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I did not plan to. Paul (his name) called me and said after seeing Fahrenheit 9-11 he wanted to hear what the Dem's had to say.
Which was shocking to me because whenever he talks politics all he does is repeat short Republican talking points like a parrot. I have been friends with him for 30 years. We grew up Republicans but in 1998 I started paying attention to politics (instead of sound bites) and realized the elephant party was full of crap.
so....After seeing Fahrenheit Paul told me he was "not sure about Bush anymore" but two weeks later he was spouting the Republican lines that the whole movie was "Opinion not fact." (That made me so mad I did not talk to him for days.)
To remain friends with him I told him we can no longer talk politics because "You are brainwashed."
So after he called and practically begged me to come over, I reluctantly got out of my cozy recliner and went to his small apartment out of curiosity. Paul did not know it, but I thought of him as my own little "petri dish" experiment. If he had anything nice to say about Gore, Carter or Clinton it would be a miracle. And it would give me hope for any other Bush supporters or undecided voters.
After Al Gore he turned to me and said, "he was o.k. But I don't want to hear what a jerk Bush is or what an asshole I am for supporting him. I want facts. I want to know why I should vote for Kerry.That's all you guys do is bash."
A small heated debate started but stopped for Jimmy Carter. After JC, he turned to me and said "I always liked that guy but I still don't have anyone telling me FACTS. I know John Kerry is a war hero and a good guy but that was 30 years ago.Why will he be better than Bush?" Another short argument-debate ensued where I presented facts and he defended with White House spin. My face turned beat red and I told him I was leaving and he begged me to stay for Clinton.
During Gore and Carter there were times where we would talk during the speech. There was none of that for The Big Dawg.
After Clinton made me one big goose bump for 25 minutes I was feeling great and did not even care what Paul would have to say. I just knew that Bush would be gone soon even though 40 % of the country are "Pauls".
So when Paul turned to me and said "That's what I wanted to hear! That's the best argument I have heard yet why I should vote for Kerry." I was floored! He went on and on about seeing things more clearly. As I left, he told me he is leaning HARD toward voting for Kerry and he could not wait to hear more tommorow night!!!!! I responded, "Yeah right. I heard that after F9-11"
He was adament. "No, I really mean it. It was better than anything I expected." He went on to tell me about how he has no health insurance, was dissatisfied with the tax cut he got, how he knows Iraq is a mess and on and on...
I had to concentrate driving home because I could not believe what I had just seen. Out of the fog of Fox "News" and the spoonfulls of Bush Bullshit where Paul said "Thank you sir may I have another!" my good friend was seeing the light.
There is hope for everyone my DU friends. If Paul can change, anyone can. Don't give up on friends and relatives who seem hopelessly lost or ignorant.We have the most powerful ally on our side. The truth. God bless America and rescue us from this tyrant!!!
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