after things affected them personally

Wishing your sister well at this difficult time. I went through it with my mom 19 years ago when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer... now 19 years and 6 grandchildren later she is alive and thriving and saying this she enjoys life more than ever. Breast cancer can be beat!!

[demtenjeep]

18. we don't know the stage number yet. She meets with the oncologist on MOnday

they are just trying to have a carefree weekend.

[Baitball Blogger]

15. I know someone who is less frightened about getting laid off because of Obamacare.

Even though everyone's healthy, it's a load off his mind knowing that there will be health insurance, regardless of pre-existing conditions.

[Liberal_in_LA]

16. wow. Well, I wish her well. Hope she keeps voting dem after she's well

[OldDem2012]

17. Best wishes for your sister...

...I'm very sorry she had to find out this way that voting for Obama is her best choice.

[kath]

19. Too bad these assholes don't give a shit about anybody but themselves.

selfish dumbshit asshole fuckwads.

[Lucky Luciano]

38. Easy does it! That is the OP's sister just diagnosed with cancer!! nt

[demtenjeep]

67. its okay. Thank you

I have thought the same thing, but mostly I just hurt for my baby sister.

She is only 41 and her grandbaby just turned 1

[CitizenPatriot]

20. best to you and your family

don't forget to tell her that if she wants ObamaCare she better vote down the ticket too, since Republicans keep trying to repeal it in Congress.

Sorry it took this for her to get it, with you being so sick. Hugs

[demtenjeep]

22. haha, yea, I told her she always has to do what I do when we grew up

but she didn't have to get sick like me. She just laughed which was good because she mostly cried she is so scared

[CitizenPatriot]

47. I am so sorry for her fear

- anyone would feel that way. You're a good sister! Big hugs to you all (())

[spooky3]

21. +++++ to you and your family. But please check the timelines for the ACA carefully - some provisions

do not go into effect until 2013; others 2014, etc.

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html

[roguevalley]

23. sometimes it takes something like this. I will hold good

thoughts for your sister, her family and you.

[ballabosh]

24. Best of luck to you and your family.

You know, I see all of these posts on here about families torn apart by differences in their politics and I can't really relate. I was lucky to be born into a staunchly liberal family. I can't imagine being in your situation. I think it would kill me. Good luck to you.

[demtenjeep]

26. it has caused some strife for sure

Her husband de-firended me even tho I never wrote on his wall any political stuff, he just didn't want to see my political things

[marions ghost]

27. thanx for your story

and all best for your family.

Some people only learn by bitter experience. Now maybe your sister can get away from the damaging effect of being exposed to lies and delusional hate speak. I really think it adds to the kind of stress that can make one vulnerable to cancer and other disease.

[Barack_America]

28. There but for the grace of God go I.

Doesn't anyone think of this anymore?

I've always interpreted this to mean (to put it bluntly) we are screwed unless we have each other's backs.

[Justice]

31. thinking of you and your sister.

[Raine]

32. Many positive thoughts to your sister for a full recovery. nt

[magical thyme]

33. At least she finally got it...

my teaparty sister has recurrent breast cancer, currently in remission.

She bitched and bitched and bitched about "having" to sign onto Medicare when she turned 65. Then her husband lost his job, and I thought *maybe* she'd be grateful to have Medicare. Instead, she bitched and bitched about how they knew every detail about her.

After the Prez is re-elected and the housing market rebounds for sure, she'll probably bitch and bitch about not taking a huge loss when they're finally able to sell the oversized lakefront McMansion they never should have bought to begin with...

[ejpoeta]

56. gee, she doesn't have to have medicare. she can go to the market

and buy some herself. then that private company will know everything about her.

[WinkyDink]

34. The personal is political.

[formercia]

35. The GOP is the Party of selfish people

I hope your sis makes it OK.

[dsharp88]

42. Exactly. It's the to-hell-with-everyone-until-it-happens-to-me party. n/t

[msanthrope]

36. Best wishes to your sister and her family. nt

[MedicalAdmin]

37. Has she always been a self absorbed bitch?

It's people like her who kept this country from having a rational health care system for decades and decades.

It's people like her who I blame, along with insurance companies and the corrupt AMA, for my husbands early and preventable death.

And while I wish her well (and only because she has kids) I also wish that she and every other self absorbed bitch and bastard in this 3rd world country we laughingly call the greatest country would either get dead or get a clue.

I wish I could have more sympathy, but if I were to meet her and hear her story in person I would probably try to slap the stupid out of her.

Lee Ann. (using my deceased husbands account and not sure if that is kosher or not)

[upi402]

39. I'm just as pissed. But I like it when people change their thinking and make amends

Sounds like she's taking action after opening her mind. Pain is the touchstone of growth. It took pain for her to open her mind (yep, we're selfish animals to one extent or another).

OTOH
I hope there really IS a hell for the other vile skinsacks that are determined to step on anyone they can. Sociopaths all. I have learned to HATE those subhumans and actively wish them ill, very ill.

I sure hope you keep fighting the good fight in your husband's memory. I've fought for folks like us for decades FWIW and feel so helpless and useless in recent years.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

44. our selfishness holds us back. we were once better than this

I can't blame Ayn Rand for everything, but I do for selfishness. Since her philosophy took hold we have changed as a nation. I think those who are true believers have done the USA grave harm. And until there is a public rejection of her theory, we'll be pitted against eacb other and against reason for the forseeable future.

[barbtries]

66. it's good to see you here!

i just mentioned your husband in a post the other day.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=139595

he was the first person to come to mind after romney's boneheaded comment that americans don't die for lack of insurance.

i hope your healing is proceeding as smoothly as possible. all best to you and your family.

[Whovian]

41. So sorry that she had to experience such a tragedy,

For me, this sort of thing is beyond politics.

[stopwastingmymoney]

43. I'm sorry your sister was so insensitive about your health situation

My younger sister is similar and I know how hurtful that is.

Best to you and your family

[Fantastic Anarchist]

46. Me, me, me ...

... until it's you.

[PassingFair]

48. The "pre-existing conditions" provisions don't kick in until 2014 for adults.

Children were protected immediately.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Please!

[DhhD]

49. Sounds like she is on or could be on Medicaid as soon as it is approved

in the county hospital district of state office.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

50. Prayers for you and your family....

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

51. Hope your sis does okay. You should also point out Romney has pledged to REPEAL the ACA.

So if he is elected she could wind up right where she can't get coverage anymore.

[DonRedwood]

52. Good health to you and your family

Last edited Sat Oct 20, 2012, 04:16 PM - Edit history (1)

I hope both you and your little sis get better soon.

[silvershadow]

53. Prayers to your sister and the whole family.

[southernyankeebelle]

54. What was she thinking when she got WIC and a medical card? Did she think it was a gift from

god. Hell no. You and I and many others helped with our taxes to pay for them to help people in need. What gets me upset about people like your sister and people I know who have had the same in my family was they weren't thinking they were getting help from taxpayers until they could get on their feet. Now when other in their boat need the same help they don't think they deserve it. Listen my sister had breast cancer and she has health insurance. She is lucky but she doesn't realize if Obamacare is repealled she can be kicked off health care. So I feel your sister's pain and pray she gets through it. But like you I'm pissed because people should be rooting for each other long before we get seriously ill. It's nothing personal against your sister.

[ejpoeta]

57. they think it's different for them. they work hard and pay taxes

so they deserve it. everyone else are moochers and leaches. 'those people' as my family like to put it.

[southernyankeebelle]

63. Yep, I guess we have to start telling them look in the mirror. It is disgusting people take

advantage of these things but don't want to help others. I know some fall through the cracks but gosh not the majority.

[Wernothelpless]

55. Thanks for sharing your sister's story ...

My youngest sister's ex-husband committed suicide ... he'd been unemployable for so long and had bounced from one woman to the next so when he ended up living out of his car he blew the back of his head off so at least she'd have Social Security to raise their two daughters ... odd, as they are both evangelical hard-lined conservatives from Texas ...

When I developed breast cancer the neocons saw it as "Gawd's punishment" on me ... rather than the obvious scientific fact that I'm a DES Daughter and there are thousands of us in the same situation ...

I'm lucky ... Five years later I'm doing fine ... sans the dysfunctional family members ...

Your sister has had an awakening ... it's a slow process, but hopefully many more will wake up and pop the silly bubble they're residing within ...

[dchill]

58. Some of the best Democrats...

are former Republicans who remained so until something like this happened to them. Then they were shocked into reality and maturity at the same time.

[noiretextatique]

59. illness is its own wake-up call...my sympathies to your sister

i know exactly what it feels like to hear that diagnosis...sheer terror. there is life after that diagnosis...it will be five years in November for me since that diagnosis. the best thing your sister can do is to connect with other women who have been through it. they will provide her with a wealth of information and support. i also found this site invaluable: www.breastcancer.org. they have chat rooms for the various stages of treatment. waiting for test and pathology reports is is a special kind of hell, so i went to breastcancer.org and chatted with other women going through the same hell, and some who were in other phases of treatment. unfortunately, treatment protocols for breast cancer are like treatment for other illnesses: those with the best insurance get the best treatment. in california, women who have or had breast cancer are eligible for medi-cal, so when i lost my job, i did not lose my healthcare providers. i still receive treatment with the same doctors, and at the same hospital as when i had employer-provided insurance. please pm me if you like. it is very important for your sister to do her homework and get as much information about her diagnosis and pathology reports as possible. i got the best care because i knew what was available. please tell your sister there is life after this diagnosis, and i am praying for her strength. i lost my baby sister to breast cancer 18 months before i was diagnosed. this is for you

[demtenjeep]

62. thank you so much

lots of great information!

[noiretextatique]

64. you're so welcome

information is power, and information saves lives. best wishes to you both.

[GoCubsGo]

60. A republican is a Democrat whose ox has not been gored.

I am sorry to hear about your sister, and I wish her a full and speedy recovery. I know firsthand what hell breast and other cancers can wreak on people's lives. I hope the rest of her family wakes the hell up.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

65. A lot of these types believe Democrats are the party of the poor and they don't want to be poor,....

....so they vote Republican and learn to think like Conservatives as if they believe someone is going to come along and hear them and reward them for their party loyalty by offering them a management job and suddenly they will be rich.

There are a LOT of these white males who have had their wives leave them for being insensitive jerks. Here they are now alone in their mid-50s. They have devoted their lives to the Republican Party expecting that payoff that never comes and they wake up one morning, look at their lives and decide they are one of the "losers" they have railed against and in their despair they commit suicide. Some have even been known to go on a rampage. They will kill their wife and kids, set fire to the house and then go to their job to get their boss who never gave them what they feel they deserved and a few fellow workers they have argued with over the years before shooting themselves of having the cops kill them.

[demtenjeep]

68. that makes sense

I hadn't thought of that angle before

[Spitfire of ATJ]

69. I've run into these types before. There were a group of them working in the mailroom....

....listening to Limbaugh and adopting his attitude and really believing if upper management heard them they would end up on the Board of Directors.

These 20 something types would go through the building pushing a cart as if they owned the place. It was really quite hilarious to everybody and they often came off as if they were God's gift to women which made the women flirt sometimes just for the comedy.

What these guys don't get is the rich see them as suckers working on their behalf and they have ZERO intention of putting these idiots in charge of anything. They're more likely to hire their golf buddy's kid to a management position than some unconnected nobody with no degree.