What are your parents'' political leanings?

[ladypirate]

I was just curious as to which direction people''s parents/families lean politically. I was thinking the other day about how much of our world view comes from our upbringing. I''ll start!

My parents are both liberal democrats, as are my sisters and I. My parents are still very active politically, both in the local community (my mom is huge into neighborhood politics--stuff like working to prevent too much development, etc.) and in regional/national politics. Kris'' parents are also liberal democrats and he and his sister are as well. I guess there was no big rebellion there--although our grandparents were all republican, so our parents did switch it up.

 

[FrekeChild]

My parents are also liberal (Catholic) democrats, and I am as well(minus the Catholic part). My dad''s sons are both conservative (Christian) republicans, but they were raised by their conservative (Christian) republican mother. Both sets of grandparents were conservative (Catholic) republicans, so I''m not sure how my parents turned out how they did. My dad is a lifelong political nut and has run for public office twice. We had many fundraisers at my house when I was little, for people who are still in New Mexican and national politics today.

FF is a Libertarian, who is currently leaning to the left--way left. His sister (13 years older) was the first registered voter in their family, and although his dad shares some interesting views with conservatives, he would definitely vote democrat right now(he''s an atheist). And his sister is a liberal (non-religious) democrat.

Weird LP that both sets of our grandparents were Republican and our parents Dems.

Oh, my dad''s brother is a (Catholic) Republican with leftward leanings-he''d probably consider himself an Independent after the past 8 years, and my mom''s nine older siblings are ALL Dem, except one--her closest sister, the lone Republican (All of them are Catholic). Weird.

 

[MaggieB]

Conservative Republican father, liberal Democrat mother.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

I''m an Independent, but I come from a long line of Lutheran Democrats. And, I do usually tend to side with the Democratic candidates.

DH isn''t registered to vote (and yes I''ve been pestering him about this!), but he comes from a family of Catholic Republicans. I think, when he finally registers to vote, he will probably register as either an Independent or a Republican. He does tend to support the Republican candidates.

So, as you can probably imagine, we don''t discuss politics much in our house!

 

[Lauren8211]

My mom is a liberal democrat. I honestly can't say what my step-dad is. If I had to guess, I'd say moderate democrat. I can't see him not voting for Barack Obama.

I don't speak to my dad anymore, but one of the last memories I have of him being around was me saying I would vote for Michael Dukakis, and he was telling me he was voting for Bush. LOL. (Mind you, this was when I was 5)

I think he may be an independent, however, if I had to guess!

ETA: I turned out as a pretty far-left liberal. More far left than any candidate that could possibly have a chance at winning the White House in the US. My brother is a liberal Dem, but not as liberal as me!

 

[NewEnglandLady]

My parents are both middle-of-the-roaders with my mom usually leaning towards the left and my father to the right. I didn''t really find my political footing until I left home--I registered as an independent when I was 18, but am most definitely a libertarian now.

 

[Elmorton]

My dad is a conservative democrat (his parents are democrats), and my mom comes from a very republican family, but the last time she voted republican was for Bush 1, the first run (and I think the fact that Bushes were Episcopalian had a lot to do with that). Then she voted for Clinton never turned back. I''m a pretty liberal democrat.

 

[ksinger]

Date: 10/13/2008 8:56:42 AM
Author: elledizzy5
My mom is a liberal democrat. I honestly can''t say what my step-dad is. If I had to guess, I''d say moderate democrat. I can''t see him not voting for Barack Obama.

I don''t speak to my dad anymore, but one of the last memories I have of him being around was me saying I would vote for Michael Dukakis, and he was telling me he was voting for Bush. LOL. (Mind you, this was when I was 5)

I think he may be an independent, however, if I had to guess!

ETA: I turned out as a pretty far-left liberal. More far left than any candidate that could possibly have a chance at winning the White House in the US. My brother is a liberal Dem, but not as liberal as me!

I''m curious Elle, what constitutes far left in your mind, since you self-identify that way. I ask because the word "liberal" has been hijacked by people as a derogatory term. You claim it proudly, so I''d like to know YOUR definition of it.

To not jack the thread any more - I''m sure many would prefer we don''t, you could post the answer in the Dem thread....just an idea.

 

[KimberlyH]

The last time we discussed who was what my dad was registered as a Republican and my mom as a Democrat but she said she felt they needed to switch, not sure if they ever did. I would say my father is a very moderate Democrat and my mother is a middle-of-the-road Republican. My sister is an inth shy of being socialist, self-proclaimed, registered as a Democrat. My husband is a from a long line of Republicans and continues the tradition. I am a "Decline to State" who falls almost right in the middle, a Republicrat or a Democran...but I prefer neither because I detest the two party system and the divisiveness it incites.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I am definitely leftist as are my parents who are agnostic. My brother is a libertarian. My father''s family were strong democrats but my mother''s father was a republican polititian for most of his life. They always believed we should choose for ourselves and talked to us about voting a lot when we were kids. I remember going into the voting booth with my mom as a kid. I think they instilled me with a lot of the great values that typify the left so it made sense to me

 

[joflier]

My dad is very republican, and my mom, while she votes republican, has a hard time understanding and comprehending political and world issues. So I think she votes that way moreso because of my dad (and her parents are republicans as well).

 

[swimmer]

My father was raised conservative and became a Socialist, mom was an anarchist from an early age in a Communist country. Her mother was a monarchist. Mom still fears/hates all govt and Dad still leans Socialist. I reject Socialism''s efficacy for groups of more than say 120 people, but could never swing so far right as to become Republican (as the term is understood in the US). I think of the political spectrum as a circle, the farthest right and left are indistinguishable to any but themselves, moderate liberals and moderate conservatives are also pretty much the same.

 

[luckystar112]

My parents are both liberal, anti-bush.

But my mom is voting for McCain this election.

 

[mrssalvo]

my parents are both republicans. they both voted for Carter though. They have moved far right since then..lol...

 

[E B]

My parents both vote Democrat, though my mother is more conservative than she''d like to admit.

Most of my "extended" family is very conservative, however.

 

[Linda W]

Date: 10/13/2008 8:49:05 AM
Author: Irishgrrrl
I''m an Independent, but I come from a long line of Lutheran Democrats. And, I do usually tend to side with the Democratic candidates.


DH isn''t registered to vote (and yes I''ve been pestering him about this!), but he comes from a family of Catholic Republicans. I think, when he finally registers to vote, he will probably register as either an Independent or a Republican. He does tend to support the Republican candidates.


So, as you can probably imagine, we don''t discuss politics much in our house!

Aw IrishGirl, I knew I loved ya, my family is from a long line of Lutheran Democrats also!!!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 10/13/2008 1:10:01 PM
Author: Linda W

Date: 10/13/2008 8:49:05 AM
Author: Irishgrrrl
I''m an Independent, but I come from a long line of Lutheran Democrats. And, I do usually tend to side with the Democratic candidates.


DH isn''t registered to vote (and yes I''ve been pestering him about this!), but he comes from a family of Catholic Republicans. I think, when he finally registers to vote, he will probably register as either an Independent or a Republican. He does tend to support the Republican candidates.


So, as you can probably imagine, we don''t discuss politics much in our house!

Aw IrishGirl, I knew I loved ya, my family is from a long line of Lutheran Democrats also!!!

Hee hee, Linda! Yay for the Lutheran Democratic Supa Grannies! LOL!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 10/13/2008 8:56:42 AM
Author: elledizzy5
My mom is a liberal democrat. I honestly can't say what my step-dad is. If I had to guess, I'd say moderate democrat. I can't see him not voting for Barack Obama.

I don't speak to my dad anymore, but one of the last memories I have of him being around was me saying I would vote for Michael Dukakis, and he was telling me he was voting for Bush. LOL. (Mind you, this was when I was 5)

I think he may be an independent, however, if I had to guess!

ETA: I turned out as a pretty far-left liberal. More far left than any candidate that could possibly have a chance at winning the White House in the US. My brother is a liberal Dem, but not as liberal as me!

Elle, I just wanted to say I'm sorry about this. ((((HUGS))))

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 10/13/2008 1:15:19 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl

Date: 10/13/2008 8:56:42 AM
Author: elledizzy5
My mom is a liberal democrat. I honestly can''t say what my step-dad is. If I had to guess, I''d say moderate democrat. I can''t see him not voting for Barack Obama.

I don''t speak to my dad anymore, but one of the last memories I have of him being around was me saying I would vote for Michael Dukakis, and he was telling me he was voting for Bush. LOL. (Mind you, this was when I was 5)

I think he may be an independent, however, if I had to guess!

ETA: I turned out as a pretty far-left liberal. More far left than any candidate that could possibly have a chance at winning the White House in the US. My brother is a liberal Dem, but not as liberal as me!

Elle, I just wanted to say I''m sorry about this. ((((HUGS))))

Thanks, Irish. That was really nice of you to say.

I always had my mother, and I came out OK.

... kind of... lol

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 10/13/2008 1:25:29 PM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 10/13/2008 1:15:19 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl

Date: 10/13/2008 8:56:42 AM
Author: elledizzy5
My mom is a liberal democrat. I honestly can''t say what my step-dad is. If I had to guess, I''d say moderate democrat. I can''t see him not voting for Barack Obama.

I don''t speak to my dad anymore, but one of the last memories I have of him being around was me saying I would vote for Michael Dukakis, and he was telling me he was voting for Bush. LOL. (Mind you, this was when I was 5)

I think he may be an independent, however, if I had to guess!

ETA: I turned out as a pretty far-left liberal. More far left than any candidate that could possibly have a chance at winning the White House in the US. My brother is a liberal Dem, but not as liberal as me!

Elle, I just wanted to say I''m sorry about this. ((((HUGS))))

Thanks, Irish. That was really nice of you to say.

I always had my mother, and I came out OK.

... kind of... lol

Aw, you turned out great IMO!

 

[Anna0499]

My mom is a very devout Catholic-Republican-conservative. She's more conservative than any politician that stands a chance would ever be. She is a Catholic first and, although she doesn't always 100% agree with Republican candidates, they are far more congruent with her personal value system than Democratic ones will ever be. My father is what I would call apathetic. He does not believe that the government impacts his life enough on a daily basis for him to get all worked up about politics (obviously I know this sentiment is not shared by most of us around here) and he criticizes the government no matter who is in office. It's quite hilarious at times. He believes that only the American people can save America, not the government. I think this core belief leads him to not vote Democrat.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

My dad passed away when I was in my teens. I remember he was very republican in his views and voted for Regan. I have NO idea why as it''s not like he benefited from that. My mom was never a US citizen, meaning she couldn''t register to vote, and I''m not sure what her beliefs were back then. We haven''t talked in 10 years, but oddly I found a post of hers that she made online a few years back and it was her ranting at disapproval of her country''s political structure!

I looked up all my relatives in the voters database and all are Democrats, but when I''ve talked to them many like Bush. I cannot figure that one out. After watching Michael Moore''s movie on 9/11, I brought it up to my grandmother and she started yelling at me about it. She''s totally into Bush and against conspiracies.

I''m more liberal and have always voted for Democrats.

 

[Kaleigh]

Mine are staunch Republicans. My in laws are Democrats.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

My family is 100% liberal Democrat. We even have a family member pretty high up. My ILS are Republican. I obviously try to AVOID talking politics with them. DH considers himself an independent but he refuses to vote.

 

[galeteia]

I''m not an American, but SO is so I''ll answer on his behalf.

His parents are hardcore Republicans, whereas SO and his brother are very liberal Democrats.

 

[decodelighted]

I'd say that my Mom is a Republican and my Dad is a Libertarian. I grew up in a very Republican area of Virginia (southeast). And attended staunchly conservative private schools.

However -- I was a Democrat early on. Remember playing the "Jimmy Carter" role in our school's mock presidential debate in like FOURTH GRADE. I believe I was the ONLY volunteer. Guess my Mom was a good sport to drive my nine/ten year old self over to the Democratic headquarters in town so I could pick up peanut buttons & pamphlets. HA!

No surprise I left VA for the blue-soaked Northeast & even became a (not-very-glamorous or important) member of that darn "media elite" in lefty New Yawk Ceeetay.

 

[Miranda]

My parents are republicans. They are fairly conservative. DH''s parents consider themselves conservative republicans, but, I don''t know how they figure that. They are the type that gives their party a bad name. I try not to talk politics very often with them because we usually do not agree and it usually gets ugly...Not a great idea in front of the kids. They say some truly repulsive things. DH and I are both registered republicans, but, I''m certainly more libertarian than anything else.

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Both my parents are immigrants and were raised Catholic. They''re somewhat conservative with what I would call "old world views", but usually leaned Democrat.

I hate to identify myself with one of the two major parties, so let''s just say I''m voting for Obama

 

[Selkie]

My mother probably votes Republican most of the time, and my dad is pretty apolitical (but very anti-Iraq war). They''re what I think of as New England conservatives: fiscally conservative and socially moderate/liberal, but very private about all of it. It wasn''t until 9/11 happened that we ever discussed politics openly. My mom thinks that Barbara Bush should have been president.

I THINK she was intrigued by, and might even have liked Hillary, but she HATED Bill, so probably wouldn''t have voted for her!

My MIL and FIL are Cuban exiles, and they fall on differing sides of the traditional staunch Cuban-American Republican line. MIL is convinced Obama is a secret Muslim radical while FIL is thoroughly sick of the failed hard-line embargo policies and registered Democrat this year. I''m very interested to talk to both of them when we visit them shortly after the election.

 

[iheartscience]

Mine are both Republican Catholics although my dad is definitely more conservative than my mom. My mom used to be a Democrat, loved JFK, etc., but became more conservative as she got older. The last time she voted Democrat was for Dukakis. My dad's an Army brat and has always been a Republican. They're both pretty well-informed but they are not very political and don't get involved in campaigning, local politics, etc.

ETA that I am obviously a lot more liberal than both of my parents! I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, and only my twin sister and I are Democrats. My one brother is a very conservative Republican, the other brother is a Libertarian but votes Republican and my older sister is a moderate Republican.