I continue to be flummoxed. I believe I understand how people vote, but I am astonished why some voters still support Trump in face of his relentless corruption and attempts to con the electorate. They seem to confirm the popular definition of insanity as trying the same thing over and over again expecting different results. So far I’ve avoided concluding that they are stupid, evil or unpatriotic partisans who believe that the “ends justify the means.”
Recently, I wrote about a good friend who died. He was a banker and a life-long Republican who, I believe, voted for Trump in 2016. We shared drinks and broke bread together enough that we got to know one another rather well. Years ago, over lunch, he confided that he did not share my belief that there should be a government-sponsored health plan. Initially I was surprised given his empathy and charitable contributions to the local community. The need for universal health care seemed critical to me, but he simply did not see that as a proper function for government.
More recently, several months prior to his death, he took me to lunch at his club. When our conversation turned to politics, he shared his personal experience with club members and friends about Trump. By this time, I was aware that he was apoplectic about Trump and the Republicans over their behavior and corruption. For him, winning elections and achieving conservative goals did not mean trashing decency and constitutional government.
He related telling his life long friends, Republicans all, that Trump was dishonest, corrupt, evil and an unworthy president. He told them that he could not support the administration and questioned how they could and was astonished when they turned their backs on him. These were his pals and fellow travelers in social and political thought. He had a sterling reputation as a leader in the state and local community, sitting on local boards, fundraising and volunteering when needed. He appeared ashamed in telling the story, angered that former friends would abandon the virtues he had been raised with, principles he learned in his church and values he tried to practice in their community.
Above all, as a patriotic American first, he had the courage to speak out against the evil that is the Trump administration.