Changing minds

One day, about a year ago, a friend said to me "Will you teach me how to be a Democrat?" My friend, mostly a-political, was a Republican because her parents (long dead) had been Republicans. She never thought much one way or another about voting, she just went where her parents (long dead) had pointed her.

When our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001, the first thing she said to me in reference to George W. Bush was "We have the right man for the job in office, don't you think?" I was horrified, in shock, and mourning the murder of a good friend who'd sat in the first class section of American flight 11, the first plane to hit the WTC. And I said to her "Absolutely NOT. Bush is the absolute WRONG man for the job."

So, when we were at dinner about a year ago, and she said "Teach me to be a Democrat," I said, "Of course, but I want to know why you have changed your thinking." Her reasons were simple, clean and clear. She said that this administration lies when the truth would be easier. She said their lies have caused the needless deaths of US soldiers, and have made us reviled internationally. We are not safer, we are in more danger because this administration has used lying as a weapon against us. And she said "I don't think that the Democrats lie quite so easily." Well, maybe they just don't lie so criminally.

Last night, watching Keith Olbermann, I noticed that his common theme was the death of integrity. Leading off with Gonzo Gate, Chief Counsel to Alberto Gonzales, Monica Goodling, refused to testify in the Senate about her involvement in the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Already on an indefinate leave of absence, Ms. Goodling has now cast a definate light of criminality on the firing of 8 US Attorneys when previously people were just muttering about incompetence and cronyism.

The cover-up of Pat Tillman's death by friendly fire has his family asking for an investigation. The army has determined there was no criminal wrongdoing in this cover-up (can you say cronyism?) But lying about how Tillman died diminishes his courage and his real dedication to America. Tillman went to Afghanistan to find Osama Bin Laden. He opposed the invasion of Iraq, and he loved America. Once again, an example of how this Republican administration would rather lie when the truth would serve it better, and the truth would be easier.

Tom Delay compares Democrats to that "scoundral" Hitler.

Rudi Giuliani paves potholes in New York with rubble (including human remains) from 9/11.

Rush Limbaugh says John and Elizabeth Edwards are using her cancer to make political hay.

And so my friend, the ex-Republican, cites a lack of integrity among the Republicans causing her change of heart.

What has been your experience? Will this lead us to peace?