Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
Release of the tape comes on the same day Wikileaks released more of Hillary's e mails. Too coincidental?
In a video obtained by The Washington Post, Donald Trump talks about "grabbing kitties" , abusing dogs, and other animal abuse.
The video of Trump bantering with Billy Bush, host of "Access Hollywood," on a bus with the show's name written across the side. They were arriving on the set of "Days of Our Lives" to tape a cameo appearance by Trump on the daytime soap opera.
The tape is audio only of Bush and Trump chatting inside the bus, as well as audio and video once they emerge from it to begin shooting the segment.
In that audio, Mr. Trump describes how he attempted to chase and corner an unwilling feline, to Bush. "I moved on her, and I failed. I'll admit it," Trump is heard to say.
"Whoa," says Bush. "I did try and f--- her. She was married," Trump says.
Trump continues: "And I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said, 'I'll show you where they have some nice furniture.'"
"I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn't get there. And she was married," Trump says. "Then all of a sudden I see her, she's now got the big phony tits and everything. She's totally changed her look."
At that point in the audio, Trump and Bush appear to notice Arianne Zucker, the actress who is waiting to escort them into the soap-opera set.
"Your girl's hot as s---, in the purple," says Bush, who's now a co-host of NBC's "Today" show.
"Whoa!" Trump says. "Whoa!"
"I've got to use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her," Trump says. "You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful - I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait."
"And when you're a star, they let you do it," Trump says. "You can do anything."
"Whatever you want," says another voice, apparently Bush's.
"Grab them by the pussy," Trump says. "You can do anything."
A spokeswoman for NBC Universal, which produces and distributes "Access Hollywood," declined to comment.
"This was locker-room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course - not even close," Trump said in a statement. "I apologize if anyone was offended."
Billy Bush, in a statement released by NBC Universal, said: "Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed. It's no excuse, but this happened eleven years ago - I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry."
It's unclear how much the events will impact Trump, who's controversial comments are legendary. It is clear the Clinton Campaign has a number of these videotape bombs, which the Dems will drop on Trump throughout October. Mitt Romney issued another statement condemning Bush. Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus, who has been silent through lesser comments, said nothing. Paul Ryan cancelled an appearance with the Republican nominee, saying he was "sickened" by the tape.
Donald Trump himself apologized in a statement issued by the campaign, but noted he has heard Bill Clinton say worse on the golf course.
Not everyone was convinced the comments would be a deal-breaker, however. Some in the evangelical community, which has established a tenuous alliance with the brash New Yorker, rushed to his defense.
“I think it will have little or no impact. People of faith are voting on issues like who will protect unborn life, defend religious freedom, grow the economy, appoint conservative judges and oppose the Iran nuclear deal,” said Ralph Reed, the founder and chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition and a Trump supporter. “In their hierarchy of concerns, an eleven-year-old tape of a private conversation with a talk show host on a tour bus ranks very low.” Trump’s leading conservative media supporter, Sean Hannity, said it’s time for Trump to go after Hillary Clinton for her husband’s infidelity.
The 11 year old recording, which terminates in Trump air kissing Ms. Zucker, comes on the same day Wikileaks released yet more of Mrs. Clinton's e mails. They include excerpts from Mrs. Clinton's Wall Street speeches, and the challenges of running for office. This seemed to some more than mere coincidence.
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