America will always be a divided nation.

amother

Lemon

Wed, Nov 09 2016, 9:32 pm

It's almost comical how after an election the candidates talk about "Uniting" and "we're on the same team" and "working together ". This comes right after both candidates yell and scream about how utterly terrible it will be if their opponent wins. As Obama said, "Trump is uniquely unqualified". We heard Hillary go on and on about how dangerous it will be for Muslims, Mexicans, woman and others if Trump is elected. How are Hillary supporters supposed to pretend they didn't hear that. Same is true had Hillary won. For months Trump followers heard about how crooked, shady, kniving she is. Again, had she won, would Trump supporters just accept her. Impossible.

PinkFridge

Wed, Nov 09 2016, 9:37 pm

More than that, President Obama spent the last month campaigning for a woman who ran against him 8 years ago, and considering the rhetoric then, you wouldn't expect them to even inhabit the same zip code now.

People of good will will say, we'll give the guy (gal) a chance and wish them well.

flowerpower

Wed, Nov 09 2016, 10:03 pm

Watch the protests in NYC and Chicago tonight and then you will see how divided America is. I kept seeing all day people writing they were unfriending others on social media for the reason that they are on the opposite team as them etc. Shame

etky

Thu, Nov 10 2016, 1:05 am

I don't think that intellectually anyone really 'buys' what winning candidates say about their political opponents after a victory. It's just being gracious in victory - an expected nicety that is, despite all, important in a political system predicated on the loser and his/her supporters conceding their defeat and accepting the winner's legitimacy.
Psychologically it is important. It tones down the antagonistic discourse that precedes an election - especially this one which was all about personality and character - and smoothes the path for future cooperation at all levels. It is a signal to 'lay down arms' so to speak and to recall the shared, higher objective for which both candidates ostensibly (very ostensibly, in this particular election Confused

) strive.
I think it also offers supporters of the losing candidate validation. It's important for them to hear the winner say positive things about the person they championed, even if intellectually they know it is lip service.
When the winner is gracious and his opponents feel their fight for their candidate was valued and validated by him/her it allows them to 'save face' and it helps promotes good will on the part towards him/her, which is important in a democratic system.
The reaction we are now seeing - the refusal of some citizens to move on - is unusual. But then this was an unusual election and Donald Trump is a very unusual President-elect.