Commentary: My fraternity brothers can’t believe that I support Hillary Clinton

I just attended a remarkable gathering of 70 USC fraternity brothers in Las Vegas, of all places.

No, we weren’t there to canvas for any presidential candidates, although politics was discussed frequently and passionately. Instead, we were there to celebrate our 40th annual weekend of so-so golf and fantastic storytelling.

One of our Kappa Sigma brothers has been to all 40 get-togethers, while a handful were there for the first or second time.

Because most of the my fraternity brothers are in their mid-60s or older, much of our bantering was divided between the good old days of living in the house and today’s news about our kids and grandchildren.

And, then, like I said earlier, there was talk about Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

When I say that I am one of a handful of Democrats my fraternity brothers know, I’m not kidding. More than a dozen have told me this, so it didn’t surprise me when two others admitted it last weekend.

What did shock me were the “feel the Bern” chants I heard from the most conservative brothers.

At first, I thought they were just goofing on me; then, I realized they meant it.

And why not?

After all, they have worked for 50 years and now want all the government freebies Bernie has been promising. At least that’s what one brother, who is left-handed but refuses to use “liberal, left-leaning” golf clubs, told me.

When I asked the brothers, who mostly live in the GOP cash-cow triangle between the O.C. beach cities, or in San Marino or La Jolla, which Republican they intend to vote for in the California primary, many said Trump, although the more pragmatic ones like Kasich. A few even told me they would vote for Heidi Cruz before Ted.

When I told them I’m supporting Hillary Clinton, they all but called me crazy. One went so far as to say a vote for Clinton was “giving up on America.”

Nothing new here, since several brothers told me eight years ago they couldn’t vote for Barack Obama.

Just to get under their skin, I recently sent them my 2008 picture with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama and the caption, “Proud to have voted for him twice.”

So just who are my fraternity brothers? Many are successful real estate developers, bankers, lawyers or architects. About a dozen turned out to be physicians or dentists. A number of them are retired military officers and at least two were commercial airline pilots before hanging up their wings.

Some of the most successful brothers have made six-figure donations to hospitals and museums. They all are smart but I wouldn’t convene a political focus group just with them.

Did the gathering change anyone’s political views? No, but that’s not surprising. We haven’t agreed on much since the Vietnam War, Watergate or George W. Bush’s WMDs.

That said, I’ll tell you what I have repeated for decades — at various BS Opens and any where else — about my fraternity brothers: If you ever find yourself in a foxhole, you want each of them by your side. That’s because true brotherhood transcends all political differences.

--

DENNY FREIDENRICH lives in Laguna Beach.