Donald Trump chalks up past sexist comments to "show business"
By
Stephanie Condon
/ CBS News
Donald Trump meets with GOP lawmakers, speaks to AIPAC
Republican front-runner Donald Trump has come under fire for his past sexist comments, but on Monday he chalked up those remarks to "show business."
During a televised town hall on CNN, Trump was asked about an attack ad aired by the anti-Trump group Our Principles PAC. The ad shows women reading a series of derogatory remarks the GOP candidate has made about women. For instance, one woman reads a remark that Trump made last year about his former GOP opponent Carly Fiorina: "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?" Another quote comes from an interview Trump gave in 1991: "It really doesn't matter what they write, as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of a**."
Speaking with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Trump insisted his past language isn't coming back to haunt him.
"I think people understand," he said. "I think people -- first of all, half of that was show business." He specifically referenced his mean-spirited remarks about actress Rosie O'Donnell and comments he made on his television show "The Apprentice."
"But I think people understand," Trump continued. "Look, these politicians, I know them. They say far worse when they're in closed doors or where they're with a group of people that they trust."
The GOP front-runner rightly pointed out that groups like Our Principles spent millions airing this attack ad and others against Trump in Florida. "You know what, I won by a record landslide. Pretty amazing," he said.
Donald Trump offers woman job at press conference
Trump insisted the remarks highlighted in the Our Principles ad don't reflect his real opinions.
"Nobody respects women more than I do," he said. "Nobody takes care of the women -- and they take care of me because they do such a great job."
Furthermore, he said, "I'll take care of women with women's health issues far better than Hillary Clinton -- who's a total phony -- will take care of women."
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Donald Trump chalks up past sexist comments to "show business"
By Stephanie Condon
/ CBS News
Republican front-runner Donald Trump has come under fire for his past sexist comments, but on Monday he chalked up those remarks to "show business."
During a televised town hall on CNN, Trump was asked about an attack ad aired by the anti-Trump group Our Principles PAC. The ad shows women reading a series of derogatory remarks the GOP candidate has made about women. For instance, one woman reads a remark that Trump made last year about his former GOP opponent Carly Fiorina: "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?" Another quote comes from an interview Trump gave in 1991: "It really doesn't matter what they write, as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of a**."
Speaking with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Trump insisted his past language isn't coming back to haunt him.
"I think people understand," he said. "I think people -- first of all, half of that was show business." He specifically referenced his mean-spirited remarks about actress Rosie O'Donnell and comments he made on his television show "The Apprentice."
"But I think people understand," Trump continued. "Look, these politicians, I know them. They say far worse when they're in closed doors or where they're with a group of people that they trust."
The GOP front-runner rightly pointed out that groups like Our Principles spent millions airing this attack ad and others against Trump in Florida. "You know what, I won by a record landslide. Pretty amazing," he said.
Trump insisted the remarks highlighted in the Our Principles ad don't reflect his real opinions.
"Nobody respects women more than I do," he said. "Nobody takes care of the women -- and they take care of me because they do such a great job."
Furthermore, he said, "I'll take care of women with women's health issues far better than Hillary Clinton -- who's a total phony -- will take care of women."
In:- Donald Trump
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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