2016 Postmortem

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)

34. What's there to understand?

Sun Dec 4, 2016, 01:20 PM

Dec 2016

People voted for a sociopath and a pathological liar. Anyone who paid even cursory attention knew he was lying - every fact checker on the planet provided evidence that he lied more than any candidate in recent memory. One would have to be living under a rock to not know the guy is a pathological liar.

It doesn't matter if you're "speaking to me" if you're lying out your ass.

I don't automatically assume that people who voted for Trump are racist and/or sexist. I do assume that they're gullible and open to suggestion from the most obvious of charlatans, because there are few other reasonable explanations. They bought into the most obvious bullshit act in modern politics.

I see a lot of complaints like yours about not understanding Trump voters, but essentially zero suggestions on what to do about it or what to do with whatever information it is that you think you've gleaned from these people. What exactly do you think you're going to learn from people like this? That they like to be pandered to?

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My dad. Immigrant, Minority, Veteran, Trump Voter [View all] Lee-Lee Dec 2016 OP

So? Sorry but Hillary did have a message for 65 Million Voters Cha Dec 2016 #1

Elitism is killing the Democratic Party NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #30

That's a rw buzzword.. please stop. Cha Dec 2016 #117

No, elitism was hosting multiple high-dollar events while ignoring voters. appal_jack Dec 2016 #130

Hillary got 65 Million Votes and beat drumpf by over 2.5 Million.. Cha Dec 2016 #131

She did cha, but we should be talking about the historic landslide victory, dionysus Dec 2016 #136

Deleted MelissaB Dec 2016 #138

Reported for summarizing what Van Jones said in the video I linked? NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #140

Evidently it is... MelissaB Dec 2016 #144

neither am i. i keep hearing all DesertFlower Dec 2016 #77

Yeah, I don't really give a shite who voted for Cha Dec 2016 #119

Great response... you managed to alienate both father and child there. sfwriter Dec 2016 #93

So, if someone posts a message like this, the only appropriate response is to cuddle and coddle? EffieBlack Dec 2016 #106

You're ASSUMING an awful lot about other people without knowing them NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #110

I don't have to personally know them to know they have aligned with racists EffieBlack Dec 2016 #118

With you on this 100%. Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #133

If you vote for the open... tonedevil Dec 2016 #153

Well said, Effie.. thank you. Cha Dec 2016 #121

I spoke the facts.. so sorry you can't handle the truth about trump. Cha Dec 2016 #120

How . . . . Quaint. ReverendHeretic Dec 2016 #100

What's your problem? you have a problem with how I described Cha Dec 2016 #116

My brother voted for Jesse Jackson, Clinton, Buchanan, Obama and Trump hollowdweller Dec 2016 #2

My, he certainly swings both ways. catbyte Dec 2016 #9

the fuck forjusticethunders Dec 2016 #145

I feel the key words here are "at least not one that connnected". guillaumeb Dec 2016 #3

exactly. they covered him 24/7 and gave DesertFlower Dec 2016 #78

And should this be surprising? guillaumeb Dec 2016 #139

Thank you for helping me understand what happened, Lee-Lee. democrank Dec 2016 #4

What do you think Trump is actually going to do for these blue collar democrats? LisaL Dec 2016 #6

Just about nothing democrank Dec 2016 #16

That's the winning strategy we need. Most people here want realmirage Dec 2016 #20

Most people here want to alienate MORE voters and lose worse next time Dems to Win Dec 2016 #43

No - we want to reach out to more voters who those supposedly "aliented" voters don't EffieBlack Dec 2016 #46

It's hard to believe realmirage Dec 2016 #98

Let's get it straight. Nearly 3 million more voted Dem. It's not about wanting to keep losing . . . brush Dec 2016 #127

I found these articles very helpful in understanding how people could vote for Trump Dems to Win Dec 2016 #42

It's nice that you feel better about living amongst them. I don't. EffieBlack Dec 2016 #45

Neither do I. SammyWinstonJack Dec 2016 #102

"Did they suddenly become racists in the last four years?" radius777 Dec 2016 #61

And why the assumption that voters switched from Obama to Trump? EffieBlack Dec 2016 #63

well there are some exit polls and other stats radius777 Dec 2016 #68

Just to be clear, I do believe racists voted for Trump Dems to Win Dec 2016 #70

All of Trump's voters HAD to be comfortable with racism and sexism since they voted for him EffieBlack Dec 2016 #74

I voted for Hillary though I wasn't comfortable as a feminist with Bill returning to the White House Dems to Win Dec 2016 #86

Just to be clear... atreides1 Dec 2016 #80

if they voted trump they ARE ok with racism on a pretty high level JI7 Dec 2016 #96

Van Jones went to the Rust Belt and talked with Obama / Trump voters Dems to Win Dec 2016 #71

"some" being the operative word - likely a very small number of people EffieBlack Dec 2016 #73

Yes, America is polarized in 2016. It's frightening Dems to Win Dec 2016 #69

"Nobody cared about them" because equal attention to everyone was just too fair? bettyellen Dec 2016 #19

"When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression" EffieBlack Dec 2016 #24

With all due respect, I have no interest in "connecting" with people like your father EffieBlack Dec 2016 #5

THIS catbyte Dec 2016 #11

Elitism is bigotry, and just as offensive and hateful as racism NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #31

Oh, bullshit. TwilightZone Dec 2016 #36

If opposing racism, Trump and his supporters is bigotry, I admit it -- I are a big ole BIGOT. Hoyt Dec 2016 #37

No, it's not EffieBlack Dec 2016 #39

Most Democrats are working/middle class voters. radius777 Dec 2016 #62

Rejecting racism is not elitism. Racism is bad. Trump is racist. A vote for Trump is a racist act Squinch Dec 2016 #89

No it is not. Nt gollygee Dec 2016 #91

so now being anti bigotry is elitism ? JI7 Dec 2016 #114

Trump is the poster boy for "elitism" True_Blue Dec 2016 #123

Oh FFS... SidDithers Dec 2016 #128

Being informed and understanding how govt works it NOT ELITISM nini Dec 2016 #157

well said. nt DesertFlower Dec 2016 #79

+1000000! SammyWinstonJack Dec 2016 #103

Your story illustrates that pandering to profound ignorance really works, thank you for sharing etherealtruth Dec 2016 #7

Yes, of course, pandering works. LisaL Dec 2016 #8

Oh, I am well aware ... he simply was exceptioannly effective (aided by the media) etherealtruth Dec 2016 #13

He spend all his life preparing for this. LisaL Dec 2016 #14

He honed the skills necessary to be a huckster and grifter etherealtruth Dec 2016 #15

Democrats asked them to vote for a nominee who helped destroy their old way of life Dems to Win Dec 2016 #55

I am afraid your father will have to wait a long time for manufacturing to still be viable here. LisaL Dec 2016 #10

Your dad is a patriot. pintobean Dec 2016 #12

Agreed. The hateful remarks here are just sad realmirage Dec 2016 #22

That may be true, but it doesn't make a vote for Trump any less inexplicable. TwilightZone Dec 2016 #23

Agree EffieBlack Dec 2016 #27

He doesn't need an excuse pintobean Dec 2016 #38

Nope, it's two different things. TwilightZone Dec 2016 #44

True. J_William_Ryan Dec 2016 #56

Trump may appoint Petraeus... SidDithers Dec 2016 #17

Let me guess. Your dad probably paid about $30,000 for a house. R B Garr Dec 2016 #18

So, we need sound bites and slogans, not progressive, sustainable actual plans? herding cats Dec 2016 #21

You can see why our party is losing by reading the hateful replies here realmirage Dec 2016 #25

Vote for a bigot: misunderstood/needs empathy. Criticize voting for a bigot: hateful EffieBlack Dec 2016 #33

I agree. phylny Dec 2016 #81

What's there to understand? TwilightZone Dec 2016 #34

"They just don't understand the concerns or thought process of people who disagree with them," pangaia Dec 2016 #47

So all people who realmirage Dec 2016 #99

Did I say scum? Did I say scum? pangaia Dec 2016 #108

Transparent... SidDithers Dec 2016 #52

But Hillary wasn't careless with classified information. LisaM Dec 2016 #26

My advise to anyone who has a government security clearance is ... spin Dec 2016 #155

You keep referring to "unauthorized home computer" - strawman EffieBlack Dec 2016 #161

Have you carefully read Comey's July 5, 2016 statement on ... spin Dec 2016 #162

Your dad is a racist! Your dad is a racist! HassleCat Dec 2016 #28

That's pretty much what people here are doing. realmirage Dec 2016 #29

No one here has done that at all. And shame on you for engaging in such bullshit EffieBlack Dec 2016 #35

Yes, I am the problem. HassleCat Dec 2016 #58

You must be kidding. The threads are EVERYWHERE realmirage Dec 2016 #97

WHO here called him that? pangaia Dec 2016 #48

Do you believe that people who voted for trump were aware of his racism, sexism, and still_one Dec 2016 #84

How can someone connect with your dad when he believes Trump and doesn't investigate things? Vinca Dec 2016 #32

On the money.. pangaia Dec 2016 #49

Nope, as a former military client told me, phylny Dec 2016 #82

Kind of a variation of "keep the government away from my Medicare." Vinca Dec 2016 #87

Plus, "I have mine, screw you." n/t phylny Dec 2016 #90

Ignorance is bliss ... GeorgeGist Dec 2016 #40

That's probably a fair criticism. ucrdem Dec 2016 #41

yeah, right. It's you know who's fault. pangaia Dec 2016 #50

Your dad seems like a somewhat reasonable man. pangaia Dec 2016 #51

Exactly EffieBlack Dec 2016 #64

Trump's populist rhetoric spoke to him, but, facts disproving Trump's rhetoric did NOT? blm Dec 2016 #53

'populist rhetoric' elleng Dec 2016 #54

I am proud MFM008 Dec 2016 #57

Maybe he just couldn't bring himself to vote for a woman Dream Girl Dec 2016 #59

Members of a sexist & authoritarian organization voted for a sexist authoritarian samir.g Dec 2016 #65

This is what your father voted for. BlueStater Dec 2016 #60

Bravo. pangaia Dec 2016 #72

Sexism plays a larger role than many would admit. radius777 Dec 2016 #66

And let's not even get into what they think of a Jewish Socialist. EffieBlack Dec 2016 #75

exactly, anti-Semitism is at it's height, radius777 Dec 2016 #76

medicare enid602 Dec 2016 #67

and was he bothered in the least about trumps racism, sexism, ir xenophobia? still_one Dec 2016 #83

Thanks for sharing your experience, Lee-Lee. mia Dec 2016 #85

Then it would follow he would be treestar Dec 2016 #88

That would be consistent and logical. Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #134

Thanks for telling us about your dad Dems to Win Dec 2016 #92

looks like he goes by how he feels ay the moment. since he only voted Obama once JI7 Dec 2016 #94

he still voted for an openly racist sexist dumbass. JI7 Dec 2016 #95

So, he is okay with Petraeus in the cabinet itsrobert Dec 2016 #101

His choice Lotusflower70 Dec 2016 #104

It is utterly DISGUSTING the behavior of some of the people in this thread NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #105

No - Democrats lost those voters because they have refused to cater to other voters' worst EffieBlack Dec 2016 #107

Bullshit NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #109

There is no rational excuse for voting for an unfit MADMAN. duffyduff Dec 2016 #112

As an old white blue collar worker True_Blue Dec 2016 #132

This message was self-deleted by its author duffyduff Dec 2016 #111

What did your dad think of the treatment of the Khan family ? JI7 Dec 2016 #113

If he voted for Trump, then he's a hypocrite. baldguy Dec 2016 #115

Maybe we should start lying and make ridiculous promises True_Blue Dec 2016 #122

Seems like a sure plan to win elections. LisaL Dec 2016 #124

Thank you for sharing this ... NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #125

Thank you for this. We need to listen to these stories Arazi Dec 2016 #126

No, there will be no reaching "these folks" CakeGrrl Dec 2016 #141

What did your Dad think of Tramp's treatment FrenchieCat Dec 2016 #129

Voting for Trump because of concerns over carelessness or outsourcing... Orsino Dec 2016 #135

I think my son voted for Trump SickAndTiredOfRepubs Dec 2016 #137

It happens... LP2K12 Dec 2016 #142

Bullshit. nt LexVegas Dec 2016 #143

It took me a while to digest replies but I will try and address them Lee-Lee Dec 2016 #146

Thanks for that response and clarification. Tatiana Dec 2016 #147

I agree completely with Tatiana's very thoughtful post EffieBlack Dec 2016 #148

Why didn't you point out Trump's hypocrisy on US manufacturing Elwood P Dowd Dec 2016 #150

It has been my experience that they don't listen to the truth. Tatiana Dec 2016 #156

I hope your dad enjoys the fruits of his choice. MoonRiver Dec 2016 #149

My husband is an immigrant (central America), naturalized, Dem voter who went for Trump Yo_Mama Dec 2016 #151

Your husband is no doubt a decent man EffieBlack Dec 2016 #154

I would imagine that if you talked with 100 people who have held a security ... spin Dec 2016 #152

This dead horse has been beaten to death - and it's a false argument EffieBlack Dec 2016 #158

I held a government security clearance for four decades before I retired. ... spin Dec 2016 #160

Tell your Dad when he loses his Medicare and Social Security adigal Dec 2016 #159