A steady diet of red meat turned the Tea Party into Trumpism

Standing there in front of that crowd, I knew what I could have said, “What do you expect from a secret Muslim … non-American … socialist?” Any one of those responses would have done just fine at that moment.

“That’s our Bob!” the deep red crowd would have said.

I couldn’t do it. I thought of my five kids and wouldn’t do it. “I have been with President Obama,” I said to the man, “I have seen him put his hand over his heart. What you’ve just said is simply not true.”

Sensing the importance of the teachable moment, I continued, “President Obama is a loyal, patriotic American who loves this country, loves his wife, loves his children. I just disagree with him on most every thing.”