Now X lives in a region of Virginia widely known to be incredibly Republican. For those of you in the Richmond area, we call this GOP colony "Midlothian." X even claimed that his parents were good friends with George Allen, and that he thought he was a pretty cool guy from talking to him a few times. X was even heading to a college widely known to be a notorious home for good ole' boys and Republicans in training. But despite these personal influences, X was voting for Kerry.
Now we all know the sad tale of Kerry's loss, and afterwards we maintained our friendship. It involved more beer pong than talking politics, but we would always chat now and then on what was going on in the world.
Currently, X is working for George Allen. Yep, the same person who voted for Kerry based on Iraq alone was now working for George Allen's re-election. I find this deeply ironic and somewhat tragic, because his support for Allen is largely rooted in his future benefiting from Allen's success. Furthermore, Allen is facing an opponent who warned about Iraq before we even went in and who holds moderate, common sense positions on the issues. If it wasn't for the fact that Allen plays golf with his Dad, I know that X would not only be voting for Webb, he'd probably be volunteering for him too.
I recently had a conversation with X while he was working at the Allen office. He jokingly said he was making phone calls 'which the Webb campaign apparently hasn't learned to do'. I admitted the Webb campaign was shaky at times, but countered that Allen's poll numbers looked pretty weak for someone with his name recognition. He called the poll numbers a 'joke' and predicted that Allen would win by 20 points. I had considered my friend to be a reasonable person, but predicting an Allen victory of 20 points made it clear that my friend was sick.
Yes fellow RK readers, my friend had come down with Right-Wing Rabies.
You all have a friend like this. They are normal, everyday people who have been bitten by the GOP bug. They are not Republicans of the Karl Rove/Tom Delay pure evil variety; rather they are friends, neighbors, maybe even family members who can't see two sides to an issue. They have been gripped by one issue they can't get around and they align themselves with the Elephants because of it, even though Democrats are better for them on every other issue. They let a misconception on one issue drive their votes.
They are the hunter who votes GOP because of guns, but is having his environment poisoned, his children going to failing schools, his wife driving on unsafe roads, and his job going overseas because of GOP trade policies.
They are the devout Catholic who votes GOP because of abortion, while the GOP spits on the poor and ignores the true meaning of Jesus' teaching.
They are the veteran who votes GOP because they seem stronger on defense, while the GOP sets a course on foreign policy and energy dependence that make our world less safe.
Now all these people, like my friend X, should not be voting Republican. They have been fooled into thinking the GOP is their best choice, when we see their party disrespect so many of their other values. Some would call them 'stupid' for voting against their own interests, but we're the ones who are fools. Everytime one of these voters sides with the GOP, it represents a failure of the Democratic Party to more actively work for their support.
Science as we know it only has one cure for Right-Wing Rabies; sending more donkeys to Washington to change our country's direction. To imitate Governor Dean:
"Tom Harkin, We're not just going to send JIM WEBB to join you in the Senate. We're also going to send BOB CASEY. And we're sending HAROLD FORD. And SHERROD BROWN! AND SHELDON WHITEHOUSE! AND CLAIRE MCCASKILL! AND JON TESTER! AND JIM PERDERSON! AND AMY KLOBUCHAR! AND BEN CARDIN! AND WE'RE GOING TO SEND THEM TO WASHINGTON DC TO TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY!!"'
Yeaaaaagggggh!!!