Could Trump’s October surprise, revealed a few weeks before the November 8 presidential election, be the beginning of the end of Trump’s chances to be the 45th President of the United States?
While this latest controversy may not be a “new” revelation about the Republican Party’s nominee with reference to how he is deemed to be disrespectful of women. — with all his sexist comments and public toxic fights with the likes of Rosie O’Donnel, Megyn Kelley, Miss Universe Alicia Machado — critics say the video revealed not only the most vulgar, misogynistic statements Trump has made, but a character flaw that many people find disturbing especially in his pursuit of the most powerful position in the world.
A video leaked by the Washington Post on Friday, October 7 revealed Trump making sexist and vulgar statements in his conversation with Billy Bush of “Today” and “Access Hollywood.” This audio was reportedly captured in 2005 before Trump’s appearance on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.”
As the Post reported, the tape includes audio of Bush and Trump talking inside the bus, as well as audio and video once they emerge from it to begin shooting the segment.
The newspaper further said that in that audio, Trump discusses a failed attempt to seduce a woman, whose full name is not given in the video.
In that tape, Trump was heard saying, ”I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married…Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything. She’s totally changed her look.”
“You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait,” Trump was heard saying on the tape.
“And when you’re a star, they let you do it,” “You can do anything.”
“Grab them by the p—y,” Trump said. “You can do anything.”
In the second presidential debate on Sunday, October 9, moderator Anderson Cooper pointed out exactly what Trump’s critics have been saying that this is sexual assault.
Trump dismissed the accusation, saying his statements were locker room talk that most men engage in, and that he was sorry if anyone was offended by this statement. He again claimed that nobody respects women more than he does.
Many athletes and coaches from the NBA, Major League Baseball and the NFL, have spoken out, refuting Trump’s “locker room talk” explanation, contending, “that’s not what happens in their locker rooms.”
While his surrogates defended him at all costs, it seems not everyone in the Republican Party was buying his defense. Many Republican leaders and elected officials have disavowed him, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said he will not campaign with Trump, but will instead use the final days of the 2016 election focusing on preserving the Republicans’ hold on Congress.
However, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus said in a conference call on Monday that he is sticking with Trump despite this latest controversy. He said Trump has already apologized and that the RNC remains in full cooperation with the Trump campaign.
Priebus also denied reports that there are efforts to remove Trump as the Republican Party nominee.
Trump’s critics, even among his party, say the nominee has time and time again showed he is unfit to be president because of his character.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
