OPINION:
It seems as though liberals are less respectful of people who disagree with them than conservatives are.
According to a Pew survey, nearly 60 percent of registered voters who support Hillary Clinton for president say they have a “hard time” respecting voters who back Donald Trump. Only 40 percent of Trump backers said the same of Mrs. Clinton’s supporters.
Among college-educated Clinton supporters, the divide widens. Sixty-six percent of them say they struggle to respect those who plan on casting a ballot for Mr. Trump.
Mrs. Clinton’s supporters are also more offended when it comes to accepting Mr. Trump’s criticisms of their candidate. Almost 90 percent of Clinton’s supporters said Mr. Trump has been “too personally critical” of Mrs. Clinton this presidential cycle, while 70 percent of Mr. Trump’s backers said the same of Mrs. Clinton.
Mr. Trump’s supporters are also more accepting of the other side’s point of view. Only 29 percent of the businessman’s backers aged 34 or younger said they had a hard time respecting a Clinton voter, and 45 percent of Mr. Trump’s supporters older than 35 said the same. There was no real division among educational or gender lines.
Mrs. Clinton has called Mr. Trump’s supporters “deplorable” and “irredeemable,” and it seems her base agrees. They simply can’t wrap their heads around a position different than their own.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.