Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Get the news
Log In or Subscribe to skip
215 15 [h=6]Share This Story![/h]Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about
[h=4]Trump's comment about Megyn Kelly roils GOP race[/h]ATLANTA -- Another controversial Donald Trump comment roiled the Republican presidential race Saturday, this one directed at Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly and touching on GOP problems with women voters. The
{# #}
[h=4]Sent![/h]A link has been sent to your friend's email address.
[h=4]Posted![/h]A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.
[h=6]Join the Nation's Conversation[/h]To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs
[h=2]UP NEXT[/h][h=2]03[/h]
Donald Trump was officially disinvited from the RedState Gathering in Georgia after he made controversial comments about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. VPC
Donald Trump(Photo: Charlie Neibergall, AP)
ATLANTA — Another controversial Donald Trump comment roiled the GOP presidential race Saturday, sparking increased criticism from<span style="color: Red;">*</span>some Republicans who are hoping to boost the party's appeal to female voters.
The organizer of the RedState Gathering of conservative activists rescinded his invitation to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Trump to address delegates on Saturday over what he called an indecent attack on Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly that suggested menstruation.
"I don't want my daughter in the same room with Donald Trump," said Erick Erickson, editor of the RedState website.
ONPOLITICS
Trump dumped from Red State event over Kelly remarks
Other Republican presidential candidates backed Erickson's decision. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush told the RedState attendees that Trump's comments about Kelly insult all women, and they make up more than half the national<span style="color: Red;">*</span>electorate.
"Do we want to win?" Bush said. "Mr. Trump ought to apologize."
Referring to the Thursday debate in which Kelly asked Trump about past insults to women, the billionaire told CNN on Friday regarding the Fox News anchor: "You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever."
Trump said he meant to refer to Kelly's nose when he said "wherever," but Erickson and other critics said it appears that the billionaire believes Kelly asked him tough questions because she was having her period.
The Trump campaign fired back at Erickson for "political correctness" and dismissed him as a "total loser" who has backed "establishment losers" in campaigns past.
"So it is an honor to be uninvited from his event," Trump said.
ONPOLITICS
Trump fires back in Kelly/Red State flap
The New York businessman said he meant to refer to blood from Kelly's nose, and "only a deviant would think anything else."
Applause and some boos greeted Erickson when he made the Trump announcement at the RedState gathering early Saturday.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>During a video of the CNN interview played at the meeting, some RedState delegates — unaware of the dispute just minutes before — gasped when Trump made the "wherever" comment.
In addition to the criticism over the Kelly comment, Trump also had to deal with a shake-up in his organization. A campaign statement said Trump fired Roger Stone, saying the adviser<span style="color: Red;">*</span>wanted to use the presidential bid "for his own personal publicity."
Stone said he resigned, tweeting that he "fired Trump" because of the campaign's diversion to a "food fight" with Kelly, rather than a focus on "core issue messages."
In Thursday night's debate in Cleveland, Kelly reminded Trump he has described women as "fat pigs, dogs, slobs<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and disgusting animals," among other insults. She asked Trump how he would answer claims by Democrats that Republicans are engaged in a "war on women."
Trump described the complaints as examples of "political correctness," and told the Fox News moderator: "Honestly, Megyn, if you don't like it, I'm sorry. I've been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me."
In the Saturday statement, the Trump campaign said that, during the debate, he made Kelly "look really bad — she was a mess with her anger and totally caught off guard."
Responding to Trump's attack on him, Erickson said, "it is not political correctness — it is common sense."
Trump leads in early Republican presidential polls, but his scathing comments about critics throughout the campaign are generating increased opposition.
RedState Gathering attendees seemed to support Trump's dismissal, saying the Republicans have enough trouble with female voters as it is.
Trump "just continues to shoot himself in the foot," said Gene Hood, 57, a self-employed education consultant from Canton, Ga. She added that the eventual GOP nominee "has to be able to attract women, and he is just alienating women right and left."
Other attendees said they had looked forward to Trump's speech. Cindy LaMar, 62, from Newburgh, Ind., noted that Erickson is a Fox News contributor and that relationship may have contributed to his decision to dis-invite the billionaire.
"But again, it's his event, and he can do what he chooses," LaMar said.
Sally Fawcett, 72, a retired teacher from Sarasota, Fla., said Trump would have been a "distraction" from the event. She also found Trump's comments "insulting," but added "I'm sure Megyn can handle it."
Megyn Kelly was one of three moderators for the Fox News debate on Thursday and has been targeted by Donald Trump since it ended.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)
Kelly herself has not responded to the Trump furor, but is expected to address it during a Sunday morning appearance on Fox News.
Huckabee, who did not mention the Trump flap during his speech to the RedState delegates, declined to criticize the businessman in speaking with reporters afterward. He did defend Kelly, calling her a "quintessential, consummate professional."
ONPOLITICS
Huckabee: I'm angry too
Texas Sen. Ted<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Cruz told reporters after his speech that candidates should treat others with "civility and respect," but added the nation's problems won't be solved by "obsessing over the politics of personalities."
Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker are scheduled to speak at the gathering later Saturday.
Other candidates were much more critical of the billionaire front-runner, citing some of his previous comments.
"Donald Trump has proven once again that he doesn’t have the temperament to hold our nation's highest office," said former Texas governor Rick Perry.
Businesswoman Carly Fiorina, the only female candidate in the Republican presidential race, backed Kelly in a pair of tweets, one of which said: "Mr. Trump: There. Is. No. Excuse."
Mr. Trump: There. Is. No. Excuse.
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) August 8, 2015
Former New York governor George Pataki<span style="color: Red;">*</span>called it a "sad but predictable meltdown from Trump." In a tweet, Pataki said, "with all due respect to @megynkelly, the outrage at Trump's divisive language is long overdue."
Erickson and some of the RedState delegates said Trump's attacks on Kelly underscore the Republicans' problems with female voters. Erickson said Trump backers sent him nasty e-mails likening Kelly to a prostitute and using "the n word" to describe President Obama.
"We will not gain the White House if we are not going to be happy warriors," Erickson told fellow conservatives.
Trump was to have spoken at the event's end-of-the-session barbecue on Saturday night; Erickson said he has now invited a replacement speaker: Megyn Kelly.
Follow @djusatoday on Twitter
0) { %> 0) { %>
0) { %>
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed