Keri Smith
Jul 25, 2017 · 2 min read

I responded directly to what you wrote; not to what others have said.

“then how can you feel comfortable with comforting the conservatives or the evangelicals or the patriots or any others who went ahead and voted for a man who is neither conservative or moral or patriotic? He clearly would have lost the popular vote by even a wider margin if conservatives and evangelicals and patriots had stuck to their principles, no?”

Firstly — where have I comforted them? Comforted them about what? I find this confusing. Do I view them as humans and not “deplorables?” Of course I do.

Secondly — How do you KNOW that they were not sticking to their principles when they voted for him? You are assuming. Neither you nor I am omniscient.

To the contrary of how you ended your post, I actually am calling for everyone to attempt to maintain their principles over party, not just lefties. To advocate otherwise would be absurd. The fact that you read it differently is interesting to me — is it defensiveness or am I not being clear? I focus on talking about the left, because I am part of the left, and I believe real work starts within, not without.

The biggest difference I see here is that you seem to hold yourself above those who disagree with you — as though you know for a fact that Trump being elected is “worse” than any alternative, or that it might be impossible for someone to vote for their principles AND vote for Trump. Were there some who held their nose and put party over principle? Of course there were. Do I believe that’s a healthy way to live one’s life? Would I want to emulate it? No way.

    Keri Smith

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    @ksemamajama Co-Host at https://unsafespace.com Founder of https://civilitydinners.com More about me: http://www.wearebird.co/keri-smith/