The Contagion of Hate

I sat here today and re-read my recent posts and realized that I don't sound like a registered Republican. Interestingly, though, I am. I always vote my conscience and the issues, but I'm a registered Republican out of respect for my father. Here's why.

When my father was a young man, he couldn't get a job in this town because he was Italian. He had to beg for work around here in the early '40s because he was NOT one of the few Italians in town who were "well connected". Instead of kissing ass, he chose to become an entrepreneur and ran two very successful businesses in spite of the local prejudice. He was able to retire at age 50, put me through as much school as I desired, and helped me out whenever I got in a jam. He was an excellent role model -I love and miss him. My father thought the principles of the Republican party were instrumental in his business successes and although he voted his conscience as well, he identified himself as a Republican. When I first registered to vote, I chose to declare myself a Republican like him. I've never felt the need to change that until now. Here's why.

John McCain, Sarah Palin, and their representatives have, jointly and severally, engaged in the kind of racial and ethnic smearing that made life difficult for my father. My dad told me that people made made fun of his religion by making cruel comments about Catholics. He wasn't even a practicing Catholic. People speculated that every Italian had a hotline to Mussolini, and that within every Italian lurked a dangerous and violent criminal a la Mafia. If he had a dollar for every time he was called an oily Wop, he wouldn't have needed the job he couldn't get.

John McCain, Sarah Palin, and their representatives have, jointly and severally, tarnished the ideals and principles that my dad believed in and cherished. I resent that. I resent them for that. They offend me with their lies and insinuations. The Republican party has tried so hard to insinuate that Barack Obama is a dangerous Muslim terrorist that they look like buffoons and fools. No matter what they say, a thinking person can clearly see that Obama is not a terrorist who associates with terrorists who are currently terrorizing. Ayers is proof that violence is not the answer to social problems; he's done a lot of good work since his Weathermen days, but he's known for the violence he perpetuated.

John McCain, Sarah Palin, and their representatives have, jointly and severally, cost this country more in scandals and taxpayer money than Barack Obama has requested in the dreaded "earmark spending". At least "earmarks" are dollars that translate to jobs and income for his constituency! John McCain has managed to dance around the Keating scandal. The S&L debacle was the most offensive type of "earmark" for which taxpayers were forced to pay billions.

The only people who are terrifying in the current political scenario are the Republicans. This fantasic fanaticism cannot be ratified in this election. This Republican compulsion to "rule through fear" must be ended. I prefer the audacity of hope, and after this election, I will change my voter registration to support that. My dad would approve wholeheartedly.