Most of you have probably have seen this video already. If not, please watch. This was released by The Huffington Post on October 7, 2016.
In the video, Trump is heard talking about making advances on a married woman (while being married himself to Melania Trump) and being rejected. He sees a woman outside of the bus he is on and said that he needs some Tic Tacs in case he started kissing her. Trump goes on to say that he just kisses women and doesn't even wait.
"And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy."
This man is running for president.
The same day, Donald Trump issued an "apology." In the video, he is scripted and seemingly without remorse, dismissing the issue. He said that anyone who knows him, knows that what he said wasn't representative of who he was.
For someone who says "believe me" more times than I can count, how can he dismiss the power of his words? What are people if not who they say they are? Donald Trump presented himself as a cheater, an abuser of women, and a man with a serious superiority complex.
Donald Trump has continued to dismiss the issue, calling it "locker room talk." It's not locker room talk, it is rape culture. He is trying to make it seem like his disturbing and degrading comments are to be expected from men and that it isn't out of the ordinary. Women should be expected to be talked about this behind closed doors, and everyone should accept this behavior as an inevitability.
I refuse to accept this as normal. I am a person. I'm not just someone's daughter. Someone's sister. Someone's girlfriend. I am a human being who deserves respect. Donald Trump, just because you are famous that does not give you the right to "grab her by the pussy" and do whatever the hell you want.
I am appalled that anyone would condone this behavior, let alone decide that this man should run the country.
Some of you might think, why does what he said 11 years ago matter now? I might agree with you if this was inconsistent with who he is today. However, Donald Trump has made it abundantly clear that he doesn't care about women or their rights. He has consistently degraded women in regards to their looks, intellect, and ability.
When I think of what I want from a president, I don't think I should have to mention that I want someone who respects me as a person.
We need to stop pretending that these incidents are isolated, or funny, or acceptable. These comments are consistent with the person Donald Trump has presented himself as.
How can someone expect to run a country when they have a complete disregard for half of its population?
