Yesterday, I had a very interesting conversation with a Trump supporter. He's someone who runs a small business with a couple of full-time employees. He's a very likeable man and we were able to have a calm and civil conversation.
This is what I discovered. Not all Trump supporters are rude, nasty lunatics. That was his first point. He didn't appreciate the stereotype. He's the opposite. My political foe was intelligent, polite and respectful. It dawned on me that the Democrats may have missed an opportunity reaching this small, but substantial subset of Trump supporters. No one likes being condemned for the actions of others.
The conclusion I reached after after an hour long conversation was that this Trump supporter was both an idealist and very naive! Nor, did he deny being an idealist. He has faith in our system of goverment. I was flabbergasted. How could someone who could hold a small business together during Covid be so foolish? He has faith in our system of government UNDER TRUMP! Yikes! Talk about cognitive dissonance!
I live in a state that is deep blue. Since we have the Electoral College my adversary's vote for Crazy Uncle Trump doesn't matter. But if I lived in a swing state would I have able to remain so calm and polite? I doubt it. I probably would have tried to pierce this self-proclaimed centrist, Trump supporter's denial of reality.
But It was refreshing to have a calm, intelligent debate with someone, despite the fact he's supporting a whiny, psychopathic disaster for President. It gives me hope that once Trump is ejected from the White House the healing this country so badly needs can begin in ernest!