A man who has bragged about sexually assaulting women is running for president, and there are people—women even—who still blindly support him. It almost sounds like an absurd creative writing prompt, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, this is today’s dismal reality and not a writer’s block topic.
At the age of 59, Donald Trump said, “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. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.” Gloating, Trump vividly described how and why he sexually assaulted beautiful women: by grabbing their genitals without consent because he was rich and famous.
If there was ever one person to try and defend Trump’s tapes, it would be Tomi Lahren, and it was. Take a look for yourself below.
She begins by asking, “Is anyone really that taken aback by what he said?” Considering a man running for the presidency admitted to sexually assaulting women, yes, yes I am taken aback. And for those of you claiming the media held onto this tape and released it at the most opportune moment, perhaps you’re right, but the timing of its release doesn’t alter its content. I wish it did.
Donald Trump and his supporters claim that the media portrays him untruthfully. The truth is, these absolutely disgusting and morally repulsive words are spewing from his mouth, not the media’s. The media needn’t portray him as anything when he does such a great job justifying why he is unfit to serve as president all by himself. These are his words. Coming from his mouth.
Tomi Lahren goes on to say, “I am far more bothered by what Hillary has done, than by what Trump has said.” Please, recognize that a presidential candidate admitted to, and bragged about, sexually assaulting women. According to Donald Trump, he has PHYSICALLY, ACTUALLY sexually assaulted women and is proud of it. Toward the end of her impassioned rant, Lahren says that Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t directly affect you, the listener. According to Lahren, because Trump’s words don’t impact border security, national security, trade and/or jobs, they can be overlooked. But Trump’s words reflect his actions, and his actions have directly impacted the lives’ of the women he sexually assaulted. Lahren is basically implying that sexual assault doesn’t matter unless it happens to you. A moral human being won’t idly stand by because they recognize that silence is condolence.
From, “shut the hell up” to “stronger together,” there is a drastic shift in tone between Tomi Lahren’s impassioned rant and Michelle Obama’s most recent speech in New Hampshire. Take a look for yourself below.
Michelle eloquently states that this election is no longer just about politics. Rather, it’s about basic morality. She says, “Our nation’s leaders should meet basic standards of human decency.” I wholeheartedly agree. The President of the United States embodies us, the people. My values and morals keep me from voting for a racist, sexist, xenophobic human being, because these qualities do not represent who I am as a person nor should they represent our nation. No matter what he offers policy-wise, I cannot support someone who sexually assaults women or claims a Hispanic judge cannot do his duty solely because he is of Hispanic heritage.
“This is not something we can ignore. It’s not something we can just sweep under the rug as just another disturbing footnote in a sad election season,” states Michelle Obama. “Maybe because we think that admitting how much it hurts, makes us as women look weak. Maybe we’re afraid to be that vulnerable. Maybe we’ve grown accustom to swallowing these emotions and staying quiet, because we’ve seen that people often won’t take our word over his.” To the women who have formerly supported Donald Trump, I invite you to challenge your perspective. Envision a future where you must explain to your little girl or little boy why you voted for a man who condones sexual assault. Envision a future where your children look up to Donald Trump, a bigoted bully, as an example. Envision a future where a racist reality-star serves as your commander-in-chief. None of us deserve this kind of abuse. Women hold great power over this election’s result.
And finally—Michelle said it best—“Strong men don’t need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful.”
