John McCain – have now rescinded their endorsements of Trump.
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It’s a great disappointment to conservatives that Trump’s comments from 2005 will likely frame the debate and the news coverage of it. Pence, his running mate, was largely seen as the victor of last week’s vice presidential debate – and that gave Republicans optimism that Trump would model himself after Pence and effectively go after Clinton. He equated sexually aggressive language from Trump caught on a newly surfaced recording to the actions of Hillary Clinton in the 1990s when Bill Clinton struggled through the fallout of his own sexual transgressions.
Last week, Wikileaks released hacked emails purporting to show that millions of dollars in donations to the Clinton Foundation came from executives with an interest in the sale of U.S. uranium company to the Russian government – a sale that required and received quick approval by the U.S. State Department during Clinton’s tenure as secretary. He switched the affiliation to Republican in 2009, according to voter records detailed by the fact-checking organization PolitiFact.
Others Republicans who pulled their support included Senator Kelly Ayotte, who said on Twitter, “I’m a mom and an American first, and I can not and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women”.
“#MAGA”, he said on Twitter. Politico reported the party directed a mailing vendor to hold off on all projects related to the Republican National Committee-Trump joint “Victory” fund.
Trump immediately struck a defiant tone, telling two newspapers he would never quit.
Trump has been a source for controversy for Ayotte, who had to walk back comments earlier this week about whether she thought Trump was a good role model. Ted Cruz at the 2016 Republican National Convention for failing to endorse Trump. “I’ve never said I’m a ideal person, nor pretended to be someone that I’m not”, he said, his brow furrowed. That was when the Washington Post published a 2005 tape in which Trump boasts that his stardom gives him special privileges with women-to “grab them by the pussy”, among other vile things.
Numerous Republican pols reacted to the leaked hot mic recording by saying they can no longer cast their ballot for the sexism-spewing nominee.
Tim Kaine, Clinton’s running mate, suggested that while audience members would have questions about Trump’s treatment of women, the former secretary of state meant to stick to basic issues like the economy and national security.
“It is never appropriate to condone unwanted sexual advances or violence against women”, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.
“This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago”.
The former president will be sitting inside the debate hall tonight, along with Chelsea Clinton and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky. Mike Crapo and Utah Sen.
Many went further and called on Mr Trump to quit the race altogether. During the 90-minute event, Pence managed to not defend Trump’s indefensible behaviour, yet still sound supportive and show off his own expertise on foreign policy. “And she was married”, he says.
During the Republican primary, GOP officials anxious that disavowing Trump would alienate his supporters and hurt the party in congressional races.
“He obviously feels very bad about what he said, he’s apologized for it”, Giuliani said.
But Trump suggested Sunday that he had other priorities.
“These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them”, tweeted U.S. Sen.
Kaine called Trump’s behavior “outrageous”.
Criticism was not limited to the opposing party. “No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner”. A CBS news release said the RNC asked to replace Priebus because Trump’s operation wanted “a campaign person” to appear on the programme.
Democrats didn’t hesitate to turn the lash on Republicans. The video was taped only months after Trump married his third wife, Melania.
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Trump called the disclosure a “distraction”, defiantly attacking the Clintons for husband Bill Clinton’s past infidelities, and hinting strongly he would say more on the topic during today’s debate in St Louis, Missouri. “Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims”.
