Both of my parents were Kansas Republicans.  I have a vague recollection of some low-level animosity toward FDR and I knew at the time that Dewey was the candidate for whom my parents had voted, but, in genereal, politics and polemics of any knind were not part of my middle-class, middle-America life growing up. It was a typical *American*, small-town, church on Sunday, Jack Benny on the radio, ice cream socials in the summer, Saturday night movies in the main street theater or the drive-in existence.

So it was with some consternation and trepidation that I found myself, my two young children and my (now ex) husband headed for a post overseas.  To illustrate how long ago this was, we flew onthe long-defunct Braniff International Airways.  The coach cabin had four wide seats across, two on each side, and enough leg room that a 6'6" man was comfortable throughout the long flight.  The service and meals were five star (or nearly so it seemed to me at the time).  My year-old son took his steps inthe aisle which was much broader than airlinger aisles are today.

As the plane took off for points known geographically, but unknown in any other sense to me, I thought literally about the "amber waves of grain" we were passing over and wondered what I had gotten myself into.  The experience of living abroad was extraordinary, of course.  I loved it and quite naturally it broadened my worldview considerably.  In fact, I was not entirely thrilled with the idea of returning to the States after five years away. 

I long ago became an urban Democrat and I delight in finding people who like to discuss politics.  While I have moved in an entirely different direction, I still remember how it felt to be a *real (raised as a Republican) American*. My life was filled with pride of country and patriotism. You're thinking "how naive" probably and you would be right.  But you have to remember those were the days before cable television, and before the Kennedy-Nixon televised debate, and it was even before the Huntley Brinkley Nightly News.  Compared to today we were isolated.

Which brings me finally to an article by Mark Schmitt in The American Prospect: Can Identity Politics Save the Right?  According to Schmitt

[t]raditionally, the phrase "identity politics" has referred to the Democratic coalition's caucuses, interest groups and competitive claims of wrongs to be righted and rights to be granted. Identity politics on the left, according to this very conventional wisdom, opened the door to an alternative politics of national identity on the right.

[t]hat this year the Republican argument is reduced to its barest essence: Americans versus "pluribus", unprotected by the politeness of issues or safer symbolism,

which is the origin of McCain's slogan: The American President Americans Are Waiting For.

Schmitt concludes

if it works, it will be in part because we--by which I mean the media and many Democrats believe it will.  We are easily spooked by the confident swagger of the Republicans, who not so long ago were plotting permanent world domination.

So will it work?  Will we continue to be spooked by possible repercussions if we stand firm on principle?  Will Obama's rapid fire and firm rebuttals to GOP attacks keep them at bay?  Will the Republicans succeed in painting themselves as the only *real Americans*?  Will enough people fall for this shallow ploy? As a former *real American* I have hope that it won't work, but I'm not convinced we have enough self confidence yet to stop them.