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Friday, the Washington Post ran this headline: "An Unlikely Bush Finally Did Some Damage To Donald Trump: Billy Bush."
The story that "did the damage" is a 2005 video of Donald Trump talking to Billy Bush, host of the "Access Hollywood" TV show.
Spokane's Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, the highest ranking Republican woman in Congress, has addressed Trumps remarks.
The Washington State GOP Chair, Susan Hutchison, has also responded.
Evangelical leadership is now addressing the issue---as are local pastors and Christian citizens.
Most importantly, What is your response?
And, "Happy Columbus Day."
I am commenting on last night's debate on the radio this morning. Please join me live at 9 AM Pacific Time from anywhere in the world. Here's how.
The Washington Post, now owned by Seattle's own Jeff Bezos---billionaire founder of Amazon and sworn enemy of Trump, ran this headline Friday: "An unlikely Bush finally did some damage to Donald Trump: Billy Bush."
Billy is a host of the TV show "Access Hollywood" and is a nephew to President George H.W. Bush, and a first cousin to both President George W. and Jeb Bush.
The story is about a conversation Trump had with Billy Bush in 2005. Trump assumed the mics were off.
Trump was wrong.
The WA Post story includes the video-audio of the conversation.
However, the public focus, as it should be, is on Trump.
The comments made by Trump were lewd, offensive, immoral and unacceptable.
The WA Post says, "None of the Bushes are backing Trump in this campaign." Most of us already knew that.
The Post also warns the reader that comments made by Billy Bush were equally offensive and inappropriate.
But Billy isn't running for the presidency, nor are any others in the Bush family..
The Post concludes, "But if this 'is' the thing that is remembered as having ended his [Trump] shot at the presidency, the fact that his downfall came via a conversation with Jeb and George W. Bush's cousin is a pretty remarkable footnote in political history."
The impact of these remarks will be measured in the hearts and minds of the American people over the coming days.
Spokane's Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers is the highest ranking Republican woman in Congress.
She said Friday evening, "It is never appropriate to condone unwanted sexual advances or violence against women. Mr Trump must realize that it has no place in public or private conversations."
The Seattle Times noted that "McMorris-Rodgers offered a tepid endorsement of Trump ahead of Washington's May primary, adding at the time she 'won't be shy' about criticizing him."
They also note that McMorris-Rodgers had previously told the New York Times that she found Trump's comments about women "hurtful to the Party, a Party that has been founded on equal opportunity for all."
However, she has not said she will not vote for him, the Times notes.
Washington State GOP Chairman Susan Hutchison also released a statement Friday evening.
After calling Trump's comments "repulsive to me and all decent people," she told Seattle's KOMO TV that "He [Trump] was a Democrat at the time and he was channeling Bill Clinton. And the hypocrisy of Hillary Clinton to say this man does not belong in the White House, when her husband defined this behavior, is just absurd."
Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence said he was "offended" by Trump's comments.
"As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven year old video released yesterday," he told the press.
He said, "I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them."
Pence added that he is "grateful" for Trump's apology and that "he is praying" for Trump's family---adding that he is "looking forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night in the presidential debate."
Pence says he is committed to this campaign and to serving America with Trump.
This is a link to Trump's apology.
Trump's wife has said she accepts his apology, that he is a different man today than 11 years ago.
In general, I have found 2 predictable responses from the Christian community.
Those who have opposed Trump---including some of his opponents in the primary race, are saying "I told you so" and encouraging Christians to vote for Hillary or simply not vote as millions of Christians did in 2012 regarding Mitt Romney.
Reuters News Service, I feel, had published the best overview as of late last night.
Reuters says, "Most evangelical leaders did not condemn Trump, and instead pointed to an urgent need to prevent Hillary Clinton from winning the presidency, reshaping the Supreme Court and implementing liberal policies."
They quoted Gary Bauer, chairman of the Campaign for Working Families and long time evangelical leader, as saying that while he finds Trump's comments "grossly inappropriate language, that it "doesn't change the choice facing the country in the Nov. 8 election and that 'I will continue to support the Trump-Pence ticket'."
Bauer said, "Hillary Clinton is committed to enacting policies that will erode religious liberty, promote abortion, make our country less safe, and leave our borders unprotected."
Franklin Graham posted this on Facebook:
The crude comments made by Donald J. Trump more than 11 years ago cannot be defended. But the godless progressive agenda of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton likewise cannot be defended. I am not endorsing any candidates in this election. I have said it throughout this presidential campaign, and I will say it again—both candidates are flawed. The only hope for the United States is God. Our nation’s many sins have permeated our society, leading us to where we are today. But as Christians we can’t back down from our responsibility to remain engaged in the politics of our nation. On November 8th we will all have a choice to make. The two candidates have very different visions for the future of America. The most important issue of this election is the Supreme Court. That impacts everything. There’s no question, Trump and Clinton scandals might be news for the moment, but who they appoint to the Supreme Court will remake the fabric of our society for our children and our grandchildren, for generations to come.
Dr Ben Carson, himself a committed Christian, wrote an op-ed column about the matter.
Published in The Hill:
The recent disclosure of lewd conversations Donald Trump had over a decade ago has caused a some disillusionment among GOP stalwarts and conservative voters.
In no way do I condone Trumps behavior - in fact I condemn any form of disrespect towards women. We should always honor and respect the dignity of our mothers, sisters and daughters.
Even though the incident happened ten years ago, well before Trump entered the political arena, this behavior is unacceptable, especially by someone who aspires to higher office. Trump did the right thing in immediately and unequivocally apologizing.
I feel fairly certain that the progressives have had knowledge of this conversation for a long time and dropped it at this point in time in an effort too obscure the release of damaging information about Hillary Clinton and her desire for open borders.
I believe that they have more material that they will release periodically up until the election to keep a negative focus on Donald Trump. They do not want to discuss the vital issues that are destroying our nation and the future of our children, because they do not have logical solutions and offer more of the same that has gotten us into this precarious situation.
Those of us who do not want to see America fundamentally devolve into something worse must be wise enough to recognize the scheme that is being played out here. We must demand not only that the issues be discussed but also that we make our decisions based on issues and not on personalities or decade old statements and behavior by Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.
The political elites and their loyal media are desperate because they are seeing the large enthusiastic crowds for Donald Trump and the meager crowds for Hillary Clinton, and they know that there will be a huge enthusiasm gap on election day.
The question is; will the political elites of both parties succeed in continuing there reign of fiscal irresponsibility and military weakness or will the people understand what is going on and will they be wise enough to thwart those efforts?
Benjamin S Carson Sr MD
Emeritus Professor of Neurosurgery,Oncology,Plastic Surgery and Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Medicine
President and CEO American Business Collaborative, LLC
Tony Perkins, with Family Research Council, summed up the general feelings of Christians and evangelicals:
"Evangelicals are left with a choice of voting for the one who will do the least damage to our freedoms."
He continued, "This is far from an ideal situation, but it is the reality in which we find ourselves and as difficult as it is, I refuse to find sanctuary on the sidelines and allow the country and culture to deteriorate even further by continuing the policies of the last eight years."
Chuck Todd, NBC's head news guy, announced yesterday, "The election is over."
When our Lord taught us how we should pray, he began with, "Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven..."
Our prayers are recorded in Heaven, our votes are recorded on Earth.
Pray and vote according to His will.
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful.