Republican Paralegal: The Boss' inadvertent assertion of my revenge.

We all pow-wowed about logistics of the office Christmas dinner today.

Thinking I might spark some interesting discussion among The Boss and Republican Paralegal, I reminisced about a funny comment The Boss made at last year's dinner to an attorney who used to lease space in our office. The Boss had made a toast, and said to Leasing Attorney "Dinner is on Leasing Attorney, it'll be a great way to use those tax cuts." Something along those lines.

Anyhow, in response to my comment, The Boss went on a rant:

The Boss: "The thing about Leasing Attorney wasn't just that he was cheap. On top of that, he was a Republican." Absolute disgust.
Lex: Shot look at Republican Paralegal silently asking if any response was coming. Nothing. Coward.
The Boss: "I mean, most people who do Plaintiff's work and feel a sense of compassion for others, generally those people have liberal beliefs. I couldn't stand that he was a Republican. Idiots."
Lex: Shot look at Republican Paralegal silently asking if any response was coming. Nothing. Coward. I decided to try to give her an in to voice her own beliefs. "Well, The Boss, it is plausible that someone can have conservative values and believe in Plaintiffs work." Wink at Republican Paralegal. Republican Paralegal still said nothing. Coward. "I mean, there's a continuum of conservative and liberal beliefs. People can, for instance, be socially liberal and fiscally conservative. You can't just break it down to political party."
The Boss: Reply consisting of overly smart statements that singlehandedly defeated my insight. He is good at that. The Boss refused to entertain the possibility that he might be overgeneralizing.

After the crowd broke, Republican Paralegal came into my office and thanked me for sticking up for her while not outing her. I told her it was no problem, but my real motivation was never to make her feel better. I wanted Republican Paralegal to challenge The Boss. To say what she really thinks and not just go with what she thinks everyone wants to hear. Which I am starting to think she does. A lot. For the zillionth time, Republican Paralegal predicted the hell she would face if The Boss knew her political beliefs. But she found solace in her belief that God would bring her another job if The Boss fired her over her political beliefs. I don't think The Boss would do that, although he would likely *engage* her in *spirited* debates over political issues. Seems to me that Republican Paralegal should be willing to defend her beliefs. I guess she knows better than to go toe to toe with a seasoned, kick ass, argument machine of an attorney that is The Boss.

Just before Republican Paralegal was thanking me for having her back, I was ratting her out to Office Manager. Earlier this morning, Office Manager and I were talking about how Republican Paralegal got mad last week. I spilled that Republican Paralegal had been upset, but that she cooled down over the Thanksgiving holiday. Office Manager made a comment that Republican Paralegal would never get so upset as to leave the firm. I sat silently remembering the numerous occasions that Republican Paralegal told me she was considering quitting, and when she sent out resumes and interviewed with other places. I looked at Office Manager very seriously and said "I know with certainty that that's not true."

Take that, Republican Paralegal. I didn't straight up out her or rat her lack of loyalty. Particularly the fact that she pretends to be so loyal when she isn't. I didn't say that she had actively pursued other jobs since the first month she started working here. I didn't tell anyone she was a Repug.

But I began planting the seeds. Let's watch and see what grows.

Note to others: Don't disagree with and dismiss an atheist every chance you have and then expect them to protect you from having others approach your beliefs with that same attitude.