Why Trump Voters Are Not Welcome In My House This Holiday

[mainer]

At first I thought this was an overreaction. Then I read the piece and realized he has a point.

I thought perhaps that Trump the President, might be chastened by the awesome responsibility he was about to assume – and leave behind the toxicity of his campaign rhetoric. Then, in rapid succession, three things happened that changed my mind.



First, Trump announced that Steve Bannon, of Breitbart infamy, would become a senior White House advisor. To invite such a purveyor of lies, hate and bigotry to work inside the hallowed gates of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was beyond the pale.

Then, my company’s COO, a Chinese American, told me how his small children were distraught, and in tears that morning. Children in their preschool had bullied them with comments such as: “your father is going to be killed because he didn’t vote for Trump”, and “you are going to be kicked out of the country”. This in Coppell, Texas, a wealthy suburb. These remarks were directed at third generation American citizens, by small children, obviously channeling their parents.

The next day, another friend relayed the anti-Semitism that was unleashed at Highland Park High School, ranked in the top 1% of all Texas public high schools. His son had become subject to taunts such as: “why don’t you go to Auschwitz?” and “take a shower, Jew boy”. These were teenagers, but we know where those sentiments originated.

These incidents washed over me like a plague. I realized this was not a normal election, with one political philosophy prevailing over another. This was a repudiation of the value system – and Constitution - on which the United States is based. This was a green light to racism and demagoguery which apparently festers even in people of privilege. This was an overt turning of the cheek to freedom of the press, to truth, decency and respect. The bigotry that my friends’ children experienced were not isolated incidents. Intimidation, threats and hatred – directed at minorities, immigrants, etc. - have come fast and furious since November 8th.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/25/1614376/-Why-Trump-voters-are-not-welcome-in-my-house-this-holiday

[oberliner]

1. A better approach might be to talk to them

I am sure a lot of them don't even know who Steve Bannon is.

[gordianot]

4. The views of Trump voters I know are very old and independent of anything that resembles education.

There is no convincing them of anything they will have to experience the consequences of this monster directly. Trump works totally on fear; his supporters assume others will fear Trump, Trump returns the favor by generously spreading fear to anyone he perceives is his enemy.

[oberliner]

6. Maybe so

But I see no harm in being kind to all people, even those with whom we strongly disagree.

[Dustlawyer]

11. Maybe so, but I think we need to point out that they are being unpatriotic and

not supporting the Constitution!

Remember the flag pin controversy during the Bush years? How the Republicans were trying to make Democrats without flag pins being against the Constitution and America. How they were told "Love it or leave it?"

If they will not respect the Constitution and the freedoms and protections it grants then they need to leave! When they say things like in this article we need to ask them to love it or leave it!

[JudyM]

51. There should be a biennial test on the Constitution for all congress critters.

[Dustlawyer]

63. I do not think it is a question of them being ignorant, with some notable

exceptions. It is what their Donors want to do.

I think the better plan is to try and educate Americans on the Constitution! Maybe we should have Constitution Day where Americans focus on it for a day. The media runs stories on the different sections of the Constitution and what they mean using real life examples to keep their attention.

[JudyM]

64. Great idea. Trying to educate folks on what Jesus' actual values were might be equally helpful,

since that's another thing twisted by the RW. Saw a post here on that today -- you know, about caring for the poor and not hating gays, etc ... I'm not Christian but so many vote according to what their churches direct that it's another important area of influence for the less informed.

Ive always thought the whole concept of "strict constructionism" that Scalia et al have claimed to follow has implicit overtones of biblical righteousness, and that they primarily use it for political leverage/gain. Stunned me to learn that he believed literally in the existence of the Devil since it seemed from our perspective that he'd be one who'd definitely be going to hell. Maybe he believed that the more vitriolic he was against the Left, the better his chances of going to heaven. But conflicts of interest and other ethical breaches (including twisting the law in Bush v Gore) don't qualify a person for hell?

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

70. Symbolism and bombast, they never actually cared about the Constitution.

Like these supply-side-Jesus Christians pick and choose from the Bible, they do the same with the Constitution.

[stonecutter357]

14. The racists trump voters I know are far to Violent for Rational Thoughts.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

24. Precisely, fuck the Fuhrer-Elect's supporters... they're not welcome within a five-mile radius of my home. They are worse than deplorable!

[gordianot]

15. I am not openly hostile but when asked will be truthful.

I do not trust anyone who voted for Trump nor will I ever trust them. I equate Trumpism as a modern variant of various old fascist regimes.

[Wounded Bear]

16. Hmmm, I think this is going way beyond being polite to people with disagreements...

this is about condoning racism and bigotry, bullying and general assholery. People with whom I "disagree" should show some form of being kind and polite to others, too.

There come a time to stand up to bullies.

[oberliner]

17. Are there no nice people who voted for Trump?

Out of all 60 million of them?

[Wounded Bear]

18. Seem to be plenty of people defending them...

I'm all for polite behavior, except perhaps in those who have already proven unworthy of it.

I'm sure there are plenty of "nice" people who voted Trump. If they act "nice" I will not go out of my way to attack them. If not, I will not accomodate their impolite behavior. It seems the article was about the latter folks.

[oberliner]

19. The article says no Trump voter will be allowed in this person's house

And that every Trump voter is complicit in all the various racist attacks that have gone on recently.

[Wounded Bear]

20. Their opinion, their right...

Obviously, you don't share their opinion. I suggest you save your admonitions to the people who need it.

[oberliner]

22. This is a discussion board, isn't it?

So I am expressing my opinion about the post. I think it's better to be kind to everyone, even Trump voters. That's my opinion.

[Wounded Bear]

23. Your opinion, your right....nt

[Shemp Howard]

30. oberliner, you are 100% correct

"I think it's better to be kind to everyone, even Trump voters."

Yes. There are evil people who voted for Trump, and then there are stupid people who voted for Trump. It is simply wrong, morally, to treat the stupid ones as if they were evil.

A good friend of mine went from working for Hillary in the 2008 primaries to voting for Trump in 2016. Why the change? He lost his job. I do not consider my friend evil. But perhaps he's stupid for falling for Trump's empty slogans.

One reason I'm partial to progressive thought is that progressive thought has a certain kindness - humanity, if you will - to it. Sadly, I see much of that slipping away here at DU. Too many people here are equating stupid with evil. Sad.

[tenorly]

54. Well said.

Bridges should never be burnt, if it can be at all helped.

[oberliner]

112. Thanks

Glad to get some support for this approach.

[ProfessorGAC]

125. I Need A Better Filter

We don't need to win over all 45 million of them. 20 million are completely racist idiots.

We need to filter out the noise and determine which 3 million just made a mistake by overestimating the need for change and falling for the lies about HRC. 3 Million more votes and it's a blow out.

The other 42 million can pound sand.

[DK504]

26. I have yet to meet one

with any intelligence over a petulant teenagers caliber. They lemmings and have no regard but for those that think, speak or act differently.

I see everyday by these idiots and the refusal to accept anyone but "there kkkind."

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

25. Highly doubtful.

[niyad]

31. they voted for a misogynistic, xenophobic, racist, bigoted, hate-mongering, ignorant, lying,

thieving, narcissistic, self-admitted sexual predator and pervert. NICE?? what NICE person votes for scum like that? NICE?? no, they have shown their true, deepest selves with their vote, and none of them are welcome in my world.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

65. I feel the same way. However, we spend Christmas at my parents' house, and

so my RW sister and her RW husband were there. The liberals, most of the rest of us, discussed politics some, but out of earshot of the RWers.

Later I heard that RW bro-in-law brought up the subject with liberal bro-in-law. Among his predictable BS was the old chestnut, "Obama had Scalia killed", Trump's landslide victory, etc. Liberal Bro-in-law told him, about Scalia, "I'm not crazy enough to believe that." Not sure what else he said in reply.

If he had brought that crap up around me, I would not have handled it well. If I'd known, while he was still there, that he'd brought it up to others up , I would have avoided him, rather than being inclusive and polite, as I was. He's the same idiot who puts Fox News on in my parents house, knowing they're Democrats who despise Fox.

I do not get these people who want us to "listen" to Trump voters. Why???!!! We already know what the vast majority of them are going to say.

[niyad]

88. I am so sorry that you have to deal with drumpfy's followers in your parents' house. fortunately,

having no biological family, I do not have to deal too often with rw's, even here in fundieville.

[Bayard]

36. My brother

Came down for xmas yesterday, and we shared good memories about past xmas'es when the rest of our family was still alive, and how much we miss them. I love him dearly.

He raised two great kids, loves animals, does not go to church except for funerals and weddings. The only people he calls assholes are the ones he works for. Where Trump got him was on gun control (Hillary is going to take our guns), and feeling like Obama gave away the store. We agree to disagree, and kid each other a lot about our politics--including being a deplorable. He's not happy about later Trump revelations. I'm working on him.

I think lumping all these people in one basket will be at our peril.

[Squinch]

37. So your brother STILL believes that Democrats will take away his guns despite

8 years of evidence to the contrary, and what the hell does "Obama giving away the store" even mean, especially when compared to the pillaging of the government for the wealthy that Trump is openly promising he will do?

Because of those two idiotic reason, your "salt of the earth" brother is willing to overlook aggressive sexism, rank racism, obvious lies, and Russian interference in our elections. Because of those two idiotic reasons, he chose to vote for a proven charlatan.

Nope. Sorry. Your brother is a dolt and I think we can still lump these people in one basket.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

67. Lol.

I must say, I agree with you, but got a laugh out of the word dolt. I know and, I guess, love a few Trump voters, but yeah, they're dolts. And if the Dem party tries to court them by catering to their doltishness, we are totally fucked forever.

[Squinch]

74. If we cater to doltishness, we're dolts AND lunkheads.This guy isn't coming over from the dark side.

... afraid Hillary is going to take his gun...

What a maroon...

[Brainstormy]

41. Your brother must be the classic

Faux news, low-information voter. Guns? Sheesh.

[War Pigs]

43. how the hell is unleashing that cretin on our

Country nice? Free thinking adults did this to us. May they choke on this nasty excuse for a human being!!!!!

[oberliner]

109. Nice people sometimes do foolish things

People can be misguided or ill-informed for a variety of reasons.

[femmedem]

87. My brother-in-law voted for Trump.

He is kind and giving. We have other family members with interracial marriages and I've never seen any evidence that he treats any family members differently because of it.

He says he voted for Trump because Trump will bring the jobs back from China. I doubt he ever heard of Breitbart or knows much about Trump's cabinet picks. So I would say he isn't full of hate, just not informed. He lives in rural Maine, and has become more conservative since leaving Connecticut.

[Squinch]

101. Yet he no doubt knows that Twitler bragged openly about grabbing pussy. He no doubt

knows that Twitler called all Mexican immigrants rapists, and all immigrants generally criminals. He knows that Twitler's method was generally to stir up hate.

If he truly cared about bringing back jobs, he would have looked to see who was actually going to bring back jobs and not taken the word of someone who was obviously blowing smoke up his ass.

Again, I don't see "just uninformed" in your description of this man. I see someone who was, consciously or not, so entranced by the racist and sexist message that he was willing to overlook the obvious ridiculousness of the promises. It was those ridiculous promises, after all, that provided cover and allowed him to claim that those promises, and not his racism and sexism, were what motivated his vote.

That racism and sexism, it is true, is sometimes well hidden. That is what the Democrats' mistake was: not understanding the depth and breadth of the disdain and fear that a certain segment of our society holds toward all other segments of our society.

The important thing going forward is that we recognize that disdain and fear, and that we acknowledge its pervasiveness, and we are not fooled by it again.

[femmedem]

103. No, I don't think so. He would have voted for Bernie over Trump, he said.

For whatever reason--and I truly don't know what the reason was--he despised Hillary.

I don't think his Hillary hatred stemmed from sexism, at least consciously. He treats his wife well, is egalitarian about housework, isn't domineering. I'm sure he's racist, but not consciously or out of hatred.

So I think rather than being entranced by Trump's racist, sexist message, he was entranced by the jobs message, and was thus willing to overlook or not fully hear the racist/sexist ugliness.

Bear in mind, you're talking about someone you've never met, and I'm talking about someone I've known for close to twenty years.

[Squinch]

104. How can you be racist out of anything but hatred??

And I get that you have known the guy for a long time, but the act of his vote is an act of sexism and bigotry. It's there, whether you see it or not, and the proof is the vote itself. I wish I knew who here said it first so I could give them credit but, "you can't buy the rope and then say you had nothing to do with the lynching."

And trumps jobs message was "we're going to bring manufacturing jobs back." That's it. That statement. Nothing else. Hillary's was detailed, practical and very extensive. So the whole jobs argument just doesn't hold water. This is what I'm saying. All those people who probably would never even consider themselves sexists or racists may be telling us they are voting about jobs, but they are voting for a candidate who has no real jobs plan. So what is it really that they like?

[oberliner]

113. Exactly

A lot of us have similar stories involving relatives.

[KingCharlemagne]

91. Not a one of 'em has a problem with racism or misogyny. Your post implies that there

is such a beast as a "nice" racist or "nice" misogynist.

[oberliner]

105. Of course they do

There are Trump voters who are not racist and who are not misogynist.

I would also point out there are some Democrats who are both of those things.

[HughBeaumont]

35. "disagree" means said person hates brown couches and you don't.

"bigotry" means said person hates brown people and you don't.

That's what they voted for and support.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

71. Right. Everything now is supposedly open to opinion.

Bullshit. An opinion is, "Pepperoni pizza tastes way better than mushroom pizza." Not, "the crime rate is up in America," or, "Obama was born in Kenya."

[oberliner]

107. Bigots are usually ignorant

I think it would be great to try to help bigots understand the error of their ways. Perhaps that would lead to there being less bigotry in the world.

[lunatica]

44. The Left shows plenty of kindness

We're no the abusers, or the liars, or the vengeful people. They are.

Kindness to them is a show of major weakness.

Take it from me. I've never been anything but kind to them. They're incapable of understanding kindness as anything else but weakness.

[oberliner]

110. That seems like a generalization

Even the worst of the worst have sometimes been known to change or evolve.

[lunatica]

119. Perhaps, but not in my experience

[busterbrown]

47. Following your line of thought...

Than after W.W. 2 Jews and others who were imprisoned, tortured and murdered should have been kind to all those who gladly were responsible?

Sorry, I can’t even begin to understand your logic..And yes I believe that there are enough far right republican idiots out there who would gladly participate.. And we should reach out? WOW!

[oberliner]

111. Think of how the Charleston relatives forgave Dylan Roof

That sort of approach seems admirable to me.

[busterbrown]

122. Religious People...Follow the Bible Suggestions

of forgiveness... Dylan Roof? Well there’s a lot Dylan’s out there..Hundred’s of thousands probably existed in Nazi Germany..ready to exterminate an entire religious group...

I understand your point, but do you think Jews, and other minorities would have been better off forgiving these relentless pieces psychopathic scum?

[oberliner]

123. Not every person who voted for Trump is a "relentless piece of psychopathic scum"

Awful as many of them are, some are just misguided, ignorant, or confused. Reaching out to them with kindness can only help, in my opinion.

[busterbrown]

124. I agree with You completely...

Its the only way to do it... We don’t know the exact numbers...But I agree with reaching out to the non-violent supporters.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

136. I'll defer to Hannah Arendt

Not every person who voted for Trump is a "relentless piece of psychopathic scum"

Awful as many of them are, some are just misguided, ignorant, or confused. Reaching out to them with kindness can only help, in my opinion.

The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.

-Hannah Arendt

They need to be defeated.

[oberliner]

138. We can defeat them

I think we defeat them by promoting our views and helping others understand, change, and grow.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

139. I am trying not to hate Trump supporters but they hate us

I am trying not to hate Trump supporters but they hate us and many of them would do us harm including physical harm if they could. I never felt that away about Bush, Reagan, or Ford voters.

[oberliner]

140. I hear ya

There are some really awful people among Trump supporters. Quite a lot of them. I am saying maybe we can reach out to the less virulent among them.

[blue cat]

12. Some of them do

My sister is a big fan of S.B.

[nini]

32. This isn't just a matter of a difference of opinion anymore.

What these people did is like an assault crime. Their vote will cause harm to many many people who lose their safety net, probably wars coming down the line etc.. I don't care why they did it - there's no excuse and the freaking gloating is beyond the pale.

WHY in the hell should we treat them any differently than someone who committed a crime against us because that's pretty much what they've done?

[War Pigs]

45. my feelings exactly!!!! they had plenty of choices

In the primary bookapalooza gonzo tour to pick anyone else. Fuck them

[nini]

55. Yea.. this whole thing crossed a line with me

I'm tired of suffering at the hands of their type.. Done.... just done with them.

[hamsterjill]

61. Amen.

Me, too. Don't want them in my house. Don't want them in my life.

[KingCharlemagne]

92. Hear, hear! - nt

Last edited Tue Dec 27, 2016, 12:19 AM - Edit history (1)

[oberliner]

114. Being kind to people is a virtue in my opinion

That would include criminals.

Almost everyone is capable of growth.

[nini]

115. Well good luck with that

You will earn your wings while I burn in hell I guess

[Feeling the Bern]

83. Talk to them? I wouldn't waste the spit if they were on fire. Fuck them, fuck their shit,

fuck their bigtory, fuck their racism.

Fuck their orange fake God too.

[oberliner]

106. This is terrible

We are talking about human beings.

[Feeling the Bern]

116. They lost their humanity in my eyes the second they voted Nazi

I have no sympathy.

What is this. . .be kind to bigots week? Fuck those people things. Fuck Trumpers and fuck conservatives.

[oberliner]

120. Your DU name is "Feeling the Bern"

I am assuming Sanders is someone whose opinion you value.

Take a look at what Bernie said about Trump voters during his sit down with Charlie Rose:

https://charlierose.com/videos/29458

[Feeling the Bern]

127. Drop it. Just because I feel the bern doesn't mean I support nazis

I don't follow lock step behind any pol. I may support many of his positions, but I don't support being kind to nazis.

If you do, more power to you. We are done. I will not let you flamebait or hijack,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028367374

10: People who think that because I "feel the Bern," I need to be nice to people because Bernie is. Sorry. . .Bernie needs to take whatever bullshit his handed his way and deal with it in a respectful manner. I am a writer, historian, and producer of films in Asia. I don't need to do that. I am a private citizens. I support Bernie's positions and people like him (Gabbard, Kucinich, my Congresscritter Raul G from Tucson, Wyden, Whitehouse, Brown, etc), but I will go full pitbull attack dog on people in a second. I don't care about consensus building. I want to smash the otherside with so many bricks to the head that their positions are left bleeding in the moonlight. I am tired of my side taking the fucking high rode, getting the legs chopped out from underneath us and the looking down at those who use the GOP and tea-party's tactics against them. Nice guys finish last. "We they go low, we go high" means "we are too spineless to take them on on their level, so they will go low and at least we can look ourselves in the mirror while we lick our wounds after getting our asses handed to us in every election pretty much since 2010."Which finally, leads to:

Please stop now. I have no more desire to debate someone who thinks it's "Be Kind of Nazis" week.

[oberliner]

128. OK

Thank you for engaging in this discussion. I did not mean to cause offense.

[femmedem]

117. Just wanted to pop in and thank you

for your efforts in this thread.

Conflict resolution begins with listening to and understanding the other side. Most of the views I'm hearing in this thread will only harden the opposition and make us look awful to anyone sitting on the fence or in any way persuadable.

[oberliner]

121. You are welcome

I am surprised that what I am saying has drawn so many negative responses. Bernie and Hillary have both essentially made the same points.

[heaven05]

129. trump voters by and large don't feel

PoC are human beings, how many times in just the last week was Michelle Obama referred to as an ape? Hell that's just a small example of how ignorant white people, the voter for trumpfuhrer, view our First Family. Why should I care if someone calls it truthfully like it is and they are. They are no more human than they feel about me, a man of brown skin or any PoC up to and including our First Family. I agree totally with the one you are responding to. When the nooses come out and the lynching picnics(they did that in the 50's, 40's) are a weekly event....I won't be able to hide in plain sight as many will who are counseling patience and compassion towards the overwhelming number of racists and bigots that voted for their new fuhrer to lead them to the white paradise behind a huge wall and with muslims gone and PoC "back in their place" under the heel of trumpshirts. Hate begats hate and their hate is evident. I hate a trump voter....I know exactly what they are and I wouldn't waste spit on them either, if they were on fire.

[oberliner]

130. That's not true

You are talking about one subset of Trump voters. The basket of deplorables, as HRC called them. Yes, there are many of these people and yes they are awful.

[heaven05]

131. subset, whole set

Last edited Sat Dec 31, 2016, 11:05 AM - Edit history (1)

not much difference, really. You hang on to your skewed sense of fair play while I prepare for the tsunami coming January 20th. You won't be in my corner, so I just keep moving until I find safe ground and people to rely on. Have a good, safe new and upcoming year, which you probably will.....all of you here and on other forums and your proving skin color is thicker than integrity and principle in this "trumpfuhrer voters are misunderstood and deserve love, compassion and kindness" and the "deplorables" are a "subset"....really? Tell me anything

No one, from any "subset", in those trump fuhrer rallies where the future brownshirts attacked PoC, both men and women, stood up and said stop doing this. I saw these attacks. The ones our jaundiced media reported on, there were many others where just hate and threat kept obvious protesters of color from doing their american duty in trying to stop the ameriKKKan fuhrer of the brownshirts from being elected. There is your subset. Where!!!!!!!! Everywhere. The whole crowd jeered and encouraged. I have eyes to see, ears to hear and a mind that reasons, properly. Again have a good newyear.

[oberliner]

132. I was quoting Hillary Clinton

Both she and Bernie Sanders have made similar points.

[heaven05]

133. and......

[oberliner]

134. Not sure how being on the side of Hillary and Bernie is so problematic

Seems unusual on a board devoted to supporting Democrats.

[heaven05]

135. nice attempt at diversion

NO to compassion, understanding and kindness to ANY voter for the trumpfuhrer. I know/knew people who voted for that POS and their asinine reason(s) rang extremely hollow and without intelligence. Hillary and Bernie have nothing to do with the point here. Have a goodnewyear....Hillary and bernie are footnotes now......and I have never been against them....like I said...nice attempt....

[oberliner]

137. There is no diversion

I am suggesting that the Hillary/Bernie approach ought to be welcomed here. That is certainly going to be my approach.

We should always have compassion, understanding, and kindness for all people.

[libtodeath]

2. Anyone that voted for cheato is a enemy of decency.

I hope they all suffer miserably.

[oberliner]

5. You want 60 million Americans to suffer miserably?

That hardly seems very progressive.

[griloco]

7. 73.28% of the 60 million are Rooskies hackers*

*stats courtesy Breitbart

[libtodeath]

8. They voted for racism and oppression

they should reap what they sow.

[pipi_k]

42. I agree with you. Not at all

"Progressive", IMO.

Not only is someone calling for 60 million people to suffer based on a political view point/vote, but potentially the families and other loved ones of those people as well.

Collateral damage, if you will

I wonder how the person you're replying to would feel about one of those evil bastards suffering because...oh....he's got a dying child. Yeah, that would fix 'em. He doesn't die, but his kid does, and the evil Trump voter ends up suffering the rest of his life.

People really scare me sometimes

[BlueStater]

62. I'll feel sorry for the kid.

And regret that he or she had an idiot parent who believed a sexual predator's total bullshit.

[lunatica]

46. Do you want them to avoid accountability?

Where is the kindness in that? If they get rewarded for their ill will towards all why would they ever learn to be any different? They only see kindness as stupidity. Your words would only make them laugh at you.

[KingCharlemagne]

94. +Infinity! - nt

[oberliner]

108. They should certainly be accountable

I am suggesting "rewarding" someone for voting for Trump. I am suggesting treating them like a fellow human being, and maybe helping them to understand more about the world and see things from a more progressive perspective. Many people are capable of changing and evolving.

[lunatica]

118. I'm not arguing with that

Being a basically kind person myself, I do show the ignorant as well as the willfully ignorant patience and kindness. But it's almost always the case that though they listen and will agree with you when you have a conversation with them, they revert immediately to their anger and hate once you aren't there. It's as if they're addicted to it, which I believe they are. It's a thrill to hate and seethe and have that adrenalin coursing through your system.

[paleotn]

85. Sorry, but they are going to suffer miserably....

and deservedly so. As a Progressive, my worry is for those who didn't vote for the racist and chief but will suffer nonetheless. The 60 million you keep batting about have a difficult lesson to learn and must suffer the consequences of their actions.

[KingCharlemagne]

97. This is what a civil war (mosly cold so far) looks like. Most of that

60 million would have no problem with the ethnic cleansing of Latinos or the mass detention of Muslims. So yeah, I want the 60 million to suffer miserably. Civil war, v2.0. Time to choose up sides and become ruthless.

[Squinch]

102. No, obviously I don't want that. That's why I voted for Hillary. But now I am certain

that, due to their own actions and in spite of my best efforts, they ARE going to suffer miserably. So are their families, and so am I and so is my family.

The only thing left for me to do is hope that suffering teaches them something.

It has nothing to do with being progressive or not. Obviously progressivism has been taken out of this equation.

[heaven05]

141. yes

horribly like the people who will probably lose SS, Medicare, Medicaid who will be shot down in the streets by agents of local and national SS upcoming. Like the people wearing hijabs, PoC and openly gay people just trying to love and live like the rest of us. Yes, ALL who voted for trumpfuhrer should suffer horribly. And guess what, when their fuhrer turns on them, a majority of them will....they deserve nothing better.

[HughBeaumont]

34. Problem is, they're going to take the rest of us and the planet down with them.

America isn't going to survive "All Three Branches Bush on Steroids" unscathed.

[lunasun]

3. if someone has to have personal close to home experience to realize how

not normal this elected president and those who elected him are , that is fine as long as the person finally realizes it and rejects what it stands for and what decay it brings to the USA
But why does it seem so many thought all trump rhetoric and trump things would change once he got elected' and he didn't mean what he said he would do? Wish these people were not so blasé in November

[mountain grammy]

9. My husband called his brother to wish him Merry Christmas

said, "we'll see you soon." I said nothing, but I don't plan on seeing them again. I hate that I feel like this, but right now, I still can't speak to them.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. Can't blame you one iota... yesteryday, I refused to be in the same room as my brother-in-law, who voted for that racist Nazi pig tRump.

If I never see or talk to him again would be one too many times.

[Girard442]

10. Trump stood on a hill and shouted...

..."all those who worship the darkness in secret come forth and join me."

Who knew how many would, and how many of them would be our one-time friends and loved ones?

[KingCharlemagne]

98. Wish I could rec this a million times. Reminds me of the

poet William Blake.

[wildman76]

13. this is a very difficult discussion,but it needs to be addressed with talking

America has entered a very divided era, as a father of a disabled child I have fear she will be bullied cause she is different and Donald Trump is the blame for a rise in hate. No doubt about it his campaign was full of lies and hate, but to categorize all of trump supporters has hateful is wrong there are many reasons people voted for him. I think us democrats failed to listen to our coworkers and neighbors about there problems and concerns, when we stop listening and talking Trump wins every time. We can not ram policies on people who don't want it, each state is different we must respect their concerns. We must educate the Trumpicans show them that we are listening and that we will stand up to hate, but respect their concerns on jobs, immigration, religion, education. We democrats need a leader who can bend to policy change. Racism is fueled by economics and no prospects

[mdbl]

21. While you're post is logical and thoughtul

The very stupid people you think we should listen to would have still voted for this moron. The very example of what you just described has been tried by Obama for eight years and look where it got him. No, I am through with trying to convince a bunch of idiots how destructive they are. Any other ideas?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. You're SO right... these so-called "people" are lost, unreachable. No sense in taking time trying to talk rationally to deplorable scumbags.

[lunatica]

48. I've suffered just as much as the "Trump supporters"

I've lost jobs but I was smart enough to re-educated myself by learning how to use a computer when I was 50 years old. At one point I had to declare bankruptcy but, because I was smart enough to educate myself on how to do it by myself I managed to keep my home. At one point I couldn't pay the mortgage and the mortgage company started foreclosure proceedings on me. I despaired, but still I educated myself and asked for a mortgage modification and got it. The result is I have a job that entails using the computer almost exclusively and I've kept my home with a much lesser mortgage payment.

I'm not different that millions who went through he same thing. You and many others act as if Democrats are some privileged people who have no idea what it is to lose jobs or homes. You keep saying we 'misunderstand' the poor Trump supporters who've lost so much, but many of us have lost just as much without laying blame on them.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

72. Thank you for saying that, and I'm sorry about your struggles and proud of you

for finding a way to make things better for yourself without making them worse for other struggling people.

[Paladin]

29. The most I can manage with certain Trump voters is polite silence.

And I'm talking about certain relatives and very old friends who I have no interest in angering.

By and large, I have utter loathing for those who supported Trump. I do not feel they are entitled to any reasoned discussions or charitable treatment from me. I am not interested in establishing any sort of personal bonds or détente with Trump people, because I believe they've deliberately put this country at existential risk for the shallowest of reasons. Trump's pending assumption of the presidency is still just a joke to them, nothing more than some casual payback to the evil liberals that Fox "News" has been telling them about, all these years. It hasn't dawned on these idiots that what they've initiated is going to have the gravest of consequences, for them, their children, and their children's children.

To hell with them all.

[kelly1mm]

33. Please don't support this. This year was the first Christmas since Obama

Was elected that we we able to spend with my wife's extended family. Her Aunt hosts and had a no Obama voters welcome policy. Most of my wife's fa!ily are Republicans so it was just us and one cousin that could not attend.

It broke my wife's heart not to see many of her cousins and their kids over the last eight years.

By the way the politics was kept to a minimum by all so no drama.

[Mellomugwump]

38. Wow....

You're much more forgiving than I am. I wouldn't set foot in a house that banned me from family holidays for that reason, unless I couldn't keep my mouth shut about politics and caused everybody discomfort.

If the other relatives were interested in spending time with your wife, why wouldn't somebody less petty host the holiday dinner? I would have no interest in spending time with people that treated me or my spouse in that manner.

What happens in four years if their person doesn't win? You're banned again? it just seems a little like just asking to be abused by your abusers again.

But, I do have to respect your ability to forgive.

[kelly1mm]

40. We did meet with some members of the family but Christmas is the

Big annual get together where most all would be there.

Your point about it being hard to forgive is right on target. If it was just me then no way woyldi go back. But, as the OP seems to not get is there are many other people involved than just us politically active types. Banning Trump voters is just as damaging as banning Obama voters to those less politically active.

That being said I live in a rural area and have many friends neighbors and relatives that are Republicans and Trump supporters so I just try to focus on the things we have common ground on.

[nini]

56. her family sucks

Honestly.. why do we continue to look the other way?

If someone had done that to me I'd be done with them.

[Duppers]

60. Same here.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

69. Right, but just like in the House and Senate

the Rs are obstructionist bullies when we are in charge, but we're supposed to sing Kumbaya with them when they're in charge, and we do it!!!?? Of course they continue to do as they like, we let them and make nice about it.

[Mariana]

73. That was my first thought when I read that post as well.

The aunt who banned them in the first place was bad enough. Then the rest of the family obviously agreed to the ban or else they'd have had Christmas somewhere else. These are hateful people and I can't imagine any decent person wanting to spend time with them no matter how many genes they share.

[Adrahil]

75. But she was anxious to crawl back to that Aunt?

I don't understand that. I can't imagine being subjected to that and then anxiously returning to the fold.

I'm getting ready to trudge off and see a bunch of Republican relatives. And I am ready to rumble, should the events warrant it. No more polite silence.

[kelly1mm]

76. Not the Aunt herself but moreso the other 25-35 family memebers. Christmas is the main

family get together for the year where almost everyone can be together. My wife was so hurt being excluded and really missed catching up with her cousins and their kids. My wife is also not as politically active as I am and probably voted for Bush I, She now votes Democrat but she is not that engaged.

This whole thing has been really upsetting and she was THRILLED to be back.

[Mariana]

77. The other 25-35 family members

who went along with the aunt and therefore actively participated in excluding her. No wonder she was so upset.

[kelly1mm]

80. Yeah that is why I urged that the OP and others here not support or propose such a thing. It hurts

many people.

[Adrahil]

79. Sorry but....

The other relatives tolerated that? Why?

I just don't get that. Doesn't sound like they really cared about her all that much!

[kelly1mm]

81. One they are almost all republicans, this is the old 'family' home and it is a tradition to have it

and many come from out of the area (including us) so there is not some other location to meet up.

I just don't understand why some are supporting this type of activity in the reverse because I KNOW what kind of hurt this can cause.

[Adrahil]

82. Everybody has to make their own choice about

Family. But damn, I would not debase myself in that way. I would given them the old AMF.

[kelly1mm]

86. Again, this is why I cannot understand anyone advocationg of promoting not allowing

certain family members into their homes based on who they vote for. I can only see the hurt this will cause. Maybe I am to close to it but I just can't imagine now allowing my relatives into our home and MANY of them voted Trump.

[KingCharlemagne]

99. since they would have no problem watching the rights of other Americans

be smashed by Trump's goons, I say they should be showed no mercy. Time to go all Old Testament on their asses.

[hfojvt]

39. he doesn't have a point

he's just doing his part, on Christmas, to try to stir up hate.

Oh wow, he had two anecdotes to prove that Trump is Hitler, and then his unverifiable statement "these were not isolated incidents". Yeah, because certain sectors of the media are collecting stories that they can use to stir up fear and hatred.

Ironically, my bet is that they did the same thing after Obama was elected and would have done the same thing if Hillary had been elected. It's what they like to do, stir up hatred and fear of "the others". The others, of course, who are full of hatred. Whether Trump wins or Hillary wins, either way, you need to make another donation to the SPLC, and maybe buy a trumpet as well. Because we have trouble, folks, right here in River City....

[Fast Walker 52]

49. plus I'm pretty upset about anyone who let this assholes be in charge of our nukes

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/12/26/could-trump-help-unleash-nuclear-catastrophe-with-a-single-tweet/

[kudzu22]

50. I think it's a mistake to freeze people out

Nothing is more important than family. My family has members who are diametrically opposed in their political philosophies. But we still love each other. We just don't talk politics when we get together. Love trumps hate -- it's not just a slogan.

[Bayard]

57. Exactly!

I'm amazed at the vitriolic responses to my post because I still love my brother. He's the only family I have left, and I'm not about to cut him off. He has supported me thru thick and thin.

If you think you're going to bring any Repugs over to our side by shutting them out completely, and telling them how you hate them, then we will lose another election. Simple as that. We lost this time because, unlike the guys at the top of the Rep food chain who are only looking for money and power, most of these people felt like their concerns were not being addressed by the Democrats. We can't blame it all on Putin. People who voted for Trump were manipulated by their fears. Are many of them total assholes like their leader? Absolutely. You're never going to rehabilitate a sociopath. Democrats thumbed their noses at the rest, and wrote them off. Made them feel stupid in our superior smugness. Some of them are listening to intelligent discussion now, and starting to regret their votes for Trump. That's a start.

Both sides need to find some kind of common ground to build on, or we are indeed all lost.

[Raine]

68. TOTALLY agree!!! nt

[Adrahil]

89. I do not believe that...

... nothing is more important than family. I'm not suggesting that no one can make the decision to put politics aside, but for many us, it's a tall order to make nice with people who would vote for this kind of man. It reveals a deep and dark flaw, IMO.

[TomJulie]

93. I'm With You

***** Nothing is more important than family. *****

Absolutely. I WILL NOT let something such as politics get between my family and other family members who share a different view. I'll wager it will swing back in our favor eventually.

[classykaren]

53. You forgot their Golden Rule. I have mine and the hell if you have yours.

[billh58]

58. To those who advocate being

respectful to Trump voters, I have only one observation: this was the same reaction Germans took when Hitler promised them jobs, and glory, and a better country.

Frankly, I agree with the OP because ignorance is not an excuse for treason.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

59. I was at my brother's house for Christmas.

A brother-in-law, who makes MEAN (non-racist) comments about people on a regular basis, was there too. I heard my sister (his wife) whisper to him after the dinner, upon looking at his phone to look up something else, "You received another message from Trump." That didn't surprise me at all, given that he's such a bad-spirited cuss who seems to hate unfamiliar people in general.

If I was hosting a Christmas gathering, I'd probably still invite him just because he's married to my sister.

EDIT: A female version of his typical facial expression:

[joanbarnes]

78. hold firm

[Initech]

84. Our founding fathers are rolling in their graves.

Trump is literally going to trample over everything they stood for. And if one more person posts this on my social media feeds:



They get this:

[TomJulie]

90. Most Of Our In-Laws Are Trumpers

Yesterday at our annual afternoon dinner there was some but not a lot of political stuff was mentioned. I didn't bring up politics as I didn't want to start an arguement. These are family members of mine and my wifes and blood is thicker than water. I refuse to worry or dwell on it. It may seem like an eternity but our turn will come again.

[AmericanActivist]

100. I agree with you. I'm done with all Trump supporters. I know

understand how Americans fought each other in the Civil War. I have ancestors that fought against each other.

I'm not going to unify with the Klan ya'll. I'm not going to stand idly by while the religious freedoms of fellow Americans are eroded or registered. tRump is a threat to the US Constitution and the Rights of Americans.

[libdem4life]

126. I'm sorry, but we had a candidate coronation, not a primary. It wasn't the Russians.

It wasn't Obama. It was the DNC. Oh, and throw in Wikileaks. Again, sorry...but the facts are there.