Lifelong Republican Mayor Changes Parties to Vote Obama

The Patriot-News is reporting that Lou Thieblemont, mayor of Camp Hill and lifelong Republican has switched parties so he can vote for Barack Obama in the upcoming Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

“I’m sick and tired of the politics of fear in this country. He’s the only one who doesn’t do that,” Thieblemont said of Obama. “He’s the only candidate who’s said he’d talk to our enemies and try to get some common ground.”

I think this is quite notable. Why? Because it is part of a trend. Obama has been growing the Democratic Party all over the country by honestly appealing to people’s hopes and not relying on fear.

Fear is a effective tool and for too long the Republicans have been able to exploit it for political gain. But this time people are saying “Enough!”

All around the country people have had enough of the politics of fear. Fear doesn’t help the economy. Fear won’t bring our troops home. Fear won’t get anyone health care. It won’t fix our education system.

Fear has never done anything but elect bad leaders.
But now finally people are starting to reject it. Not just Democrats, but independents and yes, even Republicans. Here are a few others.

Like Susan Eisenhower, Ike’s granddaughter.

We have been living in a zero-sum political environment where all heads have been lowered to avert being lopped off by angry, noisy extremists. I am convinced that Barack Obama is the one presidential candidate today who can encourage ordinary Americans to stand straight again; he is a man who can salve our national wounds and both inspire and pursue genuine bipartisan cooperation. Just as important, Obama can assure the world and Americans that this great nation’s impulses are still free, open, fair and broad-minded.

…….

It is in this great tradition of crossover voters that I support Barack Obama’s candidacy for president. If the Democratic Party chooses Obama as its candidate, this lifelong Republican will work to get him elected and encourage him to seek strategic solutions to meet America’s greatest challenges. To be successful, our president will need bipartisan help.

Given Obama’s support among young people, I believe that he will be most invested in defending the interests of these rising generations and, therefore, the long-term interests of this nation as a whole. Without his leadership, our children and grandchildren are at risk of growing older in a marginalized country that is left to its anger and divisions. Such an outcome would be an unacceptable legacy for any great nation.

Or these people:

We need a leader who can lay the foundations of another American Century–someone who can get past our partisan and ideological divisions, as we strengthen our standing in the world and tackle the challenges we face at home. We need a leader who understands our differences, but who also knows the importance of finding common ground. While we continue to debate and address many issues on which we all have strong opinions–abortion, gay rights, the relationship between church and state, to name a few–we need a leader who can command the support needed to break our government’s paralysis and meet the growing challenges we face as a nation.
Senator Obama is the one candidate who can unite the American majority that wants to move forward and improve the long-term economic well-being and independence of our nation.

Or the only Republican senator to oppose the Iraq war who also switched to vote for Obama, Lincoln Chafee:

“I believe Senator Obama is the best candidate to restore American credibility, to restore our confidence to be moral and to bring people together to solve the complex issues such as the economy, the environment and global stability”

Those are just a few but there are many, many more Republicans that are sick and tired and fear and hate and want a new direction.

…………..

If Obama is going to win the White House and enact a progressive agenda he will need to build a broad coalition of open minded Americans. There are going to have to be some Republicans in there and there will be. The current Republican Party has been such a total disaster I don’t get why anyone wouldn’t want to reach out to Republicans who have realized that and educate those that haven’t. We need to reach out to independents that feel like their voice isn’t being heard. To youth who feel they don’t matter.

If we wasn’t Obama to win we must help him build a New American Majority. Of Democrats, Independents and Republicans. Men and Women. Young and Old. Black, White, Latino, Asian, Multiracial and Native American. Gay and straight. Urban, rural and suburban. A broad coalition united for change.

…………..

But the next primary in Pennsylvania. Clinton starts out with a huge lead. It is also a closed primary so you must be a registered Democrat to vote. And you must register by March 24th. If we want to keep this primary close we must get as many Obamacans and independents to register by March 24th. Obama’s campaign is doing a big push and it is easy to help out.

If your living in Pennsylvania here is what you can do:

–REGISTER TO VOTE.
–VOLUNTEER TO REGISTER VOTERS.
–INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO REGISTER.
–SHARE YOUR VOTING STORY

And if you are from out of state here is how you can help:
–MAKE CALLS
–TRAVEL TO PA
–INVITE YOUR PA FRIENDS TO REGISTER.
–SHARE YOUR VOTING STORY

As Paul Wellstone said