On Friday, the Washington Post released a clip of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in an “Access Hollywood” interview with Billy Bush. His words deserve not to be repeated at all. In an ‘apology statement’ released on his Twitter handle, Trump referred to the video as “nothing more than a distraction from the issues we’re facing today. We’re losing our jobs, we’re less safe than we were eight years ago, and Washington is totally broken.” It is clear, however, from the uproar in the nation this holiday weekend, that the “issues we’re facing today” are far deeper than can be fixed with a change in governmental structure. The issues reside instead in those whose voices are loudest in the media. These issues echo misogyny and anger and a voice that threatens to rip America apart.
The consensus across the nation is that this new video reinforces a bleak future for the United States. Just a month away from the election that is polarizing the political system to extremes, this video seems just another file in the library of evidence that prove Donald Trump, in his rash flares of derogatory words, unfit to become head of state. And so Americans are discouraged with visions of devastation following the 2016 election.
But in all the conversations of anger, we see this: men and women, black and white, Republican and Democrat, politician and layman, all taking to the stage to share their disgust and disappointment. Trump’s running mate, Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, released a statement on Saturday morning via Twitter: “As a husband and father, I was offended […] I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them.” Trump’s wife, Melania, said, “The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me.” Even Trump’s biggest supporters condemn his words.
The buck does not stop with statements from Trump’s inner sphere. Politicians everywhere continue to condemn the misogynistic behavior described by Trump in the clip. Not only do they revoke endorsements and even express support for other candidates; in their public statements of disapproval, these politicians sweep the nation with a uniting standard for the dignity of all Americans. “There is absolutely no excuse to ever talk about women in such a crude and demeaning way,” said Dan Patrick, Trump’s Texas-based campaign manager. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said on Friday, “Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified.” Former presidential candidate Ben Carson also expressed his sentiment towards women: “We should always honor and respect the dignity of our mothers, sisters, and daughters,” as did Wisconsin congressional nominee Mike Gallagher: “…my mother, sister, niece, and all women who deserve to be treated with our utmost respect.” A common theme of the unrest in America is the domination of the political system by men, but today we see male politicians everywhere writing in iron their desire to see women respected, dignified, and championed.
Just a month before the election that seems to set Americans against each other, we see a uniting of Americans who have chosen to set their differences aside in order to protect the dignity of their fellow Americans. This backlash to Trump’s comments is a huge win, not only for women, but also for every American. This backlash is proof that Americans have voices worth hearing.
In the midst of the chaos, suddenly on this hurricane-destroyed weekend in October, we see a glimmer of hope for America. Today, there is proof that, although Donald Trump’s voice is projected on every news channel in the nation, there are a hundred other politicians’ voices being raised to overwhelm his misogynistic remarks, and a hundred thousand more voices uniting in the Friday night football stands, at Sunday afternoon brunch, in workplaces on Monday morning.
In United States History courses, every election has a defining moment. I hope that the anger and resentment and polarization is not all 2016 is remembered for when my children get to high school. I hope it’s moments like this one that define us, too. I hope that for generations to come, people know and understand that although the ways of Washington may not always reflect the wishes of the people, the voices of Americans will always ring loud and clear.
