Republicans Call for Donald Trump to Drop Out; Trump Says He Won't Quit

NPR ^ | 10/8/2016 | Tamara Keith

[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 I've never withdrawn in my life."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

[Parley Baer]

Must be something in the water there in Utah. Ted Cruz is a whole another story along with Paul Ryan.

[Fiddlstix]

Save This List Folks! These people are our enemies. These are the RINO Liberals!

[Jim W N]

I got a better idea.

Why don’t the Republicans drop out? We’d all be better off. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. At least with the Democratic Socialists you know what you’re getting.

[fortheDeclaration]

I have been posting the same quote!

[Always A Marine]

This was pre-planned by the GOPe. They are pussies and traitors, and I will remember them.

[ViLaLuz]

Excellent.

[funfan]

So is the election for the people to vote in or for the politicians to vote in?

Truth is these same people never wanted Mr. Trump as the nominee but guess what The People do “so shut the eff up politicians.

[Mad_as_heck]

We are counting each stab in the back. We are taking names. W will never forget

[Anti-Bubba182]

I will take the latter on your list.

"Democrats have always stood by Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, no matter what they have done or said. This is why Republicans have lost election after election".

[Red Steel]

Looks like a lineup of the Who’s Who of a bunch of worthless NeverTrumpers who never were on board, but some lied that they were.

[TaxPayer2000]

These same “republicans” will be calling for impeachment once he is elected.

[M Kehoe]

When all this first broke, I thought it was Billy Jeff they were talking about.

5.56mm

[proust]

[Trump20162020]

A list that no one in Ohio or Florida cares about.

Thanks, National Propaganda Radio.

[KC_Lion]

:D

Trump needs to issue this order to The Campaign "Clinton will be your objective, wherever she goes, there you will go also."

This is the Battle of The Wilderness or Spotsylvania Courthouse, instead of retreating like all other GOP candidates would have done, Trump is reengaging The Clintons.

There are to be no more retreats.

[Dante3]

Drop out over words uttered years earlier? Utter nonsense. These so-called Republicans must be frantic to have Hillary win. Hillary has done far worse, yet not call for her to drop out? No, they are not Republicans, and I am glad Trump’s candidacy has exposed them.

[Alter Kaker]

A list that no one in Ohio or Florida cares about.

Except for 1 in 38 John Kasich, Jeb! and Little Marco Rubio. They probably care.

[HollyB]

They are out of their mind!!!

[vette6387]

Good old NPR, never missing an opportunity to be a $hit disturber! Note to President Trump, cut off all public funding of “public broadcasting!” These a$$holes are forever fund-raising despite the government largess. They are simply the agitprop arm of the DNC and we need to see them in that light. Let the Left pay the entire bill for “Pete Seeger Retrospectives” and “The Mamas and the Papas Reprises!”

[lapsus calami]

 

 

Coordinated hit on Trump, from Romney/Bush camp, in tandem with Hillary.

 

Damn right it is - and those a-holes have thoroughly outed themselves as to what they really are - maybe they don't care anymore about using deceit at this point, who knows.