A video of a confrontation over the president’s politics at a northern Virginia cafe shows how anxious this election is for many Americans.
Annetta Catchings, chair of the Alexandria Republican Committee and a former mayoral candidate, said it all started Friday when she had lunch with three fellow supporters of former President Donald Trump at an Old Town cafe. He said he made a comment saying he doesn’t understand how Liz Cheney could support Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
“And I said, as a conservative woman, I could never vote for Kamala. Before I could elaborate on why, Patricia bent over and said, ‘There it was, my face,’ Catchings said.
Patty Morrissey, who worked in national security for 30 years, including at the Pentagon, said she was triggered by comments about Liz Cheney.
“I shouldn’t have done that, but I said, ‘Maybe he’s a criminal,'” Morrissey said. “So that was a bit of a smart comment, but I shouldn’t have said it. But it was very strange that it quickly turned on Dawn and me. Annetta turned on me. I said, “Are you a white liberal?” ”
Ms Morrissey also said she had just heard President Trump say that Mr Cheney was a hawk and should have nine guns pointed at his face.
“People are really nervous about this election, so I’ll admit that I’m really nervous about this election,” Morrissey said.
Catchings said her friend started recording. Morrissey then asked how an intelligent woman could support Trump.
“That’s what you understand when someone is a convicted felon, a sex offender, accused of espionage, charged with espionage,” Morrissey said in the video.
“The only people who challenge me are white Democratic women,” Catchings responded.
Eventually, the manager intervened and Morrissey was moved to another part of the cafe.
Catchings said she posted the video online to expose the treatment she frequently receives as a Trump supporter.
“I’m tired of women feeling like they can attack you in your face like that. That needs to be exposed,” she said. “So, yes, I shared the video for exposure.”
Stephen Farnsworth, a professor at the University of Mary Washington, said the conflict was not surprising in this volatile political atmosphere.
“What is clear is that the United States is not in a happy situation,” he said. “Once this election is decided, half the country will be furious, and many people are already very, very upset before Election Day.”
Morrissey said she is now receiving threats on the phone and her daughters are being harassed on social media. She said things should have been handled differently.
“I would like to apologize to Annetta for interrupting their conversation,” she said.
Farnsworth said he worries that such political tensions are just a harbinger of what will happen after Election Day.
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