Opinion: Liberals should stop worrying about Europe’s reaction to Trump and focus on U.S. issues

To the editor: The way Ann Friedman carries on, one would think that the presidency was obtained through a military coup. After a postelection overseas trip, she worries about the Europeans suffering a trauma like the one inflicted on the United States. (“American abroad: Europeans mocked Bush, but they’re downright scared of Trump,” Opinion, Nov. 2)

Actually, we are at a tail end of a process that started in Europe, turning to nationalism as a reaction to of globalization and a too-bossy European Union. According to Friedman, a victory by Hillary Clinton would have affirmed “liberal democracy” in the United States. Many Americans, through the ballot box, begged to differ.

What she and the Democratic Party ought to do is pass the “anger” and “denial” stages of grief. They need to contemplate the reasons for their political failure (it was not just the presidency) and work on a platform that benefits most Americans.

Jack Kaczorowski, Los Angeles

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To the editor: I think what really stunned Friedman about the election more than anything else was the rejection of the white, liberal “in” crowd.

Let’s be clear about something: President Obama wouldn’t have won two terms without Middle America. White people liked Obama as a man even if there were those who didn’t like his politics. In essence, the 2016 election was a referendum on the politically correct, white liberal coastal cliques and had little to do with racism, sexism or homophobia.

The election was also about jobs and keeping work in America. If Trump wants to keep his job, he better find some solutions, and quickly.

Mark Walker, Chino Hills

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