So many times I have talked with Democrats who have told me that they cannot publicly admit to being a Democrat. Business owners have told me that they will lose their business. Democrats are switching to the Republican Party to run for office because they believe that Democrats are unelectable. More than a million voters in 43 states have switched to the Republican Party over the last year. The shift is more pronounced in the suburbs, where well-educated swing voters who turned against Trump’s Republican Party appear to be swinging back. Of the million people who became Republicans, only 630,000 became Democrats, according to the Associated Press. At least some of the newly registered Republicans are actually Democrats who crossed over to vote against Trump-backed candidates in the GOP primary. One reason is that some voters believe that the Democratic Party has become a progressive socialist when President Biden eliminated billions of dollars in student debt.
Experts have warned that American democracy is eroding and there is widespread evidence that fair and free elections are under threat. A large majority of Americans believe that American democracy is in crisis and public polls show that both Democrats and Republicans value these principles. If Americans across the political spectrum really believe in the importance of these values, why are these principles being violated with increased frequency?
The Republican Party platform claims that they support the American dream through economic growth, protecting constitutional freedoms, and ensuring election integrity. If this is their belief, why are they putting Donald Trump at the forefront of their party to run for President? They cannot stand by this conviction based upon Trump’s many lawsuits, being impeached three times, having the most corrupt administration in history, and facing felony charges that could (and should) put him in prison. The Republican Party cannot support the idea of “constitutional freedom” when their candidate, Trump, has promised to eliminate the Constitution of the United States. The idea of “ensuring election integrity” is almost laughable considering that Trump tried every trick in the book to steal the last election by making demands on election officials to “find him” the votes he needed to win. The question remains, why would a voter even consider such a man of low moral character for their candidate?
This brings back the question as to why are Democrats either ashamed or afraid to admit that they are Democrats. This is the time in our history when being a Democrat should be our proudest moment. From worker’s rights to protecting our environment, and equal pay to fighting special interests, Democrats believe we can and should make life better for families across our nation, fairness, justice, and equality for all by standing up for all middle-class Americans and those struggling to get there.
Our history has taught us that the Democratic Party is the fighter for fair wages, equal pay, women’s rights, civil rights, and voters’ rights, and the results have made our country stronger and better. A worker who clocks a time clock enjoys overtime pay, vacation pay, healthcare, family leave, 401k, fair wages, and safe working conditions because of the Democratic Party. So, why do the blue-collar workers cuss the Democrats and fly a Trump flag in their yard?
Every church in our area tells us that we should not steal, lie, lust, commit adultery, and fornicate, yet some Christians strongly support and twice voted for Trump who has proudly admitted his sexual assault on women, his lust for his own daughter, and cheated on his wife with a porn star. There is documented proof that he has stolen classified documents, refused to pay his taxes and bills, and the countless lies that he continues to tell. These churches and Christians are once again supporting this man as their choice in contrast to President Joe Biden who is a devout Catholic, faithful husband, and a man of strong integrity.
Veterans have repeatedly voted for Republican candidates who voted against them in Congress to pass laws that would provide them with much-deserved benefits. In the last election, Trump called our Veterans and the men and women serving in our armed forces “suckers and losers.” He degraded Senator John McCain and every POW because he said they were not heroes because “they were captured.” As they spent years being tortured in prison camps, Trump was living off his Daddy’s money and enjoying life. So, why did the Veterans vote for Trump? Why did some of them show up on January 6 to attack our Capitol?
Our police officers go out every day and risk their lives to keep our communities safe. They are underpaid and overworked. Trump called our law enforcement “weak” and has said that he will “do away” with the FBI and CIA if elected. He has threatened “payback” on judges and attorneys who have prosecuted him for his crimes. So, why does law enforcement support Trump?
Trump’s racist and bigot comments have divided our country and turned friends against friends and family members against each other. He has advocated violence and idolized dictators who have committed some of the worst crimes in history. He turned against our law departments and sided with Russia and North Korea. So, why would anyone want this man to be back in power?
The Democratic Party in Alabama is too busy fighting among ourselves to get anything done. There is too much separation in race by our leadership to bring us back together. The State of Alabama is controlled and dominated by the Republican regime which is weakening our state to its lowest point. We are looked upon by the rest of the country as a state of ignorance and discrimination. Women have lost the right to have control of their own bodies. Hospitals have closed because our governor refused to expand Medicaid which would have helped millions of Alabamians. Our prisons are overcrowded and prisoners are dying every day from inhumane treatment, and bad conditions. Voter rights are being eroded by State leadership who are determined to make it harder and harder to vote. The Republican Party knows their policies are unpopular and they need gerrymandering and voter suppression to hold on to their power.
It’s time to come out of the closet and be proud of who you are. Be proud that you are a part of the movement through history that has changed our times for the better. If you lost a friend because you voted for Hillary Clinton, then they were never your friend to start with. We can’t choose our families but we can choose to show them that we are the party they can thank for their benefits. Remind them where their Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid came from. Women, Veterans, blue-collar workers, single parents, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, the disabled, where would you be today if not for the Democratic Party who gave you a seat at our table and marched and fought for your rights? Step out, step up, and be proud of what we have accomplished and what is yet to come. There is an old saying that “you are judged by the company you keep” so be proud that you stand next to John F. Kenney, Barack Obama, John Lewis, Jimmy Carter, Franklin D., Roosevelt, and let’s not forget George Clooney, John Legend and Jon Bon Jovi!
The time is now here that the Democratic Party should be proud of who we are, what we have accomplished, and where we have been. The most important of all is that we better be very strong on where we are going or we are going to end up in the worst state of the union that this country has ever known.
Lynda Kirkpatrick
Marion County Democratic Party Chair
SDEC District 17 Representative Alabama Democratic Party