Asheville Daily Planet October 2016

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State moving to widen I-26

‘Mastermind’ film, made locally, opens — See STORY, Pg. B1

— See STORY, Pg. A7

Avadim to add 551 local jobs See STORY, Pg. A6

LLE I V HE AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER

October 2016 Vol. 12, No. 11

An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville www.ashevilledailyplanet.com FREE

Trump rally rocks Asheville From Staff Reports

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump packed his campaign rally with enthusiastic supporters Sept. 12 in downtown Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center. Trump spoke in front of a full-house crowd of about 7,000 people, according to a City of Asheville estimate. The event lasted about 40 minutes and included an appearance by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. During his speech, Trump repeatedly addressed Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton’s recent comments that about half of his supporters are “deplorable.” Indeed, Trump even brought a few attendees onto the stage to show that they are decent — perhaps even adorable — people. In a surprise to some observers, Trump did not comment on Clinton’s recent health problems, despite in the past frequently suggesting that she is not healthy enough to serve as the president. In an unusual twist, those entering and exiting the rally had to walk through a gauntlet of hundreds of people behind baricades near the front doors. Protesters were yelling, holding signs and screaming “bigot” and “racist” at Trump rally attendees who walked past them. One female protester, with her nailpainted chemical violet and sharpened into long points, kept the middle finger on each hand raised in silent defiance, while another protester nearby shouted at a crowd filing into the arena, “Keep the bigot line moving.” Regarding the subject of race, Trump addressed Clinton’s Sept. 9 statement that half of Trump’s supporters are “racist, sex-

Loaf, actually

Q: -- I’m a 35-year-old woman, and my boyfriend of a year is 43. Sadly, my friends and family don’t like him. They think he’s “not good enough” for me. Their argument: He doesn’t have a full-time job with benefits (like me), plus he smokes pot to relax; therefore, he is lazy and will live off me and my retirement money. (Sorry, but enjoying retirement alone isn’t my idea of a “secure future.”) He has a part-time job he likes, makes enough to pay his bills in a (small) house he owns, and saves for things he wants. He is loving, has my back to an unreasonable degree, and says he’s pretty sure he used up all his luck getting me. Unfor-

Special photo by DEBBIE DELL

Donated Photo

He added, “Every American is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect in our country. Whether you vote for me or whether you vote for someone else, I will be your champion in the White House.” About a dozen Trump supporters joined him onstage to say they are not deplorables. They included a preacher, a working mother and former school principal. They did not identify themselves by name.

Throughout his remarks, Trump worked to create a connection between Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” and the working class, saying they were the ones who had been slighted by her remarks. “She talks about people like they’re objects, not human beings. She said half of our supporters are irredeemable and not American,” he said. See TRUMP, Page A8

GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump (top left) addresses the crowd at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville, while outside protesters (top right) expressed their opposition to Trump. ist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic — you name it.” At a New York fundraiser, the Democratic nominee for president called Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables.” In response, Trump told the Asheville crowd, “While my opponent slanders you as deplorable and irredeemable, I call you hard-working American patriots who want a better country.”

The Advice Goddess Amy Alkon

tunately, all minds are made up; there’s no explaining what a deeply good man he is. I feel awkward bringing him to gatherings or even mentioning him. The worst, though, is my nagging question: Could they be right? — Torn A: There are people who chase their dreams, and there are those — like your boyfriend — who just chillax on the couch, smoking a doob, waiting for their dreams to be in the neighborhood and maybe knock on the door. See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A14

Views clash over refugee resettlement in Buncombe From Staff Reports

A contingent of Asheville Tea Party members attended a meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 20 “to lay out the legitimate concerns and stark facts regarding the security health, and financial risks of refugee resettlement to our area,” the ATP said in an email Sept. 21 sent to its members and the Daily Planet. However, others spoke in favor of accepting refugees — and the packed chambers erupted into applause after county resident David Brown expressed his strong sentiment favoring their resettlement in Buncombe.

The applause prompted commissioners’ Chairman David Gantt to admonish, “If you could not clap, I think the meetings go better. We are very tolerant, and everyone has the right to their opinion. If we could just listen.” The meeting began, as usual, with a public comment session on any issues the public wished to discuss. Three people then spoke out against the proposed resettlement of refugees from Middle East countries in Buncombe. One speaker, citing security and budget issues, said the refugees would be a “drain on county resources.” See REFUGEES, Page A9


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Asheville Daily Planet October 2016 by John North - Issuu