Jill Stein

Jill Stein, former Green Party presidential candidate, has called for a recount in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

(AP Photo)

Jill Stein supporters helped elect Trump

Former Green Party Presidential candidate Jill Stein is raising money for re-counts in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Some people say Stein's doing the right thing. Others say she is trying to raise money. Or maybe she requested a re-count because she feels guilty that if she wasn't on the ballot Hillary Clinton could have won those states.

In Wisconsin, Stein received 30,980 votes and Hillary lost by 22,117 votes. In Michigan, Trump only won by 10,704 votes, but Stein received 50,700 votes. Gary Johnson and Stein received more than double the gap between Clinton and Trump in Pennsylvania. If Stein really wanted to block Trump, she wouldn't have been on ballot in these and other swing states.

Stein attacked Clinton throughout the campaign and even protested as did other groups like Food and Water Watch. They even said the Democratic Party was full of crap and put fake feces near donkeys placed around Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention. They criticized Democrats on fracking, but Trump promised to appoint a fracking mogul to the Department of Energy. By not protesting in Cleveland and other places, they clearly gave Trump a free pass. All this helped people to vote for Stein, and even worse kept people home, especially youth.

Since the election, Trump plans to open-up public lands and our coasts for offshore drilling, while blocking renewable energy and stopping action on climate change. Stein may be having buyer's remorse because her actions elected Donald Trump. Unfortunately, the rest of us will suffer from the environmental damage.

JEFF TITTEL

DIRECTOR, NJ SIERRA CLUB

Work together now that election is over

I am a gay American. I am a 60 year old white father of two. I write on Veterans Day and am reminded of the words of Joe Astick, a now deceased veteran. "I didn't just fight for straight Americans... I fought for all Americans."

I have been mugged, chased down streets by people intent on harm, had strangers tell me they hate queers, and I have lived with Blacks while a cross burned on the lawn. I experience anti-Semitism regularly. I know hatred and prejudice. I was taught the hard way.

I've learned to be gay, proud, and out. It took me a long time to accept this. You told me it is a sin. In fact, at one time, it was a mental disease. You compared me to animals. Shame on you and me. I allowed it to happen. In fact, all I really wanted to do was fit in.

But, now that I'm out you are not nailing the closet door shut, nor do I believe the majority of you want to take away my rights.

I have also learned there is no going back in the long run and I am not always right. So, I remain open minded. We are joined by the Blacks, Latinos, Muslims, Jews, political refugees, and everyone in between, including many of you, and can proudly claim gays in each group.

You don't really hate us at all, except for fringe elements, and some hate you too.

We all hate the system. It's the system that eliminated jobs. They shipped them overseas. They eliminated ours too. We get it, or at least I do.

In order for any of us to vote for either candidate, we had to forgive our candidate their flaws. ... a lot of them. We all voted. My side lost. However, I choose to see this as a call for new ideas and new ideas are a gay specialty. We must all work together to see they ideas are not oppressive and regressive.

I no more believe that America is in favor of the KKK than I believe Donald Trump can do it alone. He will have to surround himself with people of all types, and we're here already. Let's take our seat proudly at the table so our voices can be heard.

We must trust fellow Americans to join us and figure our way forward. We must continue to ask for respect, and give respect in return. We must start by listening to what is really being said, by all of us.

GEOFF ROSENBERGER

MARGATE