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Another Trump Controversy

(EMA-Aug, 8, 2015) This latest controversy began with Megyn Kelly's question at the FOX News debate in Cleveland on the evening of August 7.  Trump elaborated in a post-debate interview on CNN.  Trump's remarks prompted Erick Erickson to disinvite him from the RedState Gathering, and others, including a couple of the Republican presidential candidates weighed in.

Here is the intial exchange:

KELLY: Mr. Trump, one of the things people love about you is you speak your mind and you don’t use a politician’s filter. However, that is not without its downsides, in particular, when it comes to women.

You’ve called women you don’t like “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.”

Your Twitter account…

TRUMP: Only Rosie O’Donnell.

(LAUGHTER)

KELLY: No, it wasn’t.

(APPLAUSE)

Your Twitter account…

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Thank you.

KELLY: For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O’Donnell.

TRUMP: Yes, I’m sure it was.

KELLY: Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who was likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?

TRUMP: I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct.

(APPLAUSE)

I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore. We lose to China. We lose to Mexico both in trade and at the border. We lose to everybody.

And frankly, what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding. We have a good time. What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that...
Erick Erickson, Editor of RedState
August 7, 2015 (posted at 11:56 PM)

I Have Disinvited Donal Trump to the RedState Gathering

I have tried to give a great deal of latitude to Donald Trump in his run for the Presidency.

He is not a professional politician and is known for being a blunt talker. He connects with so much of the anger in the Republican base and is not afraid to be outspoken on a lot of issues. But there are even lines blunt talkers and unprofessional politicians should not cross.

Decency is one of those lines.

As much as I do personally like Donald Trump, his comment about Megyn Kelly on CNN is a bridge too far for me.

In a CNN interview, Mr. Trump said of Megyn Kelly, “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever.”

It was not the “blood coming out of her eyes” part that was the problem.

I think there is no way to otherwise interpret Mr. Trump’s comment. In an attempted clarification, Mr. Trump’s team tells me he meant “whatever”, not “where ever.”

The other day, we sent out the agenda for the RedState Gathering. The file had been saved with the “final” tag and the Washington sent it out. But it still had Governor Deal on the agenda and it did not have Donald Trump on it. Obviously, it wasn’t the final.

I called Mr. Trump’s campaign manager and apologized and told him I felt bad for Mr. Trump because he has gotten so much sh*t from so many people and the party itself wasn’t treating the guy at the front of the pack as legitimate.

I think that is true. And I’ve been very sympathetic to Donald Trump because so many of the people who have led the party astray refuse to even treat him as a legitimate candidate.

But I also think that while Mr. Trump resonates with a lot of people with his bluntness, including me to a degree, there are just real lines of decency a person running for President should not cross.

His comment was inappropriate. It is unfortunate to have to disinvite him. But I just don’t want someone on stage who gets a hostile question from a lady and his first inclination is to imply it was hormonal. It just was wrong.

I have invited Megyn Kelly to attend in Donald Trump’s place tomorrow night.

Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
August 8, 2015 (rec'd 10:13 AM)

Donald J. Trump Statement on RedState Gathering

Mr. Trump made Megyn Kelly look really bad --- she was a mess with her anger and totally caught off guard.  Mr. Trump said "blood was coming out of her eyes and whatever" meaning nose, but wanted to move on to more important topics. Only a deviant would think anything else. This related to the debate, which because of Mr. Trump had 24 million viewers --- the biggest in cable news history. According to TIME, Newsmax, Drudge Report, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Hill and many others, Mr. Trump won the debate.
 
By the way, the guy (Erick Erickson) who made the decision about RedState called Supreme Court Justice David Souter a "goat [expletive] child molester" and First Lady Michelle Obama a "Marxist Harpy." He was forced to make a humbling apology.
 
Also, not only is Erick a total loser, he has a history of supporting establishment losers in failed campaigns so it is an honor to be uninvited from his event. Mr. Trump is an outsider and does not fit his agenda.  
 
Many of the 900 people that wanted to hear Mr. Trump speak tonight have been calling and emailing---they are very angry at Erickson and the others that are trying to be so politically correct. To them Mr. Trump says, "We will catch you at another time soon."

Perry for President
August 8, 2015

Statement by Gov. Perry On Donald Trump

AUSTIN – Today Governor Rick Perry released the following statement regarding Donald Trump's comments on Megyn Kelly:
 
“Donald Trump has proven once again that he doesn’t have the temperament to hold our nation's highest office. Attacking veterans, Hispanics and women demonstrates a serious lack of character and basic decency, and his comments distract from the serious issues facing our country.”

###

Lindsey Graham 2016
Saturday, August 8, 2015

Statement on Donald Trump’s Offensive Comments About Megyn Kelly

Alexandria, VA - Today, Senator Lindsey Graham released the following statement on the offensive comments about Megyn Kelly:

 

"Due to Donald Trump's unrelenting and offensive attack on Megyn Kelly and others, we are at a crossroads with Mr. Trump. I applaud Erik Erickson for doing the right thing when he disinvited Donald Trump from a gathering of Republican activists. As a party,  we are better to risk losing without Donald Trump than trying to win with him. Enough already with Mr. Trump.

"These statements are not worthy of the office he is seeking nor consistent with the leadership we should expect from a Commander-in-Chief in these dangerous times.”

Concerned Women for America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 8, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT  Janae Stracke
PRESS RELEASE  

Was Donald Trump Mistreated? Penny Nance Responds to CNN Reporter Regarding the First GOP Debate 

Washington, D.C. - Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America said today in response to CNN reporter Mark Preston's question regarding Donald Trump's allegations of unfair treatment at the GOP Debate in Cleveland. 

"I attended Thursday night's debate.  Megyn Kelly asked Trump a tough question and it deserved an answer.  His tantrum was even more enlightening then his original remarks she questioned.  He clearly isn't used to be called to task for his childish behavior.  Does he have a problem with women?  Three wives would suggest that yes, maybe there's a problem. The good news is that Kelly is a mother of toddlers and knows how to deal with petulance and tantrums.   Every presidential election since 1964 has been carried by women.  Women don't like mean and we certainly won't vote for men or women we don't trust.  Trumps biggest woman problem is how does he convince women to trust him to keep America safe?"

For additional information and to schedule interviews with Penny Nance, contact Janae Stracke at ////, or Cheri Jacobus of Capitol Strategies PR ////.  
  
Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee is the legislative arm of Concerned Women for America, the nation's largest public policy women's organization with 500,000 participating members across the country, over 450 Prayer/Action Chapters and Home Teams, 600 trained leaders, and over 30 years of service to our nation. For more information visit www.concernedwomen.org 
  
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Donald J. Trump for President
August 7, 2015 (rec'd 10:20 PM)

Donald J. Trump Media Advisory Saturday, August 8th, 2015 

 
Who: Donald J. Trump
 
What: Media Avail and Keynote Speech at RedState Gathering
 
Where:
College Football Hall of Fame
250 Marietta St.
Atlanta GA, 30313
 
When: Saturday, August 8th, 2015.
 
Media Avail: 7:45pm
2nd Floor Exhibition Hall
 
Keynote Speech: 8:00pm
The Playing Field Room
 
Press Contact:
Amanda Munoz
[townhallmedia]