I have a rule: never discuss politics at work. Lucky for me, it’s been very easy to keep this rule. Although I’m in a right-wing-dominated industry, in Orlando most people keep their views to themselves. However, for the past few months, I’ve had to work in Texas. I don’t know if it’s the state or my new place of work—either way, this place doesn’t have the same code.
So when a guy went on a tear about Obamacare (we still doing that?) and told his friend that he could just go the ER if he gets sick (cuz that’s free), I kept quiet.
When a guy made an announcement that Antifa was behind the church shooting up the road—because the shooter wore a black T-shirt—I kept quiet. (Antifa has replaced Black Lives Matter as the right-wing boogeyman.)
When a guy lectured a newbie on how he needs to check his sources—and only go to reliable places like Breitbart or Alex Jones—I said nothing.
You can’t break me, son.
For weeks I listened how Hillary, George Soros and Obama had this cabal that was preventing Trump from doing all these things that would make America great again. I said nothing.
I just let it go. Let it go, let it go, let it go.
Then yesterday, it happened. I snapped.
This conversation wasn’t with me ... it was between the Breitbart guy and his buddy, but they did it right in front of my desk. Breitbart decided to inform him that Putin—who we all know REALLY wanted Hillary to win—paid for all of those Facebook ads. He ended his rant by saying, “You know ALL of them were in support of Hillary Clinton! There wasn’t ONE in favor of Trump.”
F---ing dammit. You broke me, son. You broke me. Here we go.
Me: “Actually, there were 14 ads, total. I think there might have been one or two that favored Trump. I can show you.”
Breitbart: “Show me. SHOW ME. I don’t believe it.”
Me (googling Russian Facebook ads—dozens of results appearing): “Ok, here.”
Breitbart: “Whooaa … look where you are getting these from. I’m not gonna believe you if it’s a liberal site.”
Me: (reading down list) “Verge, Politico, Washington Post, Business Insider—c’mon, you gotta work with me here.”
Breitbart: “ALL fake news! ALL of them! And don’t go to Facebook! I won’t even believe Facebook!”
Me: “These photos were released from the House Intelligence Select Committee. The House is GOP! They aren’t all lying. You can’t dismiss things because they don’t align with your viewpoint.”
Breitbart: “I’m not … it’s just … just ...”
Me: “ OK, what about Fox News? Would you believe Fox News? Here!” (Googling Fox News Russian Facebook ads.) “There! They didn't feature this on their website, but they did do the same story as the others.”
I showed him the Russian ads, like these:
Do these look like pro-Hillary ads?
How do you respond to that? Well, you deflect.
Breitbart: “Wait, wait, wait. Go back. LOOK at that headline!”
Business Insider had the headline: Here are some of the Russian Facebook ads meant to divide the US and promote Trump
Breitbart: “See! They are all trying to get Trump! See you gotta look with a critical eye!”
Me (in my head, I sounded patient, but more likely I sounded irritated): “YOU HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING! Breitbart won’t report this because Trump looks bad. If you only go to sites with an agenda, you will miss things or get wrong information—JUST LIKE YOU DID NOW when you said no Russian Facebook ad was in favor of Trump.”
This really got to him.
So he changed the subject.
Breitbart: “Look … I know for a fact that Trump HATES Putin. I know a lot of people in the government (sure you do), and Trump is all about going after Putin. He is kicking his ass in Syria! We now have a strong leader who stands up to him.”
Me: “The ONE consistent thing about Trump is that he has never, ever, ever, EVER said anything negative about Putin. He loves him! Show me ONE time he’s ever said anything negative about Putin or Russia. Trump says he wants to be Putin’s friend, that he’s smart, strong, etc…”
Breitbart: “I don’t believe any of that. You listen to fake news.”
Me: (you fing moron): “It’s from Trump's own freaking tweets. Do you believe Trump?”
Breitbart: “But HILLARY … (exasperated) Putin WANTED her in! She was going to make a uranium deal! The Clinton Foundation got a ton of money from Putin! Why would Putin want Trump to win?”
ME: “Maybe the fact that Trump tried to lift the sanctions right after the election?? You don’t think that would have had something to do with it?”
At this point, another guy jumped in to help his flailing buddy out. He hit me with what he believed to be the ultimate smackdown of logic.
He told me that Obama was gay.
Me: “Dude, you have GOT to stop listening to Alex Jones. Don’t get your ‘news’ from a man who tries to sell phony weight-loss products on his website.”
Guy: ”It’s true. He found a woman who knew him in college who said he was.”
Me: “First of all, that’s not even an insult anymore. If he was gay, there would be no need to hide it and Hollywood would have given him even more money. Second of all, he’s not. He’s been married to the same woman for decades and their marriage is rock solid. Trump has been married three times, will trade Melania in when she hits 50, and has been accused of sexual assault by 20 different women—including a woman who was 13 years old when it happened. Which sounds better to you?”
And…. he left.
Breitbart: “I don’t know about any of that, but Soros…”
Me: “We're done here.”
I didn’t end the madness, but today I DID notice a sharp decrease in the obscene BS. Unlike every other day, they didn’t say just any ridiculous thing around me because they knew it might be challenged. So they did some research before speaking. The guy who told me that Obama was gay still made right-wing talking points to his buddies—but he always prefaced it by saying he googled it first. That was a big victory for me.
Anytime someone just attempts critical thinking, it’s a huge victory for all us—and the biggest threat to Trumpism.
PS. I return to Florida next week. My work here is done. :)
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Thursday, Dec 28, 2017 · 4:45:27 AM +00:00 · SemDem
Rightwing may be loud here, but you know who else is? Texas Democrats. They are feeling emboldened: Trump really f-d up in Houston, and his blatant hatred of immigrants is waking the Hispanic sleeping giant. This state will turn blue sooner rather than later. Let’s help that along.
Beto O’Rourke is taking on Ted Cruz: betofortexas.com
There’s an avalanche of candidates fighting to run in the swing districts for next year.
The DCCC is hard targeting TX-7, 21, 23 and 32nd: dccc.org