My Father: The Republican

My father has long voted Democrat, and both my mother and father were liberal until the late 1980's. Now my father has turned Republican, and it is all Lawton Chile's fault.

My mother was turned off of the democratic party by a corrupt Florida sheriff, and Lawton Chiles's stint as Florida Governor in the 90's, of which Wikipedia says: "During his first term as governor, Chiles managed to accomplish very little."

One thing he did accomplish, however was to alienate my mother.

I say alienate, I mean light a bonfire of Conservative Indignation, which means work for the Republican Party. The downside for my father is that he also now works for the Republican Party, helping man voting sites, attending fundraisers, wearing the GOP jackets, putting signs in yards, you name it.

One of my mom's hallmarks is the use of Call Waiting to screen Republican Party Business, which is a euphemism for "Hang up on the Liberal son to see what right-winger is calling". Actually she will hang up, promising to call back, and then forgets for several days: The hallmark of Republicanism.

I joked with my father, who let the call waiting ring to continue talking until the person hung up or left a message, that the urge to hang up on relatives must be a Republican trait. Democrats will speak to the person on the phone out of respect, and let the other caller leave a message.

On Sunday, I called my father to shoot the bull, and he said that he was helping to train Republican poll booth volunteers that evening. I warned him that he might be headed down the twisted path to conservatism, when I heard the telltale clicking on the phone.

"Hold on a minute". He said.

"Uh Oh, you have turned Republican". I said.

"No I have not". He replied, and let the call go to voicemail.

One minute later, the clicking started again.

"Look". He said. "I have to take this, it's probably the folks coming for training, I will call you back".

That was Sunday. I have not heard a peep since then. Today he is manning a polling place for the Republican Party.

Has he turned? You decide.