An exchange with my republican mom about the presidential race

[A Little Weird]

I know anecdotal tales are not worth much to most people but I just wanted to share this.

Awhile back (somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas), I was visiting my family and my rabid republican dad mentioned that he loved Trump. Our exchange was something like this:

Dad: "That Trump is something else, he doesn't give a shit what anybody thinks, he just tells it like it is."

Me: "You can't be serious! That guy is a total moron. Would you really want him in charge of the country's nukes?"

Dad: "He wouldn't be so rich if he was a moron. And I hope he nukes the Middle East back to the stone age!"

Me: "Jesus Christ."

Mom: "<using my first middle and last name> - don't you take the name of the lord in vain!" Then to dad: "I don't like Trump either, how can any Christian support him?"

Me: "Who do you like Mom? All the republicans seem like nutjobs to me."

Mom: "I think that Ben Carson seems nice."

Me: "Sigh."

Mom: "Who are you supporting? Surely not Hillary Clinton!"

Me: "No, I like Bernie Sanders. I think he has good ideas and is a genuinely good person."

Mom: "But he's a communist!! He scares me."

Me: "He's not a communist, he's a democratic socialist. People get scared by the label but if I had to compare him to someone, I think he is a lot like Franklin D. Roosevelt. Listen to his speeches sometime and I'll bet you'll see what I mean."

Mom: "Hmm."


Fast forward to this past weekend.

Mom: "I can't believe Trump is in the lead! America is in deep trouble."

Me: "Me neither. The republicans are all trying to out-crazy each other."

Mom: "I think that John what's-his-name from Ohio seems like the best one."

Me: "John Kasich. I don't like his policies either, but I agree that he seems to be the least crazy in the bunch."

Mom: "I listened to Bernie and I like him pretty well. If it's between Trump and Bernie, I will vote for Bernie. I like that he's consistent - he doesn't just say whatever he thinks the crowd wants to hear that day."

Me: "Wow, I'm glad! I really think he would make a good president."


I know it's not hardcore support and it's just one vote, but it's huge for me personally to hear my mom say that! For the most part, she doesn't pay much attention to politics. If she bothers to vote at all, she votes republican, but Trump is scaring her enough that she is paying attention this year!

[ghostsinthemachine]

1. That's it, it's over!

Bernie, Bernie, Bernie! (Sarcasm thingie goes here).

[guillaumeb]

2. I had breakfast with a bunch of retired, white, union workers recently.

Prime Trump supporters if you believe the hyperbole. I asked them who they were supporting. Nine of ten said Sanders. I was shocked, and I believe the level of his support is shocking a lot of people.

[A Little Weird]

3. I know several right-leaning people who like Bernie

I'm glad he has broad appeal. I think people of all political persuasions are drawn to authenticity.

[californiabernin]

4. This is an example of a bigger phenomenon.

I have heard similar stories over and over. Your mom is not alone in that view.

It's why the best chance of beating Trump is Sanders, as I have been trying to explain in multiple threads.

[jillan]

5. This!

[A Little Weird]

8. I think so too

I think he has a much better chance of beating any of the republicans than Hillary does.

[RoccoR5955]

6. Good on you

I have found that wherever people find out about Bernie's policies and how he has been over his entire career, be them Democrats, RepubliCLOWNS, Independents, Teabaggers, or otherwise, they like him.
I have even spoke to a lot of CONservatives around here who said that even though they don't agree with Bernie's policies, he is the only honest one who is running, and they would vote for him just for that, and because the country needs an honest president for a change.

[A Little Weird]

9. It's like a breath of fresh air

I hope he starts a new trend.

[jillan]

7. I would love to see this Presidential race come down to Bernie vs Trump.

That would be a fascinating race.

[A Little Weird]

10. It would be fascinating

Although the sooner Trump goes away, the better. He's already closer to the presidency than I'm comfortable with.

[Mufaddal]

11. Hey, great news!

Thanks for sharing your story. I've read many, many similar accounts. I've had similar conversations with my father-in-law, who is also quite right-wing but has no faith in the system or any of the Republican candidates.

On a lighter note, the beginning of your story reminded me of this:

[A Little Weird]

12. Lol

I've never seen that one. I'll have to try it at the next get-together.

[Stardust]

21. Lol!

[TheUndecider]

13. My mother has never voted

And she says she'll go vote against Trump in November

[A Little Weird]

14. She's never voted?!

I'm glad she's going to change that!

[TheUndecider]

16. Nope

She went from catholic nun to, married and pregnant in less than 3 months! Then discovered her true sexuality 10 years later. Then single mom of four. Her life just too hectic, her words. Her partner of many years passed and when I was there 'helping' I turned her on to Rachel Maddow whom she now loves.

I didn't read your tag till after I posted, editing to say I like it very much, I'm gonna push that quote out anytime I can, so thanks for that! Which work did that come from?

[A Little Weird]

18. The quote in my tag

You know, I just saw it on a poster in a shop I went into and really liked it. But I just googled it and now I'm not sure if it Dr. Seuss said it at all. It's also been attributed to Robert Fulgham. So I am going to edit the tag. I'm surprised I never looked it up before so thanks for asking!

[TheUndecider]

19. Let me know what you find!

Still a great username and tag irregardless!
I'm a little weird too! (Some would say a lot) haha

EDIT in my brief search this universally attributed to Dr Seuss

[A Little Weird]

20. I don't know, it's so easy to mis-attribute quotes in the internet age

This site has the best explanation I've seen so far.
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/02/14/love-weird/

I will probably look into it more later but for now I am going to change it to Robert Fulgham. I had no idea I was picking a contested quote!

[lady lib]

15. I love stories like this.

They give me hope.

[GreatGazoo]

17. The more people know about Sanders the higher his approval goes

His home state knows on average the most about him and they LOVE him.

Rule #1 in primaries is "Define your opponent before your opponent has a chance to define themselves." And the "Bernie is a communist" thing flows from that kind of strategy and so does "Bernie is a one issue candidate." It is like the first motion in any court case defense -- they make a motion to dismiss. It is usually a long shot but the faster they get rid of the attack the cheaper it is for them. Same in primaries.

Fortunately we have best counter in recent memory for such attacks, we have Bernie. And the more people see and hear him the mroe they like him.