Friday saw a significant October surprise when the Washington Post released footage of Donald Trump making extremely lewd comments about women, including how fame allows him to “grab them by the p*ssy.” When the Post published their report, Trump issued a rather flippant statement, which he followed up with an actual apology that may or may not repair the damage.
On Friday afternoon, Hillary Clinton quickly reacted by tweeting, “This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president.” Tim Kaine later added, “This kind of behavior is disgusting. It makes me sick to my stomach.” But the disgust is not confined to party lines. Paul Ryan, who fretted for a long time before endorsing Trump, has seemingly had enough. He released a statement about feeling “sickened” and scrapping a joint Wisconsin event he planned with Trump. And while Ryan has not un-endorsed Trump yet, his sentiments are joined by other Republicans who are similarly appalled.
And there are many examples, almost too many to list. First up, RNC Chair Reince Priebus — who has cheerleaded for Trump all along — spoke out: “No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever.” The Associated Press reports that Trump running mate Mike Pence was “beside himself” when he heard about the footage, and “his wife was furious,” according to a source that spoke under the guarantee of anonymity. The Pences were inside a restaurant where a press pool was about to watch him view a dumb hot dog bun that Trump signed, and the Huffington Post reports that Pence’s team instantly booted reporters after hearing about the new crisis.
Multiple prominent Utah republicans — Governor Gary Herbert and U.S. Rep. Jason Caffetz — have both withdrawn their endorsements of Trump, which could effectively sway the entire state away from him. Herbert called Trump’s words “beyond offensive and despicable.” He also stated, “While I cannot vote for Hillary Clinton, I will not vote for Trump.” Chffetz told the Salt Lake Tribune exactly how he felt:
“I’m out. I’m pulling my endorsement. I can not support in any way, shape or form the comments or approach Donald Trump has taken. This is so over the top, it is not even acceptable in locker rooms. It shouldn’t be acceptable anywhere. We are talking about the president of the United States. I want someone of high moral values.”
Also with Utah ties, former Massachusetts Governor and Republican nominee Mitt Romney unleashed his fury over Trump’s “vile degradations” of women:
Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 8, 2016
Several Trump rivals added their voices to the mix. The downtrodden Jeb Bush took great pleasure in stressing how “no apology” can erase Trump’s “reprehensible comments.” Jeb!
As the grandfather of two precious girls, I find that no apology can excuse away Donald Trump's reprehensible comments degrading women.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) October 7, 2016
Speaking from Florida in the midst of ongoing hurricane developments, Marco Rubio agreed that Trump’s words are “impossible to justify.”
Donald's comments were vulgar, egregious & impossible to justify.
No one should ever talk about any woman in those terms, even in private.— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 8, 2016
Meanwhile, the saddest Republican of all, Ted Cruz, must be regretting his fresh endorsement right about now.
These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 8, 2016
Every wife, mother, daughter — every person — deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. https://t.co/AVSEBastVc
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 8, 2016
Senator Mike Lee, rumored to be a potential Supreme Court pick if Trump were to win the election, joined his fellow Utah Republicans in tearing down Trump’s lewd language and asking him to step aside:
(Via Salt Lake Tribune, Washington Post, Associated Press & Huffington Post)