BECKLEY, W.Va. — The initial condemnation of Donald Trump’s vulgar terms about women was quick from local voters and politicians, but none called for him to step down or withdrew their endorsement.
The sharpest criticism came from Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who endorses Trump and spoke at the National Republican Convention in July. She suggested it might be time for the Republican presidential candidate to “re-examine his candidacy.”
But the lewd comments apparently aren’t costing Trump many votes in southern West Virginia, where national security and fixing the sluggish economy trumps politeness.
On Friday, The Washington Post released a three-minute recording of Trump speaking in 2005 where he described in lewd details how he pursued women.
In a rare apology early Saturday, Trump said the vulgar terms about women were not a actual reflection of the real him. “Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong and I apologize,” he said in the videotaped apology.
Later in the day, Trump told The Wall Street Journal he is not dropping out of the presidential race, less than a month out, despite being under pressure to step aside from his own party.
There is “zero chance I’ll quit,” Trump continued. “I never, ever give up. The support I’m getting is unbelievable…”
That support was evident Saturday afternoon. Penny Moore of Fayette County said Trump still has her vote come Nov. 8. The 48-year-old said she doesn’t like what Trump said, but she agrees with his stance on protecting the U.S. and his energy policy that includes coal and other extraction sources.
“It’s unfortunate that he said those things. I do wonder if it was just guys talking,” said Moore, one of the millions women votes both campaign parties are trying desperately to win over.
Mike Lester, a 38-year-old long-haul trucker from Beckley, said Trump’s word choices were a mistake. But on Election Day, he will vote for Trump, because the self-proclaimed multibillionaire will defend working-class men and women like Lester.
“I think [Trump] can do a better job of helping people” than Hillary Clinton, said Lester, who identified himself as an independent voter.
Hours after the audio tape surfaced, West Virginia Republicans were issuing press releases expressing outrage over Trump’s statement. But none of the statements called for Trump to step down as the GOP’s presidential candidate or withdrew their endorsement, as a number of high-ranking Republicans did Saturday.
“As a woman, a mother, and a grandmother to three young girls, I am deeply offended by Mr. Trump’s remarks, and there is no excuse for the disgusting and demeaning language. Women have worked hard to gain the dignity and respect we deserve. The appropriate next step may be for him to re-examine his candidacy,” Capito’s statement read.
At the GOP conventiion, Capito was a late night speaker where she highlighting her support for Trump’s energy policies. However, Capito disagrees with the nominee on issues such as Trump’s proposed Muslim immigration policy and NATO criticism.
Rep. Evan Jenkins issued an eight-word statement: “The comments are extremely demeaning and deeply offensive.” Calls to Jenkins’ cell phone messages Saturday asking if he is following other House GOP members in retracting endorsements went unreturned.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Cole also issued comments denouncing Trump’s statement. Cole, who endorsed Trump before West Virginia’s May primaries, said he is “offended” by the presidential candidate’s remarks.
“As a father of two teenage daughters, I am offended by the remarks Donald Trump made several years ago. I know he has apologized and I hope that it is a lesson that he will carry with him throughout the rest of the campaign and beyond,” the statement reads. “Demeaning women is never acceptable.”
When asked if Cole is withdrawing his early endorsement of Trump, Kent Gates, with the Cole campaign, said simply, “Nope, he is not.”
The U.S Chamber of Commerce, which has not endorsed or approved of Trump’s trade plans, which it believes will create higher prices, lose jobs and weaken the economy, called for his withdrawal from the race.
Robert Engstrom, the organization’s national political director, called for Trump to step down “immediately.” The Chamber would like to see Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, take on the party’s mantle, Time is reporting.
Calls to local chambers of commerce went unreturned Saturday. But the idea of Pence’s name at the top of the GOP ticket did sound enticing to some local voters.
Raleigh County Republican Chairman Chuck Carpenter said the group continues to support Trump.
“I don’t know of anyone who would approve of what’s on Donald Trump’s tape,” said Carpenter. “That being said, I think the pretense of it is hypocritical.”
Carpenter said while he’s “disappointed” in Trump’s “behavior,” the media are showing a double standard in how they cover Trump’s and Bill Clinton’s treatment of women. Bill Clinton’s impeachment was initiated by the House of Representatives on two charges — perjury and obstruction of justice in December 1998. The charges stemmed from his extramarital affair with a White House intern and sworn testimony concerning an affair during a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him. Clinton was eventually cleared of these charges by the Senate in 1999.
Carpenter said Trump should not step down. “Did Bill Clinton step down? No. Why didn’t you demand that Bill Clinton step down?” he said. “I think the media is being a bit hypocritical.”
He said the Raleigh County GOP has not formally endorsed Trump, but it will continue to support him. Local Republicans, he said, continue to agree with Trump on vital issues, such as his economic plan, Second Amendment rights and selection qualification to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Epp Cline, the GOP chairman in Wyoming County, basically said his organization has no comment on Trump’s comments. “I’ll stay neutral on that subject,” he said.
Jordan Burgess with the West Virginia Republican Party and Jeff Lyon, chairman of the Summers County GOP organization, did not return phone calls Saturday afternoon.
Nationally, Republicans are saying the party is in “dismay.” Speaking to a local television station in Utah, Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said there is “a lot of shock, dismay. A lot of scrambling” at the national levels.
On Friday night, House Speaker Paul Ryan withdrew an invitation to Trump to appear with him in Wisconsin Saturday. On Saturday evening, Arizona Sen.John McCain, rescinded his endorsement, which could hurt Trump’s with veteran groups.
Many cable news talking heads saw this as a sign Trump finally lost the backing publically of the national GOP. However, November’s ballots are already printed and mailed, so Trump’s name will remain on the ticket, several news sources reported Saturday afternoon.
