Does The Paper Run With It?

I never talk politics or religion because it is private, but something happened yesterday that I feel I have to share. It didn’t happen to me but it happened to an artist friend of mine who was with me and I feel so sad and discouraged for all of us. He is a great painter and we were both at this sweet little art show in the town that I live in. It’s a wealthy little island (Palm Island) on the west coast of Florida and they have one tiny community run show a year with about 40 artists.
A woman came into his booth in the morning and was interested in an $1800. painting. She left his booth without buying the piece but it was early in the day and you never know what will happen, so he was hopeful.
Off and on during the day we all overheard different snippets of political talk about the recent election and about some kind of red or blue movement that was forming in town, where people were deciding which way businesses voted (red or blue) and then taking a stand not to support the blue (democratic) businesses. They actually mentioned names of local businesses that he didn’t know, but I know well because I live here. How they decided which way these businesses voted is beyond me but they apparently are developing some kind of a list.
Right before the show was closing, the same woman came back into my friends’ booth. She said she loved the piece and was interested in it. He offered it to her at a discount and she said she wanted it. At that moment her husband came into the booth and she asked him if he liked it. He said he did and told her if she liked it, to get it. My friend was happy because, like many of us, the fall has been slow so far and he needed a sale.
Then something horrific happened. The man walked back into the booth and asked his wife: “Red or Blue?” The woman, who was buying the piece, put her hands up in the air and said “I don’t know.” Her husband then said, “I think Blue,” then took her hand and they walked away.
My friend was shocked and stunned as he came over and told me what had happened. He had tears in his eyes, not because he lost the sale but because this incident is so much bigger than that. He is American, born in South American, but he is American. These wealthy, educated people assumed he voted Democrat, and decided not to support him for no reason at all. They don’t know him, they don’t know anything about him, nor do they know anything about the businesses in town that they are putting on their so called “List.”
I am so ashamed for these people. I wish I could have caught up with them so at least I could have talked to them. I don't even know where to put this in my brain. I feel so sad, it makes me cry.

Just got off the phone with the Editor of the paper here. They are sending a reporter and photographer out because this is about to be front page news. Oh my!