Our Readers' Opinions
November 15, 2016
US elections more a defeat for Hillary Clinton than victory for Trump

Editor: Nearly all the newspapers and media houses throughout the world carried reports of Donald Trump’s spectacular and stunning victory the recent US presidential elections, but in my view it was not really victory for Trump; it was a stunning defeat for Hilary Clinton — the Americans were and are fed up with the corruption and wrong-doings with the lawmakers in Washington. They wanted a change from the “hand wash hand” happenings … where big donors get favours from the lawmakers.{{more}}

They wanted someone outside the administration. Although Trump’s track record is not excellent, they nevertheless prefer him than Hillary, who has been accused of gross dishonesty — washing sensitive emails, lying under oath, collecting funds from terrorist countries for the Clinton Foundation, the Benghazi fiasco, using Foundation funds for her daughter’s wedding and other wrongdoings.

Clinton was hoping to get full support from African Americans and Latinos, but she only received some support, not to enough to push her over the line, although she spent more than $2 billion, I repeat two billion dollars, and received full support from outgoing President Barrack Obama, the First Lady, Vice-President Biden, who campaigned vigorously for her, while on the other hand Trump was denied support from top Republicans Mitt Romney, John Mc Cain, the Bushes, and many others. He only got support from Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York; Newt Gingrich, former Speaker, as well as Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey.

Although it was a bitter campaign, president-elect Trump, at his victory speech in the wee hours of Wednesday, called for unity and said he was prepared to work with the Democrats to make America great again. Clinton, in her concession speech, said that the defeat was painful, but also called for unity and said that she offered the president-elect to work for a better country and outgoing President Obama who is known to be at “war” with Trump also called for a harmonious working relation and a smooth transition. He added that the rule of law must be maintained. He said he will gracefully hand over the baton for the new president to continue the race for success.

Most of the Vincentian/Carib­bean/Ameri­cans are democrats, but I have no doubt that they will give full support to the new president, a businessman who was not a politician before he entered the race less than two years ago.

Oscar Ramjeet