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Millions of physically unaltered NPR members and Subaru drivers in comfy mocks are decidedly liberal, so I doubt those people who come up to me and make unsolicited negative comments about President Obama or Nancy Pelosi believe that youth is a prerequisite for being a Democrat.
And yet, time after time, I am standing in line some place, and an older gentleman (It's always a man - always) will make a remark about the inefficiency of government under Obama (at the post office); the inability to get vaccines against the H1N1 virus that they believe is a direct result of the president's inexperience (pharmacy at Safeway); or the thoughtful genius of Sarah Palin (Costco, new book table). I would expect such bold right-wing assumptions in Medford, where I used to live...but Portland? Really?
I suppose the next direction to go would be to look inward...after all, why does it bother me so much? Actually, the first time or two it happened, it didn't; but today marked the fifth time in about as many months someone in a pullover sweater and almost invisible hearing aid has caught me off guard with his chummy political non-sequiters.
HE: (pointing to Sarah Palin's book) "Right there is one smart lady. Bet you'd like to see her be President."
ME: "Actually, I voted for the one we've got."
HE: "Wow. Bet you're regretting that now, huh?"
ME: "Not really. But I am regretting the decision to shop for books at Costco."
Maybe it has something to do with the places I frequent, and when I frequent them. As a part-time radio employee and writer, my hours are not typical, so I end up at these places during the middle of the day, when there's lots of retired people running their errands in between rush hours. Retired people do tend to be more conservative, and despite my best attempts to be presentable, I often look like the unkempt mother of badly behaved teenagers - someone who might also be conservative, or at least have a less jaundiced opinion of Sarah Palin.
Maybe a visible tattoo isn't such a bad idea.
Posted: Friday, Jan 29 2010 at 3:13 PM
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