Headlines from the Smerconish.com Newsletter July 29th

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[craigchristie]

Welcome to Toronto Michael. Love the episode today. Would have loved to attend the speech today. Don't necessarily agree with disclosure of emails/texts but was this guy not thoroughly vetted?

[MusingMark]

I’m a moderate and try to keep lines of communication open with progressive and conservative friends. We have a lot of common ground. And politics is a man made invention anyway. It would be silly to cut someone off because we currently have a different perspectives. Friendship is more important.

[marionevarez]

When a friend becomes part of a group that actively opposes my fundamental rights and freedoms. At what point does loyalty to friendship become complicity? Silence in the face of such injustice seems untenable.

[passerineblue]

Something happened to Vance in 2019: "In August 2019, Vance was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church in a ceremony at St. Gertrude Priory in Cincinnati, Ohio. He chose Augustine of Hippo as his confirmation saint. Vance said he converted because he "became persuaded over time that Catholicism was true [...] and Augustine gave me a way to understand Christian faith in a strongly intellectual way", further describing Catholic theology's influence on his political views.[159]"

[acepaver]

This makes him look far more normal than I would have expected.

[juancarlosmartinez]

Yes, this is the way I can talk with old high school friends.

[ScottHayden-vy]

Two things can be true at the same time. I’m appreciative that the conversation was revealed, but I also agree with Michael’s point that Sophia should not have gone to the NYT with their private communications. However, some betrayals and beliefs ie racism or bigotry are deal breakers.

I also like Michael’s point regarding a change and perspective or beliefs, and the motivations behind it, was it out of expediency or are these new beliefs based off of new experiences?

[nsk]

We don’t need more friendships with people who think we don’t deserve equal rights by virtue of who we are.

[thomasboldt]

Hi Michael - lawyers in Mingle Project Tara Setmeyer a valuable guest for your show.

[williamrossetter]

Agree with you MIchael, Sophia should not have done this, since these were private correspondences. But JD Vance is an opportunist, like Trump. I would think that JD Vance did this for his own gain. It is interesting that Vance was once more open to change. Too bad that he changed. But news like this will hurt the Trump ticket.

[davesilver]

You couldn’t be more ignorant to believe that Vance actually changed his mind and his 180 isn’t all political.

[passerineblue]

I agree 100% that "'Sophia" was totally wrong to turn over this stuff to the NYT, but she has convinced herself/himself that it is imperative to expose Vance's earlier opinions.

[CBDguitar]

Michael you just revealed how fake Vance is. That's all.

[jeanabrams]

The break up of the friendship over different political and cultural beliefs is a sign of these times, isn't it. While the means Soph used is a breach of trust, I understand and agree with the goal: to stop Trump!!

[RachelReaper]

Vance expressed an opinion about trans people that is hurtful, deeply hurtful, and not based on science and is in opposition to medical experts. Opinions like his can harm people and that is a deal breaker.. It shows his negative moral character and I can easily understand why they might have taken action to influence the election and prevent the election of Trump. I hope Sofia continues to share their negative opinion of Vance..

[davidlutz]

I agree that she Sophia should not have turned over their personal communications, however, JD Vance is being a typical hypicritical chamelon politician and has zero integrity in my opinion. Why can't the majority of politicians just be honest. I'm a moderate and chose to register as a indepemdent because of this crap with these people.

[johnh]

As to the propriety of Sofie disclosing….remember the guy wrote a memoir about his life and others, putting it in the public sphere

[shirleyduggan]

The word normal is a key word for me and I believe that may have been the turning point for Sophie.

[greggillum]

Agree “Sophia” was wrong to hand over emails.

[SelahEspiritual]

I agree about handing over the info on Sophs part. That's something you just don't do. It doesn't look good for a lawyer. It's politics, what did she expect?