A Frank Conversation with a Middle-American Trump Voter

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | February 13, 2019 |

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.)