I am Deplorable.

I am deplorable. 

My husband tells me how to vote and I hate immigrants.  I support pussy grabbing, and I love seeing children in cages.  Misogyny? Yes, please. 

Because I’m deplorable.

I’m a member of the Grand Old Party, the outdated, backward-thinking, selfish pile of white conservative men and submissive women that Michelle, Elizabeth, Bernie, Hillary and Joe wag their fingers at in exasperated disapproval. 

But I disapprove of the constant disdain rained on our family values, life choices, and hard work.  For most of our marriage, my husband, Adam, has traveled more often than not. He’s now an executive, but we lived through plenty of lean years, years of figuring out the bills, years of job changes, balancing acts, decisions, heartbreaks. He’s been a trainee, an employee, a boss, a director, a VP, and is now a CSMO. He values being a philanthropist, a mentor, and a volunteer.  He is a pillar of strength for our family; the most dependable of fathers and husbands.  

While Democrats demonize corporate America, I look directly at Adam and shake my head incredulously. When the Democrats speak of tax breaks for the working class while punishing the evil CEOs, I think of the contributions made by these corporations in our country: employees that thrive and rise, jobs kept or created, families uplifted, local charities supported, communities benefiting.  While providing for our family is Adam’s absolute priority (one that keeps him up some nights) he’s also known in our community as a networker, a communicator, a helper. On a personal level, he stays late, arrives early, coaches recent graduates, and gives tirelessly when no one sees.  For eight years, the Obama administration viewed my family as the enemy, and it resonated and hurt in a place I still can’t name. 

Deplorable. 

Our personal giving lessened durning President Obama’s time in the White House; it absolutely had to. During President Trump’s administration, we’ve been able to return to our preferred level of philanthropy. We’d much rather decide for ourselves where to donate, since we have causes that are personally meaningful to us. Of course, it was when we were still saving for our third child to attend college that the Democrats were touting college as an American right.  More college to pay for... cue the celebration, and watch the giving fade away, yet again. 

Deplorable. 

I’ve been asked to explain myself. Sometimes the question is awkwardly further clarified as if I’m being asked to defend my politics or positions, but mostly it’s more of a “How could you?” For the eight years of President Obama’s administration, I certainly wasn’t thrilled with policy and procedure, but I didn’t interrogate my friends and family. I did believe one “why did you vote for him?” question from an old friend was in good faith; I answered, thinking we were engaging in political discourse. I was wrong, and I was mocked. At first I felt naive. Eventually, I just categorized it as a mean-spirited, unnecessary attack on my character, and in total, a waste of time. 

Deplorable. 

I’d love to stake a huge TRUMP/PENCE sign in my yard, but I fear repercussions from the self-pronounced compassionate left; it seems bleeding hearts are only open to their own agreeable cronies. Recall the Women’s March. While I was definitely not inclined to join, it was labeled and listed as a “No Conservative Women Welcome” event. More pussy hats for them. 

Deplorable.

I’ve always been a conservative, but I jumped into the Basket of Deplorables headfirst on 9/11/2001.  I had a baby in my belly, one in preschool, and one in first grade, and my best friend’s father was in the towers when the planes struck.  From that moment, I knew I would forever vote to live in a country that was safe and strong.  My priorities have remained unwavering~ I can find them tucked inside my fatter wallet (circa 2016) which is the other reason I vote for President Trump. I put my family first.  Adam I are again secure in the life we have provided  for our children, and we are proud as we watch them move forward through college, new apartments, and first jobs in this thriving America. 

 President Trump has Made America Great Again without question and without apologies.  He does not make me feel like a outsider in my own country. The economy is solid, the country is fortified, ISIS is incredibly weakened, and I feel safe. 

I do not vote based on my opinions about any one issue, no matter how strongly my support bubbles below this stone-cold Republican surface I obviously present. I don’t vote based on the President’s personality or on the Vice President’s upbringing.  I do not believe that a group of “old white men” has autonomy over my body.  I do not believe that all women are as strung-out on the idea of the glass ceiling as some would have me believe.  Hillary once said, “I guess I could have stayed home and baked cookies.”  I did.  It was amazingly fulfilling. 

I will vote for someone or something because I believe strongly enough in certain ideals.  I will vote for someone or something IN SPITE of others.  I can hold two (or even more) different thoughts in my head at the same time, weigh them, balance them, and vote. 

I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a writer, a congregant.  I’m a volunteer, a generous giver, and hopefully a gracious receiver. I’ve been a baseball mom, a stage mom, and a band mom.  During these various tenures, I’ve witnessed teachers, directors, church members and friends disparage Trump supporters on social media calling us idiots, brainless, disgusting, racist, sexist, deplorable. Do I think twice when my children are in your classrooms? When I come to church? I do. Of course I do. 

I don’t hold racist or sexist biases. I do hold my children tightly, and my marriage to Adam at the forefront of my everyday priorities. I hold a master’s degree, I’m often holding the NYT crossword puzzle, I hold lots of books, and I hold Coach the Dog all day, everyday. I hold a deep faith in God, I hold my worries (and yours) in prayer, I hold a deep sense that the universe works in miraculous ways. I hold my parents, family, and friends in my closest circle of love, and I possess an abiding love of country.

You already know me well.   If I am deplorable, hold me up as the standard. 

💙christy