America Is Better Than Donald Trump

On Friday, when audio tapes of Donald Trump making vulgar comments about women and bragging about sexual assault surfaced in the media, we got a glimpse of the kind of person he is when he thinks the cameras aren’t rolling. The only thing that was surprising about it was that he could sink any lower than what he’s already openly said in public. But he could.

The Washington Post broke the story: In 2005, before an appearance on Access Hollywood, Trump told host Billy Bush that he’s tried to “fuck” married women, that he kisses women he finds beautiful without consent, and that because he’s a celebrity, women let him “grab them by the pussy.”

Trump defended his comments as “locker room talk,” but these lewd and predatory remarks aren’t appropriate in a locker room, or anywhere. They are especially unacceptable from a candidate for president.

The leaked footage was horrific enough to inspire a mass exodus among prominent Republicans scrambling to distance themselves from Trump.

Former Republican presidential nominees Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain both vehemently denounced Trump for his misogynistic behavior.

Withdrawing his endorsement, McCain said it had become “impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.”

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan called Trump’s comments “sickening” and said he could no longer defend his party’s presidential candidate. A significant number of his congressional colleagues have also dumped Trump, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois, Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, and Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded that Trump withdraw from the race. “Enough,” said the former advisor to President George W. Bush. “As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth.”

Even Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, and running mate, Mike Pence, indicated they were offended by his comments. (They’ve since accepted his “apology.”)

At the debate, Trump tried to deflect from his sexist past and instead point the finger at his opponent’s husband. In fact, he invited three women to the debate who have previously accused former President Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct. In a desperate race to the bottom, Trump went as low as he could go and shamefully turned sexual assault into a crass political stunt.

Trump wants us to believe that the leaked footage doesn’t really represent him, that it was a momentary lapse of judgment; however, Trump has shown us time and time again that he is still the misogynistic man from that video.

“This is who Donald Trump really is,” Hillary Clinton said when asked about Trump’s comments during the debate. “This is not who we are.”

She’s right. America, we are better than Donald Trump.

We are better than a man who calls women who disagree with him dogs, fat asses, pigs, and slobs. We are better than a man who blasts a Miss Universe with pejorative names like “Miss Piggy” and “Miss Housekeeping.” We are better than a man who mocked his pregnant wife: a “blimp” and a “monster.”

Simply put, we are better than electing a man who hates women to be our next president. None of us is perfect, but we all strive to set an example for our children and the next generation. This is not what we want America’s youth to model. This is not how we want to be remembered.

As loathsome as it is, Trump’s uncouth behavior and outright misogyny are hardly the only reasons he’s plummeting in the latest polls.

The fact remains that Trump is not prepared to be president. His very candidacy cheapens our entire political process and indelibly mars our nation’s reputation with a historic, shameful embarrassment.

Take, for example, his absurd declaration during the debate that if he becomes president, he will ensure that Clinton is jailed.

The Economist rebuked him, writing that Trump’s comments “took a step down a dark road that should frighten every American.”

If that exchange took place in a foreign country, American diplomats would be denouncing it. It ought to be regarded as the evening’s most important moment, and its most shameful: the violation of a democratic principle that distinguishes free polities from authoritarian ones.

On questions of foreign policy, Trump’s answers were dizzying and nonsensical. His lack of basic understanding regarding some of the most important aspects of our country’s international affairs, including U.S. involvement in the global fight against ISIS, should give every American pause. He is supremely unqualified to serve as commander-in-chief.

Perhaps that’s why the esteemed Foreign Policy magazine just endorsed a candidate for president for the first time ever, supporting Clinton’s ceiling-shattering campaign while simultaneously branding Trump as “the worst major-party candidate for the job in U.S. history.”

Were [Clinton] to be elected as this country’s first woman president, not only would it be historic and send an important signal about both inclusiveness and Americans’ commitment to electing candidates who have distinguished themselves on their merits, but she would enter office having already put down one great threat to the United States of America — the grotesque and deeply disturbing prospect of a Donald Trump presidency.

Unsurprisingly, a majority of viewers said that Clinton won the debate. Early on during the exchange, she quoted First Lady Michelle Obama: “When they go low, we go high,” setting the tone for the discussion she wanted to have. It was abundantly clear that Clinton was there to answer questions of substance and policy from undecided voters at the town hall debate. Trump did everything he could to drag her into the gutter, but she refused to let him.

Clinton stayed above the fray. Instead of joining Trump’s game of lies and accusations, she stressed the contrast between herself and her opponent and the critical importance of making the right decision in this election.

“I want to be the president for all Americans, regardless of your political beliefs, where you come from, what you look like, your religion,” Clinton said, in a stark departure from her opponent’s anger and divisiveness.

“I want us to heal our country and bring it together because that’s the best way for us to get the future that our children and our grandchildren deserve.”

In November, I believe Americans will send a clear, undeniable message that our children and our grandchildren deserve far better than Donald Trump.