Gardner Calls For Trump To Step Aside, Won't Vote For Him
DENVER (CBS4)- Strong reaction has surfaced in regards to the audio tape of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump heard making lewd comments about women.
Republican Senator Cory Gardner joined other members of his party to denounce Trump. He released a statement on his Twitter account on Saturday that calls for Trump to step aside.
"I am committed to defeating Hillary Clinton. The only way this is now possible is with a new nominee that reflects the values of our country and our party," Gardner said in a statement.
"I will not vote for Donald Trump. If Donald Trump wishes to defeat Hillary Clinton, he should do the only thing that will allow us to do so — step aside, and allow Mike Pence to be the Republican party's nominee. If he fails to do so, I will not vote for Hillary Clinton but will instead write-in my vote for Mike Pence."
On Friday, Republican Rep. Mike Coffman was among the first of the GOP to break from his party's ranks and has said that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump should "step aside."
Coffman released this statement on Friday evening: "For the good of the country, and to give the Republicans a chance of defeating Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump should step aside. His defeat at this point seems almost certain. And four years of Hillary Clinton is not what is best for this country. Mr. Trump should put the country first and do the right thing."
Republican Darryl Glenn, who is running for senate against incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet, released this statement, "I am extremely troubled by these comments and I'm still praying over my open support of his election. My faith teaches me grace, mercy, respect and forgiveness after repentance. Time and action will tell."
Trump's running mate, Gov. Mike Pence said, "As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven-year-old video released yesterday. I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them.
"I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people.
We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night."
Gov. John Hickenlooper tweeted that Trump lacks the decency to be president on Saturday morning.
Trump initially dismissed what has been called a lewd conversation recorded in 2005 in which he bragged about grabbing, kissing and trying to have sex with women, as "locker room banter."
Several hours later, Trump issued a video where he stated, "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it. I was wrong and I apologize."
The audio and video that first surfaced on Friday was obtained by The Washington Post and shows Trump talking with Access Hollywood's Billy Bush on a bus as it pulled into a studio lot where Trump was scheduled to appear on a soap opera.
"You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful -- I just start kissing them," Trump can be heard saying.
"It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait," Trump says.
"And when you're a star they let you do it," he says. "You can do anything."
"Grab them by the p****," Trump says. "You can do anything."
