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Recounting My Days As A Six Year Old Reagan Democrat
By Mike Bayham
June 15, 2004

Ronald Reagan had a tremendous influence on my political development since he would largely figure into my first ever act of civic participation. Back in 1980, I was a First Grader at Ferncrest Elementary when it was announced a straw poll would be held throughout the school for the presidency on Election Day.

Being only 6 years old, my knowledge and interest in politics was limited, but my vote was to be registered in the school tallies just the same. The class teacher was a liberal named Gloria Marcotte (I had no idea about her political affiliation until 22 years later when her temperamental husband mailed me an irate letter about my politics), though I cannot recall if she tried to do anything to sway the class on how to vote.

One of my best friends at that time was Justin Gutierrez, the son of an arch liberal Democrat who had run unsuccessfully for Congress against Bob Livingston in 1976. Since Justin was politically oriented through his father's influence, I was susceptible to his entreaties on behalf of embattled President Jimmy Carter and to those of a revered family member.

My grandfather Mickey Bayham, who served as my father figure in absence of my biological namesake, was a hardcore Democrat. My grandfather, who lived during the Great Depression and saw action in the Coast Guard during World War II, had a deep mistrust of Republicans and was your quintessential FDR-Yellow Dog Democrat.

Though he was not very active in politics, my grandfather rarely bit his tongue when it came to speaking ill about what he called, "the party of the rich". Ironically, the only Republican president he cared for was Richard Nixon. Since he cast a large shadow over me, if Pop was a Democrat then so was I.

So between Justin and Grandpa Mickey, I rode the bus to school on Election Day planning to cast my first vote ever for the re-election of Jimmy Carter.

When I received the small square paper ballot and saw the names of Reagan, Carter, and Independent candidate John Anderson, something inexplicably happened that caused me to change my mind, which I consider to be my political Epiphany.

Instead of marking the ballot for President Carter, I made an "x" in the box next to Reagan's name. Till this day I have not been able to figure out why I voted for Reagan, though it was a sudden decision I did not regret making.

It might have been Carter's failures to resolve the Iran hostages or the way Reagan projected confidence. Perhaps it was a moment of divine inspiration. Regardless of what motivated my shift, I never looked back.

Near the end of the school day, the assistant principal announced on the intercom the results, which gave Reagan a landslide victory over both candidates, an omen of what was in the midst of happening across the nation in the actual election.

I remember seeing the disgust on Justin's face, though he must have wondered why I did not show any visible signs of sharing his disappointment over the straw poll.

Four years later at Lynn Oaks School, the private school named for and owned by my future intra-party nemesis Lynn Dean, I had become more assertive in my thinking and proudly voted for Ronald Reagan's re-election, based mostly on his tough stance towards the Soviets, even though I still considered myself to be a Democrat.

By the time 1988 came around, my patriarch instilled suspicions about the Republican Party had subsided though the kicker that would end my days as a self-described conservative Democrat and drive me into the ranks of the GOP was the image of helmeted Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis riding around in a tank, something that looked ridiculous even to a 14 year old.

In my final mock election for President, my vote and that of most of the 9th grade class went to George Bush, to the utter chagrin of red-faced homeroom teacher Ray Huxon, who lividly castigated the students for not supporting the Democratic candidate.

I began in the educational system a Reaganite and in spite of the best efforts of my liberal instructors, I left it a Reaganite, though with a greater knowledge and appreciation for what he did as a shaper of policy and an inspiring leader.

The only thing for me that has changed is that instead of being a "Reagan Democrat", I am now a "Reagan Republican" as it was Ronald Reagan who made the GOP worth joining for millions of Americans, who during the eighties left a Democratic Party that had abandoned them decades before.

Reagan did not water down his beliefs and package it with a fluffy moniker. Instead, Reagan gave America "Conservatism with a smile" and they bought it twice in landslide proportions. Reagan showed that it was not necessary to skimp on principle to succeed in politics.

Reagan also proved that it was possible to challenge the established political order and succeed, even if at first (and second) you don't succeed. His resiliency as a candidate is exemplified in that it took him three tries to finally win the party nod.

To my mentor from a distance, I wish him Godspeed as he joins the "Boys of Pointe de Hoc" and the Challenger crew in taking his share of their heavenly reward.

Our country was truly blessed to have had what we recently lost.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.