A Conservative Actually Spoke To Me: My Interaction with a Real Live Bernie Moreno Employee
If you know me at all, you know I am very politically engaged. I’m an aggressive, independent living as far to the left as possible. I feel it is my responsibility as a citizen of the republic to be informed, engaged, and involved. As our country has splintered along with the rise of M@GA, misinformation, media manipulation, and the acceptance of lies as truth, it’s become something of a full-time job. I’m active on social media, I call and email my reps daily, and I actively volunteered with the Harris/Walz campaign. I even wrote 100s of postcards to undecided voters (I’m disabled and at the time could not write very well at all, but thought it was incredibly important to do something) ahead of the last presidential election.
I have a particular disdain for lies and am a vocal advocate for truth. I believe in diversity, equality, and inclusion. I’m for fairness, equality, and above all, EMPATHY. I am the epitome of everything the right hates. Trust me, they tell me so ALL THE TIME.
I do have some conservative people in my sphere. I am not sure why they believe the things they do or think the way they think, but I understand the influence of media, the impact of cult mentality, and the disturbing trend of mixing white Christian nationalism with American politics. Despite what many people in my sphere believe, I’m also pretty wicked smart. It’s true. And I stay informed with facts and data, not entertainment cloaked as news.
At times, in my confusion and rage, I will ask for conservatives to engage with me. To try to explain their thoughts. This is a genuine request. I’m DYING to know why some people I know, love and consider otherwise intelligent can be so wrong, so confused, and so committed to being on the wrong side of history. No one ever takes me up on this. Which is fine, I don’t claim to be a great live real-time debater, but with access to factual data, I could carry on these conversations. But sometimes I just want to hear why in the name of Zeus’ butthole people, especially Christians, believe the bizarre things they do.
Recently Bernie Moreno, a known liar, Trump sycophant, and on-the-record racist/bigot, recently proposed potentially giving Donald Trump a goddamn Nobel Peace Prize for his unconstitutional, failed attack on Iran. This is, of course, absolutely ridiculous —a stupid distraction that does nothing more than portray Moreno as a sycophant.
I called his office at 5:03 and got voicemail. I left a message requesting Moreno reverse this idiotic proposal.
Today, a worker called me back.
Toni, a 71-year-old Christian working in Moreno’s office, called me back. She was disappointed in the tone of my voicemail, which I’m certain was exasperated and unhinged.
Anyway. Fair. This is just an employee answering phones. We do need to approach each other with a bit more due respect. Now, I do not think her boss or his boss deserves any respect whatsoever due to their evil views, but this senior citizen? Sure.
She told me she was a “believer,” which I eventually discovered meant “Christian,” and she had a tough time with finances and job loss, which had negatively impacted her life until she found this job answering phones for Moreno. Now, I didn’t get many details of her situation, but I’d be willing to bet dollars to donuts her situation was directly caused by conservative policies, which I’d bet she wasn’t ready or willing to explore or admit. But it sounds like she lost a non-union job, had no access to social supports, and quickly devolved into financial distress, ALL of which are absolutely hallmarks of regressive conservative policies. But I digress.
We went on to the reason for my original call, Moreno’s bizarre, unhinged call for Trump to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. I pointed out MOUNTAINS of evidence that Trump’s strike was unconstitutional and failed. I pointed out that bombing the shit out of a country based on a whim isn’t peaceful. She pointed out she doesn’t work for Trump, and I countered, reminding her she works for someone who unabashedly supports Trump.
We discussed religion and faith, and I pointed out that Trump is very likely the anti-Christ according to the Bible. And reminded her of the horrors of bigotry and racism, which her boss supported, while the Bible offers completely diametrically opposed thoughts on immigration. It was clear her views on Christianity were not based primarily on the actual text of the Bible, not the teachings of Christ, but more so from white Christian Nationalist ideals.
The bottom line was that this was the first time a conservative Christian took up a somewhat good-faith conversation with me. She was wildly incorrect, severely misinformed, and dangerously wrong, but she listened, and we didn’t yell at each other. I challenged her to read non-Fox/Newsmaxx news sources and specific things in the Bible to disprove her views and open her mind. I have little faith she will do so but here we are. A conservative Christian talked to me, and we both survived.
