KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — A lot of pundits and politicians have been predicting that the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump would eventually implode and have been amazed that it has not happened so far.
Comments he has made that would have left the campaigns of any other Republican in tatters have not eroded his poll numbers. In some cases, they have boosted his support.
After all the network interviews, the news stories in the big papers and the public speeches, it’s somehow fitting that the most outrage has come from the release of a taped conversation between Trump and then ‘Access Hollywood’ reporter Billy Bush.
If all you have heard of the off-hand conversation has been the highly-edited and censored excerpts provided by the networks, you may be wondering why it has sparked such an explosion of criticism given the source. Remember, their stations all FCC licenses that they would like to keep.
A full understanding of the reaction requires that you listen to an unedited and complete copy of the conversation, which was recorded accidentally as Trump and the crew of the entertainment show was getting ready for a visit to the taping of a soap opera. It’s not recommended for the easily offended.
West Michigan Republican Congressman Fred Upton, who has remained purposely mum on the subject of Trump, was compelled by its contents to issue a reaction and a recommendation.
“These degrading and dangerous comments are utterly indefensible,” Upton said. “I chose early on not to endorse due to his previous off track comments, and this only confirms that decision. It’s a new low. It’s outrageous. As a husband and father, I feel angry and sickened. Those running for the office of the president are rightfully held to a higher standard. These latest transgressions are so grave. I urge him to think about our country over his own candidacy and carefully consider stepping aside from the ticket.”
Lt. Governor Brian Calley tells MIRS news that he is withdrawing his endorsement and will write-in Mike Pence’s name on his ballot unless “some better option will present itself.”
Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, tweeted that Trump should have stepped aside a long time ago.
Attorney General Bill Schuette condemned the comments but did not comment on his endorsement.
“Women should be treated with respect and dignity, period,” Schuette said. “And comments about women as objects or conquests are simply unacceptable.”
Michigan GOP Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel has forcefully supported Trump until now and has not said whether the tape has changed her vote. But she has made it clear that she may be considering it, and that she fears it may damage the rest of the Republican slate.
“As a woman, as the mother of a 13-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son, and as a Republican, I find Mr. Trump’s comments reprehensible and disgusting. Mr. Trump has apologized for the comments he made 11 years ago, but needs to do so again and again if he hopes to gain back any semblance of public trust,” She said. “I am confident that Michiganders know that Donald Trump’s comments represent only himself and other Republicans do not share his views … Donald Trump’s comments are his alone to own and I cannot and will not defend them.”
State Democratic Chair Brandon Dillon pounced, saying Trump “has a deeply engrained contempt toward women and only sees them as objects meant for his sickening satisfaction.” He said Republicans now have two options: “They can stand by their man, or they can stand with their mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters, and once and for all renounce their support for Trump’s disgusting candidacy for president.”
His comments seem to be targeted at Republican Congressional candidates Tim Walberg, Mike Bishop, Bill Heuizenga and John Moolenaar, and state candidates like Brandt Iden. They are all Trump supporters who have yet to take public stands on the latest news.
For all of the official public outrage from elected leaders both inside and outside the state, each of the officials has only one vote. While their comments may have influence on party loyalists, they seem to have had little gravity when it comes to altering the path of members of the “Trump base”. As we have seen time and time again this election cycle, often the opposite has been true.
The New York Times reports the most damage to Trump’s campaign could be loss of those undecided voters who have been leaning his way.
That is the group that has been targeted by the new team that took over the Trump Campaign a few weeks ago. Since then we have seen Trump visit African American Churches in Detroit, make stops in Flint to talk about water and hold rallies in front of mostly white audiences in East Lansing talking about the plight of minorities and how they have been ill-served by democrats.
The new strategy was primarily aimed at influencing undecideds, particularly women who wanted to know if he really was a racist and a sexist, but could still be convinced he wasn’t.
That image was damaged during the first debate, and this 11-year-old recording of some frank “locker-room talk” will likely put him on the defensive again going into this evening’s debate.
Is it the tipping point? Is it time to stick a fork in it? Has the “Trump Train” been derailed? After what we have seen in this election cycle, no one appears to be dumb enough at this point to make that prediction.
Just so you know, the raw video of the Trump conversation had been sitting on a shelf at NBC for the last 11 years. The network owns Access Hollywood. The excerpt was discovered by a news producer who was just being thorough, going through archival material on Trump. Billy Bush, who appears to be complicit and sympathetic in the conversation, apparently played no role in its release and may also suffer damage to his career as a result of the tape going public.
