How I Got a McCain Supporter to See the Light

Last night, I was able to catch up with an old friend at my favorite restaurant in the world, Friday's. We sat at a table in the bar area and did quite a bit of chatting. My bud asked me who I liked in the upcoming election. I said I was an Obama mama, so to speak (pictured below with General Petreus in Iraq earlier this week).

He said he liked McCain. I was quite curious to find out why. Turns out he had been listening to a lot of talk radio while at work, radio which in most cases leans to the right. I asked if he had a problem with McCain's age. He said he didn't. How would I get this old boy to see things my way? Instead of being a blowhard like, say, Hannity, I thought, "Well, let's talk about the issues that typically separate Dems from Reps". I asked him a series of questions in a non-judgemental way. Herewith is a very close approximation of how our conversation went:

Tom: Do you think that abortions should be legal?

Friend: Yes and no. I don't think they should be used as birth control, but if a woman were raped, she should have the option of getting one.

T: Well, if you want to ensure that abortion stays legal for those rape victims, you'd wanna vote Democrat since they have no intention of overturning Roe v. Wade unlike the Reps.

(BTW, I don't see Roe v. Wade being overturned anytime soon. The Republicans didn't do squat about it in the early 00's when they were in control of both houses as well as the Presidency and now they're not in control in either house and may lose the Presidency as well. It makes you wonder about all the people that voted for Bush expecting him to do something about abortion. That something never happened.)

T: Do you think everyone should have health insurance?

F: Definitely. Why should someone who's poor or doesn't have a job not be able to get insurance? What should having a job have to do with getting it, anyway? It doesn't make sense. (he got really fired up on this one) Somebody dies because they don't have insurance. Or some people with insurance don't go to the doctor because it costs too much. It isn't right. But how would it work?

T: Well, Massachusetts already has it. Most of our allies do as well, such as Canada, England, France, etc. We're actually one of the last first-world countries to adopt it.

F: Do you think it would really pass, though?

T: I see many people frustrated by the system the way it is now. Your life savings can be blown by getting sick and I don't think that's right, either. You're a Democrat on this issue, tough guy.

F: Hit me again.

T: When do you think the US should get out of Iraq?

F: I think we should already be gone. How many people have died already?

T: 4,000 US citizens to say nothing of tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis, children of God who were victims of indiscriminate bombing. You lean Democratic on this as well since McCain wants to stay there until we "win".

F: What does that mean? Win?

T: Beats the shit out of me, but I bet it will take a long time to do. We've already been there five years.

F: I need a beer. (to the waitress) Could I get a Bud Light with Lime?