Silent Voters
It's been a funny time for me during this election. I'm a partisan this time around, and have been before, but I would like to think that were a Democrat to present a better platform than the Republican candidate, I could overcome ideology and vote for him/her/it. After all, I cut my teeth on Libertarian politics, which don't necessarily celebrate either of the major parties, and more than anything else I come from the PJ O'Rourke wing of the party.
But I'm heartened this time around. I meet new Republicans in the strangest places. Today I was at the service for my dear departed Grandmother (she liked Bush too). I met family that I hadn't seen since I was a teenager, family friends that I had forgotten, and a couple of the kids I grew up with. These kids, now adults, inquired after me and I told them I was trying my hand at writing. "Published?" "Where?"
I braced for what I thought was the inevitable response, in Democratic New Jersey, from a long-time union man and his wife. They must have braced themselves too because after all I live in Liberal California. There was real relief on their faces when I told them that I had written for a conservative publication and supported the President. We had a nice talk, and when everyone was leaving, my friend's wife said I made a better impression on her today than when I threw a firecracker under her chair during some long forgotten Fourth of July cookout.
Last year I had given a political talk to the oldsters at Granny's assisted living home. It was in response to the bi-weekly moveon.org advertisement that old Sid would deliver. Sid's a good guy, but there was no balance to his Bush bashing, and some folks were hungering for another flavor. I asked Stephen Den Beste if I could crib notes from a couple of his essays and he graciously agreed. The talk was a success, and Sid was very encouraging. At his next talk that I attended, he joked with the regulars that it was their mission to convert me.
The one person in the place that did not hear my talk at the time was the head nurse. I ran into her the other day and it came up in conversation. She asked what persuasion my politics were. To be Jewish in New Jersey almost requires Democratic credentials, and I was about to tell this lovely Jewish lady, who had taken great care of my precious Granny, that I represented the dark side. What do you know? She hates Sid's politics and can't stand his lectures. What's more, she's voting for Bush.
I've heard the premise that moveon.org has done more to help reelect the President than John Kerry himself. I think they've both done an excellent job, and Mr. Soros has spent his money well, if in fact he really is a Karl Rove plant.
Before I became a Clinton hater, I had been a mere Clinton criticizer. What floored me was the vehement response I would get from Democrats when I dared to question any of his policies. There was no discussion, just insults and accusations. It was very similar to the "He's questioning my patriotism" shtick we've heard recently. It's a straw man thrown up to avoid actual discussion of the issues. Point being, it's not agreeable to mention your being a Republican in mixed company today unless you're ready to really mix it up. This is the reason that I think the polls are wrongly weighted in Kerry's favor. My guess is that the secret internals tell a different story.
Nixon had the silent majority and Reagan had the moral majority. I think we're experiencing a silent and moral majority having finally learned its lesson from the Vietnam War, with a reminder from the fanatics of 9/11.
