A few weeks ago I was canvassing for Suzanne Kosmas in Deltona, Florida when I stumbled into a fascinating conversation. Canvassing never fails to generate some fun stories, but this one sticks out as some interesting foreshadowing for the various congressional races. As anyone who has canvassing for a local candidate, it is sometimes difficult to make people understand that you are not there to ask them about the national race. I will ask "Have you decided who you will support in the upcoming Congressional election", and virtually everyone will respond with some reference to Obama or McCain.
This gentleman was no different. When I asked him about the Congressional race, he immediately went off.
"Certainly not that fucking nigger! He's a goddamn asshole!"
I paused for a second to process, mentally thanked a few of my more vulgar friends for watering down my reaction to the word with some racist jokes (they're insensitive, not actually prejudiced afaik) then responded.
"Alright, but what about the Congressional election sir?"
"I'm voting against all the incumbents! The entire government is full of goddamned idiots and they all need to go!" He ranted.
"Ah, so you're voting against Tom Feeney? He's the incumbent! Suzanne Kosmas is running against him this year, and she wants to bring accountability and integrity back to Washington."
"I'm voting for her then! I've had enough of these damned people!"
I thanked him, gave him a pamphlet and continued on my way, trying to wrap my head around how the Republican Party has managed to alienate even some of the vitriol spewing racists.