Social issues push Democrats to GOP

Guns, God and gays. Every Democrat worth his salt knows exactly what those three words mean; we just rarely discuss them outside polite Democratic company.

Those words describe a white person who is unemployed or underemployed (or has lost their job altogether thanks to NAFTA or some other free trade measure), cannot afford health insurance, is worried about money to send their children to college or may even worry about putting food on their table.

Yet, they still vote Republican. It boggles our minds. Rather than vote for the "bleeding heart" liberal Democrat who, more likely than not, will try to help them, they vote for a "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" Republican who tells them outright that they are on their own.

They vote Republican because of gay marriage, abortion, flag burning and prayer in school.

Republican leaders go around telling their constituents that Democrats will take away their guns. That is ridiculous, of course, but saying that can get votes and Republicans will say anything to get votes.

John and Kim Simmons

Arlington Heights