Placer County Trump Supporters Speak Out
PLACER COUNTY (CBS13) - Mike Barkhurst has lived in Placer County since 1976. He calls himself very conservative; he says the pocket of conservatives in neighborhoods in Rocklin and Roseville didn't vote the way most Californian's did.
In a blue state, with a Republican president, he's felt the antagonism.
"Anything said by a conservative is usually taken out of context or just out right lied about," Barkhurst said.
Barkhurst says he welcomes President Trump's recent actions, including his immigration policy.
"He's moving quick, I like it ... he's only been in office two weeks and he's done more than Obama's done in eight years," Barkhurst said.
He condemns protesters rallying at airports, and more recently U.C. Berkeley saying, "conservatives don't tend to riot, don't tend to destroy property."
Rocklin city council member Joe Patterson says 58 percent of his constituents voted conservatively.
"Placer County might be the largest Republican Party left in the state," Patterson said.
He says, like so many others, he wasn't set on one candidate. He voted for Ohio governor John Kasich in the primary, then Trump in the election. He's conflicted about recent immigration decisions - particularly for Syrian refugees
"You want somebody to be able to come here and be safe from that war-torn area, but at the same time you don't want terrorists coming here," Patterson said.
Patterson has no doubt the country is divided, but says he's hopeful - a sentiment also expressed by Roseville resident Pat Kirschbrown who says no matter what the opinion, everyone should be able to speak without fear of reprisal.