Dammit! Janet! We're at war!

March 21, 2003 10:10 AM

Political views aren't inherited. An interesting article about Lenora Tomalin, who's as rabid a pro-war conservative as her daughter is an anti-war radical. Her daughter? Susan Sarandon.
posted by darren (14 comments total)

Huh... You know, I bet Susan stole that bagel.
posted by bradth27 at 10:22 AM on March 21, 2003

*falls out of chair in shock*
posted by th3ph17 at 10:23 AM on March 21, 2003

“It's just that I think that I trust my government more than I would empathize with the government of Iraq." … Of Sarandon's anti-Bush activism, Tomalin said: "That's a given. That's the way she thinks. That's what Hollywood thinks.”

Anyone else less-than-impressed with the sophistication of Ms. Tomalin’s arguments? One would hope her children, whatever their views, would not inherit her lack of skepticism and willingness to rely on group stereotypes.
posted by win_k at 10:28 AM on March 21, 2003

And my dad is a redneck asshole who wants to turn the middle east into a parking lot.
These people will be dead soon, and youth will take thier place.
Good riddance.
posted by 2sheets at 10:35 AM on March 21, 2003

"We don't agree, but I respect her -- more than she does me."

You know, the mere fact that she would tell a reporter that "fact" casts doubt on its truth. Or is publicly airing your family grievances a sign of respect?

Tomalin...added that she was bitterly disappointed last Christmas when she was visiting Washington and unable to arrange a tour of the White House decorations. "I tried everybody, and nothing could be done for me," she said. "I'll go to my grave angry about that."

Hee!
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 10:42 AM on March 21, 2003

2sheets-

Yes, but as history has shown.... the liberal young often turn into conservative adults. Besides, there are plenty of young conservatives out there to take your Dad's place.
posted by bradth27 at 10:45 AM on March 21, 2003

Bradth27 - look no further than Metafilter for proof of your statement.
posted by Macboy at 10:59 AM on March 21, 2003

I was sitting at the breakfast table with Jack Henry, my then-13-year-old grandson, and he looked over at me, with the sweetest little smile on his face, and said, 'I hear you voted for Bush.' I looked up at Susan, who's standing at the sink, and she says, 'All he wants to know is: How could you have voted for Bush?' And I thought, 'I'm not going to discuss my politics with a 13-year-old who has been brainwashed!'

Yeah, that about sums it up.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 11:56 AM on March 21, 2003

One of the *best* indicators of a childs future political affiliation is their parents current political affiliation. Its a common fact and you can check any serious political science textbook for substantiation and studies on this topic.

Witold
www.witold.org
posted by Witold at 12:40 PM on March 21, 2003

It's sort of like religion that way.
posted by callmejay at 12:45 PM on March 21, 2003

My grandfather was a republican social democrat and protestant, my father is a catholic tory, and I'm an atheist libertarian. Anecdotal evidence doesn't prove anything, but I certainly didn't inherit my political or religious views.
posted by Pseudoephedrine at 1:18 PM on March 21, 2003

Sorta like "Family Ties" in my family...I'm the rabid conservo-libertarian-capitalist, and my father has become the neo-liberal soft-heart (usually)...and yet we both served our nation in the military proudly. Room for everyone in this big tent!
posted by davidmsc at 2:28 PM on March 21, 2003

I've been a liberal all my life, and have watched my parents (my stepfather in particular) go from fairly conservative to downright lefty. (The Bush #43 administration did a lot of this -- not trying to make a political statement here, just sayin'.)
posted by Vidiot at 2:53 PM on March 21, 2003

Tomalin -- a fan of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Vice President Cheney -- added that she was bitterly disappointed last Christmas when she was visiting Washington and unable to arrange a tour of the White House decorations. "I tried everybody, and nothing could be done for me," she said. "I'll go to my grave angry about that."

Not now:
Update, page half way down.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:59 PM on March 21, 2003