I grew up on a farm in rural Ohio.

Church every Sunday, family dinner every night.

We were dirt poor, so we hunted so we'd have venison in the co-op freezer and grew a huge garden so we could put up vegetables for the winter. 1/ https://twitter.com/govkristinoem/status/1308944945068363776
I still own guns, not for hunting, but for protection after getting credible death threats from the same people that Kristi Noem is hoping to rile up with this culture war BS.

Yes, Democrats live in red states.
Yes, Republicans live in blue states.

They want us divided. 2/
Because when we are divided, it's easier to discourage real conversations about how to move the country forward.

When we are divided, we are easier to conquer. Do you really want to be conquered by the people you elect to represent your interests?

3/
So, in honor of @govkristinoem's terrible ideas, a challenge:

Talk to someone who is politically different from you today, but don't talk politics. Ask them about their lives. About their struggles and hopes and fears. What they want for their kids. 4/
I can almost guarantee that the person you talk to will agree with you that they want:

affordable healthcare
clean air and water
quality education
safe schools
mental health care reform
common sense gun reform
a *real* plan to control coronavirus... 5/
...jobs programs to give people a hand up
safe cities and towns for *everyone*, not just some people.

The left and right have different ideas on how to get to there, but we all want to end up in the same place. We all want to end up in the country we thought we grew up in. 6/
I'm tired of the divisiveness. I'm tired of it and I want it to stop.

I talk with people who are different from me on a daily basis just by nature of my work, but I invite any rational Republican to a public conversation, either here or on my podcast. We have to start somewhere.
I'm not talking about calling up your local KKK chapter and asking to sit down for a chat with the Grand Wizard or whatever.

I'm talking about the conservative mom at your kid's soccer game, one of your church elders, etc.

Someone who can talk about political issues.
You can follow @AynRandPaulRyan.
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