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 I've never withdrawn in my life."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
Hey GOP - just go away and DIE.
He should not step aside.
He is what we’ve been stuck with and we need to support him.
Hillary’s goal, is to complete America’s push into her socialist paradise (where she and her elite are in charge of the stupid people). Her useful idiots friends in the media, and “popular” society at large, some thinking they’ll cash in on the elite side, some too stupid to realize they are just stupid people working toward their own undoing, are eating Trumps documented stupidity up and will beat him with it for all they can.
Trump, as flawed as he is, has America’s best interest at heart and does not want to “fundamentally transform” us to fit his corrupt desires.
Trump supporters should vote against every person on this list and if Trump loses join me in leaving the Republican Party.
Pure lie. Hewitt may have EVENTUALLY come aboard, but he started his journey as a #NeverTrumper.
Fuggun snowflakes and dimly lits! Let he without sin cast the first stone! Can’t tell you how much I despise these a-holes!!!
thank you for your thoughtful input.
This is a media created crisis:
1) It was ten years ago
2) no one died , no money embezzled
3) Trump did not know he was being recorded.
And if tyhis was a democrat they would all laugh and move on.
Shame on the eGOP for deserting their candidate.
I hope sticks to his guns and keeps right on his
winning ways.
The public is behind him, bad tape or not.
And the eGOP can eff themselves, including Pence. If Pence won’t support Trump get him the hell out and bring in Giuliani or Palin as a VP candidate.
The reason the Dems have drawn this dirt is that ITS ALL THEY GOT.
TRUMP IS WINNING.
That was my reaction also - is this all they have on Trump? This is a fake outrage. I have heard this kind of talk in high school, college, even TV shows. Totally absurd to get hysterical over it - and by so-called Republicans aka traitors.
Bump for later....
Puthy? The news outlets are Puthy struck?
What a laugh.
Hillary caused millions to die in the ME by invading
Libya after Obama’s Arab Spring did NOT work.
Where is the indignation over that.
Trump rally ho!
If Pence bails, bring in Giuliani or Palin!
I have never seen so many Republican fair weather sailors. The first storm comes along and they all bail for safe harbor. Good riddance to them!
Remember those FBI files Hellary had on everyone. There it is. If that’s all she could dig up on Trump, he’s a saint.
I have never ever ever witnessed such a disgusting display of media bias. I always knew there was bias. This is a whole new level.
All the crimes Hillary and Bill have committed and the news media is focused on something Trump said 11 years ago.
I am serious when I say that if Hillary wins it is over. There will be no going back. All the illegals will become legal voters.
This is it, folks. This is not hyperbole. That is how I see it.
It is Trump or lights out.
True.
There is a caveat: if the Media dictates who wins November's election, we will have descended into slavery that can only be reversed in one way.
As I posted, we will descend into slavery.
Haven't you, katieanna? :)
They ain’t republicans, they be eGOP.
Hugh was always a left-winger.
The Pinochet route.
The cucks South Africa version of the United States where half of us and our offspring end up living in white squatter camps, impoverished and broken.
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