Saturday, November 12, 2016
The messy truth about the gulf between Trump and Clinton voters
Updated 2348 GMT (0748 HKT) November 12, 2016
Story highlights
- Van Jones went to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, before election to try to understand divisions
- He discovered a yearning among all Americans to be heard
Van Jones is president of Dream Corps and Rebuild the Dream, which promote innovative solutions for America's economy. He was President Barack Obama's green jobs adviser in 2009. A best-selling author, he is also founder of Green for All, a national organization working to build a green economy. Follow him on Twitter @VanJones68. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
(CNN)I got tired of just sitting on the CNN set, talking about Donald Trump voters.
So, days before the 2016 election, I decided to fly into a battleground state -- and talk to them.
I
visited Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where a major battle was fought in
America's Civil War. I wanted to know one thing: Are we on the verge of another civil war?
What I learned surprised me. The answers are even more important, now that Trump has won.
My film crew recorded our Gettysburg encounters in hopes they'd shed light on this tense moment in America.
FIRST EPISODE
A
local family invited me into their home one day after Trump made his
own "Gettysburg Address" at a campaign appearance. I expected
fireworks. And I got them. What I didn't expect was all the laughter --
or the tears.
'The Messy Truth': First episode 10:21
SECOND EPISODE
Four
moms sat on the front porch and debated Trump's candidacy. Even though
they disagreed bitterly, I discovered their secret for remaining the
best of friends.
'The Messy Truth': Second episode 08:07
THIRD EPISODE
I
encountered my toughest challenge: a young Trump supporter who wouldn't
back down. Finding common ground seemed impossible. Then a tiny miracle
happened.
'The Messy Truth': Third episode 08:16
What
these conversations reinforced in my mind is the basic decency and
dignity of the Trump voters. They are not blind to his flaws. They
simply rank and balance his shortcomings differently than do his
detractors.
That's important for Trump's critics to know and understand.
I
left wanting to cultivate a deeper sense of empathy -- in myself and in
our country. That's what we seem to be missing -- and secretly longing
for.
To be clear: This increase in empathy will not decrease our
disagreements. After all, constructive disagreement and democratic
debate is the basis of all progress. Democracies advance themselves
through the creative use of our disagreements.
But
more empathy and understanding can keep us from needlessly inflaming
one another, and this should create the conditions for a better
understanding of our differences. Deeper insight can only help all
sides.
Therefore, I am inviting everyone who watches this series to have a #MessyTruth conversation.
Talk (and listen) to someone with whom you don't
agree. Ask questions about anything that doesn't sound right to you.
But don't just fight back. Try to listen. In fact, before you respond at
all, carefully repeat back what you hear -- just to make sure you truly
understand the other person. Then share your own views and feelings. Be
passionate. But be compassionate, too.
Follow CNN Opinion
Whatever you discover in the process, consider sharing it under the hashtag: #MessyTruth.
Democracy
doesn't just happen on Election Day at the polls. Democracy happens
every day, through every interaction we have with each other.
Our future depends on our ability to have these kinds of conversations all across the country.
You
may be surprised by what you uncover. There are hypocrisies, blind
spots and surprising areas of agreement everywhere. Because the real
truth is always a little messy.
'The Messy Truth' trailer 02:04
Tens of thousands plan women's march on Washington
Story highlights
- The page's description says it is a "inclusive march" for "everyone who supports women's rights"
- More than 40,000 people say they are attending
Washington (CNN)Tens
of thousands of people say they are participating in a "Women's March
on Washington" the day after President-elect Donald Trump is
inaugurated.
The event, which is publicized on Facebook
and scheduled for January 21, has garnered national attention and is
titled the "Women's March on Washington." Previously, it was called the
"Million Women March on D.C."
As
of Saturday, the page had more than 44,000 individuals who said they
were going, with more than 121,000 people saying they were interested.
Fontaine
Pearson, one of the march's organizers, said in a phone call that the
march is not a protest against Trump or the legitimacy of the election,
but said it is to shed light on women's issues, including sexual assault
and workplace discrimination.
"We're
strong, but this has been a very difficult election for a lot of
women," Pearson said, also noting that she had seen interest from
individuals on both side of political aisle.
Essie Labrot, who lives in West Hartford, Connecticut, said in a phone call she is "definitely going."
Labrot
said she has been involved in local and state democratic politics and
was a Hillary Clinton supporter, but said this was more than just
election politics.
"It's a little more personal for me," Labrot said.
Labrot said she is attending to "show solidarity to women, minorities, and everyone who is going to participate."
"We're still here, and we will be watching," Labrot said.
The
page's description says it is a "inclusive march" for "everyone who
supports women's rights," and has multiple additional groups set up by
state that are coordinating travel to D.C. for the march.
Pearson said the march is part of a broader grassroots movement that she hopes will allow more action at state levels.
The
event's conception comes in light of Trump's White House victory, which
has sparked protests in major cities across the United States.
Trump
was widely criticized during the campaign for remarks he made in a 2005
tape in which he bragged that he could grope women and get away with
it. Soon after, several women came forward alleging that Trump sexually
assaulted them.
Clinton won the female vote
with 54% of women voting for her, but Trump still garnered 42% of women
voters, despite 70% of voters saying Trump's treatment of women
bothered them.
"There's a real hunger for this," Pearson said.
Thousands rally, march in nationwide anti-Trump protests
Thousands rally, march in nationwide anti-Trump protests
NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands
took to the streets Saturday across the United States as demonstrations
against President-elect Donald Trump continued in New York, Chicago, Los
Angeles and beyond. Protesters rallied at New York's Union Square
before picking up steam and taking their cause toward Trump Tower.
Police set up barricades in front of some of the most expensive stores
in Manhattan as the group made its way along Fifth Avenue.
In Los Angeles, several thousand people marched through downtown streets Saturday to condemn what they saw as Trump's hate speech about Muslims, pledge to deport people in the country illegally and crude comments about women.
Jennifer Cruz, 18, of Ventura, California, carried a sign that asked: "Legalize weed but not my Mom?" — a reference to Californians' Tuesday passage of a measure legalizing recreational marijuana use.
Cruz said her parents have been in the United States illegally for 30 years, although her mother has spent years seeking citizenship. She called the possibility of their deportation terrifying. "We talk about it almost every day," she said. "My Mom wants to leave it in the hands of God but I'm not just going to sit back and not do anything. I'm going to fight for my parents, even if it kills me."
"He doesn't realize all the families he's hurting," she said of Trump. Shawn Smith, 41, of Los Angeles, wore an American flag vest and held a glittery sign that said "Love Trumps Hate." "What he's been able to do is make 50 percent of the nation look over their shoulder," he said. "If you're gay, if you're LGBT, if you're Muslim, if you're Latin, if you're special needs, if you're female, it's a much unsafer place now."
"What is happening today is going to be the normal for a while," he said of the demonstration, "because we're not going to just sit back and watch our rights being taken away, our health care being taken away."
Protests were mainly peaceful, but in Portland, Oregon, a man who was participating in a march was shot after a confrontation with someone in a vehicle. Police expect the man to survive and detained four people in connection with the shooting. A motive for the shooting was unclear. The four people detained are believed to be gang members, but the victim is not.
The shooting followed rowdy Friday night protests, when police used tear gas in response to "burning projectiles" thrown at officers, police said on Twitter. Hundreds of people marched through the city, disrupting traffic and spray-painting graffiti.
Authorities reported instances of vandalism and assault during a rally that organizers had billed as peaceful earlier in the day. In other parts of the country, spirited demonstrations on college campuses and peaceful marches along downtown streets have taken place since Wednesday.
Evening marches disrupted traffic in Miami and Atlanta. Trump supporter Nicolas Quirico was traveling from South Beach to Miami. His car was among hundreds stopped when protesters blocked Interstate 395.
"Trump will be our president. There is no way around that, and the sooner people grasp that, the better off we will be," he said. "There is a difference between a peaceful protest and standing in a major highway backing up traffic for 5 miles. This is wrong."
Protests also were held in Detroit; Minneapolis; Kansas City, Missouri; Olympia, Washington, Iowa City and more. More than 200 people, carrying signs, gathered on the steps of the Washington state Capitol. The group chanted "not my president" and "no Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA."
In Tennessee, Vanderbilt University students sang civil rights songs and marched through campus across a Nashville street, temporarily blocking traffic. In Cincinnati, hundreds of protesters had already taken to the streets early Saturday afternoon to peacefully protest the jury's deadlock in the trial of a former white police officer who killed an unarmed black motorist in 2015.
A mistrial was declared in the trial of former University of Cincinnati officer Ray Tensing. He was fired after shooting Sam DuBose in the head after pulling him over for a missing front license plate last year.
Anti-Trump protesters had joined up with trial protesters and marched through downtown. In Chicago, hundreds of people including families with small children chanted "No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here" Saturday as they marched through Millennium Park, a popular downtown tourist attraction.
Sonja Spray, 29, who heard about the protest on Facebook, said she has signed an online petition urging the electoral college to honor the popular vote and elect Clinton. "Women aren't playthings. Journalists aren't pawns. People of color are not commodities. Marriage equality is not up for debate," Spray said.
Ashley Lynne Nagel, 27, said she joined a Thursday night demonstration in Denver. "It's not that we're sore losers," said Nagel, a Bernie Sanders supporter who voted for Clinton. "It's that we are genuinely upset, angry, terrified that a platform based off of racism, xenophobia and homophobia has become so powerful and now has complete control of our representation."
Demonstrations also took place internationally. A group of Mexicans at statue representing independence in Mexico City expressed their concerns about a possible wave of deportations. One school teacher said it would add to the "unrest" that's already in Mexico. About 300 people protested Trump's election as the next American president outside the U.S. Embassy near the landmark Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
President Barack Obama meets in Berlin next week with Chancellor Angela Merkel and several other European leaders, and is expected to confront global concerns about Trump's election.
Jablon reported in Los Angeles.
Associated Press writers William Mathis and Jonathan Lemire in New York,
Lisa Baumann and Phuong Le in Seattle, Carla K. Johnson in Chicago,
Terrence Petty in Portland, Oregon, and David Rising in Berlin
contributed to this report.
After poll failure, expert makes good on promise to eat bug
After poll failure, expert makes good on promise to eat bug
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — A
Princeton University polling expert who said he would eat a bug if
Donald Trump got more than 240 electoral votes has followed through on
his promise. Sam Wang, of the Princeton Election Consortium, made good
on his Twitter word on CNN Saturday.
He ate from a can of gourmet-style crickets and
added in some honey. He said John the Baptist ate locusts and honey in
the wilderness, and he considers himself to be in the wilderness as
well. Wang says on the consortium's website that polls failed, but that
his analysis "amplified" that failure. He apologized for
"underestimating the possibility" of Trump winning.Trump Pledges Restraint on Twitter as President
Donald Trump is pledging restraint on Twitter as president.
But you can already tell he'll be mightily tempted to let loose with those trademark tweets.
He tells "60 Minutes" he's going to be "very restrained, if I use it at all."
But he went on to call Twitter "tremendous" and said social media is "where it's at."
As he put it: "I have a method of fighting back."
The president-elect says social media helped him win races in states
where he was vastly outspent, and he thinks he's proved that the medium
can be more powerful than money.
Some of Trump's most provocative comments in the primary and general
election campaigns came from his tweets, often late at night.
The "60 Minutes" interview will be broadcast Sunday.
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