Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« Clint Eastwood's Sad, Weird Speech… | The Stranger Was Wrong About the Da… »

Friday, August 31, 2012

2012 This Is Irene

Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Aug 31, 2012 at 5:44 AM

Click to enlarge

Irene wants Republicans to know that Christians support President Obama, too. "There's a few of us out there," she says. "I only disagree with Obama on two points," she explains. "I'm against abortion and I'm against same-sex marriage." Do you think there should be laws against abortion or same sex marriage? "I just think we should leave it alone."

Before I can ask what "we should leave it alone" means—government should get out of the business of telling people how to control their bodies and their love lives? People should leave abortion alone?—two Texas delegates come over and start yelling at Irene. The man leads: "How can you be a Christian and be for that man when he's for abortion?" His wife steps in close behind, adding, "He's in the Muslims, too!" Irene tries to explain her case, but he man keeps waving his hands at her and demanding that she explain herself. His wife tries to get a word in edgewise, calling abortion "the most important issue of our times." The man keeps demanding Irene explain herself and then cutting her off. Finally, he walks down the street with the puffed-up pride of a man who believes he just won a fight.

Irene looks a little more tired after the Texans leave. Does that happen a lot? She nods. Do they all call Obama a Muslim? "Oh, yeah, lots of them. Especially the delegates." She shrugs. "They've been convinced. He was baptized as a Christian, and they just don't believe it." She shrugs. Irene keeps looking down the street. She apologizes for being distracted. "My friend is coming to pick me up. I'm going to try a different corner."

FacebookShare

Comments (12) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Well, I'll take her vote, even though I disagree with her on abortion and marriage equality.

Posted by passionate_jus on August 31, 2012 at 5:59 AM

"He's in the Muslims, too!"

Dey awl gotta good ejucayshun downere in Texis.

Posted by mubhappy on August 31, 2012 at 7:07 AM

At least the Texans have forgiven him for attending Jeremiah Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ for all those years.

Posted by Original Andrew on August 31, 2012 at 7:20 AM

what is there to say? that's the GOP voter (and congressman) in a nutshell. factually incorrect and proud of it.

Posted by Max Solomon on August 31, 2012 at 7:26 AM

That is so sad, and so expected. :(

This is exactly why the Republican party is so virulently anti-education. It's so much easier to lie to people with no critical thinking skills.

Posted by Root on August 31, 2012 at 8:00 AM

I'm also an anti-abortion, Christian, green, Obama supporter. I just think abortions should be prevented through access to birth control, family planning, child welfare, and expanded public access to mental health treatment (to reduce rape, domestic abuse, and other violent crimes).

Making it illegal does nothing to address the reasons women have abortions, so won't solve the problem.

Also, the decision on when to have a medical procedure should be left up to patients and doctors.

Posted by wingedkat on August 31, 2012 at 8:04 AM

Did you warn her that ignorant Texans are likely to appear on any corner?

Posted by suddenlyorcas on August 31, 2012 at 8:38 AM

Well bless her heart, she seems to mean well.

Posted by Mugwumpt on August 31, 2012 at 8:50 AM

@6 No!!! WHAT ABOUT THE SWORD OF FIRE?

[/Poe-and-Nancy]

Posted by ScrawnyKayaker on August 31, 2012 at 8:51 AM

Good on her for not being a one-issue (or two-) voter. Talking points like "abortion is the most important issue of our time" lead so many people to vote otherwise against their own interests.

Posted by Mattini on August 31, 2012 at 9:16 AM

@6 You are absolutely correct. Countries that offer those services have a much lower abortion rate than the US. I wish politicians would/could talk in specifics like you, instead of asinine catchphrases.

Posted by sisyphusgal on August 31, 2012 at 11:11 AM