RedState disinvites Trump over Kelly comment
The conservative political blog RedState rescinded Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's invitation to appear at a conservative gathering in Atlanta Saturday, citing the billionaire's comments about Fox News debate moderator Megyn Kelly.
"It is unfortunate to have to disinvite him. But I just don't want someone on stage who gets a hostile question from a lady and his first inclination is to imply it was hormonal," RedState editor Erick Erickson wrote Friday night.
Complaining about Kelly's question for him at Thursday night's first Republican primary debate, regarding his history of making disparaging comments about women, Trump said Friday on CNN,"You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever."
The flap comes as the Republican Party seeks to turn the so-called "war on women" playbook on Democrats in its bid to reclaim the White House in 2016.
Erickson, whom Fox lists as a contributor, said he had invited Kelly in Trump's place. Other presidential candidates billed to appear at the gathering included New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Fiorina, the only major female candidate seeking the Republican nomination, defended Kelly on Friday night, tweeting, "Mr. Trump: There. Is. No. Excuse." and "I stand with megynkelly."
At the debate in Cleveland, Kelly asked Trump if he had the right temperament to be president, given that "you've called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals." Trump said he'd only used the barbs against TV personality Rosie O'Donnell, and the next morning denied hurling some of the insults Kelly had attributed to him.
"For all the people who were looking forward to Mr. Trump coming, we will miss you," Trump's campaign said in a statement, according to the Washington Post. "Blame Erick Erickson, your weak and pathetic leader. We'll now be doing another campaign stop at another location."
Trump on Saturday suggested his comment on Kelly did not refer to not menstruation, tweeting, "Re Megyn Kelly quote: 'you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever' (NOSE). Just got on w/thought."