A Frank Conversation with a Middle-American Trump Voter

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | February 13, 2019 |

I live in Portland, Maine, but a close friend of mine had a relative visiting from coal country. Her name is Rhea. She lives in Pewee Valley, a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky. Rhea is an administrator at the DMV, while her husband, Rick, works as a drill operator, earning $32 an hour thanks to a union that he does not support. Both Rhea and her husband, Rick, say they voted for Trump, and plan to do so again in 2020.

Rhea, who wore a long blue dress and what appeared to be a fake pearl necklace underneath a heavy coat, paid me a visit in my home yesterday to talk about the state of politics in America.

Here’s an unedited transcript of our conversation.

Rhea (knocks on door)

Pajiba: (answers the door) Can I help you?

Rhea: Yes, my name is Rhea. My brother-in-law says that you write about politics for the Internet, and I thought I would offer you my opinions.

Pajiba: Uh? OK. Would you like to come in for some coffee? I’m just finishing up a post here. Have a seat.

Rhea: Thank you so much for having me. I have a lot of thoughts about the state of the country that I think your readers will be interested in hearing.

Pajiba: OK. Why do you believe your opinion is valuable.

Rhea: Well, I voted for Trump, for one thing.

Pajiba: Oh.

Rhea: And I just thought …

Pajiba: … don’t care.

Rhea: It’s just that …

Pajiba: … don’t care.

Rhea: But I have a unique perspect …

Pajiba: Yeah. No. Seriously. I don’t care.

Rhea: I think that your readers would find my insights …

Pajiba: Nope.

Rhea: But don’t you want to know if I’m going to vote for Trump again?

Pajiba: I do not.

Rhea: But what about the problems facing me and my …

Pajiba: Don’t care.

Rhea: … husband. About the rise in premiums …

Pajiba: Not interested.

Rhea: … in our health insurance, and the six months my husband was unemplo …

Pajiba: Nope. Don’t care.

Rhea: But I am from middle America!

Pajiba: Did you vote for Trump?

Rhea: Yes, I did. Proudly.

Pajiba: Then I don’t give a shit.

Rhea: But I’m white! And middle American!

Pajiba: So?

Rhea: My opinion is valua …

Pajiba: It’s really not.

Rhea: But the NYTimes …

Pajiba: Don’t care.

Rhea: Yeah, but …

Pajiba: Zip it.

Rhea: But economic anxiety …

Pajiba: Please stop talking.

Rhea: But I need to get this off my chest …

Pajiba: Tell your therapist.

Rhea: I don’t have …

Pajiba: Don’t care.

Rhea: But …

Pajiba: Don’t care.

Rhea: Lock her up!

Pajiba: Please leave.

Rhea: Build that wall!

Pajiba: Go.

Rhea: Hillary is a cu …

Pajiba: Get out!

(Pictured: Not actually Rhea. She’s the BTK Killer’s daughter, actually.)

Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba.

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