I have been a democrat all my life, with one exception when I voted for a republican Governor. In that election, I did vote for who I thought was the better candidate. He won and I think he did a great job as Governor and I never regretted the choice.
This year I have been on opposing sides from the man I love. We had dated for a couple years and then we split up for a while. We got back together in March. This was unfortunate timing to be on a break because of the election and we are both very political people. I keep thinking that if we were together the whole time then he’d have a better understanding of what went on and what my thought process was. It’s funny because when preparing for our first date after our split, I was very nervous. I wanted to talk politics with him, but also afraid that if the subject came up (because I thought he was probably supporting Obama) that it would be our first and last redate. Well, it did come up. He mentioned something and I said, “Oh, here we go, what could be our first and last date.” Well, no. It was great. He supported Obama. I supported Hillary. It was a great debate and it was not polarizing.
So fast forward to now. This is so hard for me. I have decided that I have to vote for McCain. John McCain is the one I trust and I cannot make this completely about issues, supreme court justice appointments, or Row vs. Wade. There is so much more at stake. The big picture is that things must change. The primary process must be more fair. The Democratic party must be stripped bare and rebuilt with leaders who really uphold those issues and values in every way. I will not set the bar for President this low! It is ridiculous.
Anyway, my boyfriend is a loyal democrat. He would never think to vote out of party. Not ever and not for any reason. I know this. We have tried to not talk politics, but of course it’s in our blood. In the past 3 weeks, we have had some very heated debates. Yesterday for the first time, although it turns out it has been on both of our minds for a while, we talked about breaking up. Over Obama and McCain! My brain says that would be retarded! That 10 years from now, I’ll have to think, wow, my relationship ended because of Barack Obama or John McCain, but keep in mind I have to blame Obama because this would not even be a problem if Obama was not the nominee. If it were Hillary or any other of the democratic candidates, we would be together as democrats.
I have had to end a friendship this year, which is something I never thought I would do over politics. Unfortunately he was a friend who continued to make sexist comments about Sarah Palin and blaming stupid women for the election problems and I had warned him the last time not to do it again. Sadly once Palin was nominated he became very insulting to me as a woman and we are not friends and will not be ever again. If I know that he thinks I am stupid because I am a woman, well, then I don’t need friends like that.
How will I get through this with my boyfriend? I want to believe that this is temporary. The election will happen and at some point we get past it. I think about 2000 and I never thought I would get over that stolen election, but I did. I reminded my boyfriend of that and he agreed, but he sees it very different this time. The funny thing is that I should be the one who would be the most upset about a con man being in the White House and I have an easier time with him supporting Obama than he has with me supporting McCain. I realized last night just how much it bothers him that I will risk those Supreme Court appointments and Roe vs. Wade and drilling, and war. He just cannot understand why I see Obama as a con man when he so clearly doesn’t. He also sees years of fighting no matter which one is President because one of us will be very unhappy. This is very hard.
At this point, I would give just about anything for something to happen where Obama is out. I don’t care what it is. I guess I need to pray daily for thast Berg lawsuit to shake everything up, but we’re getting down to the wire.
How many relationships have been lost or are in turmoil over election 2008? I have heard women say that they will not tell their husbands, but will secretly vote McCain in November. How does that effect the polls? How many people are not truthful when the pollsters call? Should I have kept this secret? Should I lie and say I’ve changed my mind and then vote for McCain and never admit that I did? I can’t. I am a woman who speaks her mind.
This makes me think of James Carville and Mary Matalin. Hmmmmmm. They make it work. Can they help?
We will need a poll after the election to see how many loves/friends were lost to this disaster election!
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