When did you become a Democrat? Pre/Post Bush analysis.

[CivilRightsNow]

Just curious. I'd love to understand the reasons why people become Democrats.

Personally, I was born a democrat in a Democrat leaning family in the NE, but was raised in the south in a Republican/uninterested in politics family after my mother remarried. I learned about the parties growing up and I felt I had a place in the democratic party based upon the language of my heart. It just didnt speak republican in any way shape or form.

How bout you?

[morgan2]

1. never voted dem

switched from independant green voter to vote for kucinich in primary.

[zonmoy]

3. If kuchinich wins then I might vote democrat

otherwise I will probably vote green or some other third party canidate again.

[Catshrink]

2. I have consciously been a democrat since I was 16 years old.

How long that has been is none of your beeswax!

[CivilRightsNow]

6. :)

nt

[Catshrink]

10. Indeed!

[NoPasaran]

4. Voted for Eugene McCarthy in 1976

Otherwise always Democratic in general elections.

[BeatleBoot]

5. Since my Dad pulled me off the playground...

and made me go home to watch Nixon resign in disgrace on our new TV set.

I worked for Carter in '76 - I was in 6th grade then.

[lastliberalintexas]

14. I'm not alone!

Though I am a little younger than you (only by a few years). One of my earliest political memories is seeing the picture of President Carter on the front page of our local newspaper after he lost to Reagan- crying. I sat down and cried with him.

And my grandfather and I watched the Iran Contra hearings over the summer in 198?. Just for fun. :-)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. was a Democrat even when i was just a twinkle in my dem daddy's eye

and a longing desire in my dem momma's heart(and other parts):7

[LWolf]

8. Other.

I have never belonged to a party, before GWB. I have voted mostly for democrats, and some 3rd party candidates. I do not "do" republicans. I registered as a dem a year ago to 1. Support Dennis Kucinich in the primary, and 2. Defeat GWB.

[Red_Viking]

9. I can thank * for my conversion

I've always been such a vanilla, middle-of-the-road type when it comes to politics. During college at UT, I was lured into the Republican party by a close friend (who has also since become disillusioned). Mostly, I floated along, not paying any attention.

Then we got some new shrubbery in the White House.

Lord, lord, what a difference a day makes. The very first day whistle-ass was in office, I changed from an uninformed, politically amorphous blob to a truth-seeking, flamingly liberal activist. My boyfriend quietly guided me through the process, pressing books on me and engaging in discussions with me until all hours. He's been politically active and a self-proclaimed bleeding heart since the age of 6.

So, actually, I owe * a "thank you." Can that be delivered in the form of a boot up the behind?

:dem:

RV

[CivilRightsNow]

16. Thanks for sharing that..

Im surprised that according to the poll, you are the only relatively new convert.

[benburch]

11. I voted Libertarian until 2000.

I knew up front that Bush would be a DISASTER.

[MissMarple]

12. I voted for John McCain in the 2000 primary.

Like that did any good. But, I'm unabashedly liberal, just not always crazy about some Democrats.

[Lefty48197]

13. Since February 1976

I was a young teenager, but when I saw a TV ad for that guy from Georgia actually doing WORK on his farm, well then that's what this country needs: Someone who knows what it's like to work for a living.

[Piperay]

15. Raygun

did it for me, when he was Gov of CA. :puke:

[marigold20]

17. Campaigned for McCarthy in 68

I was too young to vote in 68 but a bunch of us were "clean for Gene" and went door to door for him. We combed our hippie hair and dressed up. I have a hazy memory (I must have been four years old) having a shouting match with a neighbor kid. I shouted "I like Ike." It was my last Republican moment.

[MrSlayer]

18. Since 1996.

Because I didn't really care to know any better before then.

[Damn Hippie]

19. Registered Democrat on January 5, 2004

I had been a Green since January 23, 1993.

Quiting the Green Party was like sobering up after a decade long drinking binge.

I guess I am in recovery.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Damn Hippie!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Ferretherder]

20. I hate to even say it, but,...

...I was never interested in politics as a young man, and even (gulp) voted for Raygun! However, since my eyes started opening in the early nineties, I've voted Dem straight down the line.

Better late than never.

[11 Bravo]

21. Bobby Kennedy brought me into the fold ...

and I've never looked back.

[solinvictus]

22. After 2000

I saw from the beginning that Bush was trouble. I voted for Alexander Haig in the 1988 Republican primary and that was my first vote cast. I've grown disillusioned with the Republicans because they're policies have abandoned the average American in favor of their corporate paymasters. I will selectively vote for some Republican candidates, but this year, I'll pull a straight Democrat ticket to get them out.

[CRK7376]

23. Born a Democrat

Will die a democrat. Hopefully not too soon, but with the Shrub in office my life expectency is definitly less. He tends to send us overseas to invade countries, fight bad guys etc...Go Army!

[shawn703]

24. Voted for Dole

in my first presidential election. Yes I was once a right-wing nut Dittohead until I moved to DC and started talking politics with people who knew what they were talking about. Saw the light of reason just in time to vote for Gore in 2000 and completly Dem in every local and statewide election since. (Except in 2002, when there was a LaRouche Democrat running against John Warner for Senate. I withheld my vote for Senator that year.)

[tom_paine]

25. There are some options missing here

Such as the one which describes my situation:

Lifelong Democrat...always voted the indivdual...voted for many Republicans in the past...none since the Attempted Coup of 1998 or the Bloodless Coup of 2000 due to the reprehensible state the Republicans have fallen into.

Maybe not that exact wording, but something like it.

[UrbScotty]

27. I became a Democrat in 1996.

I was disgusted with the way Gingrich&Co. were treating Clinton.