Early this morning the Nation was in shock as Donald Trump won the Presidential Election, surprising both Republicans and Democrats alike.
Some were happy, others were sad. Others were down right mad, one of them being Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy, who was “inspired” by backup center Aron Baynes, who noted that the team was quiet not because they were blasted by the Clippers two nights ago, but rather that they were thinking about Trump’s victory. In response, Van Gundy went off the President elect and, courtesy of the Detroit Free Press, we have his comments below.
I didnt vote for (George W.) Bush, but he was a good, honorable man with whom I had political differences, so I didnt vote for him. But for our country to be where we are now, who took a guy who — I dont care what anyone says, Im sure they have other reasons and maybe good reasons for voting for Donald Trump — but I dont think anybody can deny this guy is openly and brazenly racist and misogynistic and ethnic-centric, and say, Thats OK with us, were going to vote for him anyway.’
We have just thrown a good part of our population under the bus, and I have problems with thinking that this is where we are as a country. Its tough on (the team), we noticed it coming in. Everybody was a little quiet, and I thought, Well, maybe the game the other night. And so we talked about that, but then Aron Baynes said, I dont think thats why everybodys quiet. Its last night.
Its just, we have said — and my daughters, the three of them — our society has said, No, we think you should be second-class citizens. We want you to be second-class citizens. And we embrace a guy who is openly misogynistic as our leader.’ I dont know how we get past that.
Martin Luther King said, ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but bends toward justice.’ I would have believed in that for a long time, but not today. What we have done to minorities in this election is despicable. Im having a hard time dealing with it. This isnt your normal candidate. I dont know even know if I have political differences with him. I dont even know what are his politics. I dont know, other than to build a wall and ‘I hate people of color, and women are to be treated as sex objects and as servants to men.’ I dont know how you get past that. I dont know how you walk into the booth and vote for that.
I understand problems with the economy. I understand all the problems with Hillary Clinton, I do. But certain things in our country should disqualify you. And the fact that millions and millions of Americans dont think that racism and sexism disqualifies you to be our leader, in our country … . We presume to tell other countries about human-rights abuses and everything else. We better never do that again, when our leaders talk to China or anybody else about human-rights abuses.
We just elected an openly, brazen misogynist leader and we should keep our mouths shut and realize that we need to be learning maybe from the rest of the world, because we dont got anything to teach anybody.
Its embarrassing. I have been ashamed of a lot of things that have happened in this country, but I cant say Ive ever been ashamed of our country until today. Until today. We all have to find our way to move forward, but that was — and Im not even trying to make a political statement. To me, thats beyond politics.
You dont get to come out and talk about people like that, and then lead our country and have millions of Americans embrace you. Im having a hard time being with people. Im going to walk into this arena tonight and realize that — especially in this state — most of these people voted for the guy. Like, (expletive), I dont have any respect for that. I dont.
And then you read how he was embraced by conservative Christians. Evangelical Christians. Im not a religious guy, but what the hell Bible are they reading? Im dead serious. What Bible are you reading? And youre supposed to be its different. There are a lot of different groups we can be upset at. But youre Christians. Youre supposed to be at least you pride yourself on being the moral compass of our society. And you said, Yeah, the guy can talk about women like that. Im fine with that. He can disparage every ethnic group, and Im fine with that.
Look, I dont get it. And Im having a hard time taking it. Im just glad that the people Im with here and Ill include you guys, too that I like. Because Im going to have a hard time. I will say, one point of pride, I live in Oakland County, Michigan, and I was surprised, but Oakland County voted for Clinton. At least I can look around say, We werent the ones putting that guy in office.’
Its incredible. I dont know how you go about it, if youre a person of color today or a Latino. Because white society just said to you, again — not like we havent forever — but again, and emphatically, that I dont think you deserve equality. We dont think you deserve respect. And the same with women. Thats what we say today, as a country. We should be ashamed for what we stand for as the United States today.
Thats it for me. I dont have anything to say about the game tonight.”
