Normally the turn towards work would have set her in the mindset of a mere accessory in the political machine, but in such an informal, honest setting, it was hard to peel away from his admissions, even in spite of her disagreements. She was surprised that he managed to add in his own touch of warmth at the end after he very clearly hit the nail on the head.<br/><br/>"Well...yes, that's pretty astute. Because there isn't a large group of young people clamoring for the Republican wagon, I had less competition in trying to get a job for...well,<em>you</em>. I was courted by a few senators who really wanted the "I'm not a bigot" hire, but you seemed the least deplorable. At least I can say you haven't promoted the pray-away-the-gay ideology or green-lighted measures to shut down Planned Parenthood. As far as I'm aware, you also haven't been found soliciting young men on Craigslist, and Jon Stewart has minimal material from your overall campaign. I think that means I've been doing my job alright -- at least I'd like to think it's an indicator."<br/><br/>Again, she began to silently tap her index finger against the table as she spoke. "As much as I dread getting up some days, I guess what doesn't kill you makes you better-equipped to advise the Democrats later on down the road, right?" A sly grin punctuated the half-teasing, half-truthful statement. "Even in spite of that, I don't envy you a bit. I prefer to run the show behind the scenes; I'm not fit to do what you do, and I guess few of us are, which is why you're doing it and not us. It's hard enough to fake a job -- well, not the whole job, you know what I mean -- much less an entire public life that you never get away from."<br/><br/>"So if we're going to be on the subject of work, then you may as well tell me why you're so keen on harboring a fraud in your camp. Don't you ever wonder about sabotage? I control a lot of little things that add up, or at least have a hand in them. If anyone figured out I'm secretly blue, it would tank your reputation on the right -- you know as well as I do they hate anyone too accommodating or moderate."