to the editor: re <u+201c> what drives trump? a fear of fading away <u+201d> (front page, oct. 26): it is so easy to vilify donald trump. he is so outrageous and over the top that i long suspected that he was a sad and lonely man, and these transcripts appear to confirm it. he is a lost little boy trying to get the attention and the acceptance he craves through any means. it leads me to believe that even though he grew up privileged and wealthy, his lack of introspection may stem from his fear of basic unworthiness. it makes me look on him with compassion, almost. it is a good lesson for all of us to remember that our leaders, heroes and idols are fragile human beings just like the rest of us. we all deserve compassion and understanding. susan wexler ephrata, pa. to the editor: hillary clinton apologized for referring to half of donald trump<u+2019>s supporters as <u+201c>deplorables.<u+201d> but it is abundantly clear that mr. trump is contemptuous of virtually all of his supporters. he said in one of these interviews from 2014 that <u+201c>most people aren<u+2019>t worthy of respect.<u+201d> that would certainly be his view of people who are down on their luck and feeling like victims of the new economy or of emerging cultural and social values that they do not share <u+2014> in other words, the principal constituents of his base. to say the least, mr. trump is a bizarre vessel for the discontent of his followers. steven y. winnick wellfleet, mass. to the editor: i am an ordinary person (a 2 at most and a <u+201c>total loser<u+201d>). i have failed many times at various endeavors <u+2014> including career and marriage. and while i might have learned from these failures, i can<u+2019>t claim, as donald trump does, that <u+201c>i always turned a failure into a success.<u+201d> my sister once put a magnet on her fridge that i loved: <u+201c>make a mistake every day.<u+201d> that<u+2019>s what we all do. it<u+2019>s not shameful. it<u+2019>s human. i wish it weren<u+2019>t too late for mr. trump to be insightful and to practice mindfulness and empathy. maybe a buddhist retreat would help? laura seigle new york a version of this letter appears in print on october 27, 2016, on page a26 of the new york edition with the headline: what trump tapes reveal: fear and contempt. today's paper | subscribe
what trump tapes reveal: fear and contempt
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