I'm worried that I will see my father shouting at his rep at a town hall meeting

[Beaverhausen]

My Fox-loving, O'Reilly-worshipping parents think Obama is a "dictator" - or so my sister told me yesterday.

I live on the opposite coast from them and we know better than to talk politics.

But I'm really worried that one day he will be there on the TV yelling something stupid.

Anyone else have this worry?

[Subdivisions]

Dictator?

Where was your father when bush was wishing (and acting like) he was a dictator?

[Beaverhausen]

9. He was watching Fox, so of course Bush could do no wrong

I happened to be visiting in 2004 when the Cheney/Edwards debate happened. We had a screaming match when it was over. Uggh

[Subdivisions]

25. My situation during the campaign with my parents was really weird...

Both my parents now lean to the right politically. My dad has always been a right-winger and it caused lots of strife in our relationship down through the years. Mom has been more liberal in the past but it seems the older she gets the more to the right she drifts. However, both expressed support for Obama, though neither voted (they were in the process of moving from Texas to NC and we were literally on the road on election day so political involvement took a back seat for them this cycle. I, however, voted early.). The point is, I would have expected at least Dad would support McCain since Dad is a Vietnam veteran and leans right. I've learned, though, not to get into political discussions with them (especially Dad because he can't hold his side of the debate with me) so I have no idea how they feel now.

[Subdivisions]

1. dupe

[Mari333]

2. both my brothers would do this

one of them is a teabagger. he knows better then to bother me, because i changed his diaper when he was a baby. i am the oldest. i wouldnt be surprised if i saw them doing this.
i pretty much ignore them and love them from afar...

[rurallib]

3. What will you do when he calls for bail money?

[Why Syzygy]

4. No.

My primary concern with my mother is that she will repeat jokes using slang terms for body parts of which she is completely ignorant.

It's been done.

[tridim]

5. I worry about it every day.

My fundy cousin is trying to recruit my parents for teabagging events and apparently they've been considering it. They don't listen to a word I say, because apparently my reality based information isn't what they want to hear.

[Drunken Irishman]

7. It's never too late to divorce them.

:D

I'll adopt you.

Even though you're probably older than me. But still.

Now THAT is a good premise for a movie.

[tridim]

14. I forgot to mention the best part..

They're NOT fundies, they're not even religious. My mom even makes fun of "pro-life" people.

Their insanity is all based on Faux Newz.

[Drunken Irishman]

17. That's even worse...

Because if someone is batshit crazy, you can at least understand why they think the way they do.

But other sane people? Boggles the fucking mind.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. My father already receives government healthcare...

He's a veteran.

So I don't think I'll see him railing against it anytime soon.

[nyhuskyfan]

8. Some dictator...

The way I see it, anything that anyone has disagreed with (the stimulus, healthcare reform) has gone - with much debate - through Congress.

[supportobama]

10. Same with my dad

My dad, a self-professed tea party enthusiast, believes everything on the Internet must be true. He has some weird hatred of Pelosi and I suspect he's a bit of a closet racist.

He inspired me to create an I SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM T-shirt.

http://www.printfection.com/supporthealthcarereform

Please, someone give me a clue on how to promote it. We need to be VISIBLE supporters to encourage real dialogue.

[corpseratemedia]

24. good for you and even though i've only lurked forever

welcome to DU!

[SacredCow]

11. Not from my dad....

He can't stand Obama, but he couldn't stand Bush, either. He's a critical old coot. :rofl:

[asdjrocky]

12. I know how you feel

My dad was a Ray-gun/Nixon Democrat and it used to drive me nuts. Man, talk about the fights. Funny, but you learn to miss even those.

[Beaverhausen]

20. Even worse, I am planning my (small) wedding - I have to warn the other guests not to talk politics

My parents are in their early 80s and while I wish I could, I know I can't change them.

[asdjrocky]

27. Old people are just plain nuts.

I know not all of them, I know there are some rational thinking people in their 60s 70s and 80s, even beyond, but we're not seeing a lot of them these days.

I just a few months from 50 and I'm afraid there's some switch that is engaged at 50 that starts turning me into a closed minded idiot.

[Critters2]

13. I have some cousins who might do something stupid like that,

but none of my close relatives. My father and siblings, and their partners, are all lefties, some further left than me. Always have been. For example, my folks started college savings accounts for us when we were born, but the rule was that they had to be used to attend a public college. My dad used to say, "You're welcome to attend a small, all-white, private school, but you won't be using the money we worked hard to put away for you. A college education should expose you to a variety of experiences and people. That's what you'll get at a large, public university." That was based on my parents' own experience, including struggling to find a way that a good Muslim friend could be in their wedding party in a church. I've often laughed that my dad could be a tyrant, but he was always a progressive tyrant! :)

So, no, I'm not worried about any close relatives being a deather.

[Jennicut]

15. My conservative Dad already showed me his nutty email to our rep in CT Chris Murphy

I will be sending a positive one to Murphy to make up for it. I told him he cannot control himself at a town hall and he would embarrass me and his granddaughters so he said he would not go to one.

[CountAllVotes]

16. your Fox loving father

is a racist.

This is what it is all about - hatred and racism!

:puke:

:kick:

[alsame]

18. Cousins. I already got an earful this morning when I called to

inquire about one cousin who has been having health problems. I was told he is trying to get all his testing over with before socialized Obamacare takes over.

Here's the punchline - he's on Medicare.

:rofl:

[loyalkydem]

19. Man

I feel for you. You're in an impossible position. I bet they were all thrilled with you when you decided to become a democrat.

[PA Democrat]

21. My parents have turned into right wing wackos. They were always moderate

until they started watching FOX. It breaks my heart because I no longer enjoy going to visit them. There is always a TV on somewhere in the house blaring FOX News.

I had worked a little on my mom and had convinced her that Bill O'Reilly was promoting the nasty and divisive politics that are poisoning this country. My mom refused to watch him for a while, so my dad was going to my sister's house to watch BO (I kid you not). Now they are back to watching O'Reilly together.

I stopped long ago bringing up anything remotely political but my dad never fails to bring up some FOX talking point almost every time I see him. It is so sad. I hate FOX because it has strained my relationship with my parents.

[maryellen99]

22. maybe my husbands cousins

some of them are involved big time in the Baptist Church but ever since my Father in Law's funeral they don't have anything to do with us.

[Caliman73]

23. Nope

My dad used to be a Republican. He is a Vietnam Vet and somehow believed that Nixon ended the war. He started to waiver support after Regan's first term and by the time Clinton was up for election, he had changed parties. He is a moderate Dem, but there would be no way that he would show up to a town hall to shout down discussion and make a fool of himself.

[Jankyn]

26. I, too, have that worry...

...though it's not my late (and beloved, may he rest in peace) dyed-in-the-wool union man Democrat dad.

It's my two Rush-listening, Fox-worshipping brothers.

How my dad could raise those redneck assholes, I'll never know. But then, I always was a daddy's girl.

[RedCloud]

28. "Your moms and your dads are beyond your command. Their old road is rapidly fading."

Seems true even today!