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Conservatives Thinking About Their Hostile Environment
05/30/2003

Instapundit links to Willy Stern's public confession that he is, indeed, a conservative. As I mentioned yesterday, such admissions can lead to apprehension about what the degree of reaction from liberal acquaintances might be. Stern's got a much worse story than anything I can recall (besides little stuff like, you know, not getting into graduate school). He's on a blind date, and she's just made a derogatory comment about Republicans:

At that moment in the Japanese restaurant, I faced a dilemma that I have faced literally hundreds of times, before and since, in my 42 years on this fair planet: Divulge the truth—or let the comment slide by. Usually, I play along—simply because it's the path of least resistance and least awkwardness. On a blind date, though, I thought open disclosure was the more honorable route.

"Actually, Suzi," I explained as gently as possible, "I'm one of those asshole Republicans."

She dropped her chopsticks and stared at me as if I had just announced that I was a convicted child rapist.

Then she smiled, as she finally grasped the situation. "Oh, you're kidding, right?"

"No, I really am a Republican."

"What? Nobody told me."

I tried to blunt the blow. "I'm actually not terribly interested in politics." This is, in fact, true.

No matter.

"Well, look," she said as she pulled her purse out from under her seat. "I'm sorry but I can't deal with this. Please don't think me rude, but I really think it would be best if I just left."

Posted by Justin Katz @ 11:01 PM EST