This story was originally published on nationaljournal.com on November 11, 2016 If there is a contradiction in Tuesday’s presidential-election results, it’s that Americans desperately wanted change even as they felt things seemed to be changing too fast. Donald Trump didn’t get elected because voters saw him as a safe choice. When exit polls asked whether they felt Trump and Hillary Clinton were qualified to be president, 52 percent said Clinton was and 47 percent said she was not; 38 percent said Trump was qualified and 60 percent felt he was not. When asked whether each candidate was honest and trustworthy, 36 said that Clinton was, 61 percent said she was not. For Trump, 33 thought he was honest and trustworthy, 63 percent indicated he was not. Many voters were troubled by Trump’s unorthodox campaign style, and his statements and actions related to women, minorities, and people with disabilities. His debate performances underscored many of these reservations. Yet enough voters so desperately wanted change that they were willing to put aside these concerns and roll the dice on really big change.
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