We are entering the wee hours of Wednesday morning as I write this.

I am stunned.

I am appalled.

I am heartbroken.

I feel this way for many reasons, but the most important are these:

We have just sent a message that racism, misogyny, and bullying is acceptable behavior.

We have told every woman and every little girl that no matter how hard she works, no matter how qualified she is, no matter how appalling and predatory her opponent is, she can never be president of the United States.

Not only that, but we have told her that a man who demeans women in the crudest ways and who has bragged openly of sexual assault will never be held accountable and that he deserves to be elevated to the highest office in the nation.

What does this tell women, girls, people of color, and other minorities?

It tells them they do not matter, and they are not respected.

That is absolutely heartbreaking to me.

There is going to be a lot of discussion over the next few days (and longer) as to who and what caused this but the fact of the matter is this:

Every single voter who cast their ballot for Donald Trump bears responsibility for sending that message, and they will have to live with that.