Trump's crude sex talk collides with his white house bid

[jeaniebueller]

.

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/from-playboy-to-president-trumps-past-behavior-collides-with-his-white-house-bid/2016/05/09/46bed6f8-12fe-11e6-93ae-50921721165d_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_trumpplayboy-605a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory


Over 15 years, radio shock jock Howard Stern and his buddy Donald Trump periodically carried on like towel-snapping “bros” in a locker room, rating women’s tops and bottoms, debating whether oral sex is “important,” and egging each other on about whether they would like to go to bed with a number of people, from Cindy Crawford to Diane Sawyer.



“You could’ve gotten her, right?” Stern asked Trump on-air shortly after Princess Diana’s death in 1997. “You could’ve nailed her.”



“I think I could have,” Trump said.



How about singer Mariah Carey? “Would you bang her?” Stern asked. Trump replied, “I would do it without hesitation.”



Trump’s crude talk on-air with Stern between 1990 and 2005 was part of an image he cultivated as a Manhattan playboy who had so many women that he barely had time to sleep. He was often seen at trendy nightclubs with different women, appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine, wrote in his books about all the women chasing him and publicly boasted about his sex life.

That reputation was useful as Trump, in his 40s and 50s, built a brand designed to equate his name with success and the high life. But it is problematic as Trump, 69, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, tries to wash away his tabloid past and fashion a more dignified persona — as a potential commander in chief and leader of the free world.



Although Trump promises to be “more presidential,” his past statements have contributed to high negative ratings from women. Democrats have signaled they will make Trump’s history a centerpiece of their campaign against him and other Republicans this fall.



Trump’s exchanges with Stern, many of which BuzzFeed posted online earlier this year, are featured in a new ad by the Democratic candidate in the U.S. Senate race in Arkansas.



The contrast between Trump’s past and present behavior underscores the extent to which he has shaped and reshaped his identity as he has moved between business, entertainment and politics. And it points to a fundamental question about his candidacy: Which version of Trump might America send to the Oval Office?



“Defining Donald Trump will be one of the real challenges of this campaign,” said Ed Rollins, a veteran GOP consultant who last week began working for a pro-Trump super PAC. “Ten or 20 years ago, Trump was a rogue character . . . a younger version of Hugh Hefner. Today he is a seen as a successful businessman and a celebrity and a good father.”



Trump, in an interview, played down the significance of some of his past behavior.



“I never anticipated running for office or being a politician, so I could have fun with Howard on the radio and everyone would love it. People do love it,” Trump said, sitting behind his Trump Tower desk piled with magazines featuring his face on the cover. “I could say whatever I wanted when I was an entrepreneur, a business guy.”

Trump also said his work was so “all-consuming” that he could not have been the libidinous playboy portrayed in the media.



“People may be surprised that my life is much simpler than they thought,” said Trump, with a Diet Coke in a plastic cup on his desk. “And they may be surprised that my life is much less glamorous than they thought, including every story about a supermodel.”



Trump said the media coverage of his personal life was “overblown.”



But it is clear that Trump played a role in shaping public perceptions.



He wrote in his best-selling books that a parade of famous women wanted to date him. In his 1997 “Art of the Comeback,” he wrote, “If I told the real stories of my experiences with women, often seemingly very happily married and important women, this book would be a guaranteed best-seller (which it will be anyway!).” He also wrote in that book about being “linked to dozens of other women. . . . It was incredible, being intimately associated with women I had never heard of. Women themselves — some very famous — were linking themselves to me. I guess they wanted some of the publicity. They were calling. Their agents were calling. It was a circus! It was sick!”



After his public split with his first wife, Ivana, in 1990, Trump often got more media attention for his dates than his deals. From then until 2005, when he married his third and current wife, Melania Knauss, Trump’s social life was a tabloid staple. During that time, he had a second tumultuous marriage, to beauty contestant Marla Maples, who was quoted on the cover of the New York Post as saying about Trump: “Best Sex I Ever Had.”

n between his marriages, a string of celebrities, including Madonna and Kim Basinger, were reported to have been chasing Trump — these women denied that, though. The rumors, even if not true, along with a string of women whom Trump showed up with at high-profile events, left the impression that he was a man about town.



All of the attention differentiated Trump from other wealthy real estate developers. And Trump reveled in it, according to several longtime associates. Those people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Trump made a point of surrounding himself with young, attractive women. When he threw parties at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., they said, Trump got his friends at modeling agencies to send women who floated around his pool and piled into his limousine.



After he bought the Miss Universe pageant in 1996, Trump was seen by a national TV audience in a sea of contestants in bathing suits and high heels.



“There’s 100 beautiful women and 10 guys. Look, how cool are we?” said Roger Stone, a political adviser who has known Trump for decades, recalling the Palm Beach parties. “I was happy to be invited. I mean it was great.”



Trump’s own comments focused attention on his libido, not just his skyscrapers.



When asked by Playboy magazine in 2004 about Viagra, Trump boasted: “I just have never needed it.” He went on to say that what he really needed was an “anti-Viagra, something with the opposite effect.”



“I’m not bragging,” he bragged. “I’m just lucky.”



Trump’s rise as a figure in popular culture helped propel him from business into television stardom when, in 2004, he debuted in his NBC reality show, “The Apprentice.” During one season of the show, Trump drove up to Hefner’s mansion in a limousine and was on TV surrounded by Playboy bunnies wearing pink ears and little else.



Some of Trump’s most raw language came during his appearances with Stern, when the two would critique women’s looks.



The BuzzFeed list included one clip in which Trump said: “Her boob job is terrible. They look like two light posts coming out of a body.” In another clip, Trump said, “A person who is very flat-chested is very hard to be a 10.”

Stern had a huge national audience and made a name for himself with off-color questions, like this one, to Trump: “Is oral sex important to you? Man to man, and I’ve had this discussion with many men.”



Trump responded, “No, it’s not important to me.”



In his recent interview with The Washington Post, Trump said he and Stern “had great moments” on the air, but he acknowledged he would not have said certain things had he known then that he would eventually be running for office. “Or I wouldn’t have gone on the show because that is the easier way of doing it,” Trump said.



Trump said Stern is a good friend, “a really good guy and a very different guy when you take the radio microphone away.” Stern declined to comment.



With the Republican nomination in his grasp, Trump has projected a more familiar image for a possible president — that of a family man.



His children, particularly the older ones, are constantly with him on the campaign trail and speak out on his behalf. His daughter Ivanka, 34, an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, is the star of many ads aired across the country in which she says her father told her that she could do anything — same as her brothers — if she worked hard.



Candidate Trump recently sold the Miss Universe pageant.



Trump told The Post that his record of promoting women to high-level positions in his business is more relevant than any past comment.



“I greatly respect women,” Trump said.



Asked whether he is obsessed by women’s looks given the frequent comments he makes about them, Trump said, “Much less so than people would think.”



Some who knew Trump in the 1990s say he was not an overheated Casanova. Rather, he was a workaholic aware of the value of being perceived as such.



“I never heard him speak romantically about a woman,” said Trump’s former attorney Jay Goldberg, who was often by his side during those years. “I heard him speak romantically about his work.”



“Give him a Hershey’s bar and let him watch television,” Goldberg said. “I only remember him finishing the day [by] going home, not necessarily with a woman but with a bag of candy . . . not Godiva, just something from the newsstand.”

ate Bohner, co-author of “The Art of the Comeback,” said, “There were times when I’d see him chatting up a bevy of gorgeous creatures, and I can see how an outsider might think he was in it to win it, so to speak. But never did I feel that it was anything other than part of his shtick to fuel the Trump brand. I saw Mr. Trump being more paternal toward women than playboy.”



Peter Osnos, who edited Trump’s 1987 “The Art of the Deal,” said that Trump “cultivated celebrity” but that “his lifestyle was surprisingly unglamorous.”



“He’s quite disciplined in some ways,” Osnos said. “Doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink.”



Trump’s effort to adjust his image was apparent in the fall, when, as a candidate, he appeared again on the air with his old pal Stern.



The radio host brought up Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. She had just asked Trump during a presidential debate about all of the negative words he used to describe women over the years, including “fat pigs,” “dogs” and “slobs.”

Stern seemed ready to relive the old days with his friend, baiting Trump to rate Kelly’s looks.



“What is she on a scale of 1 to 10?” Stern asked.



But playboy Trump had left the room. The question, instead, was handled by candidate Trump.



“In the old days,” he said, “I wouldn’t have minded answering that question. Today, I will take a pass.”



Karen Heller, Frances Stead Sellers and Marc Fisher contributed to this report.

[NewOrleans]

Well, a loooot of men love him for this kind of talk because it validates their own objectification of women and their own frat house locker room talk. So I don't see how it's a "collision."

[mrsukyankee]

Any asshole who says they would rather Trump than Clinton due to HER history/background needs to check themselves or just come out and say that they are misogynistic assholes.

[Deleted]

L O fucking L that he could've banged Princess Di.

::off to read the rest of the article::

[ECB]

May 10, 2016 7:20:16 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Well, a loooot of men love him for this kind of talk because it validates their own objectification of women and their own frat house locker room talk. So I don't see how it's a "collision."

This.  EVERYTHING else he has said, no matter how horrid we think it is, has only resulted in people loving him even more.  This is only one more of those things.  "Yea!!!  You can get any woman you want!  You go Donald!!!!".

[miniroller]

Right, agreed with all. This isn't a "collision" at all. It endorses everything for which his rabid fans are so proudly cheering. However, I am saving the article because I do have some rather disheartened republican women in my life who currently say they'll abstain from voting for president. I'm keeping this in my back pocket, in case they're closer to swaying to Hillz, though I'm positive it'll be one of countless articles come fall.

[jeaniebueller]

Also, I have never understood the draw of Howard Stern.

[Deleted]

May 10, 2016 9:05:17 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Also, I have never understood the draw of Howard Stern.

My brother LOVED him in high school. He had to drive me to school my freshman year, so I was subjected to it every day. Ugh. THE WORST.

[jeaniebueller]

May 10, 2016 9:08:40 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

May 10, 2016 9:05:17 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Also, I have never understood the draw of Howard Stern.

My brother LOVED him in high school. He had to drive me to school my freshman year, so I was subjected to it every day. Ugh. THE WORST.

I may offend a few here, but have also never understood why women listen to him. Oooooh, he asks his male guests what chicks they want to bang!!! How edgy!!!

[BicycleBride]

I continue to be flabbergasted that Trump gets patted on the back for his extramarital affairs and objectification of women yet Hillary gets shamed because her HUSBAND had an affair. Wtf.

[Deleted]

May 10, 2016 9:09:57 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

May 10, 2016 9:08:40 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

My brother LOVED him in high school. He had to drive me to school my freshman year, so I was subjected to it every day. Ugh. THE WORST.

I may offend a few here, but have also never understood why women listen to him. Oooooh, he asks his male guests what chicks they want to bang!!! How edgy!!!

I'm with you. I can forgive my brother for subjecting me to that because, well, he was a 17-year-old boy. They're obsessed with sex and have poor judgment. But people should GROW OUT OF THAT SHIT.

[underwaterrhymes]

I don't fully understand why the author of this article thinks his current behavior and commentary is so much better than before. Just because he's not boasting about all the women who would like to bang him doesn't make his words less disgusting or in any way more presidential.

His persona is still asshole.

[aurora]

LOL to

“I’m not bragging,” he bragged. “I’m just lucky.”

[leeba25]

Well that whole article, and the images it conjured, was revolting.

[Mrs.Rad888]

May 10, 2016 9:12:18 GMT -5 BicycleBride said:

I continue to be flabbergasted that Trump gets patted on the back for his extramarital affairs and objectification of women yet Hillary gets shamed because her HUSBAND had an affair. Wtf.

And then we get to see this meme:

[miniroller]

May 10, 2016 10:02:57 GMT -5 Mrs.Rad888 said:

May 10, 2016 9:12:18 GMT -5 BicycleBride said:

I continue to be flabbergasted that Trump gets patted on the back for his extramarital affairs and objectification of women yet Hillary gets shamed because her HUSBAND had an affair. Wtf.

And then we get to see this meme:

The double standard is SOOOO outrageous to me that I'm baffled it can be denied, at this point. Right?

[bernsteincat]

May 10, 2016 9:15:37 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

May 10, 2016 9:09:57 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I may offend a few here, but have also never understood why women listen to him. Oooooh, he asks his male guests what chicks they want to bang!!! How edgy!!!

I'm with you. I can forgive my brother for subjecting me to that because, well, he was a 17-year-old boy. They're obsessed with sex and have poor judgment. But people should GROW OUT OF THAT SHIT.

My husband loves Howard, and I will put up with it during good interviews, but he knows there is a line and he better change the station when it gets crossed or I will lose my mind. I'm not going to listen to that nastiness just so he can get a juvenile bro-laugh out of whatever nonsense is going on.

[aurora]

May 10, 2016 10:05:16 GMT -5 miniroller said:

May 10, 2016 10:02:57 GMT -5 Mrs.Rad888 said:

And then we get to see this meme:

The double standard is SOOOO outrageous to me that I'm baffled it can be denied, at this point. Right?

That, and which other woman are we supposed to choose over Hillary today? Is the meme saying that Trump or Sanders is a woman?

[juliej]

They don't have a transcript up, but Morning Edition talked about how Trump is actively "inciting" men against women.

www.npr.org/2016/05/10/477449907/could-gender-be-the-decisive-factor-in-a-trump-clinton-matchup

[ECB]

May 10, 2016 10:23:58 GMT -5 juliej said:

They don't have a transcript up, but Morning Edition talked about how Trump is actively "inciting" men against women.

www.npr.org/2016/05/10/477449907/could-gender-be-the-decisive-factor-in-a-trump-clinton-matchup

And if (when) he loses, the GOP will do yet ANOTHER post-mortem and wonder "what went wrong!?!?!  We don't get it!  I mean, Trump only offended all the same groups that led to the loss of the last two elections, but it's TRUMP!  All the white, angry, middle america men love him.  Why didn't that work?!". 

[sparrowsong]

Ugh gross. I can't even read this. Trump and who has or has not been willing to get naked with him is an absolutely stomach turning topic. I loathe him so much.

[MrsAxilla]

May 10, 2016 9:15:37 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

May 10, 2016 9:09:57 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I may offend a few here, but have also never understood why women listen to him. Oooooh, he asks his male guests what chicks they want to bang!!! How edgy!!!

I'm with you. I can forgive my brother for subjecting me to that because, well, he was a 17-year-old boy. They're obsessed with sex and have poor judgment. But people should GROW OUT OF THAT SHIT.

Oh, Howard's grown out of that. His interviews and in-depth and really great (even if he does still ask some sex questions). Plus he's ride or die Hillary. You know, unless he decides to launch his own bid.

[ECB]

May 10, 2016 11:29:52 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Oh, Howard's grown out of that. His interviews and in-depth and really great (even if he does still ask some sex questions). Plus he's ride or die Hillary. You know, unless he decides to launch his own bid.

Yes, even Howard has grown up!  He still does have some stupid/gross bits that I don't really care to listen to.  But if I see he's doing an interview?  I'll listen. He's a good interviewer and he usually has a good amount of time with his guests.  They aren't 10 minute snippet interviews.  His guests are there for a decent amount of time where he can really get into stuff with them. 

[MrsAxilla]

May 10, 2016 11:43:05 GMT -5 ECB said:

May 10, 2016 11:29:52 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Oh, Howard's grown out of that. His interviews and in-depth and really great (even if he does still ask some sex questions). Plus he's ride or die Hillary. You know, unless he decides to launch his own bid.

Yes, even Howard has grown up!  He still does have some stupid/gross bits that I don't really care to listen to.  But if I see he's doing an interview?  I'll listen. He's a good interviewer and he usually has a good amount of time with his guests.  They aren't 10 minute snippet interviews.  His guests are there for a decent amount of time where he can really get into stuff with them. 

We have the Sirius app, so we really only listen to interviews and robin's news.  

[bernsteincat]

May 10, 2016 11:49:23 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

May 10, 2016 11:43:05 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yes, even Howard has grown up!  He still does have some stupid/gross bits that I don't really care to listen to.  But if I see he's doing an interview?  I'll listen. He's a good interviewer and he usually has a good amount of time with his guests.  They aren't 10 minute snippet interviews.  His guests are there for a decent amount of time where he can really get into stuff with them. 

We have the Sirius app, so we really only listen to interviews and robin's news.  

This is all I'll listen to.

[chedifuen]

This won't hurt him with his (disgusting) base but I think it will hurt him when it comes to conservative women. They might not show up to vote for Hillary but I would bet a number of them will opt to sit out, rather than vote for Trump

[Deleted]

May 10, 2016 11:43:05 GMT -5 ECB said:

May 10, 2016 11:29:52 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Oh, Howard's grown out of that. His interviews and in-depth and really great (even if he does still ask some sex questions). Plus he's ride or die Hillary. You know, unless he decides to launch his own bid.

Yes, even Howard has grown up!  He still does have some stupid/gross bits that I don't really care to listen to.  But if I see he's doing an interview?  I'll listen. He's a good interviewer and he usually has a good amount of time with his guests.  They aren't 10 minute snippet interviews.  His guests are there for a decent amount of time where he can really get into stuff with them. 

I agree. He really gets people to talk (and not just about sex anymore) - he's really a great interviewer. Of course, there are still stupid people (Jenny McCarthy) that is going to be annoying no matter who interviews her.   

[waffletime]

Am I surprised DT did not get laid as much as he claimed? Not even a little. Do I find him disgusting regardless? You bet.

[Deleted]

Hard pass on Stern's radio show but I liked him as a judge on America's Got Talent. lol

I don't think it's ever going to sink in that this disgusting man is a nominee for POTUS. If he gets elected I'm just going to live in a cloud of denial for the next 4 years.

[fumbalina]

I don't like Howard Stern but to me his show is not much different than Tosh.O which I also dislike.

Both shows resort to over the top reactions to play to the audience.

I grew up in a conservative household and if you said something about misogynistic comments, the reaction was generally of the you can't take a joke. Since we tend to live in bubbles, it is hard to see that not everyone would feel that way.