General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Two female Trump voters in a row yesterday! [View all]BlueDawn
(924 posts)My mother and one of my sisters will be voting for Trump again, but my younger sister and I despise Trump and will vote for Biden.
We have had many conversations about this, as we all grew up with a man who was exactly like Trump, albeit without the wealth. While my youngest sister and I feel great compassion for abused people, my mother and my other sister identify more with the abuser, even vehemently defending his horrendous, abusive behavior throughout the years. They are far more black-and-white, even legalistic, in their thinking. They both are evangelical Christians. They think that I and my other sister are "socialists."
I think you make an astute observation. I have often thought that it would be informative to know how many die-hard Trump followers grew up with an authoritarian, abusive parent. of course, they would probably deny that, even if it were true, just as my mother and sister deny their respective husband/father's sadistic abuse.
I do believe that they both are terrified to confront the truth because they would have to deal with their long-buried pain. I feel empathy for them, but I just cannot understand how in the world they can look at Trump and not see the vile, disgusting creature that I and my other sister see.
Oh, I think it is important to add that I and my youngest sister sought counseling and worked through most of our pain and anger. My mother and other sister have said they do not need counseling because they are not "crazy."