That all came to an end in June of 1992. I saw the rise of Bill Clinton, and was prepared to support him for President. I was somewhat uneasy, because he was clearly a smarmy operator and liar, but I thought that since he was in the same party, he was the best choice.
Then came the Sista Souljah speech. I remember thinking about how this was a transparent play for the centrist vote, and how nobody had ever heard of Sistah Souljah before, and that Bill Clinton was just abusing this woman to score political points. I expected to see a reaction in the press and editorial pages chiding Clinton for being so shallow and manipulative. Instead, I remember seeing opinion pieces about his brave stand against the NAACP and how wonderfully tough he was. Even after a week, people were only criticizing him in the context of how, although it was a shallow and cynical racial sell-out, it was a subtle master stroke of political genius.
At that point, I realized that there was no substance behind Bill Clinton, and that he would say anything to be elected. I further realized that the newspapers, editorial writers, and television commentators knew full well that this was so, but were going to say or do anything to make sure he was elected anyway. It was a stunning revelation to me, because I had been blindly believing such people all my life. I started to critically evaluate the candidates, began dismissing much of what I saw on TV or read in the newspapers, and wound up pulling the Republican lever for President George H. W. Bush that November, the first time I had voted for a Republican in my whole life.
And I never looked back.
Thanks to my parents and a good education, I have been a conservative since birth.
FWIW, looking back I became a Republican in the early 50s during the McCarthy hearings.
At that time, Stalin was in power and even a teenager could understand that Communism was ruthless. I despised Stalin and Communism even then. Anyone who hated Communism had to be ok in my book. Thank you, McCarthy, you made me a Republican then. I've only ever voted for one Democrat in my entire life and that was for a county supervisor that I knew.
Now, I almost wish I had that vote back. Forgive me, Lord.
In 6th grade, I was a Ronald Reagan supporter until a girl I liked was supporting Jimmy Carter. I flip flopped and redid my campaign poster to support Jimmy Carter so the girl would like me. lol. However after that I never supported a democrat again. Oh BTW, the girl that I liked that supported Jimmy Carter is now Republican and votes that way as do I.
In time to vote for Nixon in ‘72.
My Father was a member of the John Birch Society, and my Heavenly Father is a member of the Eternal Life through Christ Society. You can reach your own conclusions on how I got here.
I became a Republican during college. I worked my way through school, had no financial assistance and graduated on my own blood, sweat and tears. It irked me when I saw other people who partied their way through school on either my dime (tax funded college assistance programs) or their parents’. Most of the people I know who partied their way through school still cry and whine about how hard working is.
I saw that’s pretty much how the Dems operate and I wanted nothing to do with it.
I liked Ike as I sat on the living room floor watching the 1952 convention on a B&W tv with a round picture tube.
Bred, born, and raised. Taking part in political campaigns since I was a child.
Never been a repub.
I voted for Carter in 76. His performance was so pathetic that I promised myself I’d never vote Democrat again. And I haven’t.
I was never really a “Democrat”. But, the comparison between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter made the “R—Conservative” a lifelong mission!
Especially with the GOP's top tier of morons on the GOP ticket for 2008. There are only two real Conservatives, a moonbat, and 4 RINO's.
This country is in for rough times...
My time in Viet Nam, with a job that frequently required me to monitor very high level communications, turned me into a republican for life!
My moment of truth came very shortly after I first asked myself “why are they taking this money out of my paycheck?”
Ronald Reagan, the first president I saw on TV as a child, and it was a great era for Republicans, great refresh for republicans, everything was bright, and I was a happy child never knowing the dark age of the Vietnam War era and Carter the traitor. THE END
When I asked my dad a question about why people tolerated high taxes when the whole war for independence was in part fought because of taxes.
I was around 5 or 6 years old (1984).
I, from elementary through high school, also voted GOP in every mock school election.
I still considered 1994, my 10th grade year, to be one of my favorite years because of the GOP sweep that November.
Today I lean GOP, but I’m more of a constitutionalist (not the party).