There we sat, in a McDonald’s rest stop just west of Buffalo, listening to a political ad.
The ad called Barack Obama a chicken, for voting “present” in the Illinois legislature. My husband pointed out that the number of votes called during the candidate’s tenure was so high as to render the statistic irrelevant.
“Disgusting,” I said, shaking my head at the desperation that would cause such a distortion of truth.
Behind me, a grandfatherly-looking man smiled.
“Yes,” he said. “You are disgusting.”
My head swiveled around to see him, clad in a blue windbreaker, grinning at me.
I turned back to my family—my handsome, good-hearted husband and beautiful, innocent children.
Disgusting.
I am disgusting, my family is disgusting, because we support the truth. Because we debunk lies. Because we will cast our vote for hope next Tuesday.
Disgusting.
You know what’s disgusting?
Racism is disgusting.
Poverty is disgusting.
Child mortality is disgusting.
Hunger is disgusting.
Lies are disgusting.
Foreclosure and bankruptcy are disgusting.
Sick children waiting for health care are disgusting.
War is disgusting.
If looking for a solution to the ills visited upon us the last eight years is disgusting, so be it. It is a label I wear with pride.
I have a dream, too
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Sigh..I can’t believe we’re in 2008! I want O to be in there and then Hillary the next 8 years.
I can’t believe people can’t look past the fact that he is black to realize he is hot people!
Bravo. I think this has been one of the ugliest presidential campaigns of all times, thanks to the ads promoting hate and intolerance. Disgusting is just the right word to come from your mouth.
Early on I was willing to consider the arguments of both parties, but seeing the difference between the two men running for president, the choice of Obama is an easy one. I vote for the guy with integrity who genuinely wants to help everyone in this country, not just the people he thinks are worth his time.
I’m sorry you were the victim of a jerk, Mrs. C.
I can’t believe the depth of the campaign bullshit, this time around. I received one of those heartfelt “he has socialist/arab/muslim ties, and every American should be terrified” emails, from one of my dearest friends. I wrote back to her, suggesting that perhaps she should check her facts before forwarding false emails and making the problem worse. This happened a week ago and really got under my skin, so I wrote about it in my blog.
I can’t wait til the election is over. However, I also fear for the backlash after the election. Even though some have already been stopped, there are plenty more wackos out there.
You are not disgusting and I’m glad you know it.
I am tired of this election. I am tired of the desire (on both sides) to believe the worst of the other. I am tired of being called a racist and uncaring because I am a conservative. I am tired of McCain’s ads pointing to every flaw (imagined and real) in Obama. And I am deeply tired of seeing t.v. ads from the Obama camp accusing McCain of being mentally incompetent because of his age. I am tired of passionate Obama supporters being labeled disgusting or naive or ignorant becuase their opinions are different. And I am incredibly tired of a women who has been a successful city council person, mayor and now a governor being labeled everything from unfit mother to whore just because she is different. And mostly I am tired of having my house repeatedly egged and vandalized ever since we put a McCain/Palin sign in our yard and when we complain we are told to take our sign down.
Mrs. Chicken you are different from me in many ways but I can see your love, enthusiasm and passion. You goals are not different from mine, just our opinions on how to accomplish them. No one in this election is perfect or innocent of wrong doing. Can we please see the value in each other? Because for right or wrong one of these men IS going to be president and after next week we will still be ONE nation who needs to work together even though our opinions are different.
I hope you gave him a piece of your mind! People are so awful in these kinds of time.
I believe that in Illinois you can vote “present” to show that you do not like all parts of a bill. It is a way to show that you are there, but won’t pass a bill as written.
I’m so ready for this election to be over. I’m so ready for the past 8 years to be over.
Now I am just reading up on local issues so that I can make informed decisions at the polls next week.
It is disgusting that he would say that to you in front of your children. He should be ashamed of himself to label people like that.
How did he know that you weren’t conservative and just considered all this political BS disgusting? What a poor reaction. It’s amazing to me how juvenile people act about politics. Shows we haven’t come very far since the witch hunts of the 1400’s.
I am proud of you for teaching your children better. I hope more out there continue to. I’m trying.
And I’m voting.
If you’re disgusting then so am I , and I’m proud!
I can’t believe you had to go through that. What gives people the right, on either side??
I’m dying to know how you responded.
How did you not take him down on that? I would have exploded. You are so good. Thanks for this post. I am hoping and praying and voting and driving others to the polls.
What? Did he really mean that to say that you are disgusting, because you spoke about the distorted campaign ad? I can hardly believe it.
Emotions are running so high this election season. Mine, at least, are so high that tears threaten when I read posts like this. People are really hateful.
WTF? He really said that to you? Did you beat the shit out of him in a post-partum hormonal rage? Seriously!
You go girl.
What the heck is wrong with people?! I mean my family has had its share of public commentary because we look different than most families so I can relate,
Just ugh!
What the hell is wrong with people? The things are overhear are disturbing and I can’t believe we are living in the 21st century. It’s quite sad. If you are disgusting, then I am right with you. And I will proudly wear my “disgusting” any day.
Sometimes peoples stupidity surprises me. What makes people think being rude and disrespectful is okay? Their mamas must be oh so proud.
I too am voting for change and hope and my dream for a better life for my children and every single child in this country. If that makes us disgusting, well then it’s a badge I wear with pride.
Those are the ignorant people we always sort of hope to not come into contact with. What on earth made him think he had the right to say something so abominable to another human being.
Kudos to you for not spitting in his burger. And kudos to me for voting disgustingly.
Amen to that sister! I’ll be lining up to be disgusting right along with you in less than a week.
Amen sister! I love it and I could not be more excited to be the disgusting mother of almost three children that I am and can’t wait to vote for my DREAM!!
I am shocked someone would say that to you, in front of your children. I guess I’m naive. I’m a republican, but many many many of my dear friends who I love and respect are not. I hate the divide. I hate that people can’t express themselves with some intelligence. I voted the day our early voting started week before last because I can’t wait to get the whole damn thing over with.
That man was an enormous dillhole. He’s to be pitied.
I had something to say, but Ami took the words and wrote them much better than I could have.
I’m just ready for this mess to be over with. I don’t trust either of them. so there.
I am sorry that you had to be the victim of that. What a shame. But I agree with your post. I can’t wait for next Tuesday-although I am sure that won’t be the end of it.
HUGS!!
The nerve! I guess my digusting family and yours, along with millions of others, will help make a change for the better, in a week.
we really, really need this to be over already.
Wow, amen! I live in a town that is pro-Mccain.
Ever since my hubby proposed to me with a gorgeous diamond engagement ring from http://www.idonowidont.com as a bride-to-be I decided its time to move!
I’d like to live in a city that’s more pro-Obama. It’s about time for change in the world!
OH I am so glad I came here today. GOOSE BUMPS are running up my arm, I am so happy change is coming, we can’t loose. He is a beautiful man with a beautiful wife, and a glorious outlook on his fellow man. I will be in D.C. next week and I will buy you a triumphant newspaper with his name splashed upon the front when he/we win! I have voted in the early elections here in TEXAS, I have stood in the freezing (for Texas) 50 degree weather in a line that took 50 minutes for 2 minutes of glorious voting. This has been my first presidential election in America at a polling station; all others were done by absentee ballet. I could go on but I am just so happy we share the same political views!!!!
I cannot believe that a stranger called you disgusting. Seriously. What the hell? There is no excuse for that whether you agree with someone or not. Geez.
Great post though, I can’t wait until next week.
I can’t believe this happened. I can’t. I can’t wrap my head around it.
I can’t.
Well, you’re not disgusting. That man is disgusting, if he supports McCain and his bull terrier bitch of a running partner who wouldn’t know civil rights if they came up and farted in her prissy blonde face.
I mean, come on… her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant – I think that says oodles about how she much attention she pays her family… if she can’t control her children, how is she going to help run a country?
Anyways… sorry, Palin rant… I really can’t stand that woman…
But that aside, nope, you’re definitely not disgusting. I’m glad to be reading the blog of someone who is open-minded and can look past the colour of a person’s skin to see the true qualities beneath. If you were voting for McCain… jees, I’d probably have stopped reading your blog…
I’ve never anticipated an election so much – not even the first time I was able to vote in my own country. I’ve been following the story with bated breath, and I’ve obsessed over it so much that my assistant at the preschool wants to bash my head in every time I mention America (:p).
I can’t tell you how much I pray, and how much most of my country prays, that Obama will win.
Ugh, you deserve a medal because the way I’m feeling lately I would have clawed his fucking eyes out.
That is just terrible. Why would anyone say such things to you? Ignorance is terrible and I’m ready for McCain and this ignorant woman he wants as vice president to be gone and for this country to finally have some real leadership according to the needs of the people and not just the needs of some president and his ego.
I’m sorry you had to go through that. We have always voted republican and in the last few years we have changed our vote and now it is obvious that our future is better with a president like Obama and so we are supporting him. Plus, I just love the man.
i mentioned just last night how this whole campaign baffles me, as a Canadian. not because we don’t engage in crappy electoral behavior, but – as i think i’m starting to figure out from my comments – because we don’t have (yet) quite the worldview divide in our country that separates people so dramatically they’re willing to believe the most distorted crap to support their side, whatever it may be. oy. to me it distracts from exactly the things you call disgusting, which are what i think politics ought to be addressing.
i’m sorry that happened to you.
The best part of this is, this man who thinks YOU’RE discusting will probably only benefit from an Obama presidency. I for one am hoping come January we can move forward and stop attacking each other and start fixing what’s really broken: Our spirit.
Disgusting and freaking PROUD of it.
What did you say? I wouldn’t have been able to control my temper.
That man…too much. I would’ve totally gotten into a “No YOU’RE disgusting!” round and round with him. Glad you’re more mature than I.
What a jackass! And to say it with a grin, even!
Change will come… tomorrow!
I stand united in our disgustingness!
I never saw as much outright racism as I have with this election. This was monumental.. but I don’t think we have come as far as we think we have.