Posted on 10/08/2016 11:03:43 AM PDT by Alter Kaker
Reaction to the video of Donald Trump using explicit language and apparently describing himself forcing himself on women continues to roll in. And it is not good for the GOP nominee. Prominent Republicans are calling on him to drop out and elected officials are running from him and fast. See the full list of Republicans calling on Trump to step down at the bottom on this post.
The candidate isn't backing down, telling the Washington Post's Robert Costa in an interview today, "I'd never withdraw. I've never withdrawn in my life."
The Post reports, Trump called from his home in Trump Tower and said, "No, I'm not quitting this race. I have tremendous support."
Trump also tweeted, seemingly downplaying the firestorm that has consumed his campaign.
Just to give a sense of how bad things have gotten in the past 24 hours, he's lost Hugh Hewitt.
The conservative talk show host had been a strong supporter of Trump arguing Republicans must back him to get a conservative justice on the Supreme Court.
Carly Fiorina, who lost to Trump in the GOP primary, called for him to step aside and for the Republican Party to run vice president nominee Mike Pence in his place.
Add senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), neither of whom endorsed Trump, to the growing list of prominent and elected republicans to get out.
But, this would be significantly easier said than done according to a leading Republican election lawyer.
"People in the GOP are understandably nervous. People are looking for an escape," Ben Ginsberg told NPR. "The rules don't provide a ready-made escape. Nor do ballot rules, nor the electoral college. While people are looking for an out, this die was cast in Cleveland."
Ginsberg, who is a partner at the Jones Day law firm, spoke with the NPR Politics Podcast.
"The RNC rules allow for replacement of a candidate on death or declining the nomination, but no provision for replacing," said Ginsberg. "At this stage, Donald Trump would have to resign. There's no way to stage a coup."
If Trump were to resign, Ginsberg says, the GOP would have to go through a complicated process to nominate a new candidate.
"Under the rules, if there is a vacancy, it doesn't go to the VP candidate. It's a matter of rules. It can be anyone. Part of what the RNC would have to do is figure out the nomination rules to see who would be eligible. It's an all-bets-are-off scenario. There might be a political consensus for Mike Pence, but it is not mandated by the rules," he said.
But it is four weeks from election day. And the idea of a drawn out fight over the top ticket is almost politically unfathomable.
Elected republicans aren't waiting. They are now running away from their party's nominee. Senator Kelly Ayotte who is in a tough race for re-election and never endorsed Trump, now says she won't vote for him either.
Congresswoman Martha Roby in deep red Alabama says she can't support him either.
The reason is simple, as seasoned political analyst Stuart Rothenberg put it on twitter, "This certainly raises the possibility of a down-ballot bloodbath for Republicans."
Trump was initially supposed to attend a rally today in Wisconsin with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Then after the video release, it was announced that Pence would attend in Trump's place. Now the Trump campaign confirms Pence won't be attending the rally either.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD), a member of the GOP's leadership, tweeted that Trump should drop out immediately.
For elected Republicans, it is rapidly becoming clear that merely rejecting Trump's remarks isn't enough. Every one of them can expect to be asked whether they are withdrawing their endorsements and whether they will even vote for their party's nominee.
Republicans Calling For Trump To Step Aside
Sen. John Thune (South Dakota): Third highest ranking Republican in the Senate
Sen. Mark Kirk (Illinois): Has run campaign ads distancing himself from Trump.
Sen. Ben Sasse (Nebraska): Prominent "Never Trumper"
Sen. Mike Crapo (Idaho): Rescinds previous endorsement
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia): She said the "appropriate next step may be for him to reexamine his candidacy."
Sen. Jeff Flake (Arizona): Did not endorse Trump previously
Sen. Mike Lee (Utah): Did not endorse Trump previously
Rep. Martha Roby (Alabama)
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah)
Rep. Barbara Comstock (Virginia)
Rep. Mike Coffman (Colorado)
Rep. Bradley Byrne (Alabama): Previous Trump supporter
Rep. Charlie Dent (Pennsylvania): Previously said he is not voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in the general election
Carly Fiorina, former presidential candidate
Hugh Hewitt, conservative radio talk show host, previous Trump backer
If that’s the WORST they have, He’s in pretty good shape.
And that is correct. I do believe that that tape was help onto for all these years for the sole purpose of blackmail.
Do I think they knew he would ever run for president? No.
But they certainly wanted something to use to control him in the future.
And it isn’t working.
Exactly.
Hugh Hewitt
@hughhewitt
[For the benefit of the country, the party and his family, and for his own good, @realDonaldTrump should withdraw. More and worse oppo coming
7:49 AM - 8 Oct 2016]
That’s all you need to know that the establishment is behind this.
It might very well be we just witnessed the end of the old GOP and the beginning of something new and better.
.
Yuge’s Beaver Stewed!
Good! That is the best news I've heard today. It shows the average Joe and Jane knows this sort of October Surprise is the usual B.S. by the elites to maintain their power structure.
Abso-frigin-lutely!
Don't put this on Hillary. She didn't play dirty - this was the GOP establishment. They'd rather throw the race to Hillary than let him win - that's been clear for months.
It’s Bush, again
Thank God no one know who Hewitt is.
When the serial rapist, Clinton, was in office and in the midst of his scandals involving sexual impropriety, all we kept hearing is how what a man does in his personal life does not affect his ability to be president or run the nation.
And that stuff happened WHILE he was in office, not 11 years before.
If it wasn’t an issue then for Clinton, it’s not an issue now for Trump.
HH -bush stooge
If Trump drops out, we’d get Pence as nominee. What’s the problem? I’m not being facetious...Gov Pence would immediately surge to a 20 point lead over hilary.
Pence would lose in a landslide.
You really think the voters would pick Hillary over Pence? I cannot believe that. I just can’t.
I don’t think he is faking being pro constitution, pro life, pro Israel, pro American. What do you mean?
If you don’t understand the anti globalist revolution going on then you do not understand the stakes and what Trump represents. The Establishment would win and Hitlery would win.
Let’s hear Hilary renounce her support of serial rapist and abuser Bill Clinton, then we can see about a guy who talks dirty.
You must be a political neophyte if you do not understand Trump’s support and what is gong on. I’d just shut up if I were as politically ignorant as you appear to be.
Its either Trump or the GOP. I chose Trump. #NeverGOP
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