An American Woman of African Descent Finds Truth

by

      Zeno Potas

       This is a first in a series of articles written by Americans who, in their own words, reveal their own epiphanys’ about what is REALLY going on in this country. Using their intellect and critical analytical thinking they discuss how they broke through the lies and propaganda which envelopes our citizens minute by minute of every day to find truth.

      "My departure from the Democratic Party was part of a gradual process that took more than a decade to solidify. Leaving one’s political party can be as painful as a divorce, especially if you have been there all your life. For me, being a Democrat was as natural as breathing. In fact, I spent almost two-thirds of my adult life in the party into which I had been born. Like others around me, I believed the false narrative that the Republicans were the party of the rich and the Democrats were the party of the working class. My party affiliation was a no-brainer."

      "After attending college and studying politics, history, and law, I became even more persuaded by the rightness and soundness of my allegiance to the Democrats. Intellectually, I knew the histories of the two parties and how the Republican Party had been the party of Abraham Lincoln and how it had fought for anti-lynching laws and integration. However, like many other college educated Americans, I bought into the myth known as the Southern Strategy, whereby the two parties switched places. The Democrats became the party of civil rights and the Republicans the party of racism, a perception I now know to be false."

      "I wasn’t ready to become a Republican, even though I shared most of the values and principles espoused by them. I was too influenced by the news media and the books and articles I had read over the years. So, initially, I stayed with the Democrats and I suffered from cognitive dissonance, the condition of holding views and perspectives different from my actions and behaviors."

      Intellectually I was at war with myself. I saw stark contradictions between my worldview and the Democratic Party’s position on the issues I care about most deeply. Eventually, it became clear to me that I should align myself with the party offering the strongest defense of the constitutional rights, of the unborn, the perpetuation of marriage between a man and a woman, religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

      "The Republican Party’s historical commitment to civil rights, free-market capitalism, limited government, and individual liberty factored into my decision making. I was also moved by the charitable works of conservative Republicans that I saw working with inner-city youth and missions. These people were pouring themselves into the lives of the poor and disenfranchised and picking up where the government left off, when it came to helping refugees and immigrants. It was party and faith in action that prompted admirable actions of a civic nature."

      "I have great concern about the Democratic Party’s vision for America and its unethical alliance with the mainstream media. It’s a partnership that enables leftist politicians to use nonstop attacks and criticisms of President Donald Trump to deceive voters about the president and those of us who have aligned with the Republican Party. High-ranking Democrats have encouraged their constituents to confront and harass Republicans, while the latter go about their daily business. This is dangerous and un-American, and we know it won’t end well."

      "The Democratic Party today isn’t the same as the Democratic Party of my youth and early adulthood. It is a party in decline that has allowed itself to be overrun and taken over by its most radical pro- Communist elements. The new Democrats show a disdain for America and its people. Its leaders are willing to argue against due-process rights, the presumption of innocence, and the rule of law. Democratic Socialism has failed everywhere it’s been tried. Republicans know this. We should run, not just walk away, from the Democratic Party."

Carol M. Swain is a former professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University and a James Madison scholar at Princeton University. Her most recent book is “Debating Immigration: Second Edition” (2018). These are excerpts from her article "I Saw the Light and Went From Democrat to Republican."