Over the past few weeks, there have been two Republican presidential debates. The media coverage following the televised sessions has highlighted who was the “most searched” during and after the debate. Thus far, Donald Trump reigns supreme for being the most fascinating to us Googlers. Maybe we’re still trying to figure out his hair. Perhaps people are really excited about the prospect of a billionaire president.
I’m hoping though – really hoping – that others, like me, simply can’t look away from a good train wreck.
Donald Trump does not have a good track record with women.
Currently on his third marriage, ex-wives of the Donald have not always been kind in their remembrance of their marital experience. Although, of course, when reminded of stark statements from the past, Ivana Trump has changed her tone just in time for the presidential race, making light of past allegations and even giving him a personal endorsement for the office. A gag order on speaking of their time together probably has something to do with her softer recollection. The Daily Beast did a fascinating in-depth story called Ex-wife: Donald Trump made me feel violated during sex.
Besides his treatment of women as a husband, Trump has recently made questionable and concerning statements regarding women during this early stage of campaigning. Most are, by now, familiar with his comments on Megyn Kelly’s probing questions during the first presidential debate.
In case not, a quick recap: Kelly pressed Trump about past sexist remarks he had made in the media. He denied the accusation, saying he had only ever applied words like “pig” and “dog” to Rosie O’Donnell and laughed it off. Incidentally, Rosie is a woman and those words are still offensive when applied to her or any human, for that matter. He responded later on Twitter, referencing Kelly, with, “… you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever.” He then denied he was referencing menstruation.
What else he intended to mean is not clear. Most recently, he was upset about Kelly’s coverage of him on Fox News, and tweeted his continued disdain.
“Do you ever notice that lightweight @megynkelly constantly goes after me, but when I hit back it is totally sexist.”
Yes, Mr. Trump, we noticed. Mainly because you were totally sexist in your remarks. You alluded to her hormones being the reason she asked you a question you didn’t like. You couldn’t and wouldn’t have said that about a man. That’s what sexism is.
Naturally, Carly Fiorina, Trump’s only female Republican opponent, has not been immune to his condescending views. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he commented on Fiorina’s appearance on TV.
“Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president. I mean, she’s a woman and I’m not s’posedta say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?”
When pressed, Trump claims those comments were in reference to Fiorina’s track record while running Hewlett-Packard. What the connection is between a woman’s facial features and her business record eludes me. Strangely enough, the public is still waiting for Trump’s derisive comments on the other male candidates’ facial aptitude for running a business and the nation.
Here’s the connection that has me intensely worried: Trump’s absurd statements have not been met with outcry, disdain, or a sharp drop in popularity within his party. In fact, disturbingly enough, Trump still leads the Republican pack, and polls strongly favorable among GOP women.
I cannot wrap my mind around rewarding disrespect for people based on gender with financial and political support, especially as a member of that gender. Here’s hoping that train wreck completely derails before this election gets serious.
Moriah Parrish is a junior studying biology. She can be reached at parrishm@mail.usf.edu
