Click to enlarge
  • Click to enlarge

Irene wants Republicans to know that Christians support President Obama, too. "There's a few of us out there," she says. "I only disagree with Obama on two points," she explains. "I'm against abortion and I'm against same-sex marriage." Do you think there should be laws against abortion or same sex marriage? "I just think we should leave it alone."

Before I can ask what "we should leave it alone" means—government should get out of the business of telling people how to control their bodies and their love lives? People should leave abortion alone?—two Texas delegates come over and start yelling at Irene. The man leads: "How can you be a Christian and be for that man when he's for abortion?" His wife steps in close behind, adding, "He's in the Muslims, too!" Irene tries to explain her case, but he man keeps waving his hands at her and demanding that she explain herself. His wife tries to get a word in edgewise, calling abortion "the most important issue of our times." The man keeps demanding Irene explain herself and then cutting her off. Finally, he walks down the street with the puffed-up pride of a man who believes he just won a fight.

Irene looks a little more tired after the Texans leave. Does that happen a lot? She nods. Do they all call Obama a Muslim? "Oh, yeah, lots of them. Especially the delegates." She shrugs. "They've been convinced. He was baptized as a Christian, and they just don't believe it." She shrugs. Irene keeps looking down the street. She apologizes for being distracted. "My friend is coming to pick me up. I'm going to try a different corner."