A couple weeks ago, about fifteen men from my church went on a weekend retreat, just before the first presidential debate was to occur. At one point a group of about eight of us were sitting around discussing the upcoming debate, and the two primary candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Everyone there were clearly on the side of Hillary Clinton. At one point the question was raised: Do any of us know someone who is voting for Donald Trump? None of us could name someone we knew would be a Trump supporter. The room went silent for a few seconds, and then someone said: “Isn’t that part of the problem? We aren’t talking to one another.”
Regardless who is elected president, this year’s presidential primaries and election have revealed a growing gulf between conservatives and progressives, and we aren’t talking to each other, even in the U.S. Congress and the state legislatures. We live in separate ideological and political worlds, and like those in my men’s group we hardly know anyone in the other group.
So I want to try an experiment. I may regret it, but I want to try. If you are a supporter of Donald Trump, I would like to know why. If the only reason you support Trump is because you don’t like Clinton, that doesn’t count. Those criticisms have been voiced and vetted. No, I want to know why you think Donald Trump will be a better president than the other candidates in the race.
Now I suspect that most of those who read this blog are on the more progressive side like me. So if you know someone who is a Trump supporter: a co-worker, a friend, a family member – forward this blog to them, and ask them if they could address the question: Why do you think Donald Trump will be a better president than anyone else in the race?
I promise I will not start an argument or a debate. I may ask a question for clarification, but I won’t try to argue any point you make. I am just interested in what you say. Maybe at some point we can start a dialogue, but that’s not my goal now. I don’t want a diatribe against liberals, or Hillary Clinton – just the answer to the question: why do you like Donald Trump for president?
I await your response, and thank you.
I do not know any Trump supporters well, and certainly do not understand them, but the neighbors who I have heard supporting Trump seem to be mostly afraid and concerned about immigration issues…
Who is more likely to restore our Armed forces,Uphold the Constitution,restore Law and order,reestablish our immigration laws,and support our Police who as a whole support the Republican candidate,along with I.C.E. ,Sheriffs, and Chiefs of Police. Concerned about immigration? You should be.
Joseph – Thank you for your respose. Can you elaborate by what you mean by Uphold the Constitution. that one is not clear to me
I had this thought last night as I watched the 2nd debate regarding why some people will be voting for Donald Trump. I think many people are tired of career politicians being elected who have not had what some might call “real world experience”. Hilary stated that she was proud of her 30 years of public service and while some may applaud that, I think maybe just as many would say “that is the problem”. I myself am at a difficult crossroad because of the candidates themselves, so I am interested in the same question as you proposed Drick.
There are several reasons I have been a Trump supporter from the beginning of the primaries. I think the first and foremost reason is that both the Republican and Democrat parties have been doing nothing but taking from me my entire adult life and both parties are nothing but corrupt. Trump is not a politician. He is a successful businessman. He also has raised 4 children who are very successful themselves and they have nothing but respect for their father. How many people in this day and age can say that??? My second reason is that he is pro-life and that is so very important. I cannot fathom how anyone can support killing an unborn baby, a human life! Another reason is that if Hillary gets in, she will appoint possibly 3 or 4 people to the Supreme court who will be Liberal and our country will then be nothing like it was originally meant to be as our forefathers wanted it. Fourthly, and possibly really the most important reason, Hillary is a criminal and shouldn’t even be allowed to run for the highest office in the United States!
Drick, I agree with Barbara 100%. She said it very well. To add to what she said have always been pro life. After the birth of my grandson 2 years ago, after I held that tiny, defenseless, innocent life in my arms, after I saw the joy and wonderment in my son’s and daughter in law’s face, I am even more pro life than ever. Now that my grandson is two and I watch how he has grown into such a wonderful child of God I can’t fathom that our laws allow a life like his to be taken in the womb. Period. Do I trust Trump really believes in his pro life views, probably not. Do I trust that Hillary will remain totally pro choice (pro death), yes I do.
To be honest with you and your mens group I am bummed out that out of a nation of 300 plus million people we come with these two clowns for President. But for the above stated view on abortion and agreeing with Barbara, I will vote for Trump. I also disagree with the people who won’t vote because they don’t like either one. I’m positive God wants us to participate in our government and vote.
I commend you and the men of your church for having a men’s group and having a retreat.
You said you wanted to hear why people are Trump supporters and being against Hillary doesn’t count. Fair enough. It’s more than that for me, even though I can’t stand her. I’m am an unabashed conservative and believe very much in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I will also vote for Trump as a vote against the harm the liberal, progressive ideas of Hillary will bring to our country. It is as simple as that.
To your group. Why can’t we talk more? Well, when I or others like me express our views were are too often called names. Clinton made that perfectly clear in her tirade against Trump supporters when she used every _____phope name in the book.
When I’m against gay marriage I’m a homophope. Pro life means I’m anti women. If I’m against Obama I’m a racist. The list goes on and on. This kind of rhetoric doesn’t help the discussion. Trump doesn’t help either with his language, but the left is much worse with the name calling. I was having a disussion a few years back on Obamacare with a liberal friend who ran out of ideas and was frustrated with my stance and so he told me I had a narrow view!! Really, you mean I have a DIFFERENT view. I ended the discussion. I was having a discussion recently with someone very close to me about the role of the Supreme Court and my admiration for Scalia. That person became frustrated with my views and called Scalia a homophope. Really. I simply put my ski on, jumped in the water and said said hit it. End of discussion. Drick, you know I have severely chastised you about your words towards Darin Wilson in the Ferguson case before the facts were in. I believe all this closes down discussion. Are conservatives also quilty for name calling? Yes. But I see way more of it from the left.
I can’t stand Obama but I love Condelisa Rice and Clarence Thomas, yet I’m a racist. I believe from the bottom of my heart that God designed marriage to be between a man and a women, yet I’m a hateful homophope….
To you and and your men’s group, thanks for asking:) Also, you can help pray for the birth of my second Grandchild any day now and the Grandchild that is due in February that needs to gain some weight.
Steve Miller