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My personal experience with a Republican who voted for Obama, then voted for Trump.
This person, let& #39;s call him Fred (not his real name), was right leaning throughout his life. He adored Reagan.
1/14
My personal experience with a Republican who voted for Obama, then voted for Trump.
This person, let& #39;s call him Fred (not his real name), was right leaning throughout his life. He adored Reagan.
1/14
During the Bush 2 presidency he became disillusioned with Republicans. Fiscal mismanagement, wars, etc.
When Obama ran against McCain we had discussions about both candidates. He eventually decided that Obama was the better choice and voted accordingly in 2008.
2/14
When Obama ran against McCain we had discussions about both candidates. He eventually decided that Obama was the better choice and voted accordingly in 2008.
2/14
After Obama won he was excited for the changes we all expected to come. Around that time McConnell made it clear that he would obstruct EVERYTHING Obama did.
McConnell& #39;s proclamation angered both of us.
3/14
McConnell& #39;s proclamation angered both of us.
3/14
As Obama& #39;s first term proceeded he was under a nonstop Republican campaign to make him look bad and ineffective. It slowed his progress and kept him in the news for the wrong reasons.
Fred was angry at this. Then he started watching Fox News more & more for some reason.
4/14
Fred was angry at this. Then he started watching Fox News more & more for some reason.
4/14
Fred& #39;s anger stayed the same, but the source of his anger shifted from Republicans to Obama. He was angry that he& #39;d voted for a guy who couldn& #39;t get anything done. He perceived Obama as weak because he wasn& #39;t fighting back against Republicans. And Fox said Obama was weak.
5/14
5/14
I agreed with him that Obama should fight back more, but I also pointed out how Obama was trying to reason with Republicans, trying to find common ground. Fred told me that was just a sign of weakness. Fox News repeatedly called Obama weak.
6/14
6/14
When 2012 rolled around, Fred said he was going to vote for Romney. We discussed pros and cons of both candidates. He was unswayed. His talking points in our debates were straight out of Fox News. I called him on it whenever I knew that was the case.
7/14
7/14
After a while he started denying that his talking points were straight out of Fox News. He claimed he hardly watched it. Yet many of the things he said were Hannity talking points, verbatim.
This indicated to me he knew Fox was BS, but reinforced what he wanted to believe.
8/14
This indicated to me he knew Fox was BS, but reinforced what he wanted to believe.
8/14
Fast forward to the run up to the 2016 election, HRC vs Trump. He was convinced that HRC was corrupt. He admitted that he thought Trump was corrupt also, just less.
Fred and I remained friends until about 6 months into the Trump presidency.
9/14
Fred and I remained friends until about 6 months into the Trump presidency.
9/14
I& #39;d come to despise the person he& #39;d become. Racism was coming out. He talked about a Deep State and all kinds of whacky conspiracy theories. I broke all ties with him after 25+ years of friendship.
10/14
10/14
Fred is an intelligent guy. College educated. Former manager in large corporation. Formerly right leaning but reasonable. Generous. Likable.
The turning point in Fred& #39;s life seems to be directly connected to his consumption of Fox News.
11/14
The turning point in Fred& #39;s life seems to be directly connected to his consumption of Fox News.
11/14
Fox News was never fair and balanced, but it has steadily increased its vitriol, conspiracy theories, outright lies and hatred of 1/2 of USA.
It& #39;s powerful once it sucks someone into their world. You become part of their cult.
12/14
It& #39;s powerful once it sucks someone into their world. You become part of their cult.
12/14
