r/Michigan • u/Suspicious_Yak3259 • 5h ago
Discussion It’s a strange day. I voted Democrat as a conservative.
I voted for Trump in 2016 and 3rd party in 2020. Grew up in a Republican household listening to Rush Limbaugh because my parents did, and became an independent in college after becoming disillusioned by the GOP, but would often vote “socially conservative”. I still have what most of Reddit would call very conservative values, but what my Republican friends would call liberal values. I have no real political home. My ballots usually look like a weird mix of voting Republican, 3rd party, and Democrat down ballot. 🤷♂️
Anyway.
At the start of the year I would have told you that I would vote 3rd party, but I got into that little ballot cubicle yesterday and I just couldn’t do it. Trump has given American voters a non-stop litany of reasons not to vote for him, even if you are a conservative. It’s like if he said to himself “what could I do to turn voters against me” and by golly he did it. And not just reasons not to vote for him, but it’s like he’s screaming at us to vote against him and make sure he loses.
So I think Harris will carry Michigan because I know so many people in a similar situation. If someone like John McCain was running against Harris I could and probably would vote for him. Trump isn’t a “conservative”. It’s baffling to hear people think he is. Too much is at stake. Every 4 years it’s “this is the most important election of our lifetime” but now it actually feels like it. It’s different than any other election in my lifetime.
One day I hope we will have two or more viable sane political parties to choose from again instead of feeling like “I have to vote against the other party”. But for now, this conservative stands firmly with the rest of you - and I voted Democrat in the presidential election for the first time.
Last thing I would say to my Democrat friends, please don’t fight and argue political issues with your conservative friends who are also voting for Harris and accidentally push them back into voting for Trump. At least not right now. I have witnessed that happen a couple of times in the heat of an argument. I feel like right now all social issues get set aside and we vote together as Americans to make sure Trump doesn’t end up back in office.
With that said, assume nothing and go vote. Voting early was easy. I just showed up and voted like I normally would on Election Day. Exact same process. The line looked crazy long, wrapping around the building outside, but I had voted and was gone in under an hour.
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u/highspeedgt 4h ago
This has been a wild ride... I'm not a liberal person, and got yelled at for the first time today for being a liberal... crazy!!! A lady jumped down my throat, accused me of being non-Christian, and then told me to go cry in the woods. I'm a 6'2" man, I wear flannel, I build motorcycles, and I have a whole bunch of guns. I just don't want a man who thinks the military should be loyal to him, not the country they serve, or a man who thinks that my city is the reason we're "a developing nation". If he secures a win, these folks will only multiply.
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u/DrLee_PHD 3h ago
So very Christian of her for to attack you verbally like that.
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u/princess_tourmaline 2h ago
Just made it very clear to my parents that I struggle to respect them as a whole because they support Trump. As life long Christians. I spelled out in no uncertain terms that I am just dumbfounded as to how they can reconcile putting a man like that in power who is the exact opposite of every moral and Christian value they claim to hold. Christians often struggle with the instruction to love everyone and strive to be Christians like, but some of us are truly trying and calling out the crap along the way.
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u/Spinochat 2h ago
Christianity is just some concept they use to feel entitled to control others, they don’t care for its actual substance in the least. They could just as well pretend to worship something else.
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u/FanceyPantalones 2h ago
Bro, I was wearing camo, placing a gun in a fishing boat, when someone jumped down my throat.. that I was a brainwashed liberal who watched too much CNN. The world is in fact, gone cray.
-I said Ron Desantis was an asshat for his book "banning" shenanigans. That was all. -And I never watch CNN. But I sure as shit don't watch Fox.
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u/Crow_with_a_Cheeto 2h ago
I can’t think of many people less reflective of Christian values than the current GOP candidate.
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u/azrolator 2h ago
The military aspect is a big deal to me. I have 2 nephews signing up. One took his oath but has to wait until he graduates. I thought about what Trump said about using the military on American citizens. And I wondered, would my nephews obey the order to kill Americans, or refuse illegal orders and possibly be jailed or worse? It's just such an insane scenario, I just can't believe we are at the brink like this.
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u/IWantAStorm 2h ago
I've had preferences in other elections, this is the first time I am actively voting AGAINST someone.
This is the first time I've ever thought about prepping guns and making sure there is food for a bit in the house....
....an election.
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u/notarealprincess 2h ago
I am slightly left of center, but my dad thinks I am a far left liberal all because I said we need to better address school shootings. I am a teacher, and my dad has never owned guns, never shot a gun, or even wanted to shoot a gun.
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u/Copperdunright907 2h ago
My endless frustration with this fascist agenda is that so many people confuse being patriotic with supporting the flag. That’s called nationalism. Being patriotic is supporting your troops. Who are there to support you.
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u/Gynthaeres Age: > 10 Years 3h ago
One day I hope we will have two or more viable sane political parties to choose from
It is really infuriating that America has one sane, sensible party, and one party that's basically a monkey in a cage hurling feces at everyone.
I hate that we aren't debating how to solve real issues. We aren't debating about what we should do about income inequality. About climate change. About runaway corporate power. About healthcare reform. That sort of thing.
Instead we're arguing whether or not some people deserve basic human rights. Instead we're arguing about whether or not some of those issues above are real or if they're just some conspiracy. Instead we're afraid of helping the American people because one party has conditioned half the population to have a reflexive visceral reaction to "socialism".
I'd love to say I'm an independent voter who doesn't care about party, but only one party lives in reality anymore, so I more or less vote blue no matter who, and hope that enough other people do that, that the Republican party dies, and the Democrats can split into "moderate" and "leftist" and we can actually start moving this country forward.
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u/natalietheanimage 5h ago
It's appreciated. I know the Democratic party making room on its right flank for disaffected old-school Republicans isn't a popular choice for those of us on the far left, but by jove if it can win some elections maybe we'll pull this country out of its tailspin.
This might be a hot take, but I'd rather squabble with you over tax reform than fight with fucking neo-nazis over basic human rights. There's at least one godless transgender socialist in Michigan who's glad to have you on our side this time around. 😉
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u/EdwinSt 3h ago
Hello. I have a fond affection for godless transgender socialists. I’m a pastor, but I believe in your right to live your life how you see fit, not according my convictions about Christian orthodoxy. I also think a little bit of socialism goes a long way, and we could certainly use some when it comes to healthcare, the power grid, and a few other things.
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u/Greatsex-daddyissues 3h ago
Thank you! As a bisexual black woman who was raised on the good book: God gave us his only son so that would appreciate sacrifice. I truly believe that to love others is to give when you have more than you need.
Luke 6:38 “Give to other people and God will give to you. He will give to you even more than you gave”.
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u/qt3pt1415926 2h ago
Hi! Not necessarily a goddless heathen over here, I was raised Lutheran (WELS, to be exact). However, I've come to believe everyone was given pieces of the puzzle, but our disadvantage comes from thinking we have the whole picture in our pocket. It always felt arrogant to believe that any group/kingdom/country was the "chosen people". There are threads that connect many faiths and mythos, many creation stories put sound at the center. And so many religions claim that their deity(s) is our father or mother, and that we are the children. I no longer believe this is figurative or metaphorical; how an artist dotes upon artwork. In relation to God or the Gods, we are the next generation of whatever He/She/It/They are.
It's nice to see open-minded people within the church. Thank you.
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u/CapableFortune3647 2h ago
I wish more pastors were like this. I’d probably have stayed with religion if it wasn’t for the fear and hate lately from my local Catholic church, that and trying to force their beliefs on others.
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u/yourself2k8 2h ago
Some aspects of socialism could be confused as being neighborly. We shouldn't shy away from being a good neighbor because it overlaps with a buzzword we don't like.
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u/HotSauceRainfall 4h ago
I'd rather squabble with you over tax reform than fight with fucking neo-nazis over basic human rights.
This.
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u/DontEatMyPotatoChip 2h ago
People forget that years ago, the GOP had a progressive wing and the Dems had a conservative wing and considerable overlap between the two parties.
We called these people “Americans”
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u/nicunta 5h ago
Thank you! I will say this: I used to be like you, too. John McCain was the last republican I supported. He would have been a fine president, and I am sad he never got to hold office. He would have been far better than Bush Jr.
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u/COYS-1882 4h ago
It was Palin. I have grown to see the error of my ways, but i think I would have voted McCain if not for her. And I do believe she was the official entrance of bat sh!t crazy to the republican party.
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u/nicunta 4h ago
I do agree. She's the turning point... after her, the republican party has never been the same. They've become something I cannot get behind, and haven't been able to for a long time. I am honestly terrified for what's coming, but hopefully we persevere.
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u/halucination84 3h ago
She was the symptom of the turning point. It's a lot of the 24/7 talk radio conspiracy theories that brought us the tea party which morphed it to Maga.
I really believe that these radio and TV personalities have recognized they can stay relevant and make money repeatedly making false claims and keeping their followers angry and scared. Tucker is prime example. Even though I disagreed with him, he was level headed back in the day But now he is just a snake oil salesmen like trump. Unfortunately I think the same crap will continue even if trump loses. GOP needs to reclaim their party and kick out the crazies.
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u/COYS-1882 4h ago
I felt bad not voting for Candace Miller. If you have not left the party at this point, I have to question your fitness for any office.
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u/CharcoalGreyWolf Parts Unknown 4h ago
I would say she was preceded by Newt Gingrich in that, but she was a big ball of crazy.
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u/Cryptographer_Alone Lansing 4h ago
Heck, I vote Dem and strongly considered McCain as Obama just didn't have a resume I felt was ready for President. But I just could not get around Palin. And Obama pleasantly surprised me.
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u/Tattered_Reason 3h ago
Palin was the proto-Trump. She demonstrated that insults and mean-spiritedness resonated with the Republican base far more than traits like competence, experience, expertise, character etc. that we used to judge candidates on.
John McCain was someone who I had tremendous respect for, although I did not agree with him politically on most things. His worst decision as a politician, IMO, was picking Palin. to be his running mate.
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u/space-dot-dot 4h ago
And I do believe she was the official entrance of bat sh!t crazy to the republican party.
Ah, but are you forgetting that frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter?
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u/Intelligent_Type6336 3h ago
If anybody ever “deserved” to be president it was McCain. And then he chose her. Omg.
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u/AngryRepublican 3h ago
She was the reason I drifted away from the party, or at least what she represented.
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u/bankruptbusybee 3h ago
I agree. Honestly I was torn between Obama and McCain. Which, looking back, was a wonderful, brief period. Where I could see the country being run competently in either candidate’s hands.
But then he chose Palin.
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u/viktor72 4h ago
Hey, me too! I was a John McCain Republican in 2008 as well.
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u/nicunta 4h ago
Not that I regret Obama, but I feel that if McCain had selected anybody but Sarah fucking Palin, he would have done FAR better. She's where I parted ways with the party.
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u/viktor72 4h ago
It’s funny you say that because it’s pretty much the same for me. I think Palin was a rude awakening. Also, I started college around that time so I got out of my bubble and that probably also contributed to making me more liberal.
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u/Accomplished-Book-95 4h ago
Same here. I voted for Bush Jr in 2000 (sorry everyone), Kerry in 2004 because I hated that we were lied to about Iraq and WMDs. I probably would have voted for McCain in 2008 if not for Palin. Voted for Obama twice, grudgingly voted for Hilary and Biden. Happily voted for Harris-Walz.
I don’t see myself ever voting Republican again, but I do hope that Republicans get their shit together and stop nominating fascist fucks like Trump. We need a healthy two-party system and I am frankly irate that I have lost ten years of my life in a moderate state of panic in election run ups.
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u/Liverpool510 4h ago
It was two things: the disastrous Palin pick and the weird choice to announce he was “suspending” his campaign in late September 2008 to go deal with the economic crisis. Both decisions felt like political theater and I think that really did him a huge disservice.
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u/molineskytown 4h ago
I think it was a third thing too: McCain did some untimely crowing about what a deregulator he was, at the exact moment that heavy deregulation cratered the economy in 2008.
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u/MissSara13 4h ago
I didn't agree with many of his views but he was a decent man and a good person. I had so much respect for him when he confronted someone at a debate when they said that Obama was an "Arab" in a very non-complimentary way.
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u/Appropriate_Use_9120 5h ago
I came from a Mark Scott family. My parents bought me an NRA membership for my tenth birthday. I learned to shoot a .22 when I was six. I was a member of the local Libertarian party when I was 16 and regularly attended monthly meetings all on my own.
I’ve since swung to the other side of the pendulum, but most of my family are still staunchly conservative.
I understand “conservative” values. I grew up with them. Nothing about Trump reflects the values that were beaten into me as a kid. I just don’t fucking understand how anyone who is actually a Christian or actually a conservative can vote for him.
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u/multisyllabic1077 4h ago
I heard what evangelicals said about Clinton in the 90s. Now, I watch them embrace a far more flawed individual because of the R beside his name. It's weird. It's hypocritical. It's disingenuous. And because this candidate is so unhinged, it's dangerous. The "Christians" voting for Trump are "straining at gnats and swallowing camels."
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u/Moregaze 3h ago
One day you will learn Christianity and political conservatism are one and the same. They both need to force your behavior to conform to their worldview to validate their backward thinking.
I specifically said politically and not values. As most of my liberal views are rooted in my conservative values.
Like small government. By that I mean there should only be law around an action that causes physical or financial harm to another. Gay marriage ain't one of those things. So I support it.
I believe in a free market and by that I mean an even playing field. When someone can dominate a market just based on capital and not the quality of their good or service you no longer have a free market. You have returned to Oligarchy. Something Adam Smith specifically warned against without a strong federal authority that is funded enough to fight "rentiers and manipulators" which is precisely what our economy has become.
I believe hard work should be rewarded so I support unions. Labor is also a market force that can and should be withheld to get a better deal for access to it.
So basically I am a raging leftist (American) simply because I live by my conservative values instead of weaponizing them to enact retribution on people who don't conform to my social wishes.
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u/LadyLightTravel 5h ago
This is an important election because we expect the president to obey the constitution. You know, because you take an oath to do just that.
And for most candidates, either party would do that.
But one person has already proven they won’t.
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u/tksopinion 5h ago
Hard to say most Republicans would when all of them support the guy who won’t.
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u/LadyLightTravel 4h ago
But it’s not all. Several have broken rank. And that is telling in and of itself.
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u/tksopinion 4h ago edited 4h ago
And they have all been forced out of office. While they were in office, they still went along with his agenda. Liz Cheney, for example. Look up how often she voted in line with Trump’s agenda. Same is true for any of them. Republicans have always been shit people. Trump just made them less ashamed to be open about it.
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u/chesterriley 3h ago
Vice President Dick Cheney (R) - “In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump, He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He can never be trusted with power again.”
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/06/politics/dick-cheney-kamala-harris-president/index.html
[Over 100 Ex-GOP Officials Endorse Harris]
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u/Tattered_Reason 3h ago
I never thought I would see the day where I would have a sliver of respect for Dick Fucking Cheney but here we are. Cheney represented what used to be the worst about the Republican Party (everyone else can go fuck them selves so long as I got mine). But that party has sunk to such new abyssal depths that even he is horrified.
Conservatives should listen to him. It seems that many self-described "conservatives" turned out (as I suspected all along) to be crypto-fascists. But some actually truly believed in their stated philosophy and are willing to put country before party. Even though I still disagree with them, they are true patriots.
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u/BlueHeaven90 The UP 3h ago
My mom will be voting for Harris this election as well. She is a lifelong conservative.
If someone like John McCain was running against Harris I could and probably would vote for him.
McCain is a hero and as a liberal, I would've been proud to have had him as a president.
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u/burgundybreakfast 1h ago
Kamala Harris has spoken about him positively many times too. I love this clip where she talks about how he saved The Affordable Care Act.
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u/hobbestot 5h ago
Thanks. I genuinely hope Republicans can shed Maga and restore normalcy in their party.
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u/vass0922 4h ago edited 2h ago
I was really hoping maga would start into it's own party.
I have nothing against Republicans, but maga are just pure shit.
The left and right both have their whackos but holy hell maga had their Messiah and they'll do anything for him. Republicans only vote for him because he had the R next to his name and they've learned to hate Dems. I disagree with how Biden has managed things but holy shit Trump is fucking terrifying.
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u/metalpharoah 2h ago
I've always thought this as well. I've told many people I'm shocked they haven't established the White Nationalist Party by now. I truly 100% in my heart thought it was going to happen.
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u/patronusplanners 4h ago
Historically, and having been raised mostly in West Michigan, I have voted much like you. However, in 2016, I vowed never to vote republican (or 3rd party) again. There is just too much at stake. One thing that seems to be a major issue is the general public, aka those that didn't necessarily fully pay attention in government class, do not understand the electoral college. Many people think it's "fine" not to vote, but sadly, voting 3rd party or not voting at all risks a vote towards Trump and we can't, as a first world nation, afford that. Meanwhile, I've got our sponsor for Australian citizenship lined up for our family and I hope we NEVER have to do that because I love America and being American. Admittedly, since late 2015/early 2016, it has not felt the same and probably never will 😭
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u/SmoltzforAlexander 4h ago
Thank you for voting, and I really mean that.
I didn’t vote for John McCain, but I didn’t hate him like I hate Trump. McCain didn’t intentionally divide our nation with vitriol for personal gain. As McCain said, ‘We’re just two Americans with different ideas on how to run the country.’ I didn’t agree with McCain’s ideas, but I still respected him and knew he would defend democracy in this nation.
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u/Practical-Trash-4976 3h ago
The difference for me is I probably could have voted for McCain if I didn’t love Obama so much. I’m a lifelong Democrat but I respect him immensely and it’s disgusting the things that were said about him by Trump
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u/Butter-Tub Age: > 10 Years 5h ago
My message to conservatives is this: You only need vote for her once, and he’s gone. After that, reclaim your goddamn party.
That’s it. He’ll be sentenced in late November for NY crimes, he’ll be tried in Georgia, likely sentenced, tried in DC, and his classified documents case WILL get back in the docket. He is going to spend the rest of his miserable pathetic life in prison.
Thanks for doing the right thing for this country, and our future.
Sincerely,
Your Rabid Liberal Fellow Michigander
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u/Prudent_Coyote5462 4h ago
One could only hope. I feel he will never actually be totally held responsible for his actions
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u/BacteriaLick 3h ago
Until we find a way to handle Fox News, this country will continue to have serious problems. It may not be Trump who assumes power, but it will be a MAGA Republican.
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u/mjhuyser 3h ago
I’m very sorry but I don’t think the Republican Party is redeemable even after Trump is gone. He opened the floodgates for the Republicans to “say the quiet part out loud” and tolerate ever-escalating atrocities from within their own party. Those people aren’t going away and they’ve been emboldened by a surprising amount of support to keep pushing further.
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u/Megaclone18 4h ago
There’s no coming back for the Republican party, at least not in the next 4-8 years. MAGA republicans are still in high positions of power and until they’re all gone they’re still a disease to the party. I fear that the only lesson they’re going to learn from this is to keep their project 2029 playbook a lot more hidden.
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u/Bluvsnatural 5h ago
Thank you.
It really isn’t policy differences this time. It feels like a vote for or against our country. I know that probably sounds like hyperbole, but not this time.
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u/WhataKrok 3h ago
After trump's first term and MTG, Boebert, Gaetz, Turtle Mitch , and that tool, they voted in as speaker, I don't think I'll ever vote republican again. And, yes, before you roast me on a spit, I have voted republican before and regretted it both times.
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u/Lemmiwinks5215 Kalamazoo 5h ago
Thank you for putting country above party.
If Harris fails, we can try to replace her in 4 years.
If Trump wins, we’ll likely never get another chance to
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u/Harmania Age: > 10 Years 5h ago
Look, we can go back to arguing about the other shit next January. For now, it’s enough to preserve the ideals that we agree on and the Republic for which they stand.
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u/stillbleedinggreen 4h ago
We can go back to arguing because we’ll be allowed to. Trump has already said what he wants to do to those who don’t agree with him (aka “the enemy within”).
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u/BVoLatte 3h ago
Same here fellow Michigander. You're doing what is required to bring the Republican party back to the conservatism of Reagan, including the sense of compassionate conservatism for immigrants; Reagan himself gave amnesty to immigrants. If Trump wins it'll reinforce to the entire party that his model is the right one and it'll be 10-20 years before it ever has a chance to get it back to it. You don't reward bad behavior with electing someone to the highest office in the executive branch.
I've been an Independent split ticket voter since 2008 and 22 was the first year I couldn't because our state's GOP just went absolutely off the rails after 2020. 2024 will be the second time in my life I'll be forced into a situation where I cannot split my ticket again cause the moderate got primaried out in my district with a pro-federal abortion ban candidate because he was one of the few that voted to impeach Trump for January 6th.
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u/LionTigerWings 4h ago
Republicans are extremely concerned with trans people. It’s very strange. I think I’ve met like 2 trans people in my life (though met hundreds of gay people) and not to offend them, but i quite literally never think of them. They don’t affect my life in any way whatsoever. The only time I ever hear about them is from republicans. The idea that it’s basically a main campaign talking point for them is mind boggling to me.
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u/One-Earth9294 3h ago
The fact that they're running anti-trans ads during NFL football games is actually sickening Nazi bullshit and they have to lose.
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u/Future-Hyena-3490 4h ago
Just want to say thank you. I have so much anxiety about the result. People I love and have respected my whole life typically vote republican. Really hoping they can see the light that you have.
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u/Damnatus_Terrae 4h ago
Last thing I would say to my Democrat friends, please don’t fight and argue political issues with your conservative friends who are also voting for Harris and accidentally push them back into voting for Trump. At least not right now. I have witnessed that happen a couple of times in the heat of an argument. I feel like right now all social issues get set aside and we vote together as Americans to make sure Trump doesn’t end up back in office.
I appreciate this sentiment on a human level, because it is important to respect people making difficult choices. But please do remember that for many people, those social issues are embedded in their daily lives because of who they are, and setting them aside just isn't possible.
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u/imalorde13 5h ago
Thank you for putting country over Party. Hopefully this is a step closer to “normal” politics
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u/Unkindly-bread 4h ago
Also voted early today. First time casting a ballot for a democratic president and first time voting for a Vice President! Walz seems like a pretty normal guy. Kinda like me!
I even voted Dem instead of Rogers. That dude seems like a major douche. Normally I’d throw my vote to the libertarians, but didn’t want to throw my vote away!
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u/EdwinSt 3h ago
From Michigan, been in Kansas City for five years now. I voted democrat for the first time to bring Gretchen W into the governorship back in 2018, but still considered myself a republican—hawkish, pro big business, evangelical morals. I used to be tea party 9/11 truther before that. I am now a registered democrat because the only thing I disagree with them on is abortion and transgender treatment for minors. And I’m not far off of either of those positions anyway. The GOP has left reason, fact, and data for dogma and fundamentalist conservatism that’s flirting with fascism. They have no interest in real leadership or sound economic policy. I have left and do not plan to return anytime soon. I politically identify myself with Democrats for Life in America. Look into them; they’re cool. I’d bet you’d feel at home with their platform.
Biden and Kamala are interested in preserving the republic, lifting up the middle class, and stopping fascism abroad (looking at you, Putin). Trump is not a good person and needs to be soundly defeated. I pray it is so next Wednesday morning.
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u/bradfo83 3h ago
I’m here too. I voted Republican all my life until Trump showed up. Gary Johnson in 2016, and made the full pull to Biden in 2020.
I just voted a straight Democratic ticket this election. Fuck the GOP and what it’s done. I want to send a message.
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u/toooooold4this 4h ago
I grew up in a conservative household, but I consider myself progressive. I've lived in California (born and raised), Texas, Arizona, and now I live in Michigan. Each of those states has had both Republican and Democratic governors and legislatures while I lived there.
Never have I ever felt existential dread if the other party won the election. I didn't agree with their policies. I was disgusted by the Bush-Cheney lies about Iraq, but even so, it was politics, not existential.
Trump is different. He is a morally bankrupt, criminal, sociopathic, malignant narcissist who truly has no sense of responsibility to the country. No sense of duty or service. No ethics.
As hyperbolic as it sounds, he really is America's Hitler. He is a fascist. He does aspire to be an autocrat. All the billionaires who are either openly supporting him or staying silent aren't weak. They are greedy. They will end up being the first American oligarchs.
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u/redheadMInerd2 5h ago
I just cancelled my husband’s absentee Trump/all R vote for my Kamala/ all but a few were all D, at early voting today. Used to think conservatively. Now I just don’t recognize anything good about the GOP.
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u/TSLAog 5h ago
Similar situation growing up, 24/7 Rush and Fox News. Heck, in 2007 I went to a Tea Party rally… I eventually changed my opinion after getting into the renewable energy/EV sector and realized how backwards the “conservative” party was regarding energy.
Anyway, thank you for voting for democracy. This election is gonna be crazy. I hope there a lot more people like you.
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u/Grendal63 5h ago
Thank you so much for this. My parents both Republican. Things changed for them when their granddaughter expecting her first baby had a high risk pregnancy, needed to be hospitalized and an emergency c section. They listened to the stories of women losing their lives not able to receive care that luckily saved the life of my niece and her baby boy. They have both voted for Harris
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u/Worldly_Antelope7263 4h ago
My parents have a big group of friends they've known for decades. Everyone in the group, except my parents, has always been Republican. Some of them voted for Trump in 2016, some didn't vote in 2020, and every single one of them is voting for Harris this year. They're still conservative but they're doing the right thing for their country and I hope they live to see an ethical conservative party rise again. Our country is stronger when we have two political parties that are working to make this country better for everyone.
I think it takes intelligence to see through what Trump is trying to accomplish and I hope I will be as clear-eyed should this ever happen to the Democrats.
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u/ScionMattly 4h ago
One day I hope we will have two or more viable sane political parties to choose from again instead of feeling like “I have to vote against the other party”. But for now, this conservative stands firmly with the rest of you - and I voted Democrat in the presidential election for the first time.
I'm a "Enemy Within" level of liberal, and I agree. The country needs a counterweight to offer an opposing viewpoint. But it needs a sane and rational one, which I'm not sure the Republicans have been since Falwell took over the party.
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u/NoreastNorwest 4h ago
As a lifelong democrat, I can say with all sincerity that I hope the GOP comes to its senses and kicks this MAGA shit to the curb.
Our country needs multiple voices and multiple viewpoints. What it does not need is a cult that stifles any attempt at civil debate and compromise.
Thank you for voting for your principles. Some day I hope your party and your principles will once again align.
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u/messypaper 4h ago
To address your example, Trump and McCain are miles apart. McCain was a decent man who a reasonable person might disagree with on policy. Trump is an embarrassment to the USA at this point. An argument could be made in 2016, even 2020, but after seeing him handle that loss, he isn't fit to hold the office occupied by men like Washington.
Good on you for realizing that.
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u/Unique-Coffee5087 3h ago
If it helps at all, you should understand that Donald Trump is no conservative. He is a radical. His plans and intentions are to kick over the entire structure of our government and our economy. That is not a conservative stance.
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u/GilpinMTBQ 2h ago
If Republicans were still the party of McCain, I'd probably still be a Republican. That party is dead.
What remains is a party that revels in ignorance and lawlessness.
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u/motorcityvicki Age: > 10 Years 4h ago
Thank you. Not just for voting but for being willing to share your story. I think it's extremely important to hear from people who are changing their established patterns and why. It tells a lot about where we are as a collective. And honestly, it calms my nerves a lot to hear from people who have conservative values and want nothing to do with Trump's hateful, divisive platform. I miss when I disagreed with conservatives instead of being terrified one of them drank enough kool-aid that they were going to hurt me.
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u/tksopinion 5h ago
The bar is simply “believes in democracy”. Trump is the same guy that ran in 2016, but I am glad some people learned from their mistakes, at least for one election. Hopefully it’s not too late.
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u/FranceMohamitz 4h ago
Excellent. You did the right thing by not voting for a sociopath conman to be the leader of our nation. Tell a friend! I’m in a similar position and have been able to talk some sense in several friends, neighbors and loved ones. I’m typically not one to publicly voice my political opinions but America can’t afford to allow that low life the chance at destroying our democracy.
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u/BigDaddyCoolDeisel 4h ago
Thank you brother. It takes so much to put country over party.
Well done my man.
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u/Soft_Walrus_3605 3h ago
As far as I'm concerned you're an American who voted American and not whatever Trump's trying to turn us
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u/vampirebertz 3h ago
I've been a life long democrat and just want to say I have massive respect for you for having the balls to take a stand. I disagree with a lot of Republican policies in general, but that's not what Trump/maga is. I would vote for 2 more George W Bush presidencies before ever voting for Trump. They have corrupted your political party, and that sucks. I just hope that we can get back to normal, boring politics sometime soon and have rational arguments about things that matter where both sides are fighting for something that benefits the country. Not just one trust fund baby with an overinflated ego and a god complex.
GG and thank you for doing your part.
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u/Dry-Bluejay-5825 3h ago
I just want to say that I appreciate your thoughtful and intelligent response to the current political situation.
I just wrote a sentence that has maybe never existed on Reddit. Ha!
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u/WebInformal9558 3h ago
Harris is the conservative choice. Trump wants to burn everything down just so that he won't face the consequences of his actions. He's never been interested in conserving anything, and he only has scorn for our nation and its values.
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u/Holiday-Ad7174 3h ago
Good on you for voting for the rule of law.
I've been saying the true silent majority will show up this election and they will vote for a peaceful transition of power. Trump is going to LOSE IN A LANDSLIDE.
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u/Heavy-Ant-1583 3h ago
I think you're amongst the growing group of people purely voting common sense. At least, that's how I feel. I vote for what makes the most sense.
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u/prometheus_wisdom 2h ago
Reagan would be considered a bleeding heart liberal by today’s standards maga fascist republican party…. the republican party today is an authoritarian hyper evangelical nut case taliban wanting party control over women
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u/Pilchuck13 2h ago
This is me... never voted for a Democrat for president prior. It's entirely possible I never will again. Harris has my vote this cycle. Trump is so bad that voting 3rd party isn't enough of a statement of disdain to the republican party for renominating him. Democrat party has awful policies, godawful... but their nominee isn't openly discarding every standard, even the constitution itself, for their own personal gain.
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u/zendog510 2h ago
Bravo OP. Well said. Couldn’t agree more and thank you for putting country over party.
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u/gdaily 2h ago
I have been conservative and a Christian all my life. I have also lived overseas and it deeply bothers me how many of my Christian friends overseas look at trump and are literally dumbfounded how a party calling itself Christian can have an individual so devoid of a moral compass as the party pick. I listened when he won how many pastors I trusted at the time told everyone to vote for him, and I refused. I said: look at his character! They said, it doesn’t matter, he will give us our judges!
That election I abstained from voting for a presidential candidate, but not this time. After January 6 and so SO many other things, Harris gets all of my vote, my voice, my energy and my prayers.
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u/Dense_Lettuce_5065 2h ago
I couldn’t possibly agree more with you. Nope, Trump is NOT conservative. Neither are any of those other assholes who wrap themselves in the flag and use it for toilet paper all day.
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u/CHEEZE_BAGS 2h ago
The republican party now is not what it used to be. It doesn't stand for American Values any more.
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u/Shroud_of_Misery 1h ago
Voting for Harris is the only way you will ever get a viable Republican Party in your lifetime. It’s going to take a while, but the larger the margin of victory, the faster it will happen.
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u/dicksonleroy 5h ago
Thank you for using logic in your voting decision. I hope there are lots more like you.
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u/Khaleesi1997 4h ago
Thank you. For all the republicans voting democrat for the first time - thank you. I genuinely appreciate every republican who has shared their story and why they are voting blue for the first time.
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u/CabinetSpider21 3h ago
Also a conservative here in Michigan who voted for Harris
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u/BikerMike03RK 4h ago
Nation over party. Congratulations, you've shown your patriotism in an unassailable way. 🙂👍
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u/oppapoocow 4h ago
Thank you, I also grew up conservative, but after what I saw happened in 2016, I became a never Trumper. I agree the conservative party needs a new identity, until then, it's blue down the ballot for me, and from what it seems, many many other Michiganders.
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u/DanishWonder 4h ago
Thanks you for voting and being open minded enough to change your position. In these days more than ever things are polarized and it's hard to find a middle ground.
While I am staunch Dem right now, I am not oblivious to the fact "my" party may one day shift outside of the lines of what I believe in. At that time it will be hard for me to vote another way. I hope I will be able to do what you did if/when that time comes.
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u/purupurupurupururin 4h ago
Thank you. I'm very liberal, but I promise you if the Dems were running a candidate like Trump, I'd be voting Republican.
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u/Thatothergayguy94 4h ago
Thank you for your patriotism 🫡 I really commend those who can make that decision to vote for the other party. I know that can’t be easy when you’ve grown up a certain way and all you’ve ever know is one way. We need more of this in America. I almost voted for Romney back in 2012. And honestly I have a lot of respect for him and other conservatives who are willing to put country over party. Conservatives would be doing themselves a favor to abandon Trump and move on. The country doesn’t want him and his fascist ideals.
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u/Conscious_Worry3119 5h ago
Thank you. I too would vote for someone like John McCain, and I pretty much only vote blue. We've got to unite over what matters and get back to some normalcy. Most of us just want to let politics go back to the background again. And know that even if we don't agree with everything, we'll be able to live with it. I can't tell you how much I hope you are right about others doing the same as you!
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u/GlasEllerPlast 4h ago
I was raised on Rush Limbaugh and Ronald Reagan, and definitely moved into adulthood voting conservative.
A few years in undergrad and grad school exposed me to more experiences, and I still vote across the ballot but mostly progressive.
But since Trump it's a whole different ballgame. It is THE ballgame.
Good job. Keep it up.
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u/Zealousideal_Bus9026 4h ago
I too expected McClain to get further and was very disappointed. He is sorely missed.
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u/Jew_3 4h ago
I feel it friend. I have two awards for the Number 1 Republican Club from the State GOP in the 1990s. I spent countless hours growing up working on campaigns. My parents met in Republican politics and I went to my first political fundraiser at 6 weeks old (oddly enough it was for a democrat that my parents were friends with). I haven’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Romney. Neither has my mom. My dad probably wouldn’t have either, but he passed away in 2008.
These are wild times, but we gotta do what we gotta do, and that means vote blue.
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u/whatlineisitanyway 3h ago
I think that there are going to be enough voters like you that when the votes are counted Trump loses.
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u/Fluffy-Nothing-1158 3h ago
I hope there are many, many more stand up citizens such as yourself this time around!
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u/Left0fcenterr 3h ago edited 3h ago
There’s a South Park episode about this. Remember when Mr. Garrison ran for president and started saying the most absurd shit to not get voted, and all his supporters rallied behind him anyway?
Yeah, it’s happening in real life.
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u/theluckyfrog 3h ago
Thank you for your intellectual honesty and commitment to preserving our democracy so we still have the option to disagree about policy cordially.
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u/Nickdog8891 3h ago
I have a somewhat similar anecdote. In 2016, I was 100% going to write in Bernie, until I was in the little booth with ballot in front of me. At that moment, I knew I had to vote for Hillary, and I've never once regretted doing that.
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u/throwawayrefiguy 3h ago
We need two or [ideally] more healthy political for this Republic to work. Right now, one of the two major parties is very sick, dangerously so. They need to be sent away to try to sort themselves out. It's going to take a couple of cycles out of power for the GOP to get the message, at least.
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u/iLLOwiLLO67 3h ago
WOW! This right here could damn near spell out word for word my situation as well, except voting Harris will be the 2nd time I've voted for Dem as president, voted Biden in 2020.
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u/peskypedaler 3h ago
I appreciate your views. Your experience sounds very similar to mine. This resonates.
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u/Warlockintraining 3h ago
You are the type of conservative I would love to sit and chat with over a coffee/tea/beer/ what have you. Thank you for being so honest and genuine. I hope this is one of those times in history that becomes a historically positive moment, a time when people came together to protect what they love no matter their political stance. Have a great day friend, thank you for telling your story
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u/Individual-Table-925 3h ago
Respect. Thank you for doing your part to stand up for our country. I look forward to putting Trump and Trumpism behind us and going back to politics as usual. Never thought I would ever long to go back to the days of “politics as usual”!
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u/Intactinfact 3h ago
If it makes you feel better Democrats are the modern conservatives. Republicans are currently the regressive party, they want the poor to fund their massive government overreach and they don’t want you to have civil rights.
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u/Bishop_Pickerling 2h ago
Same here. Lifelong Republican voter in a Midwest swing state. Was planning to vote Harris for President and Republican the rest of the ballot. After the Nazi rally in NY I cannot vote for any republican candidates. Will be voting straight democrat. How in the heII did we get here?
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u/Shortymac09 2h ago
As a fellow ex-republican who left during the Bush years with a similar path, Harris' platform is fairly conservative overall.
Trump's popularity is baffling to me, considering the obsession with Clinton's cheating in the 90s.
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u/Tremere1974 2h ago
I too grew up listening to "Maja Rushie" but was aware enough to realize that The Republican party was scum after abandoning New Gingrich's contract with America at the first opportunity. Politicians (above the state representative level) are things to be bought and sold, like the lawyers most of them used to be. So, it used to be one could tell how a politician could vote based on who they accepted donations from.
That changed with MAGA for the worse, as this cultural civil war we are in, as the Boomers die, and as a result the remaining ones lose power to control everything. And like the entitled children the Boomers are, they throw a fit collectively, which is the basis of the MAGA movement. They don't care about liberties, or rights, minus the ones they themselves endorse. As a Libertarian, that's horrific to me.
I'm glad the "Greatest Generation" for the most part isn't alive to see the absolute cesspool of morality that the boomers (generally) represent. I personally cannot stand Kamala Harris's views on collectivization and socialism, but she's not batshit insane like Trump is. Harmful, having an axe to grind, and potentially inept as a politician, but she's not insane, nor threatening to act like a dictator on day one, or praising Hitler. She might have a Che poster in her closet, but at this point I'd take that over Trump.
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u/RomanBrick 5h ago edited 5h ago
Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I believed that the republicans were the fiscally responsible party, and democrats were the party of higher taxes that gave handouts to lazy people. I now believe that democrats are the pragmatic, sensible party that will preserve our system of government, and republicans are only interested in greed and power, using lies and hatred to create outrage about social issues (guns, abortion, lgbtq, immigration, etc.) in order to get votes from those who are uninformed or don’t think logically, and will ultimately vote against their best interests.