#WALKINGAWAY
Truth be told, I don't really have a walk away story, as I was never truly a Democrat. I grew up with divorced parents. One of which (my mother) was not particularly political, and the other a Jehovah's Witness. So, I was not taught to be political by either parent. I was taught to focus on spreading the word of God as Jehovah's Witnesses understood it to be, rather than concern myself with a system of things that were not of God's making, but of Man's. This all happened mainly in East Oakland, CA. A city that happens to have been run by Democrats since at least the late 70's, and has sadly seen major decline since. Especially among their population of minorities. I left home at the age of 17. Without a high-school diploma, but in possession of a sharp mind and a talent for learning on the job. During this time Bill Clinton was being impeached by the evil, racist Republicans. He was being called the "First Black President," and hailed as the "cool" President. Someone who cared about Blacks. He was a Democrat and therefore he was for "us". I didn't know who Democrats were vs Republicans. All I knew was that the President got caught cheating on his wife with an Intern (which was supposed to be "cool," even "manly") and was therefore being impeached. I was 28 by the time I discovered he'd been impeached not for adultery, but for lying under oath as a POTUS.
Most every one I encountered were Democrats in all my travels after. From Oakland, to SF, to Atl, to Buffalo, to Seattle and many other places. Everywhere, in my circles of friends there were Democrats. You see, I happen to be a black, non-religious, gay man, yet still have never actually been a Democrat. I wouldn't chose a "side" if I didn't know anything about either, save what I was told. What I was told was rather homogeneous, but was most often lacking in detail and logical explanations, but passionately expressed. But I wanted to know, why were the Republicans so evil? How could there be a moronic, racist, dastardly evil President of the United States? This is what was being said of G.H. Bush during the time I began to really ask questions and become intrigued, which was just after the events of 911. I'll never forget that day, but it's a story for another time.
My experience with Politics began to change around the age of 22-23 when a 6'3," burly, blonde, Scandinavian guy perhaps in his mid 40's, approached me at work with a business opportunity. I would later discover that it was a multilevel marketing program, but too I would gain a friend, business mentor, and roommate in this guy. I asked him about his opinions on Bush and, was treated to my first sober discussion of politics. I discovered that my roommate was a Republican and so was therefore thrown into a world I was told did not exist. One where a white, Christian, hetero, male, Republican could be a kind, giving, caring, and encouraging spirit and friend to an openly gay, black, non religious man.
There was suddenly much to learn, as I realized the world I lived in was full of falsehoods! But who to trust? With time, and the understanding of which questions to ask, I began to meet others who were not what their stereotypes would have them be. I met a Libertarian man at work, who introduced me to Glen Beck, back when he was on FOX. I would follow those chalk board charts with rapt attention! Wow! There was so much of history and philosophy I was introduced to. Thanks to Glen Beck I found my heroes. Milton Friedman, Thomas Sowell, David Barton, Ludwig Von Mises and, F.A. Hayek. I learned about Socialism and it's history…it's death count. I learned about how much of Black history was left out of my education or twisted in order to favor Democrat hold over the black vote. It was an interesting moment discovering that the man my high school was named for was actually the 1st ever Republican nominee for the POTUS (John C. Fremont). I was in that East Oakland high school for 4 years and, was never encouraged to discover that fact, or the fact that the party was an abolitionist party. During this time of learning I also met my love, my home and life partner, who happens to be a white, non-religious, gay Conservative man. It's amazing what having principles and values does for a relationship when they match between the couple. I flourished intellectually and in my political awareness under this circumstance and feel incredibly blessed for it.
I was never an Obama supporter, because I was equipped by that time with an awareness of what Socialism is, who Saul Alinsky was, what was meant when Obama spoke of fundamental change. I knew to ask what he wanted change to look like. I wasn't enamored by the idea of finally showing the country and the world that we could be post racial in the U.S. because I knew that most of the nation already was. Barak Obama wanted me to ignore what was right before my eyes, which was that most people I'd encountered in all my life had no concern over my race. I was never denied work because of my race, or business, or friendship. In fact, to some condescending degree I was advantaged by it because I speak English properly. Which is supposedly a surprising juxtaposition over my skin color. I'd hear "You don't look like what I thought you would over the phone." During Obama's time in office I saw such things as Black Panther members intimidating voters at a polling station. The Affordable Care Act passed under the darkness of night during the Christmas holiday without even being fully vetted by those voting to pass it. It galled me to see Nancy Pelosi tell us it had to be passed before the American people could know what's in it. Then Hillary Clinton let American Citizens die in Benghazi, and blamed the attack on a video, despite knowledge to the contrary. She even jailed a man to support her claim, and lied directly to the face of the deceased's loved ones. That was near the time Treyvon Martin was shot and, NBC doctored the 911 call to paint Zimmerman as a racist. That was a major eye opener for me. It was my first evidence that the media had lost all subtlety in their attempts to deceive. Then Michael Brown was shot and "Hands Up Don't Shoot" became a mantra for a movement that was built on a lie. So many examples of hypocrisy and deceit have followed among the Democrat party and it's advocates in the new media that I'm sure have influenced many of you to #Walkaway too.
In 2018 I came across Brandon Straka, and the Walkaway movement. I was elated to see the evidence of so many people out there that are truly awake, and beginning to see the Democrat party for the political "vampires" they truly are. I watched hours and hours of testimonials. They were uplifting and heart warming. I felt encouraged and no longer so lonely. By this time I'd begun to lose friends for having differing ideas about the world. But one friend in particular wanted to convince me that the #Walkaway movement was really just a bunch of Russian bots. I remember sitting in the park that day having just told him of all the people I'd been hearing testimonials from and, just being flabbergasted that his reply was to say it was all fake. The work of Russian bots and propagandists. This friend too later abandoned me because I have "a flawed character " as he put it. Conservative values means flawed character apparently.
My point in sharing my story is to say that I share your disdain and distrust of the Democrat party. That I'm joyed by the growth of the #Walkaway movement and am pleased by the opportunity to be a part of it. I've watched a few of the town halls and one of the most indelible messages I take from them reminds me of my childhood as a Jehovah's Witness knocking on doors. That the best thing I can do to help others is to spread the word. To use my voice in defense of truth so as to empower others. It's not easy, as I have lost and fear I will lose even more friends. But I feel that here is a good place to start. Thanks for reading this far, and be well my fellow patriots! I'm proud to say I voted for Trump in 2016, and am even more excited to vote for him again in 2020.
Leaving the Political Left
