My Mom is 90. We are so lucky still to have her still with us, not only physically, but mentally. She is sharp as a tack, though struggling with physical pains and not always entirely sure this is "better than the alternative."
Mom is a lifelong Democrat. she loved FDR, voted for Stevenson twice against a war hero, reviled Nixon, agreed with me that the only reason it was ok that Dad died young (66) was so he never had to see his beloved country presided over by the laughable Ronnie Raygun.
Obama, no. "He just doesn't have enough experience," she says, in that voice that I know to signal "end of story."
This is back in the late primary season, when I have asked her - by phone (we live on opposite coasts) - what she thinks of the guy who looks to be heading for the nomination.
I give a few anti-McCain lines, but don't push it. Perhaps later.
Husband: "She's voting for McCain."
I'll admit, I don't doubt it. She did sound pretty final to me; also, looking at a guy who could be her grandchild, it must be hard to think of him as President. Oh, there's also that one thing - wrong skin color.
Husband: "She is just not ready to vote for a black man."
Again, he may just be right. Mom has lived through a ridiculous amount of change in her life. She was the daughter of immigrant eastern europeans, who came to this country, each at 16, speaking no English. They worked hard, bought a small general store, raised nine children and sent them all to college. When my Mom was 7, a law was passed that tried to keep people like her family from immigrating to the US. But this may just be a little farther than she is ready to go.
Nevertheless, we do not give up easily. Little hints, every once in awhile...
What do I think of McCain, she asks, during a later phone call. "I think he's really dangerous". "Really?" So I iterate through some of the arguments (Supreme Court is a strong one). "Bit by bit," I am thinking.
Out to visit in August, with Obama essentially selected already, I am walking with Mom to a doctor's appointment when we pass a car with an Obama sticker, and I congratulate the driver, "Nice bumper sticker!" The driver smiles and waves.
Mom had seen the sticker. "Don't you have any misgivings about him?" "Oh sure," I say, "He's a politician. He won't be perfect. But I really think McCain has to be beaten."
Long pause.
"I'm not voting for anybody for President. I'll just vote the other offices."
That's better than voting for McCain, so I let it be. But before I leave for home, I ask about the vice presidential contenders. She strongly favors Biden, so I take a closer look. He sounds as if he has great strengths, so I cross my fingers.
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Biden it is! I call Mom. "What do you think of Obama's choice of Biden? I looked into him because you thought well of him, and I think he's a great choice."
"Well," she says, "I did say he was the one choice that might bring me around..."
Rather than whoop into the phone (though bouncing silently on my toes), I hold a calm conversation. She has not "come around," she is thinking about it. Obama has shown excellent decision-making ability, and has added a seasoned foreign policy expert to the ticket. Note that this also proves Mom has true Democratic ideals. Biden is not the choice of right-wingers.
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Sunday, 31 August:
"Hi, Mom, how are you doing?" After going through how the pain medications are still not working all that well, Mom, this time, asks me, "What do you think of McCain's choice for vice president?"
I answer something approximating "Uh.... um.... uh..."
Mom: "I'm voting for Obama."
Rather than whoop, again, I respond with "It certainly undermines any claim that McCain has the judgment to lead this country."
We rail together a bit about inexperience, heartbeat away, creationist, in a sort of "Can you imagine?" mode. We talk about our convention - she thought Michelle did very well, the little girls are "darling", but the best speech was by Bill Clinton. I promise to find it ("Can you get the picture when you do that on the computer?" Yes, Mom, I'll be sure to get a video.) Then Mom must go, and I have a little adventure planned, so we hang up - but not before both... both, I said... talking about where is the best place to direct money to the campaign.
The Older White Woman has gone from leaning towards the republican for the first time in her life, to considering the democrat because of his vice presidential choice, to supporting and contributing to the democrat because of the republican's vice presidential choice. So, thanks especially to Joe Biden for joining our ticket, Obama for choosing him, and John McCain for trashing his own chances with a clueless, reckless decision.
One more vote. One more vote. Thanks, Momma.