I asked Esmeralda Rodriguez Hereford why she was a Republican. "Because we believe in independence," she said. "The Democrats' message is always 'We'll take care of you. We'll give you welfare and health care and Social Security.' Republicans believe we can look after ourselves." We were sitting in a side room of a massive sports bar in Laredo, Texas. The Republican presidential candidates were about to begin their Tea Party debate, and I'd asked Randy Blair, the head of the local Republican Party, to gather some of his stalwarts for a debate-watching party. Ten showed...
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