Just when you thought that this political season could not get anymore bizarre, it sure did. The past week has had much of the political establishment outraged, appalled, frustrated or disgusted by the latest behavior of GOP nominee Donald Trump.
Well, the fact is that the comments were not all that recent. They were made in 2005 when then television celebrity host Trump was promoting his then hit NBC reality show program The Apprentice by making a cameo appearance on the network soap opera Days of Our Lives. Trump along with then Hollywood Access reporter Billy Bush ― riding on the show’s bus and apparently not realizing their microphones were recording ― discussed in crude, vulgar and sexist terms Trump kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women he was attracted to.
All segments of the media seemed aghast at what was admittedly shocking language that was being spewed by both men. The fact is that Bush’s indefensible defense of Ryan Lotche’s behavior during the summer Rio Olympic games should have given many rational thinking Americans cause for pause.
As if that weren’t enough, Mr. Donald Trump, billionaire businessmen, TV host, father of two daughters, married man Trump and 2016 Republican Party presidential nominee, held a “news conference” Sunday night with three women who have claimed Bill Clinton either sexually assaulted or harassed them and a fourth woman whose rapist Hillary Clinton was appointed to defend in 1975. Trump did this just prior to his second presidential debate against Hillary Clinton and he had the women actually seated for the debate.
This against the backdrop of more interviews and allegations of Trump admitting to groping women and engaging in other tawdry behavior being surfaced in the media.
The fact is that very few people are surprised that Donald Trump has behaved in less than respectful behavior to women. Hell, he has admitted this fact himself. But the level of arrogance that Trump has demonstrated rivals that of even the most crude, virulent pimp. This is a man who has blatantly admitted to sexually assaulting women and has dismissed his actions “locker room banter” and attempting to deflect attention to Bill Clinton arguing that the former president’s behavior was considerably worse. Talk about failing to take responsibility for your own actions!
There are men who are indeed sexist, condescending and misogynistic in their behavior toward women and their attitudes need to be called out. That being said, Donald Trump takes misogyny to an entire new level. The sort of behavior that Trump and Billy Bush exhibited is a classic form of closet sexism. As is the case with closet racism, Trump, Bush and other men of their ilk exhibit a downright chivalrous attitude toward women in their direct presence yet have no qualms with making deplorably crude comments in private about them.
