You did what I strive to do. Treat every person with dignity. 
I deal with many people on a daily basis who are republicans of the tea bag persuasion. Mention global warming and they tell you they hate Al Gore and his hoax and how he is rich because of this lie. But it is fine for other rich white people to buy presidential candidates because it's their money and they can do what they want. 
Oh it gets better, most of these are devout Catholics, so they are totally confused by Pope Francis. Not happy about his economic and environment stances would be an understatement.
I don't back down on my political views, they know I am a liberal. But I don't try to change their minds. Only they can change their minds. I let them talk their crap. It really is like you say how these bagger types really hate this projected image of what they think a liberal democrat is. But what generally sets them off on a terror is that we are nothing like that image they hate but they are so ingrained with hate to certain buzz words they go berserko with rage. Oddly when one removes those buzz words I have found many republican types tend to agree with what I said.
Kind of like Harvey Milk and his thing about encouraging Gay people to come out. It's easy to hate someone or something you don't know but much harder to hate someone or something you do know.
Thanks again H2oMan! You rock dude! 
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