New Children's Book: "Why Mommy is a Democrat"

Why Mommy is a Democrat brings to life the core values of the Democratic party in ways that young children will easily understand and thoroughly enjoy. Using plain and non-judgmental language, along with warm and whimsical illustrations, this colorful 28-page paperback depicts the Democratic principles of fairness, tolerance, peace, and concern for the well-being of others. It's a great way for parents to gently communicate their commitment to these principles and explain their support for the party.

Why Mommy is a Democrat may look like a traditional children's book, but it definitely isn't just for children. With numerous subtle (and not-so-subtle) satirical swipes at the Bush administration and the Republican party,Why Mommy will appeal to Democrats of all ages!

Finally, a portion of the profits will be donated to Democratic candidates and party organizations, so your purchase will help make an immediate difference!

"I just got my copy of the book in the mail today. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen in print! My nine-year-old and I laughed and laughed! I will recommend this to all of my Democrat friends!"
-Patty Davies, Pittsburgh, PA

"A wonderful story to show my son what REAL moral values are."
-Erin White-Johnson, Bakersfield, CA

A lifelong Democrat and political activist, I have been teaching and writing about American politics for over a decade. Although Why Mommy is a Democrat is my first children's book, I've previously authored and coauthored numerous political essays and the book Racialized Coverage of Congress: The News in Black and White.

After hearing for years that I should consider writing children's books, I finally decided to give it a try. But I didn't want to write a typical children's story; instead, I set out to write a book that would help parents communicate important political values to their children and offer an underlying theme of political satire for adults. The result, Why Mommy is a Democrat, reflects my passion for progressive politics, my sense of humor, and my academic training in fields such as political psychology and socialization.

Operating on a shoestring budget, I was extremely fortunate to find a gifted and experienced local artist, Yuliya Firsova, who agreed to illustrate the book. Yuliya did a truly marvelous job of bringing my ideas (and some of her own) to life. Thanks to her, the final product exceeds my wildest expectations.

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, I received a B.A. from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. I currently live in Madison, Wisconsin, with my partner Julia, her daughter Isabella (age six), and our cat Zachary -- all lifelong Democrats.

You Know You're a Democrat When...

You pale at the execution of child killers, but defend the killing of unborn children as an expression of choice. You think trees have feelings, animals can conceptualize and the fetus is a blob of protoplasm. You are convinced that Frank Capra films and Norman Rockwell paintings are lies and distortions but "Platoon," "Dances with Wolves" and "Thelma and Louise" are realistic You think a moment of silent prayer at the beginning of the school day constitutes government indoctrination and an intrusion on parental authority, while sex education, condom distribution and multiculturalism are values-neutral. You think marriage is obsolete - except for homosexuals. You believe homosexuality is genetically determined, but fascism and spouse abuse aren't. You think AIDS is spread by insufficient funding. You consider the Catholic bishops noble and idealistic when they oppose capital punishment and welfare cuts but dangerous fanatics trying to legislate their theology when they defend the right to life. You are convinced that proponents of welfare reform hate the poor and opponents of affirmative action hate minorities, but AIDS activists who bash the Pope and People for the American Way types who go psycho over Protestant "fundamentalists" are guardians of democracy. You attribute every minority problem to entrenched, institutional racism and the legacies of slavery and segregation. You think the black middle class is a myth created by Republicans. You don't understand all of the whining about affirmative action and are more than willing to sacrifice someone else's employment or education opportunity to assuage your guilt. You see no correlation between welfare and the rise of illegitimacy, judicial leniency and surging crime rates, or addiction and an entertainment industry that glorifies drug abuse. But you believe Ronald Reagan is responsible for everything horrible that's happened in the past quarter-century. You think those child-abusing, religious fanatics at Waco had it coming but the illegal immigrants roughed up by California deputies - after leading them on a high-speed chase - are the victims of the decade. You own something that says, "Dukakis for President, " and still display it. You've tried to argue in favor of anything based on, "Well, they're gonna do it anyway so..." You've ever said, "We really should call the ACLU about this." You believe that a few hundred loggers can find another career, but the defenseless spotted owl must live in its preferred tree. You ever based an argument on the phrase, "But they can afford a tax hike because..." You've ever argued that with just one more year of welfare that person will turn it around and get off drugs. You think Lennon was a brilliant social commentator. You keep count of how many people you know in each racial or ethnic category. You believe our government must do it because everyone in Europe does. After looking at your pay stub you can still say, "America is undertaxed." You think the rich can get richer off people who have no money. You've named your kids "Stardust" or "Moonbeam." You've tried to argue that all of societies problems are based on the fact that McDonald's, by law, only has to pay $5.15/hr. You utter the phrase "There ought to be a law" at least once a week. You have ever used the phrase "protecting prisoner's rights". You find yourself nodding vigorously and saying "someone finally said it right" during an episode of Oprah. You've ever referred to the Military/Industrial Complex during a conversation. You know you never laughed as a kid, the world was in just too bad a shape. Your friends told you how much fun you had at the Phish show, but your not sure what year you saw them. You file suit against the mall rent-a-cops for posting signs stating that your bags are subject to inspection. You've ever argued that "you can't legislate morality". You've referred to the Founding Fathers as "those aristocratic, chauvinistic, lily white, slave owning, land stealing oppressors of indigenous personnel". You argued that a few more months of sanctions and Sadam Hussein would have folded like rookie poker player. You know more than 2 people who have a degree in "Womyn's Studies." You've ever said "But look at all the good Ted Kennedy has done for the women of this country!" You blame things on "The Man." You believe that Bart Simpson only needs a little more affection. You argue that the only flaw with Marx is that Russia was an agrarian society. You've ever called the meter maid a fascist. You argue that the Second Amendment only refers to Federally organized militias. You view Jane Fonda as a courageous heroine with strong convictions. You've ever referred to "the glass ceiling." You believe it because "Dan Rather wouldn't lie about something this important." You ever told a child that Oscar the Grouch "is a victim of Draconian budget cuts." You are outraged that Baseball Players make millions and the poor clerk at the unemployment office only makes 28 bucks an hour doing such good work. You think that Al Gore macherena thing was a laugh riot. You feel that Greenpeace is misunderstood. You've ever stated "How does what he does in his personal life have any bearing on doing his job?" You can't talk about foreign policy without using the word conspiracy. You think Ralph Nader makes a lot of sense. You think solar energy is being held back by those greedy oil companies. You would rather have Bill Clinton make your investments than Fidelity. You've never had to worry about marginal tax rates. You have to use the term "mean spirited" in every sentence when talking about welfare reform. You actually expect to collect Social Security. You got teary eyed during the film "The American President." You think Ayn Rand is an African currency. You think the Free Market is where they hand out Government cheese. You think Carter should be on Mt. Rushmore. You believe personal injury lawyers when they say they are just trying to defend the little guy. You know that those profit mongering drug companies could find a cure for AIDS if they really wanted to. You actually believe the NY Times and Washington Post. You know at least one vegan. You think that the Teamsters are misunderstood. You think public housing is great, but just NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard). You think the anti-war protestors from '60s are the real heros. You think that Supply Side Economics refers to your dope dealer's stash. You actually think that poverty can be abolished. You admire the Swedish welfare system. You go to Gay Pride Day parades so that no one can call you homophobic. You think that pornography corrupts women, but find nothing wrong with a 50 year old president seducing a 21 year old intern. You want to know why we don't offer schooling in prisons (hey, isn't that what public schools are for?). You tout the NAACP, but criticize anyone referring to a black man as a "colored person." You feel that banning smoking in public indoor places limits your constitutional rights. You honestly feel that alcoholics deserve social security disability benefits. You've named your kids with hyphenated first and last names. You've tried to argue that poverty could be abolished if people were only willing to redistribute their wealth. You've ever referred to someone as a "bigot" or "Nazi". You support diversity, as long as others agree with you. You've ever uttered the phrase, "you hypocrite". You answer to "No One". You support PETA and Greenpeace, but still eat beef, fish, lamb, and wear leather garments. You protest your neighbor clearing their yard of weeds. You only let your kids watch PBS and listen to NPR. You scream at the thought of agreeing with a Republican. You've argued that Western values are no values. You agree that all the world's problems can be traced back to white Anglo-Saxon men taking advantage of others. You really think that guns kill people. Not people kill people. You've ever said "reduce paper, save a tree". You donate money because it makes you "feel good". You don't mind contributing 4 months of your salary to the government. You're only sorry it can't be more. You think people who make above minimun wage are rich and should be taxed at 90 percent. You blame the Republicans for rainy weather. You ever said, "differently abled" when you mean "crippled." You think Newt Gingrich should be dipped in gravy train and fed to a pack of ravenous poddles. You think heterosexual love is a male chauvinist plot to oppress women. You ever referred to someone's GI Joe figurines and matching tac nukes as "war toys." You think Al Franken is actually funny, but Rush Limbaugh is not. You own an espresso maker, a cusinart, a vibrator, and a heated water bed and yet oppose off shore oil drilling and the construction of nuclear power plants. You think that Doctors should be made into government bureaucrats, but that lawyers should not. You can't write or speak the word "he" without following it with, "or she." You think the phrase, "separation of church and state" is contained in the Constitution. You think Michael Moore makes good documentaries. You think organically grown vegetables are worth the higher price. You think that pouring blood on a $1,500 fur coat is a sure-fire way to get your message across, but if anyone protests outside an abortion clinic, they're extremists... You think the New York Times is fair and balanced, but Fox News is ultra right-wing... You think homophobia is a far worse social disease than herpes. You speak out on the "evils of corporate America" but spend a great deal of your time at Starbucks. You think anyone who doesn't find Will & Grace funny is a homophobe. You look at Yassir Arafat as a "man of peace". You think that Bush is a flip-flopper, but Kerry is the epitome of consistancy. You're proud to be a Democrat and pass these jokes on to your Democrat friends...

More "You Know You're..." Political Memes

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"Democrats make sure we all share our toys, just like Mommy does."

Making sure we, the good kids that earned our toys by being good and cleaning up our rooms share our toys by force, with insolent troublemaking, misbehaving kids who dont deserve any toys in the first place.

Father-Daughter Talk

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age she considered herself to be a very Liberal Democrat and was for distribution of all wealth.

She felt deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, which she expressed openly. One day she was challenging her father on his beliefs and his opposition to higher taxes on the rich & the addition of more government welfare programs.

Based on the lectures that she had participated in and the occasional chat with her professors, she felt that for years her father had obviously harbored an evil, even selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his. The self professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth, and she indicated so to her father.

He stopped her and asked her point blank, how she was doing in school. She answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain. That she studied all the time, never had time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend and didn't really have many college friends because of spending all her time studying. That she was taking a more difficult curriculum.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your good friend Mary doing?"

She replied, "Mary is barely getting by". She continued, "She barely has a 2.0 GPA", adding, "and all she takes are easy classes and she never studies." "But Mary is so very popular on campus, college for her is a blast, she goes to all the parties all the time and very often doesn't even show up for classes because she is too hung over."

The father then asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0." He continued, "That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA. Certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That's not fair! I worked really hard for mine. I did without and Mary has done little or nothing, she played while I worked real hard!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said, "Welcome to the Republican Party."

"Democrats make sure we are always safe, just like Mommy does."

Make sure we're safe from ourselves by taking away our junk food, cigarettes, and guns and any other freedoms they can think of.

"Democrats make sure children can go to school, just like Mommy does."

Making sure that the school they go to are not private schools. Make sure they go to public school where they hand out free condoms and abortion counseling and are punished for mentioning Gods name.

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