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 I've never withdrawn in my life."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
"Some Republicans are publicly calling for me to withdraw, or withdrawing endorsements, or votes."
"I respect their decision, but I suggest they announce they are resigning from the Republican Party and join the Democrats -- because they are supporting the Democrat candidate for President."
"By resigning from the Republican Party now, your constituents will know who they are really voting for in November."
Optional: "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".
The butthurt pansies from the debates and the Utah cabal. Some coalition.
Whether Trump wins the election or not, we need to remember who these UniParty hacks are. They need to go when their re-elections come up.
IDIOTS!
Why should TRUMP dropout when we don’t even know what the fallout would be?
If he is down 20 points in a weeks time then maybeeeee!
The enemy within the gates.
Add waffling RINO Senator Ayotte from New Hampshire. She just unendorsed Trump.
Jason Chaffitz? All respect is now lost.
Lots of NeverTrumpers on that list. Who cares what they say. Good list for reference, though.
Uniparty Members call for Trump to drop out. It’s time for Trump to go nuclear on the Clintons and not hold back tomorrow night. Enough is enough. This horrifying double standard the MSM applies to people with an R by their name is tiring.
Such silliness
RINOs on parade! Speaking of which, where is Kaysick on this? Gee, that’s a hard one to guess.
Those shrinking violets need to drop out of the GOP.
Read up on Mike Cernovich on Twitter. Gloves are coming off, including Paul Ryan's acceptance of $25,000 from Denny Hastert (who structured payments in apparent hush money to cover pedophilia with a 14-year-old boy).
And Tromp continues to smoke RINOs out of the woodwork.
http://www.theamericanmirror.com/broaddrick-hillarys-actions-speak-louder-trumps-words/
Bill Clinton rape accuser Juanita Broaddrick is weighing in on Donald Trump’s controversial comments from 2005 that are mysteriously resurfacing just hours before the second debate and weeks before the general election.
“How many times must it be said,” she tweeted Saturday morning.
“Actions speak louder than words. (Donald Trump) said bad things! (Hillary Clinton) threatened me after (Bill Clinton) raped me.”
How many times must it be said? Actions speak louder than words. DT said bad things!HRC threatened me after BC raped me.
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) October 8, 2016
so i count two Trump supporters on this list??? as usual a misleading title by the criminal liberal media...
what the heck is wrong with these repubs? Couldn’t they at least wait until after the debate and how it plays out?
Dems first reaction is to circle the wagons or play dumb. They have to be dragged kicking and screaming to give into the Repubs.
Globalist, scum sucking, uniparty, twits, call on Trump to withdraw. There are so few real Republicans these days the garbage about what this or that “Republican” has to say is an already bad joke told way too many times.
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