Listening to Trump Supporters: A Liberal’s Guide

Shortly after the November election, I wrote in a newsletter to (mostly) fellow liberals that we must “stop disdaining our political opponents,” understand what makes them tick, and seek common ground. I was referring not to GOP leaders, who should be held accountable for their odious complicity with Trump, but to the 74 million Trump voters who have a wide range of reasons for their votes.

My sentiments drew strong pushback from some readers so I elaborate here, primarily addressing other liberals who are financially and culturally secure. Let me emphasize: My plea is not that we reach out to the most conspiratorial, racist, partisan Republicans in hopes of persuading them to become good liberals; but given how closely divided our country and its elections are, flipping just ten percent of Trump’s supporters — think the cream of the crop — would have a massive impact on our political and civic fortunes.

Having sought to make this distinction clear, however, many still responded to my exhortations like this: Trump voters are irredeemable, probably racist, and essentially part of a cult; they are ignorant, hateful enablers, and I have no patience for hearing them out. The Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson griped that, after Trump won, new “reports from every single diner” where patrons wear overalls were a misplaced and unfair focus…