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Monica Green: A Republican for Obama
By - Justin Schardin
(November 9, 2007)
Monica Green votes, always, and has been a Republican as long as she can remember. She's never, however, been excited enough about a candidate to invest herself in a campaign. That changed for her earlier this year, and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is, in a political sense, her first love.
Electability in the caucuses is a big issue, and Green is one of 268 Iowa Republicans who earlier this week came out publicly in support of Obama. PoliticsIowa talked to Obama's Ankeny precinct captain about her political transformation, and how many others like her she believes are in the state.
Tell me a bit about your political history.
"I can't remember ever being registered as anything other than a Republican... I've never been politically active. The only thing I've ever done is very local and for friends... I have voted for Democratic candidates, but truthfully it was because I was voting against someone rather than I was really supporting someone.
"I did vote...for [former president Bill] Clinton both times because he gives a really good speech [laughs], but I'm almost ashamed to say I voted for Bush twice because I couldn't vote Democratic either time."
What was your mindset in 2000 and 2004?
"I actually was for Bush in 2000. That wasn't a difficult year."
"[In 2004], I can remember standing at the voting booth saying, ‘what am I going to do?' Because I don't think either of these men should be president of our country... I didn't believe in either candidate, so I voted Republican because that's my fall-back."
What made you a Republican in the first place?
"Because I think the basic philosophy that I believe in is less government, less taxes, and fiscal responsibility. And it's just always been kind of the overriding belief that those are the three things that characterize Republicans."
What made Bush lose you?
"The revelation that all of the information leading up [to] thinking we needed to go to war in Iraq were all lies... I mean, I always felt like he wasn't going to ever be a strong president, but I just hoped he would surround himself with the right advisers...like Colin Powell, people who could lead him in the right direction. But he didn't do that."
What really hooked you into Obama's campaign?
"[W]hen he came on to speak after the State of the Union address, it caught my attention... He basically went through a laundry list of what he disagreed about what the president said, but there was nothing negative stated. It was all positive. And this has been my biggest complaint for probably the last two decades of politics is it's so negative... And I thought, ‘wow, this is somebody I want to hear more about.'"
Are you becoming a Democrat, or is this just about Obama?
"[T]hat's a very interesting question. It started out just being about Obama... I look at things differently now than I did eight years ago or 10 years ago... I think I'm changing. I think that as I'm listening to the senator with his messages, he is so clear, he is so intelligent... [H]e makes so much sense to me that I think it's changing my views."
Who were some Republicans with whom you have identified?
"I thought Reagan was a strong president...I was totally in support of Reagan. He's probably the last one."
If the 1980 Reagan were running today, would you vote for him?
"You mean if he was running against Obama today? Oh my goodness. That's a good question... His views on Communism were probably not the view I would appreciate today. I've got a much more global perspective today, and Obama touches that."
Many of Obama's rivals take similar positions on Iraq, health care, and bringing the country together, and other things. Why is he the one that grabbed your interest?
"I think other candidates polarize on issues. I don't think he does that. I have a lot of friends and family who are Republicans. Some of them are saying, ‘well I still have to vote Republican, but if we have a Democratic president, I sure hope it's Obama.' And I went, ‘ok, keep going with that thought...'"
Do you feel like you're born again and trying to convert people?
[laughs] "Yeah I do! My sons were saying, ‘You raised us to be Republicans. Who are you?'"
The big question to those who follow this stuff is, are there enough Republicans thinking like you to matter in an election?
"It's been interesting, because the more I've been involved with the campaign the easier it's been to start... At first I was [whispering], ‘Well I'm really a Republican.' But now it's like, ‘I'm a Republican, and Sen. Obama needs to be our next president.' And you say that in a group of people, and three people say, ‘You know I'm Republican also, and I'm listening to him. Of anybody, I like what he says [and] I like what he stands for.'"
Would enough Republicans go through the difficulty of switching their registration to caucus for a Democrat?
"Yeah, because you only have to switch your affiliation for the one night. You can switch it the next day back if for some reason you don't want a ‘D' after your name. And you can do it at the caucus, so that's not hard."
What do you think of the Clinton campaign's argument that Sen. Obama is abandoning his hopeful politics and going negative?
"You can't just say, ‘I hope things change...' In a campaign you have to point out differences... Otherwise why would we have multiple candidates, and why would we have a campaign?"
You've said Obama will win the caucus. By how much?
"I do think it'll be close."
What's going to put him over the top?
"I think Republicans...caucusing for Obama are going to put him over the top... When you look at the polls, they're only polling Democrats. They've never asked me who I'm going to vote for in the Democratic caucuses."
That lady is politcally ignorant. Basically, she likes B-Rock because he gives good speech, like Clinton.
Now, I don't disagree with her, but B-Rock is not my first choice BECAUSE we don't agree on fiscal policy which is WHY I am a Republican. "Are you becoming a democrat?" Her answer is dumb...she's starstruck.
With that said, no...Hillary can't grab republican votes. Barack can...and if my guys aren't there, I'll probably vote for Barack in the general election but NOT because I think he's in any way what I want fiscally, but that he is a man with integrity and real vision, not political claptrap. I may not agree with his vision all the way, but at least his vision is real unlike the "whoknowswhat" vision of 9/11iani and the like.
__________________
I'm the anti-TNT. I don't do drama.
I stopped reading about her as soon as I saw she voted for Clinton twice. That right there said to me, "I'm not a real Republican. I'm only registered that way because either my parents or my husband told me to".
Obama may get votes from Pubs in the caucus just so Hillary doesn't advance.
I might vote for Obama because I think he's one of the only candidates who seems like he'll shake things up. The status quo isn't working, we need a 180.
Although I did see a nightline piece on Gulliani last night that made me like him a little better. I like that he wasn't speaking in black and whites, but rather the "complexity" of human thought and situations.
Obama may get votes from Pubs in the caucus just so Hillary doesn't advance.
I might vote for Obama because I think he's one of the only candidates who seems like he'll shake things up. The status quo isn't working, we need a 180.
Although I did see a nightline piece on Gulliani last night that made me like him a little better. I like that he wasn't speaking in black and whites, but rather the "complexity" of human thought and situations.
I stopped reading about her as soon as I saw she voted for Clinton twice. That right there said to me, "I'm not a real Republican. I'm only registered that way because either my parents or my husband told me to".
My thoughts exactly.
Of course it isn't like Bush I or Dole were very compelling.
It all about charisma and star power for most people.
I think Samuel Adams summed it up pretty well over 200 years ago. Mankind are governed more by their feelings than by reason.
I still don't see how Obama is an agent of change despite his continued pronouncements that he is. He sounds good and is shiny but there isn't much new substance there.
__________________
“votes are collared under democracy, not by talking sense but by talking nonsense.” ~H. L. Mencken
That lady is politcally ignorant. Basically, she likes B-Rock because he gives good speech, like Clinton.
Now, I don't disagree with her, but B-Rock is not my first choice BECAUSE we don't agree on fiscal policy which is WHY I am a Republican. "Are you becoming a democrat?" Her answer is dumb...she's starstruck.
With that said, no...Hillary can't grab republican votes. Barack can...and if my guys aren't there, I'll probably vote for Barack in the general election but NOT because I think he's in any way what I want fiscally, but that he is a man with integrity and real vision, not political claptrap. I may not agree with his vision all the way, but at least his vision is real unlike the "whoknowswhat" vision of 9/11iani and the like.
Nice bumper sticker slogan, but there is zero truth to the claim that republicans are fiscally conservative. Neither side is fiscally responsible, so using that as your litmus test seems disingenuous.
There's a lot of BS both sides claim to be about, but that one is the biggest lie of all IMO. The only area repubs are conservaitive with money is social programs.
Nice bumper sticker slogan, but there is zero truth to the claim that republicans are fiscally conservative. Neither side is fiscally responsible, so using that as your litmus test seems disingenuous.
There's a lot of BS both sides claim to be about, but that one is the biggest lie of all IMO. The only area repubs are conservaitive with money is social programs.
*cough* taxes.
It isn't a bumper sticker slogan. Both spend like drunken sailors. Republicans lower taxes and spend, liberals raise taxes to cover their spending.
I want someone to lower taxes and slash spending, but when push comes to shove, I think personal income tax is far too high and we could survive without it, and at least on a flat tax. I firmly believe in reducing the amount of government, which also is definitely NOT a liberal/democratic viewpoint.
You talk about spending like one of the groups has a handle on it...neither does. At least the Republicans have, in theory, something I agree with in smaller government and reduced taxes, even if it is only lip service.
My social issues are all over the map (pro gay marriage, anti abortion, pro de-criminalization of drugs and prostitution, anti-death penalty, pro-small business breaks, anti-amnesty for illegals, etc) but one thing I've remained constistent in is my feelings toward economic success and the role of government in the pocketbooks of the average american, which is a purely republican point of view.
__________________
I'm the anti-TNT. I don't do drama.
It isn't a bumper sticker slogan. Both spend like drunken sailors. Republicans lower taxes and spend, liberals raise taxes to cover their spending.
Republicans may lower taxes, but they borrow and spend even more. We still pay.
Quote:
I want someone to lower taxes and slash spending, but when push comes to shove, I think personal income tax is far too high and we could survive without it, and at least on a flat tax. I firmly believe in reducing the amount of government, which also is definitely NOT a liberal/democratic viewpoint.
Again, what smaller government? They say these things, liberals have their own claims, not much truth to either sides.
Quote:
You talk about spending like one of the groups has a handle on it...neither does. At least the Republicans have, in theory, something I agree with in smaller government and reduced taxes, even if it is only lip service.
I certainly did not talk about anyone having a handle on spending, I just called the claim that republicans are fiscally conservative false. What good is lip service? It shouldn't be about who tells lies I agree with more, I'd like to focus on what they actually do.
Quote:
My social issues are all over the map (pro gay marriage, anti abortion, pro de-criminalization of drugs and prostitution, anti-death penalty, pro-small business breaks, anti-amnesty for illegals, etc) but one thing I've remained constistent in is my feelings toward economic success and the role of government in the pocketbooks of the average american, which is a purely republican point of view.
Too bad it's not a practice... that I could get on board with. Meanwhile while they both spend like crazy, I prefer the way libs spend it.. on Americans, in this country.
That lady is politcally ignorant. Basically, she likes B-Rock because he gives good speech, like Clinton.
Now, I don't disagree with her, but B-Rock is not my first choice BECAUSE we don't agree on fiscal policy which is WHY I am a Republican. "Are you becoming a democrat?" Her answer is dumb...she's starstruck.
With that said, no...Hillary can't grab republican votes. Barack can...and if my guys aren't there, I'll probably vote for Barack in the general election but NOT because I think he's in any way what I want fiscally, but that he is a man with integrity and real vision, not political claptrap. I may not agree with his vision all the way, but at least his vision is real unlike the "whoknowswhat" vision of 9/11iani and the like.
I agree with you. O'Bama would be my pick if my guy wasn't there too. I am a registered Republican, but am very tempted to shift that to Independent. O'Bama is just that, a smooth talker who knows what to say if there's a script. I am a Rudy guy right now, just because I feel security is still a big issue. I am fiscally conservative, but socially more liberal. I think Rudy would do more for social issues than Hillary, which is something I wish more liberals would consider. Hillary isn't going to do a damned thing that might piss anyone off. She wants a title. She wants to go down in history, but now is a horrible time to be so selfish. I guess that's just the Clinton way. If it comes down to O'Bama vs. anyone but Rudy, I'm going to vote Democrat. If Hillary is there, I am voting against her. Sad state. This will be the third election I am old enough to vote in, and this could be the third time I am voting against someone more than I am voting for someone.
Republicans may lower taxes, but they borrow and spend even more. We still pay.
Again, what smaller government? They say these things, liberals have their own claims, not much truth to either sides.
I certainly did not talk about anyone having a handle on spending, I just called the claim that republicans are fiscally conservative false. What good is lip service? It shouldn't be about who tells lies I agree with more, I'd like to focus on what they actually do.
Too bad it's not a practice... that I could get on board with. Meanwhile while they both spend like crazy, I prefer the way libs spend it.. on Americans, in this country.
You're baseing too much on this current presidency. Bush has proven that he is by no means a fiscal conservative. You are also shrouding your dipleasure with the war behind a financial facade. Just come out and say it. You are lumping Republcans into the Bush mold.
A lot of people say they want smaller government but only one candidate has voted that way for 20 years.
Obama doesn't even say he wants smaller government, he says wants better government. Which in (stereo)typical democrat speak means more government, more control, and more taxes.
__________________
“votes are collared under democracy, not by talking sense but by talking nonsense.” ~H. L. Mencken
You're baseing too much on this current presidency. Bush has proven that he is by no means a fiscal conservative. You are also shrouding your dipleasure with the war behind a financial facade. Just come out and say it. You are lumping Republcans into the Bush mold.
I base it on all republicans, your basing your false belief on BS claims made by the party. Give me a break with your BS assumptions and tell me who all these fiscally conservative republicans are?
I base it on all republicans, your basing your false belief on BS claims made by the party. Give me a break with your BS assumptions and tell me who all these fiscally conservative republicans are?
Why don't you tell me all the fiscally conservative democrats?
__________________
I'm the anti-TNT. I don't do drama.
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