I was raised Republican and the old Republican ideas of fiscal responsibility, encouraging self reliance and a robust free market really resonate with me. But that Republican party died a long time ago. For quite a while, I was a former Republican. Voted for Kerry and gave to several of the Dem Senate races that year - Webb, McCaskill, Tester... However, I did not become a Democrat until Obama made me proud to say it. I sure hope it comes to pass that I can continue to be proud of it.