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 I've never withdrawn in my life."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
Does anyone have a list of comments these men made in defense of Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey or Paula Jones?
Any of them outraged over the “F” word being used every 18 seconds by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show? Any of them stand up and scream about Kennedy drowning his slut to maintain his own power? Any of them offended by the overt sexuality shown in Gay Pride Prades or the words dripping with hatred in the Vagina Monologues?
No, I didn’t think so... they’re outraged Trump spoke badly about a liberal elite women... Seems there’s two standards for women ...
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
The Republicans on that list probably ALL have illegal alien maids..wouldnt surprise me..they want corruption to continue, Trump wants to end it
I have given money to Thune and know him personally.
After today’s announcement I will no longer vote for him. And I will withdraw my registration as a Republican effective Monday.
The breathless, “concerned” media cannot win. I say bring every skeleton out of every closet. Media members, politicians, doesn’t matter.
Regardless of what happens on November 8th enough of the stupid party. Everyone on that list is a globalist Uniparty shill. Trump is taking on the Democrats, Republicrats and the Mediacrats. Time to come up with names of the new nationalist, true third party we’ll be forming. I’m going to vote for Trump and leave the rest of my ballot blank. No Republican even down to dog catcher deserves our votes anymore.
Anyone who respects individual rights--including the rights to sometimes talk to others about non political issues, without having their privacy abused--will realize just how truly idiotic, this panic is.
Let me put this another way. Is there any man reading this, who would want to have every conversation he has ever had about sex or human sexuality, taped and rebroadcast at some enemy's will. Anyone? Anyone, who really thinks this should be acceptable behavior--I mean the rebroadcast?
Oh please. They are idiots. Go Trump!
I wish Trump would run commercials with Juanita Brodderick and all the other women who were intimidated and harassed by Hitlery in regards to her “husband’s” sexual assaults.
This is yet another tempest in a teapot and an attempt by the Media Party to derail the actual election campaign.
Everyone knew going into this that Donald Trump was a womanizer and Bill Clinton even more so.
Having the election become some sort of in-depth investigation of these obvious factoids is not only pointless and tawdry, it denies the American voters the chance to examine in greater depth the real issues that confront the nation.
Let this be the last of the diversions away from that long overdue in-depth discussion and analysis.
The two candidates stand for very different visions of America both in terms of domestic and foreign policy. It is time to move on and get into the serious business of debating those differences.
The voters should demand this.
# RealElectionLast30Days
should be the theme.
Notice when those Wikileaks emails came out of Clinton calling Bernie Sanders supporters “Buckets of losers” the Dems didnt call on Clinton to drop out..as disgusting as liberals are, at least they defend their own..with the GOP, bunch of cowards, couldn’t wait to run to the media like little babies and cry for their binkies
“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.”
Mormon a$$holes! And that comment comes from someone who is still a member of that sorry church (er cult)! Probably ought to throw in Harry Reid, Mitt Romney and the worthless turd who is presently governor of Utah. They are all jerks!
**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**
Can we ignore these Hillary backers?
Or should we FReep them?
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
I don’t know what Hewitt knows but it’s the first I’ve heard of more garbage coming. We have to remember the stakes are beyond belief for the structures in place in the “global community”. Clearly, they will stop at NOTHING.
Hewitt was a latecomer for Trump but has been hammering Hillary hard in last few months. Not too fond of him but he’s very “connected” and I tend tobelieve he knows what’s coming.
How many Clinton supporters asked her to drop out with the very serious candles and corruption DHS been involved in?
Loyalty needed and time to double down.
Stay on topic Trump and do not take the bait at the debates. Do not go there please!
He’s an elite from Hollywood - where women are treated like whores... and we’re suppose to believe Schwarzenegger’s ‘offended’.
Gimme a break. I wasn’t born yesterday.
F U Republican Party!
With the exception of Jason Chaffetz, that’s a list of RINOs if ever I’ve seen one.
LOL when did he post that..is this the same guy that had a child with his illegal alien housekeeper LOL gotta love hypocrites
I hate auto correct. Please forgive me!!
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