Josh Earnest: Stop calling Trump voters ‘stupid,’ ‘unsophisticated’

Many in the White House press corps liked former Obama spokesman Josh Earnest for his levelheadedness and lawyerly calm.

And now he’s bringing that approach to the rage felt by Democrats over Donald Trump’s election.

During a talk at Harvard University last week, he called for an end to the shouting matches — on TV or at the dinner table.

“We’re not going to persuade people by talking down to them, by saying they’re unsophisticated, or leading them with the impression that we think they’re stupid because they voted for Donald Trump,” he urged.

“We need to find a way that we can find some common ground with people, even if they disagree with us, and be able to make a case and start a dialogue that isn’t just rooted in, ‘I’m right, and you’re wrong,’ and here are all the colorful ways that I can illustrate to you why you’re wrong.’ We need to change the way that this debate operates.”

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]

Related Content