(CNN)What happens when "it's just talk" becomes actions? That's the question now facing the campaign of Donald Trump, his supporters and the Republican Party as a growing number of women have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Trump.
Emboldened by Trump's denial during the second presidential debate of ever engaging in the behavior he bragged about in the now infamous "Access Hollywood" hot mic video, numerous women have gone public with their allegations of how Trump did in fact do more than just "talk" about groping women against their will.
Even though Mitt Romney won college-educated white women by 67B22:22,22:22 of the population and consistently vote at higher rates than men. Despite efforts to reach out to women on policy issues that appeal to them, like the economy, health care and national security, the GOP still nominated a sexist who threatens to irreparably harm the GOP brand with women voters. Trump's unfavorability among women is at historic levels and continues to crater. He's even losing college-educated women by significant margins to Hillary Clinton. The fallout from Trump's candidacy has implications far greater than just losing elections -- it challenges the moral fiber of the party. It challenges the GOP's identity moving forward. Our children are watching. How do we explain to little girls the support for a presidential candidate who disparages women without remorse? Words matter. Vice presidential candidate Mike Pence was recently asked a similar question during a local news interview in Ohio. The reporter explained how a group of Girl Scouts recently visited the TV station and an 11-year-girl said Trump's comments about women made her feel bad about herself when she looked in the mirror. Pence's response was astonishing. Instead of showing empathy and encouragement for that little girl, he pivoted to a canned rant about Hillary Clinton's "feckless foreign policy." Wrong answer. This is why Republicans will continue to lose national elections. Anything short of an unqualified rebuke of Trump's sexism is a tacit acceptance that abhorrent, victim shaming and potentially criminal behavior toward women is no longer disqualifying.
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During an impassioned campaign stop this week, first lady Michelle Obama said, "the belief you can do anything you want to a woman is cruel, it's frightening and it's hurts.
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