What were the political leanings of your parents?

[hang a left]

I was just curious. I read quite a few posts about people complaining about their right-wing parents. I was just curious how many DUer's were influenced by their parents political positions or ended up going the other way.

Please comment on the impact your parents had on your current political stance.

[roguevalley]

1. my parents were lefties and FDR dems. My grandpa was a card

carrying socialist. I got lucky.

[Kire]

2. one was Democrat left, one was Republican center

[mike_c]

3. pigs....

What can I say? Fundies, too. My mother has opened her mind up a bit in her 70's, but only after physically getting out. I was raised by Amerikan RW kkkultists.

[blondeatlast]

4. Dem center to left. I'm a 4th gen. yella dawg, raising a 5th. nt

[getmeouttahere]

5. My parents campaigned for RFK....

my Dad still has a bust of JFK in his house and my Grandpa (88 yrs) to this day has a picture of FDR signing the New Deal. So I lucked out too.

But my doctor back home and his wife in particular had the biggest influence on my political leanings. They are Humphrey dems from Minnesota and his wife ran for city council and then state house as a dem in a hopelessly conservative area of Southern Oregon.

[DemGirl7]

6. I would say both of them were Democratic Center

But nowadays, my mom seems to be more left leaning, even though they are not really into politics.

[Literate Tar Heel]

7. batshit crazy

the dad claims to be an independent with libertarian leanings but is in reality somewhere to the right of Rush Limbaugh, blaming everything bad in the world on the "goddamn trial lawyers" ... the mom doesn't care but will go along with whatever he says

[TomClash]

8. When I was growing up

they were moderate independents. Now they're left. They didn't change much - the country did.

Funniest moment - my 80 year old father yelling at my young Fundie cousin - "Why the hell can't gays get married?"

[Wetzelbill]

10. haha

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Father was a Marxist. Mother a-political, her mother a Socialist.

After my father's death, my mother married a rightwing military retiree who was as close to fascist one could get.

I bailed when I was 15, became a Socialist while in the Marines, moved left from there.

[schrodingers_cat]

11. Born to neocons before the name was even invented.

So let's never forget that parents do indeed teach by example;-)...Like how NOT to be.... Fortunately, I married into a buncha lefties. All of a sudden, I felt that I was no longer alone:D

[Cleita]

12. My parents were Republicans, but they had principles.

They would never have gone along with the present Murder, Inc. version of the GOP.

[NNadir]

13. My Dad voted (enthusiastically) for Barry Goldwater, loved Nixon.

My mom, on the other hand was an FDR type Democrat when she married my father. She voted for Nixon, though, in 1968, and McGovern in 1972.

He hated Bill Clinton who was the last elected President of the United States.

I think she ended up being a moderate Republican. She died in 1976 long before moderate Republicans became extinct.

[Bluebear]

14. Apathetic, apolitical

[Warren DeMontague]

15. The most glaring problem with this poll:

it doesn't take into account the idea that "parents" might not function as a unit.


My mom is pretty liberal. My late father was an old-school Republican ("Although he wouldn't admit it, he voted for Nixon... three times" says my mom) but I think he had strong libertarian leanings and even had a bit of a closet anarchist in him. I think he would be appalled at what has become of the GOP today.

Edit: Since only one of my folks is still alive, I voted "Democratic Center" because that's where she sits.

[yorkiemommie1]

16. Republican Father, Democrat Mother

.... just like my daughter's parents!

[catabryna]

17. My father is more left than my mom...

but, that's not hard to do as dad is pretty left! I definitely am my father's daughter. My step-mom on the other hand... I would say she's closer to being socialist, which is cool too! When I go to my dad and step-mom's place, it's a political event of the best sort ~~ I think sometime I should secretly tape record one of these things for posterity! Too much fun! :grouphug:

[Taxloss]

18. Deep left.

My mother is Green. My father is Socialist Labour.

[shaniqua6392]

19. I had a combination of

Apathetic, Apolitical with a dash of Racism....sounds like a recipe for disaster, but I ended up a Christian Progressive!! My husband and daughters are just like me, too. There is hope in this world if I can come from that mess and turn out this great. LOL!!

[newyawker99]

47. Hi shaniqua6392!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[EST]

20. My parents were honorable, fairly r/w, bible thumpers.

Anti drink, anti smoke, anti dancing, rigidly religious, who were totally convinced that all politicians are, at best, liars and charlatans, with minors in theft, murder and sexual deviance. When Rockefeller moved into West Virginia to be able to run for office, I was singularly unimpressed.
A few years later, my parents were definitely converted and had nothing but good to say about him.
For many years, I could not have distinguished a Democrat from a Republican, a liberal from a conservative.
My most often repeated mantra (or nearly so) was that there were three things I would never argue: religion, politics, and gas mileage.
Things are a wee bit different, now.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

21. If I told you the truth you would think I was making it up.

Let's just say the answer is very weird.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

22. Liberal Republicans

Yep, there used to be this sort of animal, personified by Chuck Percy, Senator from IL. As I understood it, they were social liberals (believed in civil rights, women's right to same pay for same work), but fiscal conservatives. Mom belonged to the Urban League but voted GOP. Lately, though, she's voting Democrat, just like her two kids always have.

[annabanana]

36. mine too....

Until Nixon started pooping at the party, then they left...

[proud patriot]

23. Democratic Left

:hi: very left

[LibDemAlways]

24. My 80 plus year old parents are both

lifelong Democrats. They are old enough to remember who fought for Social Security, Medicare, the GI Bill, etc. It sure as hell wasn't repukes.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

25. Mom is Democratic, Dad WAS a Republican.

I don't really recall when Dad switched, but he switched and switched good. Even registered as a member of the Democratic Party in his home state recently.
Mom lobbied for nurses in the 80s and early 90s, so she's always been politically active. Even got an invitation to Clinton's 1997 Inaguration Ball. (Couldn't go, however.)

[Massacure]

26. Moderate republican dad, non-political mom.

My dad disagrees with a lot of the shit Bush does. He is pretty much non-religious, and thinks that Bush just invaded Iraq to pay Saddam back for trying to assassinate his father. The only reason I can think of he supports Bush is for the tax breaks, which my parents got a good chunk of cash from.

[gollygee]

27. My parents were moderate dems but became "Reagan democrats"

and have been swing voters ever since.

Last year, they both voted for Kerry

The election before that, mom voted for Gore and dad voted for W

My mom liked Clinton and voted for him the first time but I'm not sure about the second time. Dad voted against him both times.

But when I was a child they were active in the Democratic party. They volunteered regularly.

[w8liftinglady]

28. Mom is hard-core Dem,Dad was repub for 67 yrs-now mod dem.

[LeftyMom]

29. Dad's a libertarian-leaning Republican, Mom's a pro-union yellow dog Dem

Need I mention they're divorced? :eyes: Thier whole relationship is like that- other than my sister and I they have nothing in common and as far as I can tell they never really did.

[BrklynLiberal]

30. Hard core liberals....

[ktowntennesseedem]

31. Whole family is right-wing, religious fundamentalist Repubs.

I was raised the same way, but a healthy curiosity, a hunger to learn and an open mind continued to feed one another until they made me into the liberal I am today. I'm still a Christian, but have broken all ties to the belief systems of my childhood. In fact, I am a Dem because of my faith convictions--something which drives my mom particularly nuts, because she doesn't see how any Christian could possibly be a Democrat. My wife and I are raising our kids to be open minded and think for themselves (after we tell them what we think, of course!) which drives their grandparents even more crazy!

[JanMichael]

32. Both left leaning Dems however they're both sliding even more to the Left

over the past few years.

They spawned me a "card carrying" Socialist.

[imenja]

33. why not include an option for left, ie socialist?

There did used to be a real left in this country, people that actually cared about social justice. Obviously that is a thing of the past, so much so that it doesn't occur to you to include an option other than the Democratic and Republican parties.

[recoveringdittohed]

34. Dad was moderate/apolitical, Mom is rabid Republican

I recall that while my dad had opinions on political issues which leaned to the right he did not vote straight Republican. For example, he did not think Nixon could be trusted and voted for Kennedy. My mom would vote for anyone with an R by their name and I mean anyone. I'm only aware of her voting for three Democrats ever which were Frank Lausche for Ohio Governor, Richard Fulton for Congress in Tennessee (in the 1960's)and Jerry Springer for Cincinnati city council.

I guess I wound up being a Democrat the first time around (1971-1976) by growing up in a heavily Democratic area (Middle Tennessee) and wound up coming back to the Democratic Party in recent years as a result of listening to and observing on television the Democratic Party's greatest recruiting tool, the Bush Administration.

[cry baby]

35. Mother is a dem, dad has been a repub all his life until now.

He HATES "w". I think he's turned blue!

[Caleb]

37. Apolitical

The first time they voted was last year.

[Greylyn58]

38. Long history of Democrats in the family

Also long family history of service in the military. Dad served 30 years in the Marines. So he is a big military booster along with being a Dem.

Mom, for the last several years has been the Democratic Judge in her precinct.

I would say I'm more liberal than my folks, but they do surprise me on occasion.

[meow2u3]

39. Dad: apolitical; Mom: Conservative Dem turned independent

Actually, Mom was always pro-life, and was a Dem until she felt the Democratic Party imposed a pro-choice litmus test on her. But she hated the Republicans more; therefore, she became independent and sometimes didn't vote.

But she was Democratic leaning and voted for Gore despite his pro-choice stand because Bush is far more dangerous.

[Ms. K]

40. Both parents are

conservative Republicans.

I used to be a conservative Republican, and while I still have membership in the party (shhh, don't tell anyone), I'm only in the Rethuglican party until my voter registration comes back Democrat (just sent it in, so until then, I'm technically a Repuke).

My husband's family is all conservative Republican. I keep my mouth firmly closed at faaaamily craptaculars (need I say I don't like about half my in-laws?). But, my mom is very understanding of my left-of-center approach to politics and social justice. She may not approve, but as she pointed out, I'll be thirty years old on Tuesday, it's not up to her to make up my mind.

It's a strange deal. Dad is very well-educated, and still listens to Rush Limbaugh. *shudder* And Dad gets bent when I won't turn on Rush or Fake Dr. Laura when he visits me. Nope, you can watch TV, and like it! My house, my rules. Mom is a Catholic, and Dad is nominally Catholic, both converted, and they aren't surprised that I turned out non-religious. So, we don't go to church while they're here, either. Of course, we don't go to church at all anymore, but that's neither here nor there.

Of course, I am a deist liberal Democrat married to a conservative Christian Republican...it's a strange marriage.....

[Maru Kitteh]

41. Dad is passed away, republican right. Mom is republican center

And I am a dedicated liberal.

[regnaD kciN]

42. A steady progress leftward...

My father was originally a mainstream (i.e. moderate) Republican. Then along came the Nixon presidency. After one term, CREEP sent him a fundraising letter touting all of Tricky Dick's achievements :sarcasm: . My father sent it back without a contribution, but with lots of margin notes rebutting every claim they made, and signing it as "a former Republican." He then re-registered as an independent.

My mother came from a Republican family, but went "off the reservation" relatively early, voting for socialist third-party candidate Henry Wallace in 1948. Although she remained nominally a Republican until going independent at the same time as my father, Nixon did it for her, too; she somehow managed to be a voter in every single election he ran in, from his first congressional run on, and voted against him every single time.

From the early 70s on, although officially "independent," they would generally vote the straight Democratic ticket.

[really annoyed]

43. Parents are typical conservaties

My two sisters and I... liberal. I started out conservative, then I generally turned left after the 2000 election and other nonsense that happened to me.

:)

[Incitatus]

44. Both are Dem Center.

My mom has always been a Democrat. My dad was Republican, until Bush Jr. ran for election; now he's a Democrat.

[Biased Liberal Media]

45. Republican center

And I never agreed except for when I was an impressionable child. I believe my mom is a closet liberal though. My dad is very fiscally conservative and a bit more liberal socially (not quite though- is against gay marriage for some stupid reason).

They both scratch their heads wondering how they ended up with a bleeding heart.

Edited to add: My dad's side is completely conservative and Republican. Let's just put it this way- I wouldn't be surprised if one of my uncles on that side is a poster on Freeperland. My mom's side is predominantly liberal and Democrat, minus a few of them (unfortunately my mom is one of them).

[jmm]

46. I consider myself lucky

Except for one Republican aunt I come from a long line of Massachusetts liberals. My grandfather and I are furthest to the left and have been dropping not so subtle hints to my Bush voter aunt that her sons are both prime targets for a draft. For the last few holidays she's always volunteered to do the dishes when politics comes up so I see that as progress.

[noonwitch]

48. Mom-liberal democrat, Dad-swing voter

Mom's voting record: JFK (her first election), Johnson, Humphrey, no one in 1972 (she hated McGovern and Nixon), Ford, Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton, Clinton, Gore and Kerry. The Ford vote is explained by the fact that we lived in Grand Rapids, MI. Everybody in his hometown loves him, and he is a moderate from before the right-wing takeover of the party.
Mom has a conservative boyfriend and is starting to spout his crap. I don't know if she'll change her voting habits or not.

Dad's: Ike, JFK, Goldwater, Humphrey, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Bush, Dole, Gore, Kerry. My dad hated Clinton, distrusted Nixon, loved Ronnie and GHWBush, but hates this Bush. He does like Jeb, however.
Dad didn't like Nixon very much, but liked some of his people and thought he could end the Vietnam War in an honorable fashion. My dad is a Korean vet, and he didn't like the war, but also didn't like the anti-war movement, either. It also should be noted he's been voting for democrats (except Jeb) since he stopped drining, shortly after the election in 1996. I respect my dad for not following some party line and judging each candidate on his/her merits.

My grandfather (mom's dad): always republican, til the day he dies. He also casts grandma's vote for republicans (she's in a nursing home), and he will never change. Grandma was a swing voter, when it was her decision. She voted for Clinton in 1992 and 96, and for Reagan in the 80s. She wanted to vote for Gore in 2000, but that's when Grandpa decided to get absentee ballots, instead of driving to the polls. She couldn't figure them out, so he voted for her. Now, he gets her ballot and casts it without even discussing it with her.

[seabeyond]

49. both moderate. one dem, one repug

couldnt do your poll

[Siena]

50. Mother is democrat, father is bush loving republican right wing

Not sure how these two have stayed married for 40 years. :shrug:

[ck4829]

51. Mom - Liberal Republican, Dad - Ultra-Liberal

[Saphire]

52. My father claimed to be a yellow dog democrat..

[tx_dem41]

53. They were/are fiscal conservatives. My father could care less..

about social issues. Just keep his taxes low....sigh.

[Sgent]

54. My dad

is a true libertarian in thought -- from the social rights to no goverment. My mom agrees with him socially, but believes in the new deal and war on poverty to some exent.

What's funny is my grandparents are hard left -- even in their 90's they make it to the polls every year so they can straight line the D.

[Neshanic]

55. Ex-Nixon Republicans. Voted Democrat ever since.

[lonestarnot]

56. Both yellow dogs! One in the middle, other far left.

[julialnyc]

57. All over

voted Nixon,Carter, Regan,Perot, Clinton, Gore, Kerry (they're slowly getting there!)

[Lady Effingbroke]

58. clueless mainstream republicans with a worsening case of buyers' remorse,

at least in my father's case (in his words "the war in Iraq is worse than Vietnam" and "now I know what it must have been like to live in the last days of the Roman Empire."). He realizes that there is something seriously wrong with this misadministration, but he has not connected all the dots yet, so to speak.

My mother's political leanings can be summed up as "republicans=good, democrats=bad, let's go shopping."

[windlight]

59. I voted Dem Center

but really it is more Left of center, but they still voted for raygun in '84. I guess Mondale really scared alot of people.... Grand parents were all Union so that helps alot...