Today I receive another email from a member of the DNC asking me to donate money at this desperate and important time in the re-election of President Barack Obama.  Today's message was from Donna Brazile, the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.  The following is the message which was sent to me:

 On Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 4:14 PM, Donna Brazile <democraticparty@democrats.org> wrote:

Donna -- You know why I like the Democratic Party? I'll tell you: It's a big tent, and it always has been. It's a place for working people and the middle class. For women, veterans, and small business owners. And new Americans, too. Everyone belongs here. As we head into Saturday's important FEC fundraising deadline, you should be a part of it, too. Pitch in whatever you can, even as little as $3, to re-elect President Obama and help Democrats in tough local fights this year. Contribute to the Democratic Party today. Democrats represent a broad cross-section of Americans. It's our shared values that connect us -- and our policies reflect our core beliefs. Think about it: When factory workers got together and decided to unionize to fight for the five-day work week, the minimum wage, and child labor laws, who got behind them? Democrats. When women fought for their right to vote, and the 19th Amendment granting them suffrage was passed, who got their back? President Woodrow Wilson, a big Democrat. Shut the history books, take a look at this president, and you'll see the same thing: Barack Obama has said that people should be able to marry whoever they love. President Obama has told the children of immigrants that if they've grown up in the United States and followed the rules, there's a place for them here. There's never been a better time to be part of the Democratic Party. And I'm not going to mince my words: Democrats need us this year. Congressional races up and down the ticket are relying on the funds we can bring in between now and Saturday's critical FEC fundraising deadline. President Obama's counting on us, too. Donate before the deadline: https://my.democrats.org/Support-Democrats And know that you're playing a part in moving this nation forward -- for decades and decades to come. Thanks, Donna Donna Brazile Vice Chair Democratic National Committee P.S. -- Any donation you make today will also automatically enter you for the chance to fly out to D.C. and talk shop over lunch with one of my favorite Dems, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Trust me, it'll be fun: https://my.democrats.org/Support-Democrats

Here is the response I sent Ms. Brazile this afternoon:

 Donna Brazile,

It was interesting to hear why you love the Democratic Party, but unfortunately, my views and experience with the party are very different from yours.  I believe the Democratic Party and President Obama no longer encompass the needs and plights of American Citizens.  I think the party and president only care about the needs of wealthy Democrats who are able to donate to the party. 

The exception to this can be seen with the action President Obama took to assist illegal immigrants.  This action mainly benefited the President's plans for re-election.  The new policy will gain President Obama the Latino vote, but it will do so at the expense of long time Democrat voters.

Your view of the Democratic Party as a large tent enfolding people of all groups is not my view.  What I have experienced, particularly during the last four years, is very different.  I believe the President does not understand, care or most likely ignores the problems and needs of citizens like my husband and myself.

My husband spent most of our ten year marriage being laid off from one manufacturing job after another until three years ago when there were no new manufacturing jobs left in our area because the all went overseas.  He has been unable to find work for the past three years.  He has applied for positions only to find one position available and six hundred or more people applying for the job.

Fortunately, during the first two years of his unemployment, his benefits came from North Carolina own coffers.  However, he is now receiving his benefits from funds given to North Carolina by the federal government.  We are aware of the fact, however, these funds are almost depleted.  What we will do when he no longer is eligible for unemployment benefits and still cannot find work, I do not know.

We lost our home and all of our belongings three years ago this past May.  With no where else to go we chose to move into an inexpensive motel.  When we did the math, we discovered it cost less to live in a single motel room than to find a cheap apartment, pay for utilities, purchase second-hand furniture, pay for cable television which is our sole source of entertainment, pay for internet and obtain clean sheets and towels.

We live in the Triad area of North Carolina.  I recently learned from our local news the Triad not only has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, but we are number one in the country when it come to childhood hunger.  The only ones who are attempting to do anything about this problem has been the local television and radio stations who are attempting to raise money and gain new supplies for food pantries.

Since last October my husband has suffered from grand mal and smaller seizures.  The seizures allow him to participate in a special program to help him find work, except he cannot apply for any positions which require him to drive a forklift or car or to handle heavy machinery.  Basically, this means he cannot do the work he has done in the past.

The seizure also require a great deal of medical care including emergency room visits, physicians and a neurologists.  He also requires many expensive tests.  Sadly, due to his unemployed status, he has no health insurance, and so called "Obama care" only makes it more difficult and nearly impossible for him to obtain health insurance -- even if we were able to afford it.

My husband is an Air Force Veteran.  He served in the first gulf war and also in Columbia when the US military went after Noriega.  When he finished his term, he wanted to use his military college benefits to go to college; however, he was unable to do so.  His mother was dying from cancer, and his sister was a single mother.  His mother and sister needed his help as a caregiver and a source of income. 

His family responsibilities prevented him from using his veteran's benefits to obtain a college education during the ten years immediately following his service to our country.  He knows how important a college education would be if he is to find any kind of employment.  That is why he was so excited when Democrats promised in 2008 to make it possible for unemployed individuals to obtain a community college degree tuition free and continue to receive unemployment benefits.

Incredibly, President Obama, North Carolina's Governor and other Democrats elected in 2008 quickly turned their backs on this particular campaign promise practically their first day in office.  I will never understand why Democrats immediately broke this promise.  Providing a way for people to obtain a tuition free community college education while still receiving unemployment benefits would have been the most practical way to qualify laid-off citizens for employment in new fields and move them from the ranks of the unemployed and into the status of employed citizens.

I also feel Democrats are making my own personal situation more difficult as well.  I have been a Democrat for more than thirty years, but I am no longer giving allegiance to the party.  Democrats have and continue to ignore the concerns and needs of individuals like myself.

In 1998 I had to apply for full social security disability benefits because I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  I was turned down by the social security administration.  I called about local and state Democrats to help me, but they did nothing. 

Thankfully, the late Jesse Helms was still a Republican senator for our state.  When I wrote him about my difficulty in receiving social security benefits, he and his staff immediately went to work for me.  Thanks to Senator Helms I was quickly approved for full social security disability benefits.

My social security benefits are the main source of income for my husband and me.  It amazes me how for the first three years President Obama was in office there was no increase in social security benefits.  There wasn't even a cost of living increase, and yet the President, US Senators and members of the House of Representatives had no problem voting for an increase in their own salaries. 

I and many other recipients of social security are frustrated and angry with Democrats who state the country could not afford to increase social security benefits while at the same time finding ways to finance increases to their own salaries, pensions and health insurance.  There should be a law stating no politician is able to receive a higher salary, pension or health insurance than the average amount received by the citizens who voted them into office and for whom they represent.  Of course, since such a law would have to be a federal law written and passed by the Senate and House and approved by the President it will never see the light of day.

There no cost of living increase for the first three years President Obama was in office.  This year when President Obama and many other Democrats are up for re-election suddenly a cost of living increase for social security is passed.  Do not misunderstand me -- I am very grateful finally to receive an increase in my social security benefits; however, I cannot help but wonder if the increase occurred simply because President Obama and other Democrats are under consideration for re-election.

I am also greatly disappointed and frustrated with the way President Obama and Nancy Pelosi love to whine and tattle.  They sound like first graders complaining to teachers and parents whenever they do not get their own way.  Instead of working with their Republican colleagues President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats would rather complain about the actions of Republicans.  If Democratic politicians had spent the same amount of time in finding common grounds with Republicans as they spent whining and tattling real solutions to the country's problems might have been found.

Ms. Brazile, do not write to me describing how the Democratic Party is like a large tent welcoming all kinds of people.   Your experience is not mine, and it is not the experience for most of our citizens.  I would say the Democratic Party is like a large brick wall surrounding a few choice individuals (i.e. the President, Democratic members of Congress and the DNC) and preserving their benefits while keeping American citizens who are out of work, losing their homes, suffering health problems and hungry.  The Democratic Party is not encompassing all people -- it simply exists to benefit a very few wealthy politicians.

I am so frustrated, angry and ashamed of Democrats like yourself who try to tell me how much the party to which I aligned myself for more than thirty years cares about me.  My personal experiences show the exact opposite.  My experience is Democrats have become selfish and completely self-centered.  They have forgotten who elected them to office and what are the desperate needs of the constituents who provided them with the power to make changes for our country.

My frustration, anger and shame with the Democratic Party are the reasons why I first wrote to the DNC a couple of weeks ago to inform them of why I was switching parties and becoming Republican.  This was not an easy decision for me.  When I joined the Democratic Party in my early twenties, I truly believed the party cared about the American People.  I no longer believe that is true.

I am also amazed since I first emailed the DNC to explain why I was leaving, I have begun receiving messages asking me to donate money, attend dinners and participate in the campaign to re-elect President Obama.  Prior to my initial message to the DNC, I only heard from party members when a local Democrat was up for re-election.  How is it possible the DNC can use my email address to ask me to assist in getting President Obama re-elected while completely ignoring the actual message, I am leaving the Democratic Party?

In conclusion, Ms. Brazile, please understand and help other members of the DNC to understand this simple message:
 
I HAVE CHOSEN TO LEAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND I AM JOINING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I hope, Ms. Brazile, you and other members of the DNC will finally read and comprehend how frustrated, angry and embarrassed I am by Democrats.  The party does not represent my needs and concerns, and I do not feel like the party is welcoming me.  I believe the party is ignoring my needs and the problems faced by American citizens like my husband and myself.

Sincerely,

Donna Jean Brenaman
Former Democrat and Current Republican