With Ted Cruz and John Kasich now out of the Republican presidential race, Donald Trump is the only remaining candidate. Barring a contested convention, he will almost certainly be the party's nominee. Though the Republican National Committee seems poised to accept him as their candidate, women almost universally hate him. Seventy percent of women have an unfavorable candidate of the former Apprentice star. Even Republican women are concerned about how a Trump presidency might affect them. Watch their reactions to Trump as the presumptive nominee here.
So why is Trump so bad for women? At first blush, it's tough to discern what his platform on women's issues is. He's changed his position on virtually every issue multiple times. His current positions, as noted on his website and in his own public statements, would be universally disastrous for women.
Trump on Abortion: 'Punish Women'
In an interview with Chris Matthews, Trump advocating punishing women who seek abortions in an imaginary future where abortion is banned. His comments drew the ire even of Ted Cruz—a candidate whose views on abortion are so strict he thinks a woman should be forced to carry her rapist's baby to term.
Affordable Health Care? Not for Women
Trump wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), which effectively leveled the health insurance playing field for men and women. Obamacare's many benefits for women include:
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An end to the “gender tax” on health care. Prior to Obamacare, insurance companies treated all woman as ticking time bombs, charging them 80% more in premiums than men. This is in spite of the fact that women live longer and have healthier habits than men.
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Mandatory maternity coverage. Having a baby can cost $20,000 or more—a figure that drives many women to abortion—but Obamacare requires insurers to cover these costs.
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Free preventative care, including pap smears and mammograms. Preventing common cancers can save women, their families, insurers, and the economy millions of dollars.
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Preventative care for babies. Vaccinations and well-baby visits save lives, not to mention millions of dollars.
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A requirement that insurers no longer allow people to die because of a refusal to cover pre-existing medical conditions.
Trump suggests tired Republican ideas such as allowing people to buy insurance across state lines, but offers no meaningful alternatives to the protections women currently receive under Obamacare.
Locking Up the Mentally Ill
Women are significantly more likely than men to be diagnosed with a mental illness. Greater exposure to trauma, a history of abuse, discrimination, hormonal shifts associated with pregnancy, and a host of other cultural factors contribute to this phenomenon. But one thing is certain: mental illness does not cause violence. Indeed, people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators. The overwhelming majority of mass shooters are not mentally ill.
None of this dissuades Trump. Skeptical of even commonsense gun control measures, Trump insists that mentally ill people—not guns in the hands of criminals—cause violence. He refers to people with mental illness as “sickos,” and says they should be institutionalized. Court cases such as the Olmstead Decision have pointed to the value of de-institutionalization, and research consistently shows that people with mental illness do better in community-based treatment.
Trump doesn't care. He'll happily lock up a woman with post-partum depression to avoid answering challenging questions about guns.
Treating Women as Objects
It's hard to believe a candidate will do anything positive for women if he can't even accept that they are people. Trump has a long history of objectifying and degrading women. Some highlights:
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In 2013, Trump insisted that military rape is just the price women pay for wanting to work alongside men.
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He reportedly referred to pumping breast milk—the healthiest way for working women to feed their children—as “disgusting.”
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He attacks women's appearance when they attack his character, referring to Arianna Huffington as “unattractive,” repeatedly calling Rosie O'Donnell disgusting, and insulting Angelina Jolie for dating what he deemed too many men.
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Though he referred to a trade deal with China as “rape,” he seems less concerned by the effects of actual rape on real victims. At least two women, including his ex-wife, have accused him of rape.
Is It Too Late to Stop Trump?
Trump's Indiana Victory does not have to be the death knell for the “Stop Trump” movement. Barring a contested convention, though, the best way to stop Trump is to support a Democrat. Principled conservatives may be forced to choose between staying home and holding their nose while voting for Clinton or Sanders.
Current polls generally have both Sanders and Clinton triumphing over Trump. Specifically:
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Clinton currently leads Trump by an average of 47.3% to 40.8%.
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Sanders performs better in a national contest, leading Trump by an average of 52.2% to 38.8%.
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Though the lead each candidate has over Trump has changed over time, Trump has never consistently led either Clinton or Sanders. Clinton's lead briefly narrowed in early 2016, but both candidates have enjoyed significant leads over the past several months.
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No poll shows Trump defeating Sanders. A handful of polls have shown Trump defeating Clinton by narrow margins, though these results consistently change. For example, the current Rasmussen Reports poll shows Trump defeating Clinton 41%-39%.
Democrats who want to stop Trump should commit to supporting whichever nominee the party supports. For now, your best bet for stopping Trump is to donate to either Sanders or Clinton.
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