Apple Pie and Marxism

The Republicans are increasingly desperate and distraught. Recently, my counterpart with the Fauquier County Republican Committee called me a Marxist—right after we offered him a piece of apple pie. I ask you, what is more American than apple pie?

 On October 17th, the League of Women Voters, the Fauquier Chapter of the NAACP, and Fauquier Indivisible staged a “No Kings” event in Warrenton at the John Barton Payne Building. This was a nonpartisan event with a focus on encouraging early voting.

 As the chair of the Fauquier County Democratic Committee (FCDC), I had coordinated with the head of Indivisible. I wanted to let her know some of us from the committee would be across the street at the Courthouse. We were staging our own rally with signs supporting the reelection of Congressman Suhas Subramanyam and Senator Mark Warner, and encouraging people to vote Blue.

 On the morning of the rally, several of us were holding our Dem signs on the Courthouse steps. We were all enjoying ourselves and appreciative of the honks passing cars were giving us. A friend dressed as King George for the “No Kings” rally came across the street and joined us.

 A few minutes later, Tim, my counterpart with the Fauquier Republicans, walked by, cup of coffee in hand.

 I called out, “Hey Tim, how’s it going? It’s a brisk one today!”

He turned, saw me, and approached us. King George, who did not know him, held up a basket of small apple pies and said, “Would you like a piece of apple pie? There’s nothing more American than apple pie and voting!”

 Tim stared at us and called out loudly, “I don’t take food from Marxists!” wheeled around, and hurried away.

 Evidently, we are no longer Democrats, Democratic Socialists, Socialists, or Communists. We are now Marxists. I suppose he could have tried to make it worse and call us Trotskyites, but maybe he is saving that for the future.

 I couldn’t help but laugh. Tim and I have known each other for a couple of years. We both graduated from West Point. We occasionally text, email, or call each other on the phone if an issue comes up. We have had coffee together. But today, I wasn’t Max. I was a Marxist.

 And then it hit me: This is how desperate they are. They have nothing to offer except the same old tropes, and they do not even realize how off kilter their labels are. 

There is only one person doing the bidding of Putin and Russia, and that, of course, is Mr. Trump. There is only one person offering a redistribution of wealth in the form of a $5,000 payment to all Americans, should the Republicans keep the House and Senate – Mr. Trump. And, there is only one person driving the United States to take on partial ownership of multiple American companies, including Intel – Mr. Trump. Perhaps someone needs to re-explain to Trump and the Republicans what Communism and Marxism actually are, rather than just words to hurl at Democrats.

 As is so often the case these days, whatever a Republican projects onto the Democrats is actually a self-indictment.

 In the past few months, we have seen Serbia, Brazil, and Hungary all break the backs of authoritarians. Here in America, we can do the same.

 The election is here. You know what to do. If you haven’t voted yet, vote. If you know friends who haven’t voted, get them to the polls.

 And if you are a Republican? No one is asking for a lifetime commitment to the Democratic Party. Vote Blue this time only—no strings attached. It’s time to end the madness.

God Bless America

Introducing Suhas at a Canvass Event Later That Same Day

Addendum:

Thanks to my good friend and fellow Democrat, Melissa, for the photos of King George, and part of our rally on the Courthouse steps.