Trump voters stay loyal because they feel disrespected

[DonViejo]

By James Hohmann May 14 at 8:03 AM

THE BIG IDEA: Three new deep dives into Donald Trump’s strength in Midwestern counties that were previously Democratic strongholds — written by conservatives, liberals and a nonpartisan journalist — each highlight a deep craving for respect among supporters of the president and an enduring resentment toward coastal elites that buoys his popularity.

Republicans and Democrats who have traveled to Macomb County in the Detroit suburbs, which Trump won by 12 points after Barack Obama carried it twice, including by 16 points in 2008, came away struck by these dynamics.

-- Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, who helped orchestrate Bill Clinton’s 1992 victory, has obsessively studied the “Reagan Democrats” in Macomb for more than three decades. He went back after the 2016 election to understand how Trump won Michigan and recently returned to conduct another round of focus groups. “Trump voters complain that there is no respect for President Trump or for people like them who voted for him,” Greenberg writes in a new memo summarizing his latest findings, with Nancy Zdunkewicz of Democracy Corps.

One older white working-class woman recalled that, when she first started voting, “There was so much respect for the president. And I don't care what he did, or what he said, there was always respect. It was always ‘Mr. President.’” She said she is disgusted by the way people talk about Trump.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/05/14/daily-202-trump-voters-stay-loyal-because-they-feel-disrespected/5af8aac530fb0425887994cc

[C_U_L8R]

1. Now that's an entitlement

Hey Trumpsters, respect is earned

[SharonClark]

15. K&R

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. If you invited someone to a party and they took a dump in the punch bowl would you respect them ?

[GoCubsGo]

56. He didn't just take a dump in the punch bowl.

He then proceeded to grab everyone around him and slam their faces into it. These snowflakes are just mad because the host tried to stop him from drowning some of the other party goers.

[ProudLib72]

78. You've inspired my creativity

[still_one]

3. I guess the racist, sexist, biogtry of the current occupant of the WH doesn't bother them

[dameatball]

4. Hey, I don't respect you either and I am not even "elite!"

[PatSeg]

5. "Respect" doesn't mean anything

if you respect the title with no regard for the behavior or character of the person who possesses it. With her logic, people should have respected violent, autocratic rulers throughout history, because they had a title.

Monarchs and dictators have always relied on the majesty of their titles to control and oppressive the masses. It is such a fine line between respect and fear.

[Le Gaucher]

68. Hey hey .. don't start applying things like critical reasoning to the

Words uttered by Trump supporter.

They live in a world devoid of such things.

[PatSeg]

70. I know, I know

It is such a bad habit, that I just can't break! Curses to those few teachers who thought me to think and question.

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. Their disrespect is truly earned and merited!

[Moostache]

7. Open Message to ANY Trump voter follows...

FUCK YOU.

This is all your fault. In the end, when history looks back on this catastrophe of an administration and the wreckage it has and will continue to bring, YOU are all going to be held to account for why your hurt feelings at being an uneducated moron were sufficient basis for electing an unqualified, ill-suited, distempered fool to the highest office in the land. A man who should not be dog catcher in the Bronx is in charge of the United States of America. And it is YOUR fault, so prepare to own that forever.

[EffieBlack]

16. This

[catrose]

33. Something to be thankful for

He's not dogcatcher. I'd hate to see innocent animals in his power. Of course, I hate to see us in his power too, but at least we can resist.

[3catwoman3]

84. Wow and Damn!!!

Well said!

[ChoppinBroccoli]

8. You Guys Want Respect?

Maybe a good place to start would be NOT voting for the worst, least qualified, most bigoted, and most incompetent candidate to ever run. When a person conclusively demonstrates his incompetence, and you continue to support him anyway, you deserve every bit of disrespect society can heap upon you. Want respect? Stop acting stupid.

[Glorfindel]

9. "...enduring resentment toward coastal elites"? What do they think tRump is?

A native-born Kansan? If any human being EVER represented elitism and privilege, it's tRump.

[Ohiogal]

28. That's my thinking, too, Glorfindel. I don't get it either.

[treestar]

62. and what do they resent exactly?

the type of capitalistic success they claim hard work and character earn? They are the ones who vote that way. They should respect the elites.

[kentuck]

10. They have earned no respect.

They have disrespected everything America has stood for. So long as they stand with Trump, they will carry the disrespect they deserve.

[NurseJackie]

11. Oh, whaaaa! Poor things. Boo hoo!

[Squinch]

12. Well, they ARE disrespected. So it works out.

[dalton99a]

13. They've worked so hard to have white skin

[ffr]

14. They'd get more respect if they weren't such whiny self-centered snowflakes.

Get over yourselves and stop thinking this is all about you all the time. Think family, think community, think long term.

[Dulcinea]

17. What a bunch of whiny snowflakes.

Did you call President Obama by his title? Respect is earned, not given.

[CatMor]

18. I'm always reading about trump voters and why they voted for him and are still loyal to him...

the media never bothers with articles regarding those who didn't vote for trump and their reasons why. I think it should be more balanced in the reporting and articles. All the trump voter articles sometimes make it seem the whole damn country voted for and support him.

[phylny]

46. You are exactly right.

I'm sick and tired of hearing about the poor Trump voters. I want someone to ask ME how I feel. How devastated I am. How I wake up each morning wondering what hell is in store today. And on and on.

[yardwork]

48. The media would have to acknowledge all of us millions who supported Hillary.

They don't want to do that because it makes them look bad.

[titaniumsalute]

19. These people are so digusted?

Because the President doesn't get respect? But the problem is the President respects no one. He doesn't respect women, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians, physically challenged or disabled, the media, policy, cultures, other countries, etc. Nothing. No one. How does one deserve respect when all he does shit all over anything that isn't in his agenda or helping line his wallet?

[kentuck]

20. Yeah, they're goin' to continue shitting on themselves if you don't stop laughing at them....

That'll teach you!

[marylandblue]

21. The point of this articles is not that these voters perceptions are correct

But that the politics of fear and resentment serves populists like Trump. We can't respond in kind. This is assymetric warfare. We have to work to reduce the divisions while the other side makes them worse. If angry about how people voted in the past, we are actually proving the point that the populist makes, that nobody but him cares about them.

[Locrian]

47. THANK YOU

why is this so hard to understand?

[yardwork]

49. I think that a better approach would be for us to promote our point of view better.

The Democratic platform addresses the needs of poor and rural people, small business owners, everybody except the very wealthiest. But people don't know that because of propaganda. We have to promote the truth better.

[NewJeffCT]

69. I agree that we need to get our message out better

but, that's hard when the media coverage is driven by Trump, Fox News and RW radio and the supposedly "mainstream" media is usually overly concerned about giving both sides equal time.

We should have a very simple message for voters:
1) Repeal the Trump/Ryan Tax Scam that blows up the deficit to give the rich even more.
2) Restore Net Neutrality
3) Save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
4) Invest in Infrastructure
5) Raise the Minimum Wage

[jberryhill]

55. Black people are getting uppity - that's what they mean

People who would ordinarily “respect” them, aren’t staying in their place.

[bettyellen]

82. Truth. If they weren't upset by the way Obama was deeply disrespected... well they are full of shit.

[treestar]

63. They are going to find out he doesn't

still it's rather me me me selfish to be so concerned that "nobody cares about them." They got out and voted didn't they? Or someone did. They sound very passive and easy to beat. When it comes to politics you do not sit around waiting for someone else to care. You get out and do yourself. That's self government and what the founders expected. They are adults like us. Why do we have to "care" for their emotions? And they don't want to care about the poor or minorities or anyone else. Why reward their self centered behavior?

[ck4829]

71. We have to work to reduce the divisions? No we don't

"Division" is treated like an informed villain, it's time to stop that...

It's the year 2018 - We can't magically reverse time to the 1950s or in Roy Moore's mind, before the civil war. Can't compromise on that. Not going to happen. Not without it being some horrific simulacra anyway that is going to result in a massive amount of oppression and probably genocide anyway.

We have changed in demographics - Black people with the gall of saying their lives matter, people not marrying right after school or after their 13th birthday, GLBTQ people not being in the closet, immigrants, single mothers, and yes, "scary" Muslim Americans doing the same things every other American does (Gasp!). We can't compromise on that. We can't say "Well we've reached an agreement with the other side of the aisle, some of you have to go back in the closet... or else"

The problem isn't division, it's encapsulation, and it's rife in the article. We have one group of people who have refused to accept that the world is moving on without them, refused to accept that they aren't owed power and respect just because they are white, male, heterosexual, Christian, etc. that they see a past they never really lived in at all as some past era of glory and refuse to see the present as something good, that they think it's 'normal' to prefer a corrupt conservative over a liberal who would actually look out for them, and so on. We need to deal with right wing encapsulation and that means being mean.

[maxrandb]

22. Respect must be earned

You don't just fucking "get it",

Fuck these fucking pieces of shit snowflakes. They don't need to be understood. They don't need to be coddled. They don't need to be "respected".

They need to get the ever-loving shit kicked out of them at the ballot box.

They need to be fucking punished by policy when sane people retake this country.

Oh, you think it was fucking bad when all you had to fucking worry about was getting better and more affordable health care??? Well fuck you sunshine. We're taking all your fucking money and your fucking schools and your fucking public services and sending them to people that aren't fucking racist pieces of shit.

You want respect?

Change your fucking attitudes and STOP sucking Sean Hannity and Trumps shriveled little dicks.

You're nothing but fucking sheep. FUCK YOU!!!!!

[ck4829]

61. That's the problem, they think they earned it

"I've earned respect because I'm a white male. Why don't you respect me?" (Full disclosure: White male myself)

"I've earned respect because I voted for the guy in the Oval Office. Why don't you respect me?"

"I've earned respect because decades ago, you all respected people like me and you all kept quiet whenever people like me entered a room. Why can't it be like those days again?!"

[MFM008]

23. To all maggot voters

I warmly and respectfully say FUCK OFF.

[oasis]

24. Deplorable shit stains will never have my respect.

💩💩💩

[NCTraveler]

25. Snowflakes. Nt

[Gothmog]

26. Trump supporters are racist ignorant deplorables

These idiots love trump because he makes them feel important. Trump is a racist and these racists love trump. These idiots know that the demographic trends are against them and so they love that trump's racist policies are trying to slow down these trends

[Mike Nelson]

27. Idiots...

...politics aside, the Obamas behaved in a way that earned respect - very unlike The Donald.

[treestar]

64. And where were they to respect President Obama

and us? Hypocritical self centered jerks don't get respect.

[Ohiogal]

29. I always tell them

We're just giving Trump the same amount of respect your side gave to President Obama.

That usually shuts them up.

[gratuitous]

34. Yeah, the "Trump Fuck Your Feelings" t-shirts didn't do them any favors

"We made a colossal mistake, we're too pig-headed to admit it, and by noticing that mistake, you're making us feel disrespected. How dare you!" I've seen more mature four year olds.

[ProudLib72]

79. Who you callin' a four year old?

Three and a half...maybe

What "grown up" wears this shit?

[LonePirate]

38. Good tactic. Bring up their lack of respect for Obama and make them eat crow.

At least we’re not questioning his citizenship.

[CincyDem]

30. "...when she first started voting". I'm sure she meant when it was Reagan, Bush I, Bush II...

Maybe not so much Clinton and of course not that "Kenyan". lol

These guys are such transparent asshats.

[Cha]

31. trump disrespects them.. they're

too clueless to notice.

[treestar]

65. +2 when will they get that?

Most of the articles about them noticing Dump did something against their interests, they still double down and don't blame him! Cha

[Cha]

72. And, that's cultist. They should wake up to that.

treestar!

[Civic Justice]

32. some of them are unmistakable in society, even at a distance..

these Trump Voters, were not left behind... "they were busy running BACKWARDS, trying to reclaim the past and stuck themselves there trying to recreate it!!!!!
Now they are anxious with madness because a bigot to told them he'll help them recreate the past. They are still waiting.... with that desperation look because they think they will get to recreate the 1940's and 1950's...

[catrose]

35. I had a lot more respect for them before they elected Trump

Since then, nada.

[Girard442]

52. Me too. I used to stick up for Evangelicals.

Sure, their leaders were dirtbags and they were misguided on a lot of issues, but I still felt that they had good hearts.

Not anymore. I can see now that all of them are nothing more than cross-burner wannabes. We'll never win them over. The only thing to do is to meet them head-on and defeat them.

[Orsino]

36. Trump encouraged them to let their semi-secret race/sex/Jesus freak flags fly.

They did so.

They got called out for being race/sex/Jesus freaks.

They couldn't shut up again without losing face.

They continue to get called out for the petty, mean stoopidity their favorite president shows off daily, they continue to support that, and say they resent being called on their support.

They want the petty-mean-stoopid shown respect, which isn't possible. We're just going to have to wait for Trump to let each of them down and rip them off. It's happening, but don't underestimate the power of human stubbornness.

[Afromania]

37. They stick with trump because he gives voice to their sick ass shit. I repeat, they stick with him

because he gives voice and validates all of their sick ass world views. I wish these journalists, and whatever else, would stop tap dancing around these people looking for pretzels.

[Solly Mack]

39. ...

Report

Quotes from Trumpians.

Many Trump supporters have paid a high price for their vote choice in their own families. One
white working class man shared that he “lost contact with [his] own daughter because of the
election.” Others complain that their children and millennial friends challenge their views and
suggest the media manipulates them.

A lot of the young kids – I call them young, they're in their 20s, you know, late 20s – I
see them as Democrats, they don't support the President on [bringing change], so they're
latching on to everything in the fake news, about what he's done, what he's said, you
know? What he's ruined, you know? What Obama did that was great, you know? (White
working class older woman, Macomb)


The middle class will get more money. Granted, not a tremendous amount, but they will
get more, which is better than getting less. (White working class older woman, Macomb)

Alrighty then.

So they want people to respect their vote for Trump, to respect the Carnival Barker himself, to not challenge them on their views, to be able to call actual facts fake news without being called on it, while at the same time bemoan someone telling them that Fox manipulates them, as well all the proven phony stories on Facebook, etc..

Whatever.

[LonePirate]

40. You cannot say you are not a racist if you fully support that racist man and his racist policies.

Supporting a racist makes you a racist.

[kentuck]

41. Anyone proud to be called "deplorable" is not worthy of respect ...

in my opinion..

[FrankTC]

42. Living In the Rural Midwest Does not Cause Disrespect

I read the full article, which documents that many Trump voters feel disrespected by the coast elites simply because they live in the rural Midwest. I don't understand how these people acquired this notion. I've lived in the rural Midwest for thirty years and never once felt disrespected because of where I live. Maybe I should get out more. It seems to me that these voters are deceiving themselves, or are reciting something that they have been deceived into believing. Actually in some ways the truth is the opposite of what they believe. By virtue of their overrepresentation in the Senate and the Electoral College, they have far more political power than they deserve, and they get far more attention (including newspaper articles delving into their wounded feelings). If they are nevertheless in some sense disrespected, it's not because of where they live but because they make terrible political choices and pull the rest of us down with them. There's nothing to respect in that.

[yardwork]

51. I grew up in the rural Midwest. They disrespect everybody else.

Obviously, not all rural midwesterners behave this way, but many do. The people I grew up among were proud to be anti-intellectual. They looked down on education.

They sneered at people who read books. They're afraid of cities. They fear and hate anybody who is different from their own families, other white rural midwesterners.

Their communities are dying because they actively prevented outsiders from bringing businesses in and they don't allow their children to be educated. Anybody who disagrees leaves.

It's essentially a great big cult.

[Runningdawg]

77. We grew up the same

Mine was a town of 400 people. Maybe 1 out of 100 left. Thank God I got the hell out. There used to be houses and some people owned businesses, now they live in trailers, and work part time at walmart to afford diapers and bullets.

[Azathoth]

43. These people are beyond reach

They support an overt fool, and then get enraged when he is treated like a fool. This is end-stage, pathological juvenility: the slackers from the back row of high school who never matured emotionally beyond 14, but now that they are "adults" they feel entitled to the same respect and deference as the eggheads in the front row who studied and grew up.

[treestar]

66. and their hero Orange Dotard never matured past 14

so they think he and they are acting like adults.

[Dawson Leery]

44. They don't deserve respect.

Trump is an expression of their bigotry.

These same people never had once ounce of respect for any Democratic President.

This is the repayment we get for bailing out Detroit. That was a big mistake.

[bronxiteforever]

45. Amazing how they crave respect but have so little empathy.

[ck4829]

50. "Respect" to a conservative means "sit down and shut up" if you're not white, male, straight,

Christian, rich, Republican, etc.

[Loki Liesmith]

53. Children

[D_Master81]

54. "there WAS so much respect"

you know why they got it and Trump doesnt? B/c those Presidents actually acted like they were the President. Trump wants to act like a carnival barker yet get all the respect of the office.

[ehrnst]

57. They will feel "disrespected" so long as "those people" are in the public eye and not apologizing

LGBTQs
POC
Women who aren't worried about their approval
Muslims
Immigrants
Those who speak Spanish


There is no way they will ever feel "respected" outside of turning back the clock to 1964.

[ck4829]

59. That's what I always say. Want to "disrespect" a Trump voter?

Just *be* a liberal, GLBTQ, a single mother, a Muslim, a refugee, have the audacity to say that black lives matter, and/or any number of things and you're already off to a great start.

[Freethinker65]

58. Lived in Macomb county for 10 years. Left in 2000

Macomb County had lots of working class people. Many had jobs supporting the auto industry in some way. They wanted what most people want, a decent place to raise a family. Many younger families looked forward to moving "up" to more affluent areas, but were generally satisfied. They voted for both David Bonior (liberal Rep.) and Ronald Reagan!

I have not returned to the area in several years, but the economic downturn was devastating to the area. On one of my last visits I saw our former home overgrown with weeds and in disrepair with a "notice from the city" tacked to the door. I checked and found out it, and the area, had lost at least half of its value. The communities closer to Lake St. Clair had fared much better, but even they lost value.

I think Trump was able to tap into the "let's try something different" mood of the low information voters of Macomb County. Trying to convince those voters that they were wrong and that they made a mistake voting for Trump just makes them dig in their heels. They can easily fall back into the (false)belief that sure, Trump is bad, but Hillary would have been worse, so they did the right thing.

Perhaps instead of reminding them of their past vote, it would be more productive to explain despite what Trump says, what he has done so far has not helped them and they should consider an alternative to "mix things up" and "try something different".

[rock]

60. Hey, they don't need to feel disrespected

They ARE disrespected.

[spanone]

67. i don't have one shred of respect for folks like this....

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

73. Respect is earned

Disrespect is earned too.

[D_Master81]

74. I'm so tired

I'm so tired of hearing Trump supporters whining about a lack of "respect". You voted for the guy, you wanted this, why do you need people's affirmation of your vote? Own the vote, support your guy and be done with it. Why do we need to constantly hear about Trump supporters needing "respect".

[ck4829]

75. LOL

[Va Lefty]

76. "Those who want respect, give respect" Tony Soprano

[get the red out]

80. No respect coming from me!!!!!

I was born, raised, and live in Kentucky so I grew up with the kind of people who have chosen to support Trump no matter what and it will be a cold day in hell before I give them, or Trump, respect.

[struggle4progress]

81. "I'm supporting the guy who's handing the country to the Russians because ...

[bettyellen]

83. Someone is pushing this meme pretty hard these days. It's a bandwagon.

Anything to not talk about the underlying anger and bigotry we all saw. No wonder they never interview the majority of voters who went for HRC.