In Conversation with a Trump Democrat

Café Bombay restaurant was packed to the brim on a very rainy Friday evening. Friday evening conversations are usually consumed with plans for the weekend and these exchanges was no different. As the weekend plans were being examined in nauseating detail, one of us noticed the clip of a Donald Trump rally being shown on the enormous plasma screen  large LED screens right before us. 

Within minutes we found ourselves neck deep in a discussion of the US Presidential elections and Trump’s historic race to win the GOP nomination. We compare him to our PM Narendra Modi, who had to suffer similiar relentless attacks from the media. One of us mentioned that Trump supporters on social media are quite similar to Modi supporters, the same passion and devotion for their leader, the same level of despondency with the existing indifferent system. One of us said that on occasions the passion gets the better of Trump supporters and this is used by many as an excuse to unfairly brand them as hateful bunch. 

As conversation progressed we noticed two ladies at the table next to who seemed to be eavesdropping. It was not entirely clear if they approved or disapproved of our rather loud voices. Here I must confess that the sole responsibility of the high decibel level of the tone lies on my perpetually occupied vocal cords.

“I hope you don’t mind” said I mustering the courage to apologize.

“No problem at all” said one of the ladies, in an accent not dissimilar to New Jersey governor Chris Christie. The other lady did not quite respond.

Within an hour our drinks were consumed and most members at our table had begun to depart, the rain outside had subsided, but as I was the only one sans umbrella I decided to wait for the rain to stop before I stepped out. I ordered myself another coffee and turned on my laptop, just before I was about to launch Twitter, I heard the same New Jersey voice saying “Hello”. I looked toward my right and noticed our neighbor was still there but her companion had left.

“May I join you” she inquired, I gestured that she could not knowing what to expect.

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. I just want to eat those delicious biscuits” she said as she broke into a lively laughter.

“I was listening to your conversation and I just wanted to say that I am a Trump supporter.” she said as she took a long pause.

“There, I have said it” she said sounding like she had had a cathartic experience.

“I'm glad” said I, not quite knowing what to make of it.

“In America I just cannot say this freely for the fear of attacked” she said.

“I have seen Trump rallies, there are thousands of people, that would not be the case if there was such fear” said I regretting my attempts to contradict my new acquaintance, but before I could make amend my way she took over.

“Do you see the sort of violence that is perpetrated against Trump supporters at some of his rallies? If there was violence of this scale perpetrated against any other group, the media would have been up in arms with unmitigated condemnation. But here they blame Trump. It's like blaming the victim for a crime. CNN talked with the thug that tried to attack Trump with the reverence and respect that even Trump doesn’t get from them.” she said.

“If you would permit my curiosity. May i ask you what draws you to Trump?” asked I

“I am a Democrat, my father was a Democrat and so was my Grandpa, and so I my son and my husband. But the party has let us down recently. I regard myself as very liberal who is welcoming of different opinions and one who is compassionate. But the liberalism of now is something that I do not understand.” she said adjusting her glasses.

I sipped my coffee not willing to interrupt her, apart from the nod of approval.

“I see acts of terrorism committed and the government going out of their way to blame it on the right wing, guns and underplay the dangerous influence of Islamic extremism. None our leaders are willing to even utter the words for fear of offending people. One of my best friend is a Muslim and she too gets that they have a problem and there is a need for reform within the religion. But our leaders are just too timid. The Democrats want to take in refugees. I genuinely believe that multiculturalism is a good thing and enriches society. But does that mean we take in people who may not only disapprove our culture but try to harm us. I heard of the horrific attacks on women in Germany. I would not want any of my loves ones to be subjected to this” she said.

“I am almost fifty now, I used to work in a big office in NYC. Now most of my work is outsourced to you guys. I mean India, I don’t fault you for this. They have asked me to stay on for supervision but I don’t know how long. I miss my family but I have to stay here as I do not want to risk losing my job. I also realize I may be training the very folks that may take over from me. I am almost fifty, I know the job market is not exactly crazy for my demographic” said she looking somber.

“My son is out of college and he doesn’t have a job as yet. He may have to move back in if this continues. I hear Obama say that unemployment is going down. Well my son in a graduate and there are not many jobs for him in the market.” she said.

“When I hear Trump talk about the perils of Islamic extremism and his intentions to protect us, I am happy that at least somebody gets it. His temporary ban makes sense to me. I want to be safe in my own country. When I hear him talk about securing our jobs and I feel hope that maybe I may be able to retain my job and retire with some money in the bank” she said.  

“What do you think of Mr. Socialist?” I asked

“I liked Bernie Sanders, he was sincere and unlike any politician. I can’t remember the last time I saw a politician with unkemped hair, dandruff on his ill-fitting blazer and spit spaying out of his mouth as he spoke. He is  real and honest, but his solutions are impractical. 

"What about the former first lady?" I asked her. I noticed a wave of displeasure on her face

"Hillary is a total charlatan. She destroyed the lives of her husband’s victims and claims to be the protector of women. She gives speeches to private enterprises whose contents she won’t disclose and she claims to stand for the common folk. Lord knows what is going on with the Clinton Foundation, seems a massive conflict of interest to peddle your foundation when you are secretary of state and accept donations. This is not the Democrat party that my father stood for. Not the party of the working class.” she said.

“It is funny but it took a billionaire who lives a life of great luxury to feel the pain of the common man and address all the issues that matter to us. I don’t care if he say things that are deemed ‘unpresidential”. When Hillary lies through her teeth and changes her positions to appease to her voter, I think it is unpresidential. I am sounding like a Republican, I wonder what my grandpa would say of it” she said laughing

“I don’t agree with all Trump’s positions, I do not approve his plan of mass deportation but I do acknowledge that we do need to have laws that allow us to decide who comes in and who does not. I am disturbed to hear news of criminal illegal aliens murdering innocent citizens and members of my party. Something has to be done about that and my party is certainly not helping” she said.

“What about this political correctness business?” asked I.

“A very disturbing trend, I see 'liberal' throw words such as racist, sexist, xenophobe are thrown around to shut down those the disagree with. I would never ever use these terms unless I am absolutely certain and yet this is the way things go. But such is the vilification of any opposing perspectives that 
despite being a supporter I cannot wear Trump’s campaign cap. I cannot use stickers on my car or at my home and I do not want to donate to his campaign for the fear of being tracked. Many of my friends and family members are Trump supporters but we are live a secret society. If any poling company asks me I will not tell them of my support for Trump and I certainly won’t tell my office colleagues. I told you coz, well you don’t know me and can’t do any harm.” said she smiling, just as she spoke her phone began to beep.

“Oops, I got to go back to the hotel. It may be 9.30PM in India but I have a call with my US colleagues in thirty minutes. I need to take that. I hope it doesn’t last too long. Nice talking to you” she smiled, shook my hand and left.

While it was nice to finally meet a Trump supporter in person. It was equally sad to see her not be able to participate in the political process and openly express her support owing to fear of repercussion, certainly not what you would expect to occur in the world’s largest democracy. In a strange way this almost authoritarian attempt by the regressive left to silence opposing voices may have backfired rather badly and with people making up their minds stand up for against tyranny and vote for Trump. These are voters who will not particpate in polls, will not stand in crowd and will not cheer but they will certainly make a diffrence where it really matters. But in the end you may be able to control some people all the time, a majority of the people some time, but you most certainly cannot control a majority all the time. They will rise up and will tell you what they feel, in the ballot. In November they will talk through their vote for Donald J. Trump.

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