Last night was utterly horrifying.
After being shown that Donald Trump is a liar, a know nothing, a greedy, arrogant and vulgar man, with a corruption deep within his soul, the American people were asked to compare him with Hillary Clinton, moderate, hard working flawed yet sincere politician, who has a lists of accomplishments that would fill ten resumes.
The American people were asked to vote on their future leader- and chose Donald Trump. As the returns were coming in, Peggy Noonan described it as a ‘spiritual moment’ amongst those who voted for Trump.
Let us be really clear here: There are parts of the USA that are really, really hurting and need comprehensive help. That said, I went to school in Wisconsin, and those parts of the country where the economy has been hurting have voted Republican consistently, and has in many cases adopted the language of racism and misogyny.
Today, let’s not play games about how Hillary Clinton did not connect with White working class voters, that Bernie would have been a better candidate, that KOS- an owner of one frigging newsblog and advocate organization vs a better funded wave of right wing newssites- could have done better.
And especially, do not play the bs game of “but it’s not just about racism!!one11! Hillary was a flawed candidate!”
No. Even I, a committed Bernie supporter, was won over by Clinton sheer hustle and hard work. She was better prepared, had better plans for everyone and has a mind of a steel trap. She was on point.
This election served as a sort of Voight Kampf test, one in which we Americans we tested on functioning as moral beings. Last night, a White majority in key states failed that test utterly.
They did not give a crap about their straightened circumstances. They loved the crudeness and vulgarity and racism. They came running to Trump with sign with epithets on them, with crude t shirts and even beat up protesters.
Do not play the game that somehow, just somehow, people simply did not understand these salt of the earth, poor folk. Do not insult POC on the site- or elsewhere- with the idea that being White and not rich excuses racism. Do not even play the game of how flawed Hillary was- in comparison to a race baiting, unserious moron.
Last night, just enough reckless, stupid White racists- including a majority of Republican White women- showed up. Just enough. POC tried to carry HIllary to the finish line, but racist and sexist resentment literally tripped us up.
One more thing: If this is your family, you must see them with fresh eyes. Love them? Of course! But understand that as they crow to themselves about Trump, remember that they basically told POC, and gays/lesbians, and immigrants, and service people, and the disabled, to fuck off. And no amount of BS about how they lost their factory job will ever make up for a lack of morals and personal dignity.