Hi Kiddo!
People say that there are 3 things that you should never discuss in polite conversation - religion, abortion and politics. Well, I already hit you with religion and abortion so I guess it is time to hit you with politics. In our household, politics are a big-daddy, hot-button issue. Your dad is pretty darn mellow, laid back and relatively modest. However, when it comes to politics, his heads grows about 3 sizes and he thinks he knows everything. Then, he gets all worked up about it and I end up having to tell him to shut up. See what you have to look forward to? He is also already planning to use his brainwashing tactics on you - he confirmed it the other night. I will tell you all about his evil plans but let me give you some background on your parents' political views first.
Your mom is a registered democrat. I registered to vote when I was 18 and I vote in the presidential elections. I don't know why I chose to be a democrat. Your dad thinks that it is because your Lang family is comprised of mostly all democrats (and probably thinks they brainwashed me!) but I don't know that I really ever knew that until recently. We never really talked politics and I don't think your Grampa Keith and Gramma Debbie were big voters. Personally, I am thinking that at 18, I figured Republicans were all old, rich, white guys who only cared about making themselves richer. I was a liberal, forward thinking chic (haha) who believed in the causes for the people and I thought that the democrats were for the people. I never paid much attention to politics and would normally vote for names I recognized or if there weren't any names I recognized, I would vote for any woman on the ballot (go girl power!). Your dad would roll his eyes and shake his head at me then say "Thank goodness that my vote cancels out your liberal pinhead vote." In 2008, I did start paying attention. It was an historic presidential election. For the democrats, there was an African-American and a woman as their two nominated candidates. Either way - history would be made. Barack Obama ended up winning their nomination and eventually ended up being the President. I followed the debates and the commentary and I got a little scared. Normally, I would have voted for Barack simply because he was an African-American - I thought it would be so revolutionary for our country to take that giant step forward. However, I just couldn't do it. While I agreed with him on a few issues (he is pro-choice, he supported legalizing gay unions), overall, he scared me. His relationships were shady, he came out of nowhere with no experience and really, I hated that the country was treating him like a media sensation/rock star versus really understanding his plans of where he wanted to take the country. The night of the election, my stomach was in a complete knot as he won. For the first time, I was scared of where politics were going to take this country. When you are in school, the history books will already be written and we will know then whether or not he was a good president. For the sake of the US, I hope he ends up being an amazing president but so far, it isn't looking too good. This election was the first one that I actually agreed with your dad on. I am sure it is like lightning and it won't happen a second time!
So, then there is your Republican, Conservative, Right-wing, pinhead dad. He is really a proud republican and is very passionate about politics. He has always enjoyed political conversations with your Gramma Ruth. He would tell me that your Grampa Bob was a liberal pinhead like me but that Gramma Ruth was a Republican like your dad. You know, your dad really doesn't think he is better than anyone else and is truly just a good-ole-South-Omaha-boy. But, let me tell you a little secret. I think he really, truly does believe that Republicans are better than Democrats. I know, everyone has their flaws and I think that is a small one so I will keep him around for you. So, after all these years of hearing him rant and rave about how stupid democrats are and how he wishes he could rule the world, the most delicious thing EVER happened. We were talking to Gramma Ruth and politics came up. Off handedly, she stated that she was a registered democrat. The earth stopped spinning as I held my breath and watched your dad. The shock! The disappointment! The utter betrayal! Oh my kiddo, it was so DELICIOUS I could barely stand it. Even to this day, your dad says that his life was built on nothing but lies and he can't believe how his mom betrayed him. (Side note - did I tell you that your dad has a flair for drama?)
Now, how does all of this impact you? Besides growing up in a divided household, I fear for your safety over this issue. Here is the conversation that makes me fear for you:
Mom (Jokingly): What are you going to do if your baby ends up being a democrat?
Dad (Totally serious): It won't ever come to that.
M: Why, are you going to start brainwashing the baby from the ground up?
D: Yes, they will be required to watch Fox News* nightly and prepare a 1 page report each day of what they learned.
*Fox News is a right wing, Republican news channel who says that they present news as "Fair and Balanced" but they totally have a Republican agenda.
All joking aside, I don't care what your political beliefs are as long as they are your own and you can back them up with sound logic. I can't speak for your dad who will probably be standing over your crib with the radio set to Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh trying to initiate you early :) You can make your own choice on what you believe. You can vote however you want. Just know that I will probably always be trying to balance things out so your dad doesn't get complete mind control over you!! But, maybe, just for fun, you and I can cut a deal early. Even if you end up deciding to register as a Republican, can you just happen to tell your dad you decided to become a democrat? Please? It would be more delicious than Gramma Ruth's bombshell and the drama that would ensue would be so wonderful. I am sure that he would feel that he completely failed as a parent - even if you are a perfect child. He would feel that his entire world crumbled around him. Even as I am typing, I have a big grin on my face at the joy I would feel at the moment you turn 18 and say "I am going to register as a democrat." Even if it happens to be a little white lie, I think I am willing to bribe you to give me that moment :)
