<\/p>\n
DENVER \u2013 Gov. John Hickenlooper is calling for unity after a divisive election in which he described Republican Donald Trump as a \u201cnarcissistic fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n
His comments Thursday came just hours before thousands of protesters voiced their concerns with a Trump presidency, marching around the Colorado Capitol and through downtown Denver, shutting down roads and highways as police corralled the large group.<\/p>\n
The mostly peaceful protest saw no arrests, and police used limited amounts of pepper spray on the protesters. The event was part of actions across the country.<\/p>\n
Hickenlooper cautioned against vitriol in the wake of the election. Sitting in his office, he read a quote from Abraham Lincoln after Lincoln had won a polarizing race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strife of the election is but human-nature practically applied to the facts of the case,\u201d the quote from Lincoln read.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a bitter election, which reflects how deeply and intensely people\u2019s emotions were engaged,\u201d Hickenlooper said.<\/p>\n
The Democratic governor \u2013 one of Hillary Clinton\u2019s top surrogates \u2013 made Clinton\u2019s short list for vice president. Hickenlooper also was eyed for a Cabinet position.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the one who dodged the bullet,\u201d the governor joked, underscoring that it is unlikely that he would be considered for a position in the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will say there was a level of relief,\u201d he added about no longer realistically having to think about leaving Colorado for Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
The governor has two years left in his administration.<\/p>\n
Still, Hickenlooper isn\u2019t shutting the door on serving in the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the president of the United States says \u2018I need you\u2019 \u2026 It\u2019s hard to say no,\u201d he said, noting that he has never met the president-elect.<\/p>\n
Protesters outside the Capitol later in the day, however, appeared to have no problem saying \u201cno\u201d to Trump. In fact, they had much stronger expletives for him, carrying signs that stated Trump is not their president.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of us are heartbroken, filled with fear and ready to create change,\u201d read the Facebook description of the protest in Denver on Thursday night. \u201cWith Trump\u2019s miraculous win last night, we now have to stand up to an administration filled with bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia and a complete lack of compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n
State Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton, an ardent Bernie Sanders supporter who, ultimately, backed Clinton, marched with the protesters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always cool to be a part of history, to witness it and to actually be in the midst of it,\u201d Salazar said after participating. \u201cThis is going to be written about. This is going to be in our history books. That people repudiated the hatred that we see coming from this president-elect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Salazar said he would run legislation in the upcoming session, which will begin in January, to curb potential Trump policies, including on immigration and hydraulic fracturing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we can\u2019t do much as state representatives, but I\u2019m going to do everything I can, because I\u2019m not afraid of this guy,\u201d Salazar said.<\/p>\n
Hickenlooper said in many ways the deck was stacked against Clinton.<\/p>\n
He pointed to WikiLeaks releases of unflattering internal emails and FBI scrutiny over her use of a private email server as secretary of state.<\/p>\n
While there were no significant smoking guns in the leaks or investigations, it left a black eye on the Clinton campaign that led to mistrust by the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s not telegenic, and I think people couldn\u2019t trust her, and I think the media didn\u2019t trust her because she doesn\u2019t trust the media,\u201d Hickenlooper said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the end, she couldn\u2019t turn that corner.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor is closely watching to see if the Trump administration will make significant changes to health care policy.<\/p>\n
He also is worried about a lack of focus from Trump on leaking toxic abandoned mines throughout the West, as well as on preserving public lands.<\/p>\n
As for protesting that might include violence, property damage and burning Trump in effigy, as has been seen at events throughout the country, Hickenlooper said, \u201cI\u2019m not sure that\u2019s constructive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one country, and we\u2019re going to have our differences, and I think it\u2019s important to keep discussing those differences \u2026 I don\u2019t think that enables anybody to say my agenda is the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n