The only reason I am writing a diary about this garbage is that I am seeing a narrative emerge that we non-Trump supporters need to — wait for it — stop insulting Trump voters and listen to their “concerns” instead. The Washington Post decided it didn’t need to send one of their reporters out to a diner in a rural part of the Midwest to interview an old Trump supporter, unlike the New York Times which has done countless Trump voter safaris. Instead, they got a freelance “columnist” by the name of Gary Abernathy to write an opinion piece saying that Trump supporters are really good people with legitimate concerns that should be addressed.
When supporters of former president Donald Trump hear media pundits analyze them with the usual collection of belittling observations, they must be tempted to respond, “Hey, we’re right here! We can hear you!”
Yes, they are indeed here, and living among us. And they have every right to be insulted by being accused of believing a “big lie,” and by the implication that they are violent, or traitors, or mindless sheep — racist sheep, of course. They’re fed up not just with the overt insults, but also with more subtle digs, such as former defense secretary Leon Panetta saying last week that he worries that Trump “will continue to try to somehow sway his followers” to attempt another Jan. 6-style uprising. Followers? No one refers to President Biden’s “followers.” It’s a word generally reserved for adherents of cult figures.
I live in Trump Country. I was a Trump supporter, until he lost me with his actions after the 2020 election. But most Trump voters have stuck with him. With Trump’s encouragement, they sincerely believe the election was stolen. They’re not racists. They’re not traitors. Some of them think anyone who accepts Biden’s win is a traitor. Some of them think I’m traitorous — or at the very least I’ve succumbed to the evil influences of the mainstream media — for accepting Trump’s defeat.
Poor Trump voters. It’s insulting to say they believe a lie about the 2020 Election being stolen from Donald Trump. It’s insulting to say they are members of a cult and are racists. It’s insulting to say they “sincerely believe the election was stolen” with Trump’s “encouragement.
Never mind that if you support a racist, you are promoting racism. So what is the difference if you claim you are not a racist?
It gets worse.
Considering the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism recently found that the U.S. media ranks last in trust among 46 countries, some self-examination on this issue should be welcomed. In 2016, the New York Times decided to start applying the word “lie” to many of Trump’s claims. “We owed it to our readers,” executive editor Dean Baquet said at the time. Others followed suit. But using words such as “lie” and “falsely claimed” in news stories arrogantly supposes an absolute knowledge of truth and makes it appear the news outlet has chosen sides.
So stop calling people liars. The media should return to the non-accusatory style that worked for decades. Instead of writing that election fraud is a lie, or Republicans are “falsely claiming” fraud, go back to the style that worked for decades: “Republicans again claimed the 2020 election was rigged, but no evidence has emerged to support that allegation and courts have dismissed all suits challenging the results.”
When someone makes thousands of demonstrably false or misleading statements, it is beyond stupidity to argue that the person is not a liar. In fact, the Media not saying that Trump is a pathological liar led to the rise of Trump and his continuing attempt to overthrow our democracy. Unchecked lies lead to more lies. And Trump’s lies were lethal.
Next, abandon the narrative that Trump supporters are insurrectionists, and stop elevating groups such as QAnon and the Proud Boys beyond the fringe elements they are. As shameful as the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was, only about 800 people were involved — hardly representative of millions of Trump supporters. Despite their suspicions, the vast majority of Trump voters are not interested in invading federal buildings or overthrowing the government. They’re interested in going to work and church and soccer games, taking care of their families and voting in the next election.
There’s no big mystery to effectively communicating with Trump supporters — or for Trump supporters to communicate with everyone else. Treat each other with politeness and courtesy. Respect other opinions even if you disagree. Acknowledge each other’s patriotism and love of country. Don’t assume you understand each other because you’ve read some think-tank analysis. Reach out, be curious and start a dialogue.
Mr. Abernathy, what the fuck do you think we and many others have been trying to do for years now? Everyone who is a not a Trump supporter knows someone who does. They are family and friends. And many have tried to engage in dialogue with those family and friends.
But Trump supporters are not interested in polite and civil dialogue. Do I need to give a list of examples of how Trump voters have treated those who disagree with them? Besides those insurrectionists who got people killed on Jan 6th, here is a recent example of how one Trump voter treated Biden voters:
‘Trump man’ defecates on neighbors’ lawn because they’re Democrats
Jerry Detrick, a former high school teacher, was identified by a neighbor, who allegedly spotted the 70-year-old man in the act around 3:15 a.m. Sunday in the town of Greenville. When 59-year-old Matthew Guyette, approached Detrick in his yard, the MAGA man “got up” and walked away.
Guyette was able to give police a description, which led them to Detrick, who lives a few blocks from the scene of the event. Detrick reportedly confessed to urinating in the yard Guyette shares with his spouse, and also said that he has defecated on that property on “multiple” occasions.
“Jerry also stated he does it because the residents (at the address) are Democrats and support Joe Biden and he’s a ‘Trump man,’” reads an incident report from police. “This leads me to believe this incident is politically motivated.”
According to Guyette’s Facebook page, he’s been finding piles of manure in his yard since the Obama era and he suspects Detrick is “the man who’s been shi--ing in our front yard for the past ten years.”
Detrick allegedly confessed to police that he had defecated in his neighbors yard several times on dates unknown.
There are more and more examples of Trump voters attacking state capitals last year. And hate crimes are on the rise. This all happened under Trump.
But we need to be polite and nice to Trump voters.
And it is Trump’s lies that have resulted in over 650,000 deaths and climbing. And in Republicans trying to take away the right to vote for those who are not Trump voters. So excuse me if I don’t feel like being polite and taking their concerns seriously.
And here is where I am seeing a trend. Some Republican leaders are NOW changing their tune on the COVID-19 vaccine. And I saw one CA Republican on the Chris Hayes show say that anti-vaxxer Republicans should not be “shamed” for their decision not to get vaccinated. Shaming won’t work with Republicans. What is being implied is that we have to be extra nice to Trump voters and others who are selfish, ignorant, and stupid who refuse to get vaccinated.
In other words, STFU Democrats and any other non-Trump voter. Be nice, or we will not get vaccinated! Ppfffffft!
Mr. Abernathy is politically stupid. He is supposedly a “journalist,” which means he has access to information on someone like Trump. But he chose to ignore any negative information on Trump. Ignorance is making a mistake when you didn’t know any better. Stupidity is making a mistake WHEN YOU KNEW BETTER!
Like other Trump supporters, Mr. Abernathy does not want to be held accountable for his political stupidity. In other words, Abernathy is getting blowback for helping foist Trump on the rest of us. And he has decided to double down and act like most Trump voters. He blames the rest of us for how radicalized Trump voters are.
Look into the mirror Mr. Abernathy for what’s wrong with this nation.